World War I Study Guide

I. Causes of World War I

  1. Rivalries & Tensions

    • Old conflicts between nations (France vs. Germany, Great Britain vs. France).

    • Many believed war would be short and bloodless.

  2. Nationalism

    • Many ethnic groups wanted to form their own independent nations.

    • Slavic minorities in the Balkans (Serbia) wanted independence, supported by Russia.

    • Austria-Hungary opposed Serbian nationalism, fearing their own Slavic population would rebel.

  3. Alliances

    • Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy.

    • Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain.

    • Germany gave Austria-Hungary a “Blank Check” (unlimited support if Russia attacked).

  4. Militarism

    • Nations expanded their armies and developed new weapons (machine guns, tanks, aircraft).

    • Many generals believed war could be won quickly with a strong offensive strategy.

  5. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914)

    • Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, assassinated the heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne.

    • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering alliances and starting World War I.

II. The War Begins (1914–1917)

  1. Schlieffen Plan

    • Germany’s strategy to avoid a two-front war.

    • Attack France through Belgium, capture Paris, then turn to fight Russia.

    • Plan failed—war lasted 4 years instead of the expected 14 days.

  2. Trench Warfare

    • Defensive fighting with miles of trenches (English Channel to Switzerland).

    • No-man’s-land: The deadly area between enemy trenches.

    • Daily battles involved artillery, machine guns, gas attacks, and hand-to-hand combat.

  3. Major Battles

    • Battle of Tannenberg (1914) – Germany crushed Russia.

    • Battle of the Marne (1914) – Allies stopped German advance near Paris.

    • Battle of Verdun (1916) – One of the deadliest battles, lasted most of the year.

  4. New Weapons of War

    • Machine guns (600 rounds per minute).

    • Poison gas (mustard gas, gas masks).

    • Tanks, airplanes, U-boats (submarines).

    • Zeppelins (used by Germany to bomb cities like London).

III. The U.S. Enters the War (1917)

  1. Reasons for U.S. Involvement

    • Unrestricted submarine warfare – German U-boats sank ships supplying Britain.

    • Sinking of the Lusitania (1915) – A British passenger ship with Americans on board.

    • Zimmerman Telegram (1917) – Germany asked Mexico to attack the U.S. in exchange for land.

    • President Woodrow Wilson: “Make the world safe for democracy.”

  2. Effects of U.S. Entry

    • 4 million American troops sent to Europe.

    • Fresh soldiers helped the Allies break the stalemate.

IV. The War Ends (1918)

  1. Turning Points

    • Russia left the war due to the Russian Revolution (1917).

    • Germany launched a final offensive, but the Allies pushed them back.

    • Allies, using tanks, stopped German forces near Paris.

  2. Armistice (November 11, 1918)

    • Central Powers realized victory was impossible.

    • Germany’s government collapsed—workers and soldiers created a democratic republic.

    • Austria-Hungary’s empire broke apart:

      • New nations formed: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia.

V. Peace Settlements & Treaty of Versailles (1919)

  1. Different Goals for Peace

    • Some nations wanted revenge and to punish Germany.

    • U.S. President Wilson proposed the Fourteen Points:

      • Open treaties, reduced weapons, independence for new nations, League of Nations.

    • Compromise: League of Nations was created, but U.S. did not join.

  2. Treaty of Versailles (One of Five Treaties Signed)

    • Germany’s Punishments:

      • Forced to accept full responsibility for the war.

      • Lost all overseas territories and land given to Poland.

      • Had to pay massive war reparations.

      • Military was restricted to a small force.

  3. New Territories

    • Great Britain and France divided up the Middle East:

      • Britain: Iraq, Jordan, Palestine.

      • France: Syria, Lebanon.

VI. Impact of World War I

  1. Death & Destruction

    • Millions of soldiers and civilians died.

    • Widespread economic devastation ($338 billion total cost).

    • A lost generation—many young men were killed or severely injured.

  2. Genocide & Epidemics

    • Armenian Genocide – Ottoman Empire targeted Armenian population.

    • Influenza Epidemic (Spanish Flu, 1918) – Killed millions worldwide.

  3. Psychological & Social Effects

    • People realized war was not glorious—"Never such innocence again" (Philip Larkin).

    • F. Scott Fitzgerald: “No European will ever do that again.”