World War I, known as the 'Great War', was fueled by militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism, with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand serving as the catalyst for the conflict. The war saw major powers divided into the Central Powers and Allied Powers, with trench warfare and global participation marking the fighting on multiple fronts. The war concluded with the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy penalties on Germany, reshaped national borders, and led to significant political changes worldwide.

1. World War I The “Great War” Dr. Robbins World History

2. MAIN Causes of WWI M ilitarism A lliances I mperialism N ationalism

3. Cause: Militarism All major nations wanted a large army in response to nationalism, imperialism and the perceived threats from other armies

4. Cause: Alliances Caused many countries to join fighting once war had begun Before the war: Triple Alliance and Triple Entente Later: Central Powers and Allied Powers

5. Cause: Imperialism Desire for increased territory and wealth led to competition over colonies

6. Cause: Nationalism Desire to prove national greatness led to rivalries between great powers Highly nationalistic ethnic groups were calling for independence (e.g., Serbians, part of Slavic ethnic group)

7. What is a catalyst?

8. Ottoman Empire had declined and some Balkan countries were now independent Austria took over (annexed) Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of Slavic ethnic group Serbia, also Slavic, resented Austrian aggression; wanted large Slavic-controlled region The Catalyst: Background

9. The Catalyst Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary Serbian nationalist group, Black Hand, wanted Bosnia freed from Austria 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand killed the Archduke on June 28, 1914

10. The Catalyst Leads to War Austria wanted to punish Serbia and set demands; most agreed to, but not enough Austria declares war against Serbia on July 28, 1914

11. War Spreads July 28—Russia (also Slavic) mobilized troops to the Austrian border Aug 1—Austria’s ally Germany saw this as a threat and declared war on Russia

12. War Continues to Spread Aug 3—Germany declared war on France, Russia’s ally Aug 4—after Germany attacked neutral Belgium, to get to France, Britain declared war on Germany

13. The Schlieffen Plan First—attack France to the west Second—attack Russia to the east Worked well to start: in Paris by Sept 3 Intended to keep Germany from having to fight on two fronts at the same time

14. The Schlieffen Plan Count Von Schlieffen Kaiser Wilhelm II

15. Alliances Before the War Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain

16. Alliances Shift After War Starts Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary later, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire (wanting to regain lost territories)

17. Allied Powers (the Allies) Great Britain, France, Russia soon Japan, and later Italy also Serbia, Greece, Romania, etc. much later, the U.S. (1917)

18. Europe in 1914

19. “ Short” war goes long German plan worked well to start: in Paris by Sept 3 Battle of the Marne— began on Sept 5, after 8 days of battle, German offensive was stopped Russians soon attacking Germany in the east the Schlieffen Plan has failed

20. Stuck in the trenches Example of trench warfare Battle of Verdun in Feb 1916—each side lost more than 300,000 men

21. Trenches on the Western Front

22. New technology of war Machine guns Poison gas Grenades Armored tanks Larger artillery: canons Submarines Airplanes armed with machine guns

23. Western Front Mostly in France , near German border 500 miles of trenches dug in France Trench warfare No Man’s Land—the uninhabited land between the rows of trenches STALEMATE—”stuck”, nobody makes any real progress

24. Eastern Front Along Russia’s borders with Germany and Austria-Hungary Fewer trenches, more mobile and more brutal than western front Russians always short of supplies

25. Russia’s Role Russia’s huge population provided plenty of soldiers to send to the front Russia kept Germany from winning the war by occupying them in the east, dividing forces

26. Gallipolli, 1915

27. “ Global” war Every continent throughout the GLOBE Fighting over colonies Also colonial subjects served their European masters

28. Who’s Fighting? Middle East (Arab nationalists helped Britain) Asia (Japan took German colonies; India fought for Britain) Africa (English & French wanted German land) Americas: Brazil, Canada and later, U.S. Australia (fighting for British)

29. “ Total” War Every country involved devoted its TOTAL resources to the war effort Governments took over factories, etc.

30. Life on the Home Front Rationing in Europe Limiting the amount of daily supplies that people could buy (gasoline, sugar, etc.) On a volunteer basis in U.S. Propaganda Persuading the population to support the war

35. Women worked in factories & on farms replacing men who had gone to fight

36. U.S. Enters the War U.S. policy of isolationism had kept it out of the war, though they helped Allies Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germans sank British and U.S. ships, including passenger ships (Lusitania)

37. U.S. Enters the War cont. Zimmerman Note—US learned of German telegram offering Mexico US territory if it joined Germany US entered war on April 2, 1917 Took a year to get 2 million US soldiers over

38. Russia’s Problems WWI had contributed to problems in Russia and helped cause revolution Russian Revolution of March, 1917 led to fall of Czar Nicholas II New provisionary government does not leave war, this led to resentment and…

39. Russia Leaves the War Bolshevik Revolution of Nov, 1917 led to Communist takeover of Russia Bolshevik leader Lenin signed peace treaty with Germany in November, 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

40. The Final Act With Russia out, Germany could focus on Western Front BUT…arrival of US troops and exhaustion of German army and supplies led to defeat of Germany

41. Fighting Ends Central Powers signed the Armistice (end to fighting)—Nov 11, 1918

42. Treaty of Versailles Allied Powers met to create a post-war treaty at the Palace of Versailles Started on Jan 18, 1919 & signed on June 28, 1919 (5 years after assassination) Big 4: US, France, Britain, Italy (Japan virtually shut out)

43. The Fourteen-Point Plan Woodrow Wilson’s proposal for peace End to secret treaties Freedom of seas Reduce national armies and navies Self-determination for colonial peoples “ just” peace (no harsh punishment) League of Nations

44. In the End… Britain & France agreed to League of Nations but not the rest of Wilson’s plan

45. Germany was punished: “ War guilt” clause, Germany to pay $33 billion over 30 years to Allies ($407 billion in 2008 money) Lost lots of territory Restrictions on German military

46. The Result 4 Empires Ended: Russian, German, Ottoman, Austrian-Hungarian Ex-colonies administered by League; colonies angry at treatment by Europe

47. More Results Japan and Italy angry—gained little Germany left virtually destroyed, broke, in debt, embittered…ready for Hitler 20 years later

48. Total Costs 8.5 million soldiers died 21 million soldiers wounded 1918 flu epidemic killed as many as 50 million Made worse by wartime conditions

49. Total Costs cont. A generation “lost” Farmland, homes, & villages destroyed Total cost in 1918 dollars: $338 billion (about $4 trillion in today’s money)