World War I
Chapter 11
World War I
Causes
World War – a country from each continent is
fighting. War started in Europe (1914-1919).
Causes – M.A.I.N.
– Militarism – when a country builds up its military
– Alliances – when two or more countries agree to
protect each other
– Imperialism – when one country takes over
another
– Nationalism – Having great pride in your country
World War I
Militarism
New weapons – machine guns, u-boats
(submarines), tanks, fighter planes, flame
throwers, mustard gas
Countries wanted to use their new
weapons in battle
World War I
Two Main Alliances
Central Powers
Germany
Ottoman Empire
(Turkey)
Austria Hungary
Secret alliances
forced countries to
fight in World War I
Triple Entente
England
France
Russia
World War I
Imperialism
European Nations fought
to take over Africa
– It created competition
between the European
nations
– By 1914, only 2 African
countries were
independent
World War I
Nationalism
Extreme Nationalism in Europe led to
racism and hatred between the countries
With so many different countries so close
to each other, it led to fighting
Map Questions
1. Why did they call themselves the Central Powers?
2. Based on geography (map), which alliance do you
think will win the war?
World War I
Causes
Franz Ferdinand Assassination- Archduke of
Austria-Hungary was killed in Serbia.
– This assassination set off all of the secret
alliances to start WWI.
World War I
Fighting
Trench Warfare- Ditches built for protection
– Defensive style of fighting, led to stalemate
– Dirty, Disease filled, Uncomfortable
– Trench Foot- Disabled feet due to being wet.
No Man’s Land- Area between the trenches
World War I
Fighting
Death Tolls- All European nations lost so many
soldiers in the first year of the war
– France nearly 1 million men killed
– Russia lost so many soldiers, they leave the
war in 1917 (Become Communist)
World War I
Leaders
Kaiser Wilhelm (Germany)
Woodrow Wilson (U.S.)
Czar Nicholas II (Russia)
World War I
U.S. Involvement
Isolationism vs. Pro-War
Isolationists believed …
– Americans should not die for European
countries
– America would get nothing from the war
Pro-War Americans believed …
– Our allies needed help (England, France)
– We had economic interests ($$) in
European markets
World War I
U.S. Involvement
U.S. was giving money,
weapons, and supplies
to the Allied Powers.
Lusitania- A British
passenger ship sunk by
German U-Boats. (Killed
128 Americans)
Zimmerman Note- A
telegram from Germany
to Mexico telling them to
attack the U.S.
World War I
U.S. Involvement
U.S. enters the war in 1917
Dough Boys – nick name for American
soldiers by Europeans during WWI
– U.S. brings fresh soldiers, weapons and
supplies to help the Alliance
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Getting Ready for the War …
– Selective Service (Draft) – first time in U.S.
history young men were forced into the military
(24 million were drafted)
– Factories were retooled to make supplies and
weapons for the war
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Supporting the War at Home
– Victory Gardens – Americans grew their own
food to save (rationing) food for soldiers
– War Bonds – Americans bought government
bonds to raise money for the war
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Women During the War …
Women worked in factories – Built the
weapons and supplies that help the men
(soldiers), but were paid less than men
Some participated in the Isolationist
Movement (against the war)
– More politically active
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
African-Americans
Great Migration (1910 – 1930) – Southern
Blacks move to northern cities.
– About 6 million migrated
– New work opportunities due to no European
immigration because of the war
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Propaganda and Problems
Espionage and Sedition Act –
made it illegal for Americans to
say anything against the
government or war effort
– President Wilson wanted to make
sure Americans supported the war
– Fined $10,000 or 20 years in jail
– This law was against the
Constitution (illegal)-Freedom of
Speech
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Propaganda and Problems
German-Americans faced
discrimination
– Americans with German names were
fired
– Orchestras refused to play Mozart,
Bach or Beethoven music
– Pretzels and German authored
books were banned
– Hamburgers were renamed “liberty
steaks.”
World War I
War Time in the U.S.
Propaganda and Problems
Flu Epidemic (1918 to 1919) –
Global flu outbreak because of
the war
– About 30 million people killed
worldwide
– About 500,000 Americans killed
– People wore masks in public
– People that coughed were banned
from public places
World War I
End of War
The Allied Powers naval
blockade of Germany forced
mass starvation
Kaiser Wilhelm leaves
Germany
Nov. 11, 1918 (11th day,
month & hour) – Germany
surrenders
World War I
End of War
Summary of War
– 4 Years of Fighting
– Over 60 countries fought
– 15 million soldiers killed or missing
– Millions of civilians killed
– “War to end all wars.”
– Left a lot of hatred and destruction ($350 Billion)
World War I
Wilson’s 14 Points
President Wilson’s ideas for
future peace in Europe
– No secret alliances
– Proposed a League of Nations –
peace keeping organization
comprised of many nations (U.N.)
– Limited future military weapons
– England and France wanted to
punish the Central Powers, not
have future peace
World War I
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles – officially ends WWI
(1919)
Europe
• Losing countries had
no say in treaty
• 9 new countries
• Germany / Russia
lost most land
• Austria-Hungary split
into two
Germany
• Restricted military to
100,000 men
• Had to pay $32 billion
to the Allies
• Took all responsibility
for the war