Download WWI Study Guide

WWI Study Guide
“MAIN” Causes of WW1
*possible fill in blank – include definition
M. Militarism – glorification of war and the military
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Competition for military power and strength
o Arms race – competition to build up armed forces and weapons
o Increase in military spending & influence of military in the government
A. Alliances – Partnership agreement to go to war in the event one country in the partnership is attacked.
Aim was to discourage
other countries from attacking members of the alliance
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Triple Alliance ---Triple Entente -----
Germany
Russia
Austria-Hungary
France
Italy
Great Britain
I. Imperialism – One country’s domination of the economic, political and social life of another country
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Competition for colonies – countries had some and wanted more, others had none and wanted some
o Economic growth – countries wanted to new markets to sell products
o Power and prestige of expanding global empires
N. Nationalism – Extreme love and devotion for one’s country & Freedom from foreign rule
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria assassinated --- Spark that led to war--- immediate cause that creates a chain of
diplomatic failures setting WWI in motion
THE COMBATANTS
Central Powers
Allied Powers
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Austria-Hungary
G.B.
Germany
Russia
Ottoman Empire
France
Bulgaria
Belgium
Later – Japan joined Allies. Italy initially remained neutral (felt A.H. and Germany had acted aggressively, rather than
defensively), but later entered on the side of the allies. US joins (April 2, 1917).
Battles & Actions
Schlieffen Plan – war plan for Germany; Germany fought on two fronts (east with France/Great Britain and west with Russia)
Western Front – fought in France
1. Stalemate – a state of deadlock where neither side gains an advantage
2. Trench warfare - a type of armed combat in which the two opposing sides fight from trenches that face each other to protect
soldiers from the onslaught of machine gun fire and other weaponry
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No man’s land – the desolate area that separated the two sides of trenches
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Soldiers lived in the trenches for several weeks --- Disease, cold, mud, rats, rain
3. War of Attrition – a war in which each side tries to wear the other side down by constant attacks.
Eastern Front – fought in Russia
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More mobile than Western Front (ground too hard to dig trenches), Front much longer, covered more territory
New Weapons
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*potential essay – know 3-4 and explain their impact on the war
Machine guns – allowed one man to kill hundreds of men in seconds
Poisonous gas – German army was first ever to used -- Chlorine (blindness, choking) & Mustard (skin blisters, long slow death)
Tanks – allowed for movement across rugged terrain, eventually designed to cross trenches
Airplanes – first used for reconnaissance work (spying), later in war to deliver bombs and fight enemy in they air
Submarines – German u-boats destroyed warships, supply ships, and commercial and passenger ships
U.S. Entry into the War
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--- Reasons did not enter in 1914
Policy of neutrality – policy of not choosing sides
U.S. late entry – believed war was a European conflict and had nothing to do with the US
Economic Reasons – keep trade open with both sides
Two groups greatly impacted by the war:
Women – Took factory jobs when husband’s went to war. Loved the independence – changed dynamic of what women could do outside
of the home. Led to signing of 19th amendment (Women’s right to vote) after WWI ended.
African Americans – Black soldiers served in segregate units but showed their skills. Change from Industrial Revolution led to the
Great Migration, African Americans moving north to get factory jobs in an area without the stigmatism of slavery.
Reasons U.S. Enters – April 2, 1917
1. Lusitania – British passenger ship torpedoed by German u-boats; 1,200 die including 128 Americans
2. Zimmerman note – message from Arthur Zimmerman (German Foreign Minister) to his ambassador in Mexico.
Germany would help Mexico regain New Mexico, Texas and Arizona from the US, if Mexico would start a war with US to keep them
“occupied” and out of the war in Europe
3. Un-restricted submarine warfare – German U-boats continue to sink American merchant ships
US prepares for WAR
Total war – all of country’s resources going toward war effort – US prepared for War
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o
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Government influences production of goods and services toward needs of the war
Unemployment drops – workers need to produce war goods
Food Rationing, price controls on food and wages
Propaganda – intended to persuade people to support the war, make sacrifices, keep moral high
Women – join the workforce and aided in getting women the right to vote in 1920
Propaganda – ideas or rumors used to harm an opposing cause --- to recruit soldiers, finance war effort & unify war mindset
Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks (led by Vladimir Lenin) overthrow the government; Russia pulls out of WW1 and make it a one-front war (German troops
fighting on Eastern front head to support their comrades on the Western front). Leads to the formation of the Soviet Union.
End of war
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Austria-Hungary quits (Oct 1918); German soldiers revolt (Nov 1918) “ No more fighting” – Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
Nov. 11, 1918: Armistice day – Germans agree to end fighting
o
9 Million soldiers dead
21 Million soldiers wounded
13 Million civilians were dead of disease or starvation
Absolute Monarchies in Europe destroyed, Increased political and social instability
Effects of WWI
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WWI different from other wars:
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Number of casualties
Use of new technologies
Colonies participated in hopes of gaining their independence
number of countries involved
Amount of destruction
Woodrow Wilson’s (US President) 14 points – peace plan
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Freedom of the seas and trade
End to secret alliances
Self-rule for all nations
No punishments to Germany (not acceptable for European Allies)
League of Nations – an organization of world nations to settle future problems peacefully
(US started it but never joined it! --- did lead to formation of the United Nations years later)
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“Big Three” - George Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain), and Woodrow Wilson, (US)
Paris Peace Conference – delegates from 27 nations signed the Treaty of Versailles
Central Powers not invited, nor was Russia
Each nation had differing goals, Wilson had to compromise on his 14 Points
Treaty of Versailles with Germany --- official end of the war
Treaty of Versailles
4 Key Points – known as “BRAT”
B.
R.
A.
T.
Germany had to admit BLAME for the war
Germany forced to pay REPARATAIONS (payments) to Allies – $33 billion
Germany had to limit their ARMY to less than 100,000 troops, no submarines, no air force
Germany lost TERRITORY that had acquired through Imperialism