World War 1

Causes of World War I

• Militarism - Glorification of military power and buildup of armies and weapons.

• Alliances - Agreements between countries to provide mutual support (e.g., Triple Alliance, Triple Entente).

• Imperialism - Competition for colonies and resources created tension among European powers.

• Nationalism - Intense pride in one’s nation, which heightened rivalries and led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Key Events of World War I

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914) - Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was killed by a Serbian nationalist, sparking the war.

• Schlieffen Plan - Germany’s strategy to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, leading to Britain joining the war.

• Trench Warfare - Defensive strategy on the Western Front; characterized by stalemates and horrendous living conditions.

• Battle of the Somme (1916) - One of the bloodiest battles, with over a million casualties; exemplified the brutality of trench warfare.

• U.S. Entry into WWI (1917) - Caused by unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany and the Zimmermann Telegram, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance.

Key People

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand - His assassination in Sarajevo triggered the war.

• Kaiser Wilhelm II - Emperor of Germany during WWI; advocated aggressive foreign policies.

• Woodrow Wilson - U.S. president during WWI; proposed the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations.

• Vladimir Lenin - Leader of the Russian Revolution, who withdrew Russia from the war through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Technological Advancements

• Machine Guns - Increased firepower, making traditional infantry charges devastatingly ineffective.

• Poison Gas - Introduced by Germany; caused horrific injuries and deaths.

• Tanks - Developed by the British to overcome trench warfare, though initially unreliable.

• Submarines (U-boats) - Used by Germany to attack Allied shipping, prompting the U.S. to join the war.

• Airplanes - Used for reconnaissance and later as bombers and fighters.

Key Alliances

• Allied Powers - Britain, France, Russia, later joined by the U.S., Italy, and others.

• Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Treaties and Agreements

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) - Peace treaty between Germany and Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution; allowed Germany to focus on the Western Front.

• Treaty of Versailles (1919) - Ended the war; imposed harsh reparations on Germany, redrew European borders, and created the League of Nations.

• Fourteen Points - Woodrow Wilson’s plan for post-war peace, including self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations.

Impact of World War I

• Casualties - Over 16 million deaths, including civilians and soldiers.

• Economic Devastation - Massive debt and destruction in Europe; the U.S. emerged as a leading economic power.

• Fall of Empires - Collapse of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German, and Russian Empires.

• Rise of Communism - Russian Revolution led to the establishment of the Soviet Union.

• Seeds of WWII - Harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles created resentment in Germany.

Key Terms

• Total War - Nations dedicated all resources to the war effort, involving civilians in production and rationing.

• No-Man’s Land - Area between opposing trenches, often deadly to cross.

• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - German policy of attacking any ship, including civilian vessels, around Britain.

• Zimmermann Telegram - Secret German proposal to Mexico, promising U.S. territory in exchange for joining the war.

• Armistice (November 11, 1918) - Ceasefire agreement that ended the fighting.