World War I Causes, Fighting, and Outcomes of WWI

World War I – Causes, Fighting, and Outcomes of WWI Guided Lecture Notes

Causes of the War

Europe at Its Peak . Industrial Revolution = . Modernization = . Europe = % of world population

Imperial Tensions (Imperialism) . European nations for colonies

Militarism . of war and increase in spending . Germany competed against ‘s naval superiority

Nationalism . Great pride in one’s country or aspiring to become one’s country . and had only recently become united, independent countries . Many countries (e.g. ) torn by tensions of different nationalist groups. . Combined with militarism and competition, this increased tensions in Europe

The System of Alliances . Web of treaties to protect themselves . Triple Alliance: , , and

. Triple Entente: , , and

How to remember these Causes: M.A.I.N. M= Militarism A = Alliances I = Imperialism N = Nationalism

War Breaks Out Nationalism in the Balkans . Balkans = . As Empire receded – new nations born . Russia and competed for control and influence over new nations . Austria-Hungary annexes in 1908 – Serbia resents this (wants Bosnia for to the Adriatic Sea)

The Assassination of the Archduke . Archduke (or Franz) Ferdinand of Austria visited Bosnian capital (named ) on June 28th, 1914. . 7 assassins from the - Serbian nationalist group – plot against him . shoots the Archduke and his wife.

Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum . Germany gave “ “ of military support to Austria- Hungary . Austria-Hungary serves to Serbia . Serbia refuses to let Austria-Hungary’s officials run an investigation in Serbia . Austria-Hungary declared war on on July 28th, 1914.

The Alliance System Leads to War . supported Serbia and Germany supported

. Within 1 week – almost all of Europe at war o declares war on Russia and France o Declares war on Germany

Alliances and Fronts of the War

The Alliances . Allied Powers = . Central Powers =

The Western Front . Germany tried to take France quickly, then turn to fight . This was called the Plan. . Battle lines formed in northeastern France – changed (called a ) . Miles of trenches built – leads to Battles Along the Western Front . Long, bloody battles - - 680,000 casualties (casualties = dead and ) . Battle of the - over 1 million casualties

The Eastern Front . Lack of modern caused enormous defeats . Led to (or Russian) . Treaty signed with revolutionary gov’t (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) in Russia = Russia lost of their territory to Germany.

The Balkan Front . The Allies abandoned attempts to land in the Balkans after losing in several battles against the (ex: Gallipoli)

The Italian Front . Italians joined the Triple in 1915 and fought against Austria-Hungary.

The War Ends . 1917 - USA enters the war on the side of the Triple Entente – replaces manpower/material lost by Russia’s exit from the war . and the were first Central Powers to be defeated . Revolts inside of Austria-Hungary and helped to end the war quickly in 1918 (German leaders convinced that they could not continue the war).

New Weapons Used in the War

The Machine Gun . Modern replaced the single-fire, short-range rifle . British machine guns fired 8 rounds per at a distance of 2,900 yards

Artillery . Greater power and carried shells much . 24 million shells used in the Battle of alone

Weapons of the Industrial Age . 75 different types of poison gas used (first used in 1915 in the Second Battle of ) . Flame throwers . Tanks (first used in ) . Airplanes . Submarines

Casualties of Modern Weaponry . Tactics of sending masses of men toward enemy across Land didn’t work against modern weapons. . Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on the first day of the Battle of the . Total losses for WWI exceed million men and women

The Reality of Soldiers’ Lives

Patriotic Fervor . Many European looked forward to war at the start

Attitudes Change . Soldiers’ changed Europeans’ fervor through letters about the of war

The Return Home  No crowds or heroes’ welcome after the war

Trench Warfare

The Race to the Sea  475 miles of were dug across northern France  British troops used over 10 million during the war

Life in the Trenches  Charging over the top, crossing to reach the enemy trenches  Boring, terrifying, and caused  Horrible

Effect of the War on the Home Front

Mobilizing for Total War  Civilians back home made huge  Governments controlled industries and  and used often

New Jobs for Women  Worked in jobs traditionally held only by , who were at the front  Number in paid rose by over one million  Worked in organizations to support soldiers at the front

Women’s Wages  Paid less than men for work  Industrial and civil work (government jobs) provided better pay and hours than traditional jobs

Women’s Changing Role  Women discovered the benefits of financial (= ) and greater mobility  Some refused to return to service  Women won right to throughout Europe

The Paris Peace Conference

Peace of Justice . Leaders of Allied and Central Powers met at the of

. President ‘s 14 Points supported for all nations and a just peace

Peace of Vengeance . Italy and wanted territory (Britain got it, Italy did not!) . wanted to punish Germany . USA – Wilson under pressure from US Senate to withdraw from European affairs =

. Italy and left, leaving peace settlement to and

Treaty of Versailles with Germany . France and Britain created a severe treaty that Germany . Germany had to: o Return - region to France o Keep area near France, called , demilitarized o Pay war of $32 billion o Agree to (Germany totally and only responsible for the war)

The New Europe . Treaties similar to Germany’s signed with other Powers . Many countries experienced a change in their . Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia lost territory . Many countries were created