Transcript Ch_7Causesof WW I

The Great War: World War I:
The Slaughter of the Finest
Ms. Soto
Define the following terms:
1. Imperialism 2. Militarism 3. Nationalism
4. Alliances
Imperialism: Domination by one country of
the political, economic, or cultural life of
another country or region.
Imperialism led to:
Militarism: Glorification of the military.
Militarism led to:
Nationalism: A strong feeling of pride in
and devotion to one’s country.
Nationalism led to:
Aspirations for independence in a country
under foreign domination and Alliances
General Information…
•Called the “Great War” or
“The War to end all Wars”
• Started on July 28, 1914
• Ended on November 11, 1918
• Almost 8,000,000 dead.
*** Russia the most = 1.7 million
• Almost 22,000,000 wounded…..
• Map of Europe greatly changed.
The 20th Century Begins
As the 20th century opened, Europe was brimming
with tension. On the surface, all appeared calm. But
underneath, the forces of nationalism, imperialism,
and militarism helped fuel an intense competition
among European nations. In 1914, these forces—
along with a set of complex military alliances—led
to a war that engulfed all of Europe and eventually
touched nearly every corner of the world.
After four years of fighting, the Allied Powers, led by
France, Britain, and the United States, defeated the
Central Powers, comprised mainly of Germany and
Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire. The conflict,
which saw the first use of so much advanced
weaponry, devastated Europe. The war left millions
dead and millions more wounded. It also left behind
a peace treaty that only increased many nations’
bitterness toward one another.
The Great War WW I
Long-Term Causes
• Nationalism spurs
competition among
European nations.
• Imperialism deepens
national rivalries.
• Militarism leads to large
standing armies.
Immediate Causes
• The assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand in June 1914
prompts Austria to declare war on
Serbia.
• The alliance system requires
nations to support their allies.
European countries declare war
on one another.
• The alliance system
divides Europe into two
rival camps.
WORLD WAR I
Mapping the Alliances 1914
The Alliance System in 1914
Allies (Triple Entente*)
 Great Britain*
 France*
 Russia*
 Italy (changed sides
from Triple Alliance)
 United States
(entered the war in
1917)
Central Powers
(Triple Alliance*)
 Germany*
 Austria Hungary*
 Italy* (later changed
sides)1915
 Ottoman Empire
 Bulgaria
Mapping the Alliances
1914-1918
Conflicting National Interests
Set the Stage for War
• Imperialism
• New Advances in military weapons
• Triple Alliance – Bismarck feared that France
would seek revenge for its defeat in the
Franco Prussian war of 1871 by trying to
regain Alsace-Lorraine.
• 1879: Dual Alliance – Bismarck tried to
prevent a France-Russian alliance that would
harm them in Germany.
• Germany and Austria Hungary join forces.
• Triple Alliance - Italy requested a pact
with Germany and Austria Hungary. This
treaty served to isolate France.
• Triple Entente – Russia Borrowed money
from France after losing a war to Japan.
• 1894: Russia and France form an
alliance.
• Great Britain seeks allies to stop German
navy from usurping its dominance of the
seas. British and French reach an
agreement over control of Morocco
(France) and Egypt (Great Britain).
• Great Britain and Russia sign an agreement
ending rivalry in Middle East.
BALKAN POWDER KEG
• Austria-Hungary controls Bosnia
• Many people of Serbian descent live in Bosnia
• Serbia is trying to expand it territory just like
everyone else. Serbia decides that Bosnia
should be a part of Serbia.
• Serbia is landlocked and wants a way to the sea
• Taking control of Bosnia gives them sea access.
• Serbia decides to begin a revolution in Bosnia
hoping for Serbs to take control.
• Russia, hoping to assume leadership of a
Slavic league, supported Serbia’s goals.
• Who is allied with Russia? France and
Great Britain.
• Who is allied with Austria-Hungary,
controller of Bosnia? Germany and Italy
• June 28, 1914: Bosnian Serbs assassinate
Archduke Ferdinand and wife Sofia in
Sarajevo, Bosnia.
»War is Declared!!!
How did Americans feel?
• Public opinion about the war was strong but
divided.
• Socialists saw the war as a imperialist struggle.
• Pacifists believed that all wars were bad and
urged U.S. to set an example for peace.
• Many naturalized U.S. citizens still had ties to
the countries they came from and would
sympathized with them.
The United States Stays Neutral
•
Americans thought of World War I as a European conflict with little effect on their
country.
•
Just after the war broke out, President Wilson declared that the U.S. would stay
neutral.
•
Wilson’s decision reflected the U.S.’s longstanding policy of isolationism, or not
being involved in foreign affairs.
•
Privately, Wilson favored the Allied cause because Germany's tactics and invasion of
Belgium was worrisome.
– The U.S. also had greater political, cultural, and commercial ties to Great Britain
and France than to Germany.
•
Financially, the U.S. did more business with the Allies.
– The British fleet blockaded German ports and transportation routes, and few
American businesses could sell goods to German forces.
– Doing business with the Allies was easier, and by 1917 Britain purchased nearly
$75 million worth of war goods each week.
The War Hits Home
How did the war affect Americans?
The British Blockade
• The War affected American shipping
• Great Britain set up a blockage along the
German coast to keep goods from getting
through. American ships would not challenge.
• The German plan for unrestricted submarine
warfare angered Americans, and Wilson
believed it violated the laws of neutrality.
• Wilson held Germany accountable for
American losses.
German U-Boat Response
• Germany suffered because of the British
blockade, so it developed small submarines
called U-boats to strike back at the British.
• U-boats are named after the German for
“undersea boat.”
• In February 1915 the German government
declared the waters around Great Britain a
war zone, threatening to destroy all enemy
ships.
• Germany warned the U.S. that neutral ships
might be attacked.
America’s Involvement
• In 1915, Germany sank a luxury passenger
ship to Great Britain called the Lusitania,
killing many, including 128 Americans
• Americans were outraged, and Wilson
demanded an end to unrestricted submarine
warfare.
• The Germans agreed to attack only supply
ships but later sank the French passenger ship
Sussex, killing 80 people including
Americans.
• Why DID THE USA ENTER WW I?
• For 3 years the U.S. stayed Neutral but was
WhyinWw
dragged into the conflict
1917.
• USA didn’t want to fight an English Democracy
• German SUBMARINE Warfare, (U-boats sinking
U.S. ships)
• Sinking of the Lusitannia- 128 Americans died
• British Propaganda against Central Powers
• Zimmerman Note- letter to Mexico from Germans
asking Mexico to enter War against USA.
• Russia was defeated, Now Central Powers could
defeat the Allies and win the War.
• The USA then declared war on the Central
Powers.
How America Tips the
Balance of Power in WW I
1.U.S. passed selective service act (draft)
2 Two million men fight to assist Allies.
3. Mass Production- Industries turned
over to full weapon, ship,& vehicle prod.
4. Ship Convoy System- heavy guard of
ships to protect against U-boat
attack.(depth charges)
5. U.S. will and strength, good leaders.
The Guns of August
Trench Warfare:
Protection from the Machine Gun
The First Air War
Treaty of Versailles
• Germany forced to take all responsibility
for the war.
• Germany stripped of its colonies.
• Germany must pay huge reparations.
• Alsace and Lorraine to France.
• Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland
carved out of Russian territory.
• Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary
carved out of German territory.
• Yugoslavia created in the Balkans. It
incorporates Serbia, which disappears.
Mapping the Treaty of Versailles
Textbook page 696
The Great War
WORLD WAR I
Immediate Effects
• A generation of Europeans are
killed or wounded.
• Dynasties fall in Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
• New countries are created.
• The League of Nations is
established to help promote
peace.
Long-Term Effects
• Many nations feel
bitter and betrayed by
the peace settlements.
• Problems that helped
cause the war—
nationalism,
competition—remain.