World War 1 Exam

How We Got Here:

• Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand: June 28, 1914, Sarajevo, Bosnia; Gavrilo Princip assassinates heir to Austro-Hungarian throne.

• France’s Grudge: Lost Alsace and Lorraine to Germany in 1871.

• Fear of German Expansion: France, Britain, and Russia worried about German growth.

• Austria-Hungary's Expansion: Moving south and east, wary of massive Russia.

• German War Plans: Rigid, all-or-nothing strategy.

Causes of WWI (MAIN):

• Militarism: Arms race and glorification of military power.

• Alliances: Web of pacts dragged nations into war.

• Imperialism: Competition for colonies fueled tension.

• Nationalism: Pride and desire for independence motivated conflict.

Alliance System in 1914:

• Central Powers: Austria-Hungary, Germany

• Allies: Serbia, France, Russia

Blame for the War:

• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia.

• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (July 28, 1914), triggering a domino effect:

  • Russia mobilized to support Serbia.

  • France, allied with Russia, mobilized.

  • Germany responded by mobilizing.

The Alliances of 1914:

• Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Great Britain

• Central Powers: Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire

Military Strength (1914):

• Germany: Strongest land and sea balance.

• Great Britain: Dominated naval power.

Schlieffen Plan (German Invasion):

• Aim: Avoid a two-front war with France and Russia by quickly defeating France.

• Route: Invade through Belgium (violated Belgian neutrality).

• Result: Britain entered the war in response.

New Alliances:

• Italy: Joined Allies in 1915, promised Austro-Hungarian territory.

• Stalemate in France: Bloody battles, no clear advantage.

New Weapons of War:

• Average age of soldiers: 19

• Weapons: Machine guns, rapid-fire artillery, grenades, poison gas, tanks, submarines, airplanes.

• Dogfights: Airplane combat.

• Trench warfare: Led to disease and brutal conditions.

Major Battles:

• Verdun (Feb 1916): German offense, 500,000 casualties.

• The Somme (July 1916): 60,000 British soldiers killed in one day; over 1 million casualties in 5 months.

U.S. Neutrality and Entry:

• Wilson's Neutrality (1914): Declared U.S. neutral, but economic ties to Allies complicated this.

• Divided Loyalties:

  • German Americans supported Central Powers.

  • Irish Americans opposed Britain.

  • Many Americans backed Allies due to cultural and economic ties.

• Reasons for U.S. Entry:

  • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany's U-boats sank ships like the Lusitania (1915).

  • Zimmermann Telegram (1917): Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against the U.S.

American Homefront:

• Enlistment:

  • Selective Service Act (1917): Drafted 24 million men; 4.8 million served, 2 million in combat.

  • African Americans: 400,000 served in segregated units.

  • Native Americans: 15,000 served as scouts, messengers, snipers.

• Propaganda:

  • Committee on Public Information (CPI): Led by George Creel.

  • Promoted war effort and anti-German sentiment (e.g., "Liberty Measles," "Liberty Steaks").

• War Mobilization:

  • War Industries Board: Led by Bernard Baruch; regulated production, distribution, and pricing.

  • Food Administration: Led by Herbert Hoover; encouraged food conservation.

Civil Liberties During the War:

• Espionage Act (1917): Banned actions obstructing military efforts.

• Sedition Act (1918): Criminalized anti-war speech or opposition to war bonds.

End of WWI:

• U.S. Entry (1917): Boosted Allies; German U-boat attacks intensified.

• General John J. Pershing: Transformed U.S. troops into effective soldiers.

• German Collapse (1918):

  • Allies' counteroffensives.

  • German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers mutinied.

• Armistice: November 11, 1918, in Compiegne, France.

Postwar Efforts:

• Wilson’s Fourteen Points:

  • Open diplomacy

  • Freedom of the seas

  • Free trade

  • Arms reduction

  • End to colonialism

  • Self-determination

  • League of Nations (controversial in U.S.)

• Treaty of Versailles (1919):

  • Redrew Europe’s map.

  • Broke up Ottoman Empire.

  • Imposed reparations on Germany.

  • European leaders opposed Wilson's "peace without victory" stance.