Download Prior to the Outbreak of WWI, tensions in Europe were

Prior to the Outbreak of WWI, tensions in
Europe were caused by:
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Nationalism – encouraged unity among people
of the same language and culture.
Militarism – the policy to build up a strong
military to prepare for war.
Imperialism – Great Britain, France, Germany,
Russia and Italy were racing to take control of
colonies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Assassination of Archduke
Ferdinand
Serbian Nationalist group that
wanted Bosnia to break free from
Austria Hungary and join Serbia
planned the assassination.
Alliance
•
Agreement between countries to
support one another in case of an
attack.
Triple Alliance
• Germany
• Austria-Hungary
• Italy (until they made an agreement with
Great Britian in 1915 to join the other
side.)
Triple Entente
• Great Britain
• France
• Russia
Sequence of Events that started
WWI
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Arch Duke Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian
nationalist group.
Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia after the
assassination.
Russia who was Serbia’s ally ordered its troops to
mobilize, or prepare for war.
Germany who was Austria Hungary’s ally declared war
on Russia.
Germany declared war on Russia’s ally France and
marched through Belgium to get to France.
Britain who was Belgium’s ally declared war on
Germany
Trench Warfare
Soldiers spent day after day in shallow
ditches.
Stalemate
By Nov. 1914, the war produced a deadly
stalemate in which neither side is strong
enough to defeat the other.
American Neutrality was put at risk
by:
1.) The sinking of the Lusitania
(although not a direct cause).
2.) Germany unrestricted submarine warfare – In
February 1917 Germany warned that it would
sink any ship nearing Britain.
3.) Zimmerman Telegram – Germany sent a message
to Mexico offering an alliance if the United States
entered the war. Germany would help Mexico
get back the territories of Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona.
United States response to war
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In April 1917, Congress declared war.
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Over the next 18 months, over 4 million men
and women signed up for military service.
Ending the war
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Battle of Argonne Forest – largest U.S. battle in
which we sent over 1.5 million troops. Pushed
Germans back to their own territory.
Internal conflicts in Germany and struggles with
food and supplies led to that Armistice.
Armistice – an agreement to end fighting. The
armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.
(Now celebrated as Veteran’s Day)
Armistice
an agreement to end fighting.
The armistice was signed on
November 11, 1918. (Now
celebrated as Veteran’s Day)
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
•
Wilson’s plan for peace that will prevent
a war like this from happening again.
He wanted to “peace without victory”
which means that no country was to be
severely punished and no country was
to be rewarded.
Four Main Goals of Wilson’s
Fourteen Point Plan
1) Spread democracy
2) Open markets for trade
3) International organization for resolving
disputes (League of Nations)
4) Active U.S. involvement in global
affairs.
The Treaty of Versailles
France had a very different vision of
how to create the peace treaty. Much of
the destruction of the war had taken
place in their country and they wanted
Germany to pay.
The harsh terms of the treaty were:
• Germany is to pay reparations – the demand was very
high and placed a huge burden on the German economy.
• Germany had to give up a lot of land.
• Germany had to disarm their military. They had to
eliminate their air force and severely reduce their navy
and army.
• War Guilt Clause – Germany had to take blame for the
war.