Origins of the First World War

A World At War: 1914-1917

Page 1: Overview

• The period marked by significant global conflict.

• Key events shaping the war's outbreak and development.

Page 2: HMS Dreadnought and the Arms Race

• HMS Dreadnought: Launched by Britain in 1906 as the first "all big gun" battleship.

• Triggered an international arms race, particularly between Britain and Germany.

• Imperial Rivalries: National pride led nations to overlook the true horrors of war.

• Modern Warfare: In 1914, nations had modern weapons but lacked experience in combat against other "civilized" powers.

Page 3: Alliance and Provocations

• Formation of Germany (1871): Resulted from the Franco-Prussian War; Alsace-Lorraine was annexed from France, sowing seeds for future conflict.

• Ravanche: A desire for revenge in France fueled tensions.

• Alliance System: By 1913, major alliances formed:

  • France and Russia allied.

  • Britain and France allied.

  • Russia and Serbia allied.

  • Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy allied.

• Balkan Conflicts (1911-1913): Heightened European unease; competition for influence between Russia and Austria-Hungary.

Page 4: Legacy of Imperialism

• Navy Expansion: Germany and Britain competed to build stronger navies.

• Historical rivalries resolved: France and Britain had moved past their long-standing enmity.

• Perception of War: Past small conflicts led many to view war as a grand adventure rather than a catastrophe, fostering a desire for conflict until reality set in.

• prove your manhood by joining the army…war was not bad.

Page 5: The Guns of August

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: June 28, 1914, sparked the outbreak of war.

• Declaration of War: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, leading to a cascade of mobilizations.

  • Russia mobilized to support Serbia, followed by Germany against Russia and France.

• Stalemate by December as all major powers engaged in the conflict.

• WWI set the tone for the rest of the wars

• US wants to remain neutral but also wants to trade with everyone.

Page 6: Trench Warfare

• Two-Front War: Resulted in entrenched positions in a relentless race to secure territory.

• Continuous trenches spanned from Switzerland to the North Sea.

• High Casualties: Heavy losses prompted military innovations, including tanks, bombers, and chemical warfare.

• Blockades: Both Germany and Britain implemented naval blockades.

Page 7: Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• U-boat Usage: Germany employed submarines to target merchant vessels.

• Lusitania Incident: May 7, 1915, U-20 sank RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198, including American passengers.

  • This incident ignited outrage and increased sympathy for the Allies in the U.S.

Page 8: The Preparedness Movement

• Advocacy for Preparedness: U.S. citizens and politicians began calling for military preparedness in 1914.

• Wilson’s Response: In 1916, he called for an increase in military capacity while still promoting peace.

  • Expanded army size but did not mobilize for war at this stage.

Page 9: The Punitive Expedition

• Pancho Villa's Rebellion: In March 1916, Mexican General Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico.

• U.S. Response: President Wilson ordered a military expedition led by General Pershing to capture Villa.

  • Resulted in 11 months of military engagement; ultimately an unsuccessful mission but provided valuable experience for U.S. troops.

Page 10: Hell in the Trenches, 1916

• Bloodiest Year: 1916 saw severe fighting with major offensives leading to heavy casualties.

  • Verdun Offensive: Launched by Germany; significant French losses.

  • Somme Offensive: Initiated by the British to assist the French.

  • Brusilov Offensive: Russian offensive adding to the toll; total of nearly 4 million casualties.

• No significant breakthroughs; growing public dissent ensued.

Page 11: The Election of 1916

• Political Climate: Republicans pushed for military buildup; Wilson campaigned on a peace platform.

• Outcome: Wilson re-elected, winning by a narrow margin.

• After the election, his attempts to mediate peace were largely unsuccessful.

Page 12: “Too Proud to Fight”

• Wilson's Stance: Expressed moral concerns over the war; sought to negotiate peace.

• Russian Revolution: March 1917 further complicated the war dynamics; nations lacked clear aims or desire to cease hostilities.

Page 13: Pushing the United States Towards War

• Resumption of Unrestricted Warfare: Germany resumed U-boat attacks on February 1, 1917.

• Zimmerman Telegram: British intelligence intercepted a telegram proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S.

• U.S. Declaration of War: On April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson requested a declaration of war; officially signed on April 6, 1917.