world war i the great war 1914 - 1918. fundamental causes m ilitarism a lliances i mperialism n...
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World War I
The Great War
1914 - 1918
Fundamental Causes
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism – 2 kinds
Militarism
Conscription (draft), training, build-up – each sought military superiority
German military tradition (Prussia) Armament manufacturers increased
supply German naval build-up
Alliances
Triple Alliance– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy– Central Powers – added Turkey and Bulgaria
Triple Entente– France, Russia, Britain– France desired Alsace Lorraine back (Franco
Prussian War)– England threatened by German naval build-up
Imperialism - Examples
Russia and Austria-Hungary – rivals in the Balkans
France and Germany clashed over Morocco
England and Germany (highly industrialized) competed for colonies in Africa and Middle East
Nationalism
Intense (1) patriotism fueled war France wanted Alsace Lorraine Serbia wanted Austria-Hungarian
territory inhabited by Yugoslav peoples (2) Subject nationalities sought
independence (Czechs, Yugoslavs, Slovaks, Poles)
Immediate Cause
Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo
Gavrilo Princip – Serbian nationalist
The Black Hand
The First World War: Why? Long term -
1. Alliance system
2. Imperialist Competition
3. Stockpiling of Weapons
Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914
Assassination and War
Austria – war against Serbia
Russia mobilizes to help Serbia
Germany declares war on Russia & France; through neutral Belgium (“atrocities”)
England – war against Germany
Other Nations Join
Central Powers
–Germany
–Austria-Hungary
–Turkey
–Bulgaria
Allied Powers– GB, France and
Russia– Serbia– Belgium– Italy (changed
sides)– Japan– U.S. - 1917
Countries Joining Allies
Australia Brazil Canada China Costa Rica Cuba Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras
Japan Liberia Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua Panama Portugal Romania San Marino Siam (Thailand)
Von Schlieffen Plan
Quick, decisive attack Through Belgium
(neutral) Destroy France
quickly Fails; First Battle of
the Marne; stalemate 600 mile Western
Front is established
Western Front
Trenches – unaccustomed to this Mud, filth, lice, rats, trench foot, disease “No man’s land” – between trenches “Over the top” – suicidal charges into
machine guns, barbed wire Deadly battles for small pieces of land War of attrition – wear the enemy down
New Weapons of War
Machine gunsTanksFlame
ThrowersAirplanesZeppelinsPoison Gas
Barbed WireGrenadesTorpedoesSubmarinesTrench WarfareGiant Artillery
http://www.history.com/videos/wwi-firsts
War in the East – 2 front war
More mobile Russians defeated at Tannenburg and
Galicia; almost out of the war Italy changes sides – 1915 (Allies) Germany turned back to the West
Battles
War of attrition – wear enemy down Verdun – 1916 – 700,000 died over a
few miles of land Gallipoli – Dardanelles (Bulgaria and
Ottoman Empire w/Central Powers) Disastrous defeat of British and
Australian troops on the beaches
Battles cont.
British forces under Lawrence of Arabia urged Arabs to revolt against Ottomans
Somme – Allied forces helped by US stopped Germans (first battle to use tanks)
Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel – aided by US under (John J. Pershing ) American Expeditionary Force – AEF– key allied victories
Reasons for U.S. Entry
Pres. Woodrow Wilson – neutrality “Unrestricted submarine warfare”
– U- Boats– Lusitania – British, 128 Americans died
Hostility toward Germany– Invasion through neutral Belgium– Zimmerman note – Germans promised
Mexico U.S. territory if they attacked U.S.
U.S. Entry cont.
Idealism – “the world must be made safe for democracy”
Kinship with democratic allies Security – feared autocratic and
militaristic Germany in Europe Significance:
– Turned tide of battle towards Allies– Broke policy of isolation– America emerges as a world leader
Home Front – Impact
Total War – involving complete mobilization of resources and people
1. Increased government power 2. Economic controls 3. Manipulation of public opinion
(propaganda) to keep war effort going
Home Front cont.
Gov’t. increases power during war – conscription – Selective Service Act
Free market capitalism temporarily put aside – price, wage, rent controls, rationing of food and supplies, regulation of imports, control of transportation – planned economies
WIB – War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch CPI – Committee of Public Information – George
Creel All citizens were made part of the war
– Victory gardens, Liberty bonds
Home Front cont.
Enthusiasm weakens as war drags on Censorship of press, civil liberties suspended Espionage Act – silence criticism of war Eugene V. Debs – Socialist leader imprisoned Schenk v. U.S. – “clear and present danger” Conscientious objectors – moral or religious
opposition to war Intense propaganda (started w/Belgium – “Germans
cut off hands of Belgian children!”) U.S. propaganda strong also (see PP)
Home Front cont.
Women took jobs men left behind Lower wages, no job security Most lost jobs as men returned Overall, gave boost to women’s
movement and status Great Migration – many African
Americans move north for opportunities