WW1

MAIN Causes (M-A-I-N)

4 main causes of WWI: Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Militarism

Build-up of armies and weapons belief that war is good created tension and arms race

Alliances

Agreements to defend each other caused countries to take sides quickly and spread war

Imperialism

Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia for resources and markets increased rivalry

Nationalism

Extreme pride in country caused competition and conflict like Balkans and Alsace-Lorraine

Triple Alliance

Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Italy Italy later leaves

Triple Entente

Allies France Russia Great Britain

Alliance System Impact

Turned small conflict into world war because countries defended allies

Central Powers

Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria

Allies

France Great Britain Russia later joined by US Italy Japan

Franz Ferdinand

Archduke of Austria whose assassination sparked WWI

Gavrilo Princip

Member of Black Hand who assassinated Franz Ferdinand

Assassination Impact

Triggered chain reaction of alliances leading to world war

Schlieffen Plan

Germany plan to avoid two-front war by defeating France first then Russia

Schlieffen Plan Failure

Belgian resistance British involvement Russia mobilized faster stopped at Marne

Battle of Marne

Stopped German advance ended Schlieffen Plan led to trench warfare

Battle of Ypres

First use of poison gas

Battle of Gallipoli

Allied attempt to defeat Ottoman Empire failed with heavy losses

Battle of Verdun

Longest battle massive casualties France vs Germany

Battle of Somme

Bloodiest battles huge casualties with little gain

Trench Warfare

Fighting from trenches with little movement led to stalemate

No Man’s Land

Dangerous land between trenches filled with barbed wire and dead bodies

Trench Conditions

Mud rats disease dead bodies poor sanitation constant fear

Trench Warfare Impact

Long war high casualties low morale

Machine Guns

Rapid fire weapons made attacks deadly and caused stalemate

Howitzers

Heavy artillery caused most deaths destroyed trenches

Poison Gas

Chemical weapon causing fear and injuries unpredictable

Tanks

Armored vehicles helped break stalemate later in war

U-Boats

German submarines that attacked ships helped bring US into war

Airplanes

Used for reconnaissance and combat created air warfare

Zeppelins

Airships used for bombing mostly psychological impact

Weapons Impact

Made war more deadly caused massive casualties and created stalemate

US Neutrality

Stayed out of war to avoid conflict and protect trade diverse population

Lusitania

British ship sunk by Germany Americans died increased tension

Zimmermann Telegram

German message to Mexico proposing alliance against US pushed US to war

US Entry

Entered war in 1917 due to U-boats Lusitania and Zimmermann Telegram

Propaganda

Information used to influence people thoughts and actions

Propaganda Objectives

Recruit soldiers raise money create unity support war effort

Propaganda Tools

Emotional appeals demonization name calling patriotism slogans symbols lies

Selective Service Act

Required men to register for military draft

Espionage Act

Punished interfering with war effort or spying

Sedition Act

Punished speaking against government or war

Anti-German Sentiment

German Americans faced discrimination and suspicion during war

James W Gerard

US ambassador to Germany who gave speech encouraging loyalty

Gerard Speech Purpose

Force Americans to support war threaten disloyalty promote unity

Gerard Speech Message

American or traitor warns punishment and encourages loyalty

End of WWI

Germany weakened US joins Allies push back

Russia Exits War

Leaves in 1918 after revolution Germany shifts troops west

Armistice

Agreement to stop fighting signed November 11 1918

Woodrow Wilson

US president created Fourteen Points for peace

Fourteen Points

Plan for peace including self determination and League of Nations

League of Nations

Organization to keep peace between nations

Georges Clemenceau

French leader wanted to punish Germany

David Lloyd George

British leader wanted Germany to pay but remain stable

Vittorio Orlando

Italian leader wanted land

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty ending WWI in 1919

War Guilt Clause

Blamed Germany for starting the war

Reparations

Germany had to pay over 30 billion dollars

Military Restrictions

Limited Germany army and weapons

Territorial Loss

Germany lost land and colonies

Austria Hungary Result

Empire broken into smaller countries

Russia Result

Lost land after leaving war

WWI Outcome

22 million dead massive destruction set stage for WWII

Pre WWI Allies

France Britain Russia Italy Japan

Pre WWI Central Powers

Germany Austria Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria