World War I

The Great War

1914 - 1918

Fundamental Causes

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism – 2 kinds

Militarism

Conscription (draft), training, build-up – each sought military superiority

German military tradition (Prussia) Armament manufacturers increased

supply German naval build-up

Alliances

Triple Alliance– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy– Central Powers – added Turkey and Bulgaria

Triple Entente– France, Russia, Britain– France desired Alsace Lorraine back (Franco

Prussian War)– England threatened by German naval build-up

Imperialism - Examples

Russia and Austria-Hungary – rivals in the Balkans

France and Germany clashed over Morocco

England and Germany (highly industrialized) competed for colonies in Africa and Middle East

Nationalism

Intense (1) patriotism fueled war France wanted Alsace Lorraine Serbia wanted Austria-Hungarian

territory inhabited by Yugoslav peoples (2) Subject nationalities sought

independence (Czechs, Yugoslavs, Slovaks, Poles)

Immediate Cause

Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo

Gavrilo Princip – Serbian nationalist

The Black Hand

The First World War: Why? Long term -

1. Alliance system

2. Imperialist Competition

3. Stockpiling of Weapons

Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914

Assassination and War

Austria – war against Serbia

Russia mobilizes to help Serbia

Germany declares war on Russia & France; through neutral Belgium (“atrocities”)

England – war against Germany

Other Nations Join

Central Powers

–Germany

–Austria-Hungary

–Turkey

–Bulgaria

Allied Powers– GB, France and

Russia– Serbia– Belgium– Italy (changed

sides)– Japan– U.S. - 1917

Countries Joining Allies

Australia Brazil Canada China Costa Rica Cuba Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras

Japan Liberia Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua Panama Portugal Romania San Marino Siam (Thailand)

Von Schlieffen Plan

Quick, decisive attack Through Belgium

(neutral) Destroy France

quickly Fails; First Battle of

the Marne; stalemate 600 mile Western

Front is established

Western Front

Trenches – unaccustomed to this Mud, filth, lice, rats, trench foot, disease “No man’s land” – between trenches “Over the top” – suicidal charges into

machine guns, barbed wire Deadly battles for small pieces of land War of attrition – wear the enemy down

New Weapons of War

Machine gunsTanksFlame

ThrowersAirplanesZeppelinsPoison Gas

Barbed WireGrenadesTorpedoesSubmarinesTrench WarfareGiant Artillery

http://www.history.com/videos/wwi-firsts

War in the East – 2 front war

More mobile Russians defeated at Tannenburg and

Galicia; almost out of the war Italy changes sides – 1915 (Allies) Germany turned back to the West

Battles

War of attrition – wear enemy down Verdun – 1916 – 700,000 died over a

few miles of land Gallipoli – Dardanelles (Bulgaria and

Ottoman Empire w/Central Powers) Disastrous defeat of British and

Australian troops on the beaches

Battles cont.

British forces under Lawrence of Arabia urged Arabs to revolt against Ottomans

Somme – Allied forces helped by US stopped Germans (first battle to use tanks)

Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel – aided by US under (John J. Pershing ) American Expeditionary Force – AEF– key allied victories

Reasons for U.S. Entry

Pres. Woodrow Wilson – neutrality “Unrestricted submarine warfare”

– U- Boats– Lusitania – British, 128 Americans died

Hostility toward Germany– Invasion through neutral Belgium– Zimmerman note – Germans promised

Mexico U.S. territory if they attacked U.S.

U.S. Entry cont.

Idealism – “the world must be made safe for democracy”

Kinship with democratic allies Security – feared autocratic and

militaristic Germany in Europe Significance:

– Turned tide of battle towards Allies– Broke policy of isolation– America emerges as a world leader

Home Front – Impact

Total War – involving complete mobilization of resources and people

1. Increased government power 2. Economic controls 3. Manipulation of public opinion

(propaganda) to keep war effort going

Home Front cont.

Gov’t. increases power during war – conscription – Selective Service Act

Free market capitalism temporarily put aside – price, wage, rent controls, rationing of food and supplies, regulation of imports, control of transportation – planned economies

WIB – War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch CPI – Committee of Public Information – George

Creel All citizens were made part of the war

– Victory gardens, Liberty bonds

Home Front cont.

Enthusiasm weakens as war drags on Censorship of press, civil liberties suspended Espionage Act – silence criticism of war Eugene V. Debs – Socialist leader imprisoned Schenk v. U.S. – “clear and present danger” Conscientious objectors – moral or religious

opposition to war Intense propaganda (started w/Belgium – “Germans

cut off hands of Belgian children!”) U.S. propaganda strong also (see PP)

Home Front cont.

Women took jobs men left behind Lower wages, no job security Most lost jobs as men returned Overall, gave boost to women’s

movement and status Great Migration – many African

Americans move north for opportunities