The Road to the Great War
WWI
Causes of the War
nationalism – feeling that a specific nation,
language, or culture is superior to all others
imperialism – creating an empire by taking
over other nations (Britain, France, Germany,
Italy, U.S.)
militarism – aggressive military
preparedness; ex. European nations built
larger militaries than ever before
Too much testosterone! War was inevitable
The Spark
Austria-Hungary heir, Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, killed by Serbian radicals Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Russia was allies with Serbia Germany
allies with Austria-Hungary so…
Germany declares war on Russia
Central Powers – Austria-Hungary,
Germany, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire
(Turkey)
Allied Powers – Britain, France, Italy, &
Russia
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
ALLIES
Great Britain
France
Russia (until 1917)
Serbia
Italy
Japan
United States
1.
2.
3.
4.
CENTRAL
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Leader
Country
Role
Power
Woodrow
Wilson
United
States
President
Allied
Wilhelm II
Germany
Kaiser
Central
Georges
France
Clemenceau
President
Allied
David Lloyd Britain
George
Prime
Minister
Allied
Nicholas II Russia
Czar
Allied
War in Europe
trench warfare – strategy
of defending a position
by fighting from the
protection of deep ditches
(i.e. bunkers)
technology – machine
guns, poison gas
(mustard, chlorine),
tanks, airplanes, &
submarines
U-boats or submarines
(Germans)
America Enters the War
German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a British
passenger ship, holding 128 Americans;
Germans broke international law
The President, Woodrow Wilson, prolonged
U.S. neutrality and wanted world peace
Zimmerman telegram – German foreign
minister wrote a confiscated note to Mexico
which proposed an alliance between the two
against U.S. outraged Americans
from isolationism to saving the day!
The Big 4 (leaders) were:
Vittorio Orlando
– Italy
George
Clemencea –
France
David Lloyd
George – Great
Britain
Woodrow Wilson
– U.S.
WWI & the U.S.
Mobilizing for War
The Draft – 3 million men &
Selective Service Act
Black soldiers – segregated
& filled non-combat roles
Women – volunteer
nurses, typists, &
interpreters, or the Red
Cross
Liberty Bonds – loans to the
govt. to help pay for the
war
Americans Arrive
Russia leaves
(Civil War
breaking out at
home; govt.
overthrown by
communists)
Battles fought on
fronts (ex.
western &
eastern)
Germans losing
too many men &
supplies = defeat!
Armistice – truce
Germany becomes a republic
Germany leaves all foreign occupied
territories
German war resources were destroyed
(including U-boats)
Wilson’s 14 Points
system to avoid future
wars
one point called for selfdetermination – the right
of people to decide their
own political status
most important point
called for League of
Nations – an international
congress of nations
designed to settle disputes
& protect democracy
Paris Peace Talks
Who were the BIG FOUR?
Country
U.S.
Great
Britain
France
Italy
Leader
Wilson
George
Clemenceau
Orlando
What
they
wanted…
Selfdeterminati
on; league
of nations
Germany’s
colonies in
Africa
Germany to Territorial
pay for war; Rewards
Germany to
reduce
military
Treaty of Versailles
The Big 4 decided:
Germany would have to pay reparations –
payments for damages during the war
the Allies would gain control over parts of
Germany
League of Nations would control Central Powers’
land
countries would practice self-determination
U.S. Senate rejected the treaty because it
would involve the U.S. in European affairs;
the U.S. never joined the League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles: Points of Treaty
1. Territorial Changes
2. Germany demilitarized: reduce
army 100k and eliminate navy
3. Germany lost colonies
4. Germany responsible for War
5. Germany pay reparations ($33
billion)
6. Create the League of Nations
Outcomes of WWI
War = 1914 – 1919
Total Cost = $280 billion
Casualties:
Allies = 5.1 million
Central = 3.5 million
Americans = 116,000
Wounded = 20 million
Civilians = thousands (unclear)
New Nations Formed
Germany: Revolution other threw the
gov’t
Austria-Hungary: becomes Austria,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia
Ottoman Empire: Syria, Turkey, Jordan,
Iran, Palestine
Russia: Poland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia,
Lithuania, Russia