WORLD WAR I

Factors Causes

Nationalism Territorial disputes Imperialistic rivalries Arms Race Balance of power is shifted Press & public opinion No international agency for arbitration Alliance system

Nationalism Sense of intense pride for ones culture. New idea becomes powerful for promoting

ones culture and interests above.

Basic idea of self determination that people who share a national identity and have their own country and government.

The southeast area of the Balkans holds the strongest nationalism.

Territorial disputes In Europe the

area of Alsace-Lorraine Between France

and Germany Germany took

the area in 1871 France is

determined to get back

Imperialistic Rivalries A lot of almost wars over imperial states.

Conflict in Africa and Asia over imperialist states.

Arms Race A feeling of military preparedness is the

best insurance of peace. Countries build up military to intimidate or

threaten other nations Alfred Mahan in naval power

His ideas of having powerful navy took hold in Europe

Britain has largest navy Germany is racing to catch up

Balance of Power Europe has a system of keeping a

balance of power. Not letting one nation become to

powerful to intimidate others and take over all of Europe

Unification of Germany and Italy will start to upset the balance of power in eyes of other countries

Press Yellow Press

Sensationalist reporting that exaggerates stories to get attention of readers

Spanish American War “Remember the Maine”

Yellow press will sway public opinion and pressure governments one way

International Agency No agency for arbitration Countries settle disputes themselves

With military intimidation Or War

Alliance System There is secret diplomacy

One country will support another by word Full Alliance system

Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria, and Italy Triple Entente – France, Russia, and Brittan

If one country attacks another, everyone goes to war!

England By the start of the war is at the height of

power abroad. Have colonies around the world Largest navy in the world Smallest land army in Europe

Oversea Self-government to Canada, Australia, and

South Africa Tightened reins on non-white colonies – India

Content and Confident by 1914

Germany Nationalism has gripped the state from 1870’s Prussia – military state

Sought to unite the German states into one nation Fought a series of wars to make the German State

Extreme industrial growth Kaiser Wilhelm II

Grandson of Queen Victoria Has withered left arm – overcompensates with being a bully and

being aggressive Have ample resources to fuel their economy By 1914

Economically advanced Aggressive foreign policy Rich, powerful, and aggressive Growing naval power – to try and rival Brittan

France Republic in Crisis

Politics Panama Canal Scandal – bribed public officials to keep

project going Dreyfus Affair – Jew was blamed for spying for Germany Army is a state within a state

Economy Set backs in Alsace-Lorraine Demoted from 2nd to 4th in world trade

By 1914 A nation divided Anti-military sentiment – pacifist

Italy Economically backwards

Lacking in natural resources Growing population Growing labor unrest – riots in streets

Illiteracy Population is susceptible to manipulation by state

Colonial ventures Ethiopia – lost to Ethiopian army Libya – is only imperialist colony – not very strategic

By 1914 Is in no condition for war

Russia Nicholas II

Cousins with Kaiser Wilhelm Is a very inept leader

Cannot make a decision Constantly flip-flops

Military Has the largest land army One of the smallest navies

Technology Is behind – still has mounted Calvary Not industrialized

By 1914 Has 6,000,000 men available Only has 4,000,000 rifles Oops! In other words not prepared

Austria/Hungary Two separate states

Lack of cooperation between Austria and Hungary Emperor Francis Joseph only source of Unity

Agrarian society Not advanced economically

Military strength Small navy Small army

By 1914 Large nationalism faction – lack of unity in state Not ready for a war

The Event Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Serbian nationalist shot him and his wife

Austria gives ultimatum to Serbia Let them come in and find who is responsible

or else! Serbia politely refuses

Germany gives Austria “blank check” support Austria declares war on Serbia

Alliance System Russia mobilizes army to back Serbia

Mobilizes against both Austria and Germany border

Russia only has plans that can mobilize against both instead of against Austria Nicholas will send Wilhelm apology telegram

for mobilizing against him on July 31st

Germany will declare against Russia war on August 1st

The rest of Alliances will fall into place

German Response Schlieffen Plan

Two front war Heart of France is through Belgium Conduct war at enemies expense

Fight on their ground not Germany’s Great victories will demoralize enemy Defeat France first – they are weak with no army or

navy. At the same time occupy Russia, then bring east troops over to defeat Russia once France is defeated.

Germany will declare war on neutral Belgium and plunge through towards France

America Declares Neutrality

Difficulties in neutrality Large immigrant population, each group will

support their cultural ties. Most Americans will side with British and

French Cultural ties with British

Leading trade partner between America and British France – helped out during Revolutionary War

Wilson knew that America was a melting pot of cultures and nations he did not want to see American against one another.

New Technologies Search – get into groups

Machine Guns Artillery field guns Poison gas Submarines Tanks and armored cars Airplanes

Give some stats for each The significance

Describe what it is and what it does The effect in battle or during the war

Tell me which you think had the greatest impact on the war and why.

1st Battle of the Marne German army

advanced to within 30 miles of Paris

French and British troops held Germany near Marne River

Sept 6-10 1914 with the German retreat

Almost 500,000 casualties total 4 days of fighting

Western Front War will become a War of attrition

Trench warfare along with new technologies Warfare strategy does not keep up with technologies Offensive warfare – to charge forward against machine

guns and entrenched defensive positions Three year stalemate on western front

Battle of Somme July – November 1916 Shelled Germans for 1 full week used over 1

million shells On first day after shelling stopped British

charged and lost 20,000 in the first hour! And lost 60,000 the first day.

British kept up offensive after offensive and finally won after four months of fighting having 620,000 casualties. Germans had over 500,000 casualties.

They had gained about 16 miles of ground.

Eastern Front More Flexible

Much more movement of the front lines German success

German will push Russians back Russia will fold with revolution

Sign treaty of Brest-Litovsk Peace between Russia and Germany Gave Germany all Land lost in World War I

Russia will be in a Civil War the next 4 years

US Involvement Munitions sales Loans to Allies

This will begin myth that bankers and munitions drug the US into WW I

By 1915 Wilson will prepare for war 1916 Congress passes two acts: National Defense Act – expand size of army Naval Construction Act – build more warships

Britain Blockade Britain, early in the war, started the

blockade of Germany. Had largest navy wanted to use it to keep

goods from reaching enemy International Law said that a country could

confiscate weapons and other war contraband Britain will stop every ship for Germany and

take all items. Germany will respond with unrestricted

Sub warfare Look at map on page 176

Unrestricted Sub Warfare Sinking of the Lusitania 1915 – 128 Americans

Dead Lusitania was carrying munitions – American propaganda

– said is was passenger ship Begins myth that Americans on belligerent ships drug US

into WW I Germans will promise not to sink unarmed passenger

ship 1916 sinking of Sussex

Germans will promise again to sink unarmed ship 1917 Germany will resume sub warfare

Germany will risk war with US Germany wanted to end war before the US gets involved

End of US Neutrality Germany became desperate

US traded with both allies and central powers British blockade stopped all goods from

reaching Germany Germans will increase sub warfare

And Send Zimmerman Telegram Look at the document Fill out document worksheet