The Great War - WWI
“The War to end all wars”Period 6
Chapter 20
An accident waiting to happen…
• Background:• Trouble in the Balkans • “the Spark that ignited the war” was the
assassination of Archduke-Franz Ferdinand• The Black Hands• Austria-Hungry VS Serbia
M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI
• Militarism• Most European nations relied on Conscription• Arms Race – naval race between Britain and
Germany• Industrialization of warfare = submarines,
tanks, airplanes, poison gas, machine guns, barbed wire…impact on casualties, impact on fighting techniques
M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI
• Alliances• Resulted because of change in balance of
power• Triple Entente = Russia, France, Britain• Triple Alliance = Germany, Italy, Austria-
Hungry • Purpose of alliances – keep peace, however,
once Austria-Hungry declared war on Serbia, a domino effect was created.
M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI
• Imperialism• Use of colonial troops and laborers involved in the
war effort• Battles in Africa and South Pacific – Britain and
France wanted German colonies. Japan – took German possession in China and the Pacific
• Use of colonial labor – rise of nationalism – will lead to independence movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
M.A.I.N. – Causes of WWI
• Nationalism• Slavic Nationalism and Austro-Hungarian
opposition = heart of the war’s beginning• Great Powers of Europe competed for
colonies, spheres of influence, superiority in armaments
• Competing Nationalism gave support for the war (in the beginning)
WWI
• The Great War became a “war of attrition”• Trench Warfare – long, bloody, high casualty
warfare – Battle at Verdun(FR), Battle of the Somme (FR)
• “Total War” – mobilization of country’s entire population – “war socialism”
WWI
• Role of Labor Unions• Role of Women• Propaganda – purpose, audience
Long-term Outcomes of War
• Social Changes• Disillusionment – Europe and enlightenment ideas no
longer superior• High casualties – as a result, promoted social mobility • Integrating veterans back into society – “homes for
heroes”• Women urged to leave factory jobs• Mother’s Day• Suffrage Movements – US, Britain, Germany, Soviet
Union– Flappers – culture of the 1920’s – why was life a “party?”
Long-term Outcomes of War
• Politically• Collapse of German, Russian, and Austro-
Hungarian Empires – new map of Europe emerged
• With new states – ideas of “national self-determination” - Nationalism
• Russia – Russian Revolution of 1917 - world communism
Treaty of Versailles
• Paris Peace Conference – formally concluded in the war in 1919
• Provisions of the Treaty = – 1. Germany accept blame for war – 2. Germany lost colonial empires and 15% of
European territory– 3. War reparations – 4. Disarmament
• Treaty leads to resentment among the Germans, as a result, radical leaders emerge…Hitler
Armenian Genocide
• Target the Armenians – believe conspiring with the Russians. Major genocide movement
• End of the Ottoman empire – formation of Turkey and Middle eastern states
Impact of the War around the World
• Latin America – ideas of Nationalism• The Middle East – ideas of Nationalism• Africa – ideas of Nationalism• Asia– Japan– China
• The United States – debtor to creditor
Failure of the League of Nations
• League of Nations = purpose – prevent future world conflicts
• Wilson’s 14 Points• Two major problems with the League of
Nations:– The US doesn’t join – FP of isolationism– No military power to enforce
Discussion Q’s:
• How is Nationalism a cause of WWI? How will Nationalism lead to future world conflicts?
• How did the advances in military technology change the ways of war?
• How can propaganda influence nationalism? What are propaganda techniques?
• What social outcome of WWI do you believe to be the most consequential?
• What political outcome of WWII do you believe to be the most consequential?