WWI;

Assassination of Arch-Duke

  • Sparked WWI after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was killed in 1914 by a Serbian nationalist.

Main Causes of WWI

  •  Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN).

WWI Alliance System

  • Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) vs. Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).

New Technology

  • Machine guns, tanks, poison gas, airplanes, and submarines.

WWI Battles;

Passchendaele

  • A.K.A the Third Battle of Ypres. Fought in Belgium, marked by horrific muddy conditions that swallowed soldiers, horses, and equipment. Canadian forces captured the ridge after months of intense fighting. Over 16,000 Canadian casualties, with limited strategic gains.

Vimy Ridge

  • A big moment for Canadian identity. Canadian troops used innovative tactics (creeping barrage and thorough planning) to capture the ridge from German forces. This was the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together. It was a major victory, with 10,600 Canadian casualties.

Ypres

  • Site of the first large-scale use of chlorine gas by Germany. Despite the gas attack, Canadian troops held their position, earning a reputation for bravery. Over 6,000 Canadian soldiers were killed or injured.

Somme

  • One of the bloodiest battles of WWI, with over 1 million casualties overall. The Newfoundland Regiment suffered devastating losses at Beaumont-Hamel on the first day (July 1, 1916). The battle showed the brutality of trench warfare and the limited effectiveness of mass infantry assaults against machine guns and barbed wire.

Battle At Sea

  •  The struggle for naval dominance, including U-boat threats and convoy systems.

Jutland

  • 1916 only major naval battle of WWI; British vs. German fleets.

Battle in the Air

  • Airplanes used for reconnaissance and dogfights, with figures like Billy Bishop emerging.

Government funding of WWI

  • War bonds, taxes, and loans supported the war effort.

Homefront

  • Rationing, conscription debates, and women entering the workforce.

Trench Warfare

  •  Defensive fighting in deep trenches, causing stalemates and harsh conditions.

Treaty of Versailles

  • 1919 treaty that ended WWI, blamed Germany, and imposed reparations.