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WWI 1914-1918
I.
Causes of WWI 194-1918
Austrian-Hungary Empire, German Empire, Ottoman Empire, Russian
Empire
Background: Bismarck turned Germany into a powerful nation in 1861-1871
 France lost the Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian War. France humiliated.
 Germany (Bismarck) wanted to stop France from regaining this territory.
 Bismarck wanted to Isolate France
 Bismarck wanted to maintain relations with Austrian-Hungarian Empire and
Russia
 Russia and Austrian-Hungary Empire Rivals
Allies: Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Belgium,
Japan joined in 1914 to gain land in Pacific
Italy joined in 1915 to gain land from Austria
U.S. joined in 1917 due to unrestricted submarine warfare.
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary Empire, Ottoman Empire,
Bulgaria joined in 1915 to secure revenge against Serbia
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Alliance System
Nationalism
Economics
Imperialism
Militarism
ALLIANCE SYSTEM
1. Three Emperor’s League 1881-1887: Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary
established the principle of cooperation among the three powers in any further
division of the Ottoman Empire.
o Designed to ease neutralize tensions b/t Austria-Hungary and Russia
o Russia declined to renew the alliance due to tensions with AustriaHungary over the Balkans
2. Dual Alliance: Between Germany and Austria-Hungary (1879) to isolate France
3. Reinsurance Treaty: Secrete treaty between Germany and Russia (1887), Russia
and Austria in conflict over the Balkans. Germany wanted to allied with both,
ended 1890.
4. Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy of 1882.
o Italy in conflict with France for preventing them from seizing Tunisia.
5. Dual Entente: Russia and France 1894, as a result of the end of the Reinsurance
Treaty, Russia needed capital for development and France willing to lend them.
o France wanted to test Germany’s power
o Russia needed an ally and wanted the Balkans
6. Entente Cordial: Great Britain and France 1904, concern over Germany’s
military and industrial growth.
o Great Britain needed and ally. Germany to dominant now.
7. Triple Entente: Great Britain, France and Russia 1907, joined together to
balance the power b/t the Triple Alliance of 1882.
o The Alliance system divided Europe into two rival camps
o Distrust grew and concerned of motives for these alliances
IMPERIALSIM: The European imperialist nations, Germany, Great Britain, and
France, competed for territory, markets, and resources in Asia and Africa.
 Great Britain resented Germany for blocking her plan for a Cape-Cairo Railway.
 Germany and Great Britain, however, acted to defeat Russia’s effort to acquire the
Dardanelles.
 Germany was preventing France from gaining Morocco.
NATIONALISM: National pride, created jealousy and hatred among the European
nations.
 France was humiliated with the loss of Alsace Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian
War. They considered Germany their enemy.
 Other territories wanted to extend their territory and control people of their race.
For example Serbia wanted to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina.
 Czechs, Yugoslavs, and Poles wanted independence.
 Russia, largest Slavic country, defended the rights of people of similar
backgrounds.
 Russia supported Serbia, (its Slavic brother) against any threat.
ECONOMICS: Economic rivalries created tension and competition b/t Great Britain and
Germany. Great Britain felt threatened by Germany’s economic and military rapid
growth.
 By 1900, German factories were out-producing British ones and Germany was
challenging Great Britain in the world markets.
MILITARISM: Military race to build the strongest military to protect imperialist’s
interest.
 Germany and Great Britain expanded their arms
 Germany built the strongest navy, source of pride and patriotism.
 Britain saw Germany’s navy as a threat and so began building their military.
 The cycle of paranoia led to an arms race.
INTERNATIONAL CRISES: The European powers before WWI confronted each
other in a series of diplomatic clashes that could have resulted in war.
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Moroccan Crises of 1905: France interested in Morocco, Germany protested the
French domination. Germany advocated Moroccan independence and sent a
warship to the country.
o Moroccan conference 1906, Britain, Italy and U.S. support France
dominance of Morocco
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Balkans Crisis of 1908: Serbia and Austria-Hungary wanted the Balkans.
o Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908, Serbia protested
and Russia supported Serbia.
o Germany sided with Austria and balanced the Russian threat.
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Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911: Germany sent a gunboat to Agadir to
protest the French occupation of the region.
o Germany compromised when realized the Britain supporting France.
o France was allowed to establish protectorate in Morocco and in return
Germany received some land area along Equatorial Africa, namely parts
of the Congo.
o Britain and France same interest to limit Germany power.
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Balkans Crises of 1912-1913: As a result of the Balkan War of 1912 with the
Ottoman Empire, four Balkan states—Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and
Greece—seized territory from the Ottoman Empire.
Serbia’s dispute with Bulgaria over the spoils of war led to 2nd Balkan War.
Austria, Germany, and Italy forced creation of Albania out of Ottoman Empire,
blocking Serbia’s ambitions.
The Balkan Crises of 1912-1913 brought Russia and Serbia closer together and
intensified animosity toward Austria.
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THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE WAR: On June 28, 1914, the Heir to the
throne of Austria and his wife were assassinated while visiting Sarajevo, capital of
Bosnia.
 Serbian, Gavrilo Princip was the assassin.
 Austrians believed Serbian officials aided the plot of assassination
 Austria determined to punish Serbia
 The assassination set off a chain reaction during the months of July and August
that plunged Europe into WWI.
Chain Reactions:
Austria’s ultimatum on Serbia: Placed 48hr ultimatum on Serbia demanding that
Serbia stop anti-Austrian propaganda and punish any Serbian official involved in the
murder plot.
 Austria wanted to join the investigation of the murder
 Russia (big brother of Serbia), encouraged Serbia to stand tough against
Austria’s demands
 Russia turned to France for support against Austria
 July 28, 1914, Austria went to war against Serbia.
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Russia joined in support of Serbia on July 30, 1914
August 1, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia after Russia refuses Germany’s request
to stop mobilization.
August 3, 1914: Germany declares war on France. The Germany plan to attack France
only by passing through Belgium.
 Belgium refused to let Germany pass through their territory.
 Germany move forward violating the Treaty o f1839, which had guaranteed
Belgium’s neutrality by all the Great Powers, including Prussia
August 4, 1914: Britain joins France and declares war on Germany
August 6, 1914: Austria declares war on Russia.
WWI BEGINS 1914
Allies and Central Powers expected a quick war.
The Trenches: Horrible, hot during summer, freezing during winter.
Sanitation conditions: Dead bodies, rats cold or hot led to diseases.
Germany’s Strategy: Schlieffen Plan developed in 1905 to prevent Germany from
needing to conduct a two-front war. Plan to quickly sweep through France, through
Belgium and then return to Russia in the East.
Western Front: Germany fighting France. Germans went into France, Belgians and
British join to help France and forced Germany to fall back.
 Fought in trenches
Eastern Front: Germany defeated Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg.
 Russians lost over 30,000 men and 225, 000 were captured in the fall of 1914. By
1915 2.5 million Russian soldiers were either killed, wounded or prisoners.
 Defeat due to poor leadership and no food for soldiers and civilians.
 The Czar starving his people.
Southern Front: British attacked the Ottoman Empire
 Winston Churchill, organized the Gallipoli Campaign, which was to strike
Germany and Austria through the Dardanelles and the Balkans.
 Plan to provide Russia with supplies through the Black Sea.
Home Front: Entire population of the country participated in the war effort: women,
children, propaganda.
War in the Colonies :
 Allies seizing German possessions in Africa.
 Japan seized German outposts in China and the Pacific
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British’s Balfour Declaration of 1917: called for a creation of a Jewish state.
War and at Sea:
 German submarines sank the Lusitania, a British Liner, claiming that it was
carrying munitions. Killed 1,201 people, of which 139 were Americans.
 US Woodrow Wilson threatens diplomatic relations with Germany if they don’t
stop sinking neutral ships without warning.
 British established a Blockade at sea keeping Germany from receiving
supplies. Took control of the Atlantic sea-lanes.
 Germany tried to break the blockade on May 31 to June 1, 1916 at the Battle
of Jutland. Battle involved over 250 ships and ended in a draw.
 Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare inflicted great damage on the
Allies but failed to break the Blockade.
New Weapons: Airplanes, poison gas, machine guns, armed tanks,
US entered WWI August 6, 1917:
 Sinking of Lusitania, killed 139 Americans
 Zimmerman Note, was intercepted by Britain. Germany asking Mexico to go to
war with the U.S., they would help them regain their territory lost in the Mexican
American War.
 Intensifies Anti-German sentiments in the US.
Espionage Act 1917: prohibited anyone from using U.S. mail system to interfere with
the war effort and draft.
Sedition Act 1918: made it illegal to try to prevent the sale of war bonds or to speak
disparagingly of the government, the flag, the military, or the constitution.
November, 1918, Germany signed the armistice to end World War I
EFFECTS of WWI
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points (end of colonialism, peace without victory):
1. End of Secret Diplomacy
2. Freedom of the Seas
3. Arms reduction
4. Free Trade
5. National self determination
6. League of Nations (International Peace Organization)
7.
The Big Four: Britain, France, Italy, and the U.S.: Meet in Versailles and each had
difference objectives.
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David Lloyed George ( Britain) sought to preserve its empire and maintain its
industrial and naval supremacy.
Georges Clemenceau (France) sought revenge for the lost provinces of Alsace
and Lorraine and wanted to insure France against future German invasions.
Vittorio Orlano (Itlay) wanted to gain Italia Irredenta, unredeemed territories
from Austria, and colonies in Africa and the Middle East
Woodrow Wilson (U.S) sought a just peace based on creating a League of
Nations.
Russia, Japan and the Central Powers were excluded from the conference.
Italy walked out when the treaty did not meet its demands.
France and Britain had suffer devastating economic losses and the loss of
human life. They wanted to punish Germany and make sure they never
threatened the security of Europe again.
The Treaty of Versailles:
 Article 231_ Germany accepted sole responsibility for the war ( War Guilt
Clause)
 Germany to pay all costs of the war, including civilian damages, pensions to
widows.
 Cost expected to be $132 billion over thirty years.
 Germany’s overseas colonies were distributed among the allies. (Alsace Lorraine
to France, Northern Schleswig to Denmark, West Prussia to Poland.
 France also gained control of the Saar coal mine as reparations.
 Germany’s army and navy were reduced to 100,000 men and it was forbidden
from having an air force.
 The Rhineland, a 30-mile strip of land in Western Germany, had to be demilitarized and subjected to occupation by the Allies for fifteen years. Other
treaties signed in 1919 with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey that redrew
the boundaries of Europe in the following:
 Austria was obliged to recognize the independence of Czechoslovakia (combining
the lands of the Czechs and Slovaks), including a significant number of Germans.
 Austria and Hungary became independent national states
 Poland became independent for the first time in the century
 Yugoslavia was created in the Balkans and dominated by the Serbs.
The Versailles Treaty never really solved the problems that led to WWI.
The U.S. rejected the treaty and never joined the League of Nations.
France felt isolated when Britain backed out of a defensive alliance with her.
Italy was angry because it did not get all the land it was promised in the secret treaty with
the allies.
Japan upset because they rejected its claims in China.
Russia angry because it was excluded from the conference.
Poland and Baltic states were carved out of their empire, which anger them.
Germany furious they were made responsible for the cost of the war.
Women during and after WWI:
 Britain, Germany, and Austria granted women the right to vote right after WWI.
 US, in 1920, with the 20th Amendment
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African Americans during and after WWI:
German Americans:
Schenck v. United States 1919: Supreme court upheld the Espionage Act, stating civil
liberties could be curtailed if one’s actions posed a “clear and present danger” to others
or the nation. You can not yell “FIRE” in a crowded movie theater if there is no fire.
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World War I exacted a further toll upon Europe:
10 million soldiers were dead and 20 million were wounded. It costs $332 billion
for war costs and property damages
The Ottoman Empire, Germany, Hapsburg Dynasty of the Austria-Hungarian
Empire, and the Romanov Dynasty of Russia destroyed.
Communism established in Russia
The economies of Europe were weakened. Paying for the war brought heavy
taxation and lower standards of living for the people of Europe.
The U.S. emerged as a leading world power. America became a creditor nation
from which the European nations borrowed in order to survive the devastation of
the war.
WWI, which was called the war to end all wars, created the seeds that would
plunge into another major war within twenty years.