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FCPS World II SOL Standards: WHII 10a and 10b
World War I-Causes (1914-1918)
You Mean the Whole World Went to War?
M.A.I.N. Causes of World War I
In 1914, many European countries were preparing for war. The
conflict they would engage in is called World War I. You can
remember the causes of the war by thinking of the word MAIN.
Each letter stands for one of the major causes – militarism,
alliances, imperialism, nationalism.
Many European countries had a policy of militarism, the
building of a large military force to use for war. Nations also
formed strategic alliances and agreed to cooperate with other
nations. During World War I, The Central Powers (see map)
formed one side of the conflict. The Allies (see map), which
later included the United States, formed the opposition.
European imperialism created rival empires who wanted to
increase their wealth and power. Lastly, Europeans also had
strong feelings of nationalism. For example, Germans, French,
and Russians believed in their superiority over other nations.
Additionally, the Slavs, an ethnic group on the Balkan Peninsula
in Eastern Europe, wanted to unite all Slavs in one country.
However, a large territory inhabited by Slavic people was
controlled by the Austria-Hungary Empire. The Serbians, who
were part of the Slavs, wanted to make that territory independent.
Colonial Rule in Africa, 1914
Source: http://s53.photobucket.com/user/PoorOldSpike/media/CMSF/imperial-africa.gif.html#/user/
PoorOldSpike/media/CMSF/imperial-africa.gif.html?&_suid=1405523637155008692264466551636
Events of World War I
World War I began on the Balkan Peninsula. This area was called the “powder keg of Europe” because of the number of
armed conflicts in the area. It was there that a Serbian nationalist, Gavrillo Princip, assassinated Austria-Hungary’s Archduke
Franz Ferdinand while he was visiting Serbia. Shortly thereafter, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Unknown to AustriaHungary, Serbia had a secret alliance with Russia. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary to defend Serbia. Kaiser Wilhelm
II, the leader of Germany and an ally of Austria-Hungary, then declared war on Russia and France. Great Britain joined the war
when Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. World War I, known as “the war to end all wars,” had begun.
Warfare in World War I
Timeline of British Influence in India, 1600-1857
The Central Powers found themselves fighting a two front war, with enemies to the west (Britain
and France) and the east (Russia). The Western Front quickly became a stalemate, and the
two sides dug trenches. These trenches were long channels where troops could take cover
during attacks and rest after. The space between the trenches was called no man’s land, which
was very dangerous to cross. Gunfire, barbed wires, dead bodies, and poison gas were all used
as obstacles to keep enemies from crossing and taking trenches. The trenches themselves,
filled with rats, bugs, disease, and injured soldiers, were dangerous, unwelcoming places.
Source: http://public.media.smithsonianmag.com/legacy_blog/sarajevo-murder.jpg
A World War I
This war did not just affect Europe. Battles were fought in Africa, on the Indian Ocean, and in the Middle East. Many countries
around the world sent soldiers into battle. Colonies like Australia, India, and French Indochina (Vietnam) became de facto allies with
their European “mother nation.” Japan fought with the Allies. Many colonies believed that they would be granted independence if
they helped their colonizers win World War I.
FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014
World War I-Causes (cont.) WHII 10a and 10b
The United States Joins the War
The United States expressed a policy of neutrality at the beginning of World War I. However,
the United States sold weapons to countries that were fighting, mainly Great Britain. The
United States and Germany also competed for power in Haiti. In response, the Germans
declared unrestricted submarine warfare, which meant that German submarines would attack
any ship believed to be carrying weapons. In 1915, the Germans attacked the British ship
the Lusitania killing many passengers, including several Americans. The United States
government warned Germany against attacking Americans, but this event did not bring the
United States into the war. In early 1917, the British intercepted the so-called “Zimmerman
Cartoon of the Zimmerman Telegram
Telegram.” In the telegram, Zimmerman, a German official, offered to help Mexico win back Source: http://johnsouthard.com/the-zimmerman-telegram/
territories lost to the United States if Mexico would attack the United States to keep them out of the war in Europe. The telegram
convinced the U.S. government to openly declare war against Germany in 1917.
Russia Exits the War
Over 1,700,000 Russian soldiers died in World War I. The Russian government under Czar Nicholas II was unable to provide food
and ammunition to its soldiers. Meanwhile, the people of Russia were also going hungry. In 1917, an armed uprising overthrew the
Russian monarchy. The new Russian leader, Vladimir Lenin, called for a ceasefire between Russia and the Central Powers. This
meant that Germany was no longer fighting on its east and could focus her efforts on the Western Front (see map).
Key Vocabulary
Militarism: the belief that a country should
maintain a strong military and be prepared
to use it aggressively to defend or promote
national interests
Stalemate: a condition in a dispute,
competition, or battle where neither side
can gain an advantage
Ethnic: belonging to a certain group with a
shared identity, heritage, or language
Neutrality: the quality or state of not supporting
either side in an argument
Powder keg of Europe: a phrase used to
describe the Balkan Peninsula before WW I
Ceasefire: an order or signal to stop fighting, a
temporary suspension of fighting
Trenches: a long, thin hole in the ground used
as protection from enemies
Alliance: an agreement to cooperate between
two or more people, groups, or countries
No man’s land: space between trenches that
did not belong to either side
Quick Review
1. Which of the following events convinced the United States
to join World War I?
A. Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination
B. The Sinking of the Lusitania
C. The Zimmerman Telegram
D. Russia leaving the war
3. According to the chart (in question 2), which of the
Allied powers lost the most troops?
A. USA C. France 2. According to the chart, which of the
Central Powers lost the most troops?
A. Austria-Hungary
B. Germany
C. Ottoman Empire
D. Bulgaria
4. Which cause of World War I do you think was the most significant?
Explain your answer.
B. Britain
D. Russia
Connection to Today
Resources
Do you think another world war could begin if the leader of a nation
was assassinated today? Explain your thinking.
ABC-CLIO
● World War One
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/310046?terms=worl
d+war+1
Marshall Cavendish
● World War One
http://www.marshallcavendishdigital.com/encnav/World-War-I.27
FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014