Congress of Vienna

1. Made weaker countries stronger, unified Germany (which will play a role in WWI)

2. Restored Royal Families to the thrown with Constitutional Monarchy

3. Concert of Europe was formed (an alliance of countries that would not allow revolution)

4. M

Causes of the WarConsider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers.

1. What do you see here?2. What do the different colors on the map represent?

3. Who is allied to whom? 4. Which countries might have the greatest or least need to join an alliance?

5. What are the advantages of joining alliances? Disadvantages?

Europe at Its Peak

• In 1914, Western European countries were the most technologically advanced, wealthiest societies on earth.

• Europeans comprised 25% of the world’s population, the highest percentage of Europeans of any time in history

• Modernization created a feeling of superiority in Europe

Militarism

• The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war.

• By 1914, all the great powers except Britain had large standing armies.

• Citizens feel patriotic• Also frightened many.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

• 1888 became ruler of Germany.

• Forced Bismarck to resign.

• Army was his greatest pride.

• Eager to show the world how mighty Germany had become.

Tangled Alliances

• Growing rivalries and mutual mistrust had lead to the creation of several military alliances among the Great powers.

• Prussia’s chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, saw France as greatest threat to peace.

• Goal of Bismarck: to isolate France

The System of Alliances

• Fearing the inevitable, countries began to form interlocking treaties, called alliances

• Two major alliances in Europe– Triple Alliance• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

– Triple Entente• Britain, France, Russia

Triple Alliance

• Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.

• Three years later , Italy joined forming The Triple Alliance.

Triple Entente

• Treaty between Britain, France, and Russia.

• Countries form alliance with each other- will not fight against each other.

Imperialism

• Nations in Europe competed fiercely for colonies in Africa and Asia.

• This quest for colonies sometimes pushed Europeans to the brink of war.

• Sense of rivalry and mistrust among nations deepens.

Nationalism

• Two forms of nationalism– A devotion to the interests of one’s nation

• Feelings of national pride• Patriotism• Connected to imperialism and militarism

– An aspiration for independence in a country under foreign domination• This form led to tensions in countries with large numbers of ethnic

minorities (Why?)• Austria-Hungary had the most serious problem with this form

War Breaks OutConsider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers.

1. What do you see here?2. How are these people going to effect the OUT BREAK of WWI?

MAKE A PREDICTION (HALF A PAGE) BE READY TO SHARE FOR DAPS!!!

Ottoman Empire• The Armenians suffered

horrifically for its desire for independence from the Ottoman Empire.

• By 1880’s , roughly 2.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire demanded their freedom.

• Throughout 1890’s, Turkish troops killed tens of thousands of Armenians.

• In 1914, Armenians pledged support to Turks’ enemies.

• Turks deported nearly 2 million.• 600,000 die of starvation

A Restless Region

• Early 1900s-Ottoman Empire, which included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline.

• New Nations: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia

• Nationalism a powerful force.

• Each group longed to extend its borders.

Nationalism in the Balkans causes conflict

• Rivalry between Russia and Austria-Hungary developed over the Balkan Peninsula

• The area that formerly was controlled by the Ottoman Empire

• The Balkan Peninsula, “the powder keg of Europe”, contained many different ethnic groups that desired their independence

• Two “Balkan Wars”, 1912 and 1913, were fought helping keep tensions high

Austria-Hungary and Serbia• Austria-Hungary: Had a small Slavic

population under its control• Serbia: Had a large Slavic population,

wanted to take in all Slavs in the Balkans, Start a Nationalism campaign

• Conflict: Austria-Hungary fears rebellion from its Slavic population

Alliances in the Balkans

• Russia and Austria-Hungary both want control of the Balkans

• Russia, high Slavic population, sides with Serbia

• Austria-Hungary sides with Germany• Russia is not militarily ready for war so they

are forced to back down• So what might make war break out now?

The Assassination of the Archduke

• A Serbian nationalist terror organization, The Black Hand, planned to assassinate the heir to the throne and sent 7 assassins

• After avoiding 5 assassins, the archduke and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Principe

Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum• On July 23 Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an

ultimatum which had to be answered in 48 hours• Their demands– Stop all Anti-Austrian activity– Dismiss of all Serbian officials A-H objected to– The right to enter Serbia to investigate whether the

Serbian government was involved• Serbia agreed to the first two, but refused on the third• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28th

Alliances and Fronts of the WarConsider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers.

1. What do you see here?2. Who are the Allied Power? Central Powers?

3. Where are the western, eastern, Italian, and Balkan fronts of the war?4. Which alliance seems to be winning?

The Alliance System Leads to War• Because of the alliance systems, Europe was at war within one week• July 30th, Russia mobilized its armies moving troops towards Germany and

A-H• Germany, taking this as an act of war, issued two demands

– Russia demobilize– France remain neutral

• Russia and France refused• Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st and on France on August

3rd

• After Germany attacked neutral Belgium to get to France, Britain entered the war

The Alliances• World War I was fought

between two sides, on primarily four European fronts

• The Triple Entente were called the Allies, and were joined by Belgium

• The Triple Alliance became known as the Central Powers– Italy refused to honor her

alliance• Eventually 31 nations joined

the war

The Western Front• Germany, France, Britain and Belgium fought along

the Western Front– 475 miles long– Schlieffen Plan- Germany Races to the west defeating

France then return to fight Russia in the East…this may have worked BUT…..

– Germany made several tactical mistakes—Crosses through neutral Belgium which brings Britain in to the war

– The French regrouped– They raced for the sea

Battles Along the Western Front(continued)

• 1917 – Marked by

• German retreat to the Hindenburg Line• US entry in the war (April)• Russian Revolution in November, pulling Russia out of the war

• 1918– Allied naval blockade created dramatic shortages of food and raw

materials in Germany and Austria– Final German offensive fails– August 8th the German lines were finally broken

The Eastern Front• In 1914 Russia sent its armies against Germany and Austria, along the

Eastern Front from the Baltic to the Black Sea• The Russians experienced early victories, but it quickly turned into victory

after victory by Germany• Russia’s lack of modern technology meant its troops were under-supplied

and poorly equipped• ¼ of Russian troops went to battle without weapons

– Instructed to follow their comrades and pick up their guns after they were killed

• In November of 1917, Vladimir Lenin led a revolution that overthrew the government and took Russia out of the war

• Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers– Russia lost ¼ of its land and population

Stalemate!!!

• A Deadlock along the western front.

• Why? What are some of the problems that have arose in the war that limit the interaction of sides?

Looking for New Front to Fight!!• Allies (GB, F, Russia,)- decide to

attack the Darnelles in the Gallipoli Campaign

• Gallipoli Campaign -Attack Darnelles-Ottoman Empire—the gateway to Constantinople

• Defeating Ottomans would secure passageway to Russia

• OUTCOME: Allies give up after a year and lost 25,000 soldiers

Other Battles: For new Fronts

• Germany’s Colonies in Africa and Asia• Japan takes China• France and England received support troops

from Egypt, South Africa, India, Indo-China• This brings a rise of NATIONALISM• Many of the colonies want to support the war• Gandhi- DOES want to support Britain

Where’s The United States??

• For a majority of the War the US only provides supplies to the Allies, but plays the isolationist role

• What do you suppose may have brought them into the war finally?

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare!• 1917- Germany intensifies Sub Warfare

• They announce unrestricted submarine warfare--- they will sink ANY ship that comes into their water

• Germany U-boat (submarine) sinks a British Passenger Ship (Lusitanian)

• US People are outraged—but still do not enter the war

• Germany sets up a Blockade on England—yet US still does not enter war

• President Wilson Warns Germany- who sinks 3 US ships

19 January, 1917: The Zimmerman NoteGerman Minister to Mexico

• Berlin, January 19, 1917 • On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of

this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. • If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with

Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement....

• You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.

• Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.

• Zimmerman(Secretary of State)

The Last Straw…

• 1917- Zimmerman Note:

is intercepted by the British

• Letter is from Germany- Written to the Mexico

Russia Backs out of the War!!

• One month after the US enters the War Russia backs out

• Russia- Going through• Huge food shortages• Revolting against the Tsar• New leader Lenin takes over

Russia Pays the Price!!• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk– Lenin signs away ¼ of

Russia’s land to Germany to back out of the war

• Germany will now focus on the Western Front…But it is too late…the war has all but been won by the Allies

The War Ends

• Though the outcome of the war on the Western Front was still in question until the end, the war ended quickly in 1918

• Revolts in Germany and Austria-Hungary led to a push to end the war– Bulgaria signed an armistice in September– The Ottoman Empire in October– Austria-Hungary on November 4th

– Germany signed the armistice on November 11th

New Weapons Used in the WarConsider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers.

1. What do you see here?2. Why might the soldiers being wearing masks?

3. How are machine guns different from older guns?4. How might machine guns affect military strategy?

The Machine Gun

• World War I was a different war because of the modernization during the Industrial Revolution

• Compared to the single-fire rifles of the past, modern machine guns were super killing machines– The British Vickers could hold 250 rounds, shoot 8

rounds a second, and send bullets a distance of 2,900 yards

Artillery

• Cannons were modernized and mechanized• Artillery shells could take deadlier payloads,

further, with more accuracy• During the Battle of Verdun 24 million shells

were used– 1,000 shells per square meter– Soldiers in the trenches referred to the “rain of

shells”

Weapons of the Industrial Age

• Other weapons that debuted– Poison gas• First used by the Germans• 75 different gases

– Flame throwers– Airplanes– Tanks– Submarines

Casualties of Modern Weaponry• Modern weapons combined with older tactics, led to

massive casualties• Tactics of sending masses of men towards the enemy

didn’t work against modern weapons– 1st day of the Battle of the Somme, Britain suffered 19,000

dead, 48,000 wounded– 1st four months of the Battle of Verdun, France had

700,000 dead or wounded• Over 10,000,000 dead– 6 million were French, Russian, German and Austrian