1. World War I

2. Objective To understand the causes of World War I
To understand the nature of World War I
To understand how World War I ended
To understand the consequences of World War I

3. The Alliance System All major European powers enter into an arms race
After unifying Germany in 1871, Bismarck saw that Germany was vulnerable
Trapped between France and Russia in a two-front war
Formed alliances to prevent Germany from becoming isolated
Three Emperor’s League with Austria and Russia in 1873
Dual Alliance with Austria in 1879
Triple Alliance with Austria and Italy in 1882
All major European powers enter into an arms race

4. The Alliance System
To assure Britain, Bismarck did not build a large navy
In 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm I died, grandson Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser
Queen Victoria’s grandson
Wanted Germany to be a Great Power like Britain with large navy and colonial empire
Fired Bismarck in 1890

5. The Alliance System Germany refuses to renew alliance with Russia
Russia allies with France in 1894
France invests in Russian industrialization
Kaiser Wilhelm II orders construction of large navy
British get worried
Germany industrializing at faster rate since 1871
Britain and Germany in naval arms race
Each country builds more battleships
Germany meddles in British colonial affairs
Boer War in South Africa ( )

6. The Alliance System Britain spent 19th century in “splendid isolation”
No alliances—no reason for them at the time
Rise of Germany changes attitudes
Britain and France sign Entente Cordiale in 1904
Not quite an alliance but settles colonial disputes
Moroccan Crises (1905, 1911)
France tries to take over Morocco but Germany interferes
British intervention prevents war
Britain and Russia enter into same agreement in 1907
Britain signs alliance with Japan in 1902

7. The Balkans The Eastern Question
What happens after the Ottoman Empire falls apart?
Between 1878 and 1913, Ottoman Empire loses all of its territories in the Balkans
Austria takes Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1878
Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro gain independence
Russia tries to gain influence in the Balkans in 1878 but stopped at the Congress of Berlin

8. The Balkans The Balkan Wars (1911, 1913)
Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria attack the Ottoman Empire
To gain more territory
Serbia becomes a threat to Austria
Serbia wants to extend into Austrian territory
Serbia allied with Russia in secret alliance

9. World War I
Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914
Heir to the Austrian throne
Assassins part of Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand
Germany gives “Blank Check” to Austria
To act against Serbia

10. World War I The July Crisis
Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia on July 24, 1914
A list of 15 demands for Serbia in dealing with assassins
Serbia agrees to all but one; Austria planned it that way
Russia threatens Austria not to attack Serbia
Germany threatens Russia not to attack Austria

11. World War I The July Crisis
Austria declares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
Russia and Austria mobilize
Germany threatens Russia not to mobilize
Germany declares war on Russia on August 1, 1914
Germany declares war on France on August 3, 1914

12. World War I The July Crisis World War I begins
Britain had been staying neutral
Britain tries to mediate between Austria and Russia throughout crisis
But no one is listening
Germany plans to go through Belgium to attack France
Part of Schlieffen Plan
Britain threatens Germany not to march through Belgium
Britain declares war on Germany on August 4, 1914
World War I begins

13. World War I The Central Powers The Triple Entente (Allies)
Germany, Austria, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire enters alliance with Germany in October 1914
The Triple Entente (Allies)
Britain, France, Russia
Italy joins Triple Entente in 1915 in secret alliance

14. World War I The Western Front
Germany invades Belgium on August 3, 1914
Belgium puts up more resistance than expected
Buys time for the British to move into France
British and French stop Germans outside Paris
Stalemate develops
Beginning of trench warfare
Lasts for 3 years

15. World War I The Eastern Front Germany invades Russia in 1914
Russian army no match for Germany
Germany takes Poland, the Baltic coast, and western Russia
The war becomes unpopular in Russia
Low morale in the army and shortage of supplies in the cities

16. World War I War expands outside Europe Africa Asia Middle East
British take German colonies
Asia
Japan takes German colonies in the Pacific and German interests in China
Middle East
British try to invade Ottoman Empire in Gallipoli campaign in 1915
British and French take Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia

17. World War I New weapons introduced Total war
Tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns
But war fought with old tactics
Total war
Entire economy devoted to the war effort
More women work in factories to make up for men going to war
Mass media allows effective use of war propaganda

18. World War I Russia gets out of the war War going disastrously
Czar Nicholas II unable to provide leadership
Czar Nicholas II overthrown in February Revolution (1917)
Provisional government replaces monarchy
But continues fighting
Bolsheviks under Lenin gain control in October Revolution (November 1917)
Promise “Peace, Land, and Bread”
Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918

19. World War I The United States neutral for most of the war
Submarine warfare
German submarines target British shipping
Sometimes neutral ships sunk
Lusitania sunk in 1915
US makes Germany promise to restrict submarine warfare

20. World War I The US declares war on Germany in 1917
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917
President Woodrow Wilson wants US to “make the world safe for democracy”
US tips the balance on the side of the Allies
American troops, money, and supplies give advantage to the Allies

21. World War I Losses in the war lead to revolution in Germany
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates on November 9, 1918
Monarchy replaced by a republic
Germany calls for an armistice on November 11, 1918
World War I comes to an end
Estimated 10,000,000 deaths from the war
Most destructive war in history
Destroys European assumptions of progress

22. The Treaty of Versailles
Representatives from Allied nations and Germany meet in Paris
Wilson represents the United States and tries to make peace
The Fourteen Points
National self-determination
Open agreements
League of Nations

23. The Treaty of Versailles
Britain and France don’t buy Wilson’s Fourteen Points
They want revenge on Germany
Britain and France make a harsh peace with Germany
Germany takes full responsibility for the war
Stripped all of its colonies
Occupy part of German territory
Impose heavy reparations
Germans feel angry and cheated

24. The Treaty of Versailles
End of World War I redraws the map of Europe
Austria-Hungary dismembered into new states
Ottoman Empire dissolved
New republic in Turkey
Middle East divided between Britain and France
Poland reappears as a republic
Yugoslavia comes into existence

25. The League of Nations
Wilson compromises on Fourteen Points to get support for the League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles had to be ratified by the US
US Senate refuses to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1919
US does not join the League of Nations
League of Nations has no credibility

26. Impact of War 10,000,000 dead. 20,000,000+ wounded $330 Billion
European economy in shambles
Euro govs in debt w/ no way to repay—esp to the USA
Psychologically scarring
20th century was to be a century of prosperity and progress shakes belief in humanity, order and reason
Not the “war to end all wars.”

27. Conclusion Between 1870 and 1914 European powers enter into alliances
Arms race makes Europe highly unstable
A series of decisions led Europe into World War I
Allies impose a harsh peace on Germany
World War I the most destructive war in history