Chapter 16 - World War 1

For Whitaker MWH honor students

Conscription

A military draft (doubled European armies between 1890 and 1914). It became a common practice in Western countries.

Militarism

Aggressive preparation for war. It grew as the armies did, and military leaders got more influence in government at this time.

Mobilization

Assembling troops and supplies for war (considered hostile, and an act of war).

—> Russia and Germany in 1914 over Serbia and Austria-Hungary.

Propoganda

Influencing people to think one way; it stirred hatred before the war and it was used during the war.

Trench Warfare

Trenches are built in ground for shelter, and barbed wire around as defenses. Soldiers had to get out to attack the other side with machine guns. (Mainly used on the Western Front)

War of Attrition

Strategy based on wearing down the other side by consistent attacks. “Last man standing.”

Total War

War that affected everybody. Complete mobilization of resources and people in a nation’s war effort. WW1 = First total war in history.

Planned economies

Economic system where government agencies direct it.

—> Became common, to be able to move war resources.

Soviets

Councils of workers and soldiers; formed during WW1. They played a big part in the 2nd Russian Revolution (November 1917).

War Communism

In Russia — Government established by Lenin, who took control over everything; books, industries, and more.

—> Key step to total communist control.

Armistice

A truce or agreement to end fighting. German government signed it **November 1918, which ended WW1.

Mandates

A nation governed by another nation on behalf of the league of nations (after WW1). Opposed by the US: led to problems down the road with countries wanting independence.

—> France had Sryian territory.

—> Britain had Iraq and Palestinian terrorities.

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Heir to the Hapsburg throne of Austria-Hungary. He was assassinated by a Serbian terrorist group June 28, 1914. It was the immediate cause of WW1.

Kaiser William II

Leader of Germany who supported Austria-Hungary wanting to go to war with Serbia. He offered a “blank check of support”, which escalated the tensions.

Czar Nicholas II

Russian leader who supported Serbia in the conflict. He mobilized his army for war (essentially declaring war). Eventually he was overthrown and killed in 1917.

General Alfred von Schlieffen

German military officer who created the “Schlieffen Plan”, to win victory over both France and Russia. His plan was a 2 Front War (splitting up the army); quickly take over France then turn to Russia. It didn’t go accordingly.

Lawrence of Arabia — Thomas Lawrence

Thomas was a British military officer who urged Arabn princes to revolt against the Ottoman Empire (promising the provinces freedom if they helped, but didn’t keep his word in the peace treaty). He played a critical role in weakening the Ottoman Empire so they could never really help out in WW1.

Grigori Rasputin

Mysterious Siberian peasant, regarded by some as a holy man. He greatly influenced the Russian Czar and government. He was made the scapegoat; blamed for Russia’s failures. Upset Russia nobles murdered him.

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty that ended WW1. It was signed June 28, 1919.

—> Harsh terms on Germany (+ others)

—> Rejected by U.S Senate, they made their own separate treaty

—> Laid groundwork for WW2.

Vladimir Lenin

Leader of the Bolshevik (illegal political) party in Russia. He seized power in the “Bolshevik Revolution” or 1917 October Revolution (2nd Russian revolution; it happened in November). First leader of the Soviet Union.

Leon Trotsky

Bolshevik revolutionary — important supporter of Lenin. He organized the Red Army during Russia’s civil war. He was later murdered.

Woodrow Wilson

U.S President during WW1. He tried to keep U.S out of war; outlined “14 points of peace” which was rejected by Allies & Senate.

David Lloyd George

Prime minister of England who wanted to make Germany pay at the end of WW1.

Georges Clemenceau

Premier of France who desired revenge and security against future Ger,an aggression, at end of WW1.

4 Main Long Term Causes of WW1

M — Militarism

A — Alliances

I — Industrialization and Imperialism

N — Nationalism

Immediate Cause of WW1

Assassination of Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.

Opponents & Sides of WW1

Allied Powers: France, England, and Russia. (Then) Italy & America.

Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Empire.

New Technology in WW1

1) Machine Gun

2) Tanks

3) Submarines

4) Airplanes

5) Poison Gas

6) Landmines

World Leaders during WW1

Kaiser William II (of Germany)

President Woodrow Wilson (of America)

Czar Nicholass II (of Russia) —> Vladimir Lenin (later took over Russia)

King George (of England)

Franz Joseph (of Austria-Hungary

Describe WW!

Trench warfare; “no man’s land.”

Total war = everybody’s involved; soldiers and citizens.

War of Attrition = only ends with last man standing (national pride).

Home Front of WW!

Factories only made war goods; governments rationed gasoline and food. Women took over jobs. People of color got dragged to war. Civil + women’s rights.

Treaty, Terms, & Legacy of WW1

Treaty of Versailles.

Germany paid huge reparations. Land was given up. Austria-Hungary was now divided. League of Nations was created, but America never joined (though Woodrow Wilson made the idea).

Detail the Russian Revolution (Timeline)

1904 — Russo-Japanese war.

1905 — Bloody Sunday; Duma (legislative body) was made.

1914 — Russia joins WW1.

Early 1917 — Food riots (about rations and economy) break out across Russia.

March 1917 — Nicholass II resigns from being Czar; the Duma replaces him.

October & November 1917 — Communists overthrow the Duma. Civil war starts in 1918.

Chain of Events, Beginning of WW1 (Timeline)

1) Powder keg by 1914; four MAIN long term causes of war.

2) Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated.

3) Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for all of it (though it was just one terrorist group from Serbia). Russia backs Serbia, and Germany backs Austria-Hungary.

4) Austria-Hungary declares war with Serbia. —> Russia mobilizes their army (in support of Serbia).

5) Germany declares war on Russia, Serbia, and France.

6) England declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Describe the composition of the following European alliances by the early 1900s.

Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in 1882.

Triple Entente: France, Great Britain, and Russia in 1907.

What are 3 areas where nationalism was intensifying and growing violent?

1) Slavic minorities in the Balkans.

2) The Irish inside the British Empire.

3) Poles inside the Russian Empire.

What effect did conscription have on European armies by 1914? What countries did not have conscription at this time?

The conscription (draft) doubled their army sizes between 1890 and 1914 (30 years).

United States and Great Britian didn’t have a draft.

What was causing tension between Russia and Austria-Hungary in the early 1900s?

Rivalry between Russia and Austria-Hungary for control over the newly created states.

How did Serbia factor into the situation with Russia and Austria-Hungary in the early 1900s?

Serbia wanted to create an independent Slavic state in the Balkans. Russia supported it; Austria-Hungary did not.

What sparked war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary?

The assassination of Archduke Francz Ferdinand.

—> Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia’s government.

What did Kaiser William mean when he offered Austria-Hungary a “blank check: in their dispute with Serbia?

William would support Austria-hungary in whatever they needed.

What actions of Russia caused Germany to declare war on August 1, 1914?

Czar Nicholass II of Russia mobilized troops of men in July. Russia refused to stop even though Germany gave an ultimatum.

Describe the '“Schliefeen Plan.” How was it supposed to work?

2 Front War with France and Russia. Invade & defeat France quickly before moving through the neutral territory of Belgium towards Russia.

Why did England declare war on Germany (officially and unofficially)?

Officially — Germany violated Belgium being a neutral territory.

Unofficially — England was allies with France and Russia. England was worried they would lose power if their allies had lost to Germany.

Describe the Central Powers and Allied Powers after WW1 got started.

Central Powers — Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, & Bulgaria.

Allied Powers — France, Russia, Great Britain, Italy (1915), United States (1917), and others (Japan, etc…)