wwi

main causes of WWI

M.A.I.N.

• militarism

• alliances

• imperialism

• nationalism

militarism

the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

• new military technologies

• arms race between countries

• glorification of war

alliances

a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.

• agreements to aid each other if attacked

• most nations sign secret alliances

• Allies and Central Powers

imperialism

a policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence, often through military force or economic domination, over other territories or nations.

• competition for colonies

• many smaller wars over territory

nationalism

a strong feeling of pride and loyalty to one's country, often with the belief that national interests are paramount; can become ultranationalism when taken to extreme, dangerous lengths.

• French-German border conflicts

• ethnic nationalism in the Balkans

immediate cause of WWI

• assassination of Franz Ferdinand in 1914

• Austria declares war on Serbia

• Allies all jump in

Franz Ferdinand

heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne

battles on the Western Front

• Battle of the Marne

• Battle of Verdun

• Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Marne

• Sept. 1914 in France at the Marne River Valley

• costly Allied victory

• France + Britain halted German advance into France (foils Schlieffen Plan)

• saves Paris and ends Germany’s hopes for quick victory

Battle of Verdun

• 1916 in France at Verdun

• long, deadly battle (longest of WWI)

• Germans attacked French at Verdun, an important fortress

• French resist and push Germans back

Battle of the Somme

• July - Nov. 1916 in France in Somme River

• over 1 million casualties, deadliest battle

• became a battle of attrition

• British + French try breaking German lines

• unsuccessful Allied offensive

battles on the Eastern Front

• Battle of Tannenberg

• Russia suffering high casualties

• Revolution of 1917

Battle of Tannenberg

• August 1914 in Tannenberg

• Russians lacked communication and proper techniques here

• Germans attack Russian Second Army

• major defeat for Russia, near destruction of their army

Revolution of 1917

• forces Russia to leave the war

• Bolsheviks take control (led by Vladmir Lenin) after overthrowing Czar

• establishes communist Soviet Union

Russia’s Revolution

1. 1917: Vladmir Lenin leads the communist Bolsheviks

2. Overthrow the Czar

3. Sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in 1918

most of America was initially _____, hence why they didn’t want to join the war at first.

isolationist

• didn’t want to fight European relatives

t or f: Wilson wanted to bring America into the war, despite public opinion.

f: Wilson campaigns on keeping America out of war → "He kept us out of war"

• soon ends up having no choice but to join after Lusitania + Zimmermann

sinking of the Lusitania

• “strike 1” for Germany

• Germany declares “unrestricted submarine warfare”

• British passenger liner sunk by German U-boats in 1915

• Kills 1000 and 130 Americans

Zimmermann Telegraph

• “strike 2” for Germany

• secret message from Germany to Mexico

• Germany proposes an alliance against the U.S.

• Mexico would declare war on U.S. and get lost territory from Mexican-American war if they won

• causes outrage in America → U.S. enters in 1917

t or f: the sinking of the Lusitania was Wilson’s final push into joining the war.

f: it was the Zimmermann telegram.

• Lusitania was strike 1 and the Zimmermann telegram was strike 2

• Wilson wasn’t going to wait for strike 3

what were the American soldiers who initially entered the war called?

doughboys: 2.8 million of them were drafted

• fresh American troops turn the tide for the Allies

• helped lead final Allied offensives in summer 1918

the 14 Points

• Woodrow Wilson’s plan for a long-lasting peace

• conflicts with Europeans’ desire to punish Germany (would only cause more tension)

the Treaty of Versailles

• signed 1919, went into effect in 1920

• Germany…

  • forced to accept full responsibility for the war

  • loses all its territories

  • must pay reparations to the Allies

  • must only have a very limited military

the Mandate System

• not very successful

• members of LON get territories (mandates)

• these territories would be prepared for self-determination

  • was truly just colonialism under another name

• Britain and France divide up Middle East

  • British: Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine

  • France: Syria and Lebanon

two big mistakes post WWI

1. Treaty of Versailles → Germans outraged

2. Mandate system