WORLD WAR I 1914-1919

“The Great War to End all Wars”

Causes of World War ICauses of World War I

• Imperialism – competition for overseas empires

• Militarism – build up of a countries’ military

Causes of World War ICauses of World War I

• Nationalism – pride in one’s country

• Secret Alliances among European Nations

The SparkThe Spark• Austrian

Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian rebel

The SparkThe Spark• Austria-

Hungary declared war on Bosnia and Serbia

The SparkThe Spark

• Secret Alliances caused all of Europe to get into conflict

Two Sides Two Sides • Central

Powers–Germany–Austria-

Hungary–Ottoman

Empire

• Allied Powers–France

–Great Britain (U.K.)

–Russia

–Serbia

U.S. Returns to IsolationismU.S. Returns to Isolationism

• “America would not get involved in an European War” – President Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Returns to IsolationismU.S. Returns to Isolationism

• Government did not want to upset immigrants

U.S. Returns to IsolationismU.S. Returns to Isolationism

• U.S. supported and sent weapons to Allied countries

Why did America Join Why did America Join the War?the War?

• German U-boats (submarines) were sinking US trade ships

Why did America Join Why did America Join the War?the War?

• Zimmerman Note –German plan to have Mexico

declare war on U.S.

–helped generate support for war from American citizens

Why did America Join Why did America Join the War?the War?

• U.S. cruise ship , The Luisitania, was sank by German U-boats

• 1,260 people killed.

Why did America Join Why did America Join the War?the War?

• April 2, 1917, U.S. declares war Central Powers

New Weapons + Old Fighting = New Weapons + Old Fighting = Massive DestructionMassive Destruction

• British style, straight line fighting was suicide

New Weapons + Old Fighting = New Weapons + Old Fighting = Massive DestructionMassive Destruction

• New Weapons–Machine guns,

poison gas, airplanes, artillery cannons, flame throwers, tanks

New Weapons + Old Fighting = New Weapons + Old Fighting = Massive DestructionMassive Destruction

• Trench Warfare became the new style of fighting

US Involvement turns the US Involvement turns the WarWar

• US added fresh troops and resources to Allies

• Allies started to win when US got involved

• Russia pulls out of war because of unrest in their country

Russian (Bolshevik) Russian (Bolshevik) RevolutionRevolution

• Vladimir Lenin overthrew democratic gov’t in Russia

• He set up a government called communism

Russian (Bolshevik) Russian (Bolshevik) RevolutionRevolution

• US and Russia became enemies after Communist takeover

Allies Claim VictoryAllies Claim Victory• Treaty of Versailles officially ended

war in 1919• Europe was in ruins

–Infrastructure was destroyed–8 million dead, 21.5 million

wounded–US only had 250,000 dead and

wounded