WWI and Treaty of Versailles Cards
Main Causes of World War I
Nationalism
The belief that people’s greatest loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people who share a common culture and history
Bonds That Create a Nation-State
Culture
A shared way of life (food, dress, behavior, ideals)
History
A shared past; everyday experiences
Language
Different dialects of one language; one dialect becomes “national language”
Territory
A certain territory that belongs to the ethnic group; its “land”
Nationality
Belief in common ethnic ancestry that may or may not be true
Religion
A religion shared by all or most of the people
Nationalism
Italy
Unified in 1848 - ready to show off their strength
Germany
Unified in 1871 - ready to show off their strength
Proud of military and industrial leadership
Imperialism
The domination by one country of the political, economic, or social life of another country or region
Why Will Europe dominate?
Europe has strong, centrally governed nation-states
The Industrial Revolution boosted their economies
Had strong armies
Where Do The European Countries Want To Influence?
China
India
Africa
Reasons for Imperialism
Economic Interests
Natural resources, like rubber, coal, and petroleum
New customers for goods
New land for the growing European population
Political and Military Motives
Merchant ships and naval vessels needed bases
Humanitarian and Religious Goals
People felt concern for their “little brothers”
People believed it was their duty to help others/spread religion
Social Darwinism
“Survival of the fittest”
Europeans were superior to all others
Imperial domination of weaker species was nature’s way of improving the human species
Forms of Imperialism
#1 Direct Rule (Colony)
France’s Method
Sent officials and soldiers from France to administer their colonies and turn them into French provinces
#2: Indirect Rule (Colony)
Britain’s Method
Used chiefs, sultans, or other local rulers
Encouraged children to get an education in Britain
Both used military force, if needed
#3: Protectorate
Local rulers were left in place, but they should listen to European advisors on issues of trade or missionary activity
#4: Sphere of Influence
Area in which an outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges
Militarism
The glorification of the military also helped to feed the arms race
Massive military buildup in European countries, late 1800s and early 1900s
The militarist tradition painted war in romantic colors
Young men dreamed of blaring trumpets and dashing cavalry charges
Britain and Germany = fierce naval rivalry
Austria-Hungary - 3 million
France - 3.5 million
Russia - 4.4 million
Germany - 8.5 million
Alliances
Pre-WWI Alliances as drawn
Caused by distrust of one another
Intended to promote peace, but had the opposite effect
1882 - the triple alliance
Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary
When war broke out in 1914, they became the Central Powers
1893 - The Triple Entente
Entente - a nonbinding agreement to follow common policies
Britain, France, Russia
When war broke out in 1914, they became the Allies
Germany also allied with the Ottoman Empire
Britain allied with Japan
Part 1: The Spark
The Spark that set it off
Archduke Francis Ferdinand
Heir to Austria-Hungary throne
Visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia
Angered Serbian nationalists → viewed Austrians as foreign oppressors
Black Hand
The Serbian terrorist group vowed to take action
June 28, 1914 - Gavrilo Princip assassinated the archduke and his wife
Austria Strikes Back!
The Emperor of Austria was hesitant about going to war
Germany was like, “Wow, that’s messed up.” “Hey bro (Austria), we got you back”
Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum (final set of demands)
Serbia had to end all anti-Austrian campaigns
Punish any Serbian official involved in the murder plot
Serbia agreed to most, but not all
July 28, 1914 - Austria declared war on Serbia
Germany Invades Belgium
Initally, Italy and Britain were neutral
Probelm: Germanydeclared war on both Russia and France
Solution: Schlieffen Plan:
Goal: avoid fighting a war on 2 fronts
Move against France 1st b/c Russia was slow
Had to march through neutral Belgium and sneak up on French and encircle them
Aug 3, 1914 - Germany invaded Belgium
Aug 4, 1914 - Britain declares war on Germany
Part II: A New kind of War
How and where was WWI fought?
“One out of every four men who went out to the World War did not come back again and of those who came back, many maimed and blind and some are mad.” WWI Surivior
WWI inventions
Trench Coats
Daylight Saving Time
Blood Banks
Sanitary Pads
Kleenex
Pilates
Stainless Steel
Zippers
Wristwatches
Drones
Chemical Warfare WWI
Tears Gases
Chlorine
Phosgene and Diphosgene
Mustard Gas
Fighting on the Eastern Front
Unlike the Western Front..
Battle lines shifted back and forth, sometimes over large areas
No trench warfare
Higher casualities
Russian Losses on the Eastern Front
As the least industralized of the great powers
Poorly equipped to fight a modern war
Some troops even lacked rifles
Total War
Definition: channeling of a naiton’s entire resources into a war effort
Conscription - A.K.A “the draft” - required all young men to ready for military or other service
Raised taxes and borrowed $ to pay the costs fo war. (bonds)
Rationed food and other products, from boots to gasoline
Set prices and forbid strikes
Propaganda
Total war also meant controlling public opinion
Even in democratic countries, gov’t censored the press
Aim was to keep complete casualty figures and other discouraging news from reaching the public
Morale Goes Down
By 1917 the morale of troops and civilians had plunged
Germany was sending 15 year old recruits to the front
Britain was on the brink of bankruptcy
Troops in some French units mutinied
In Italy, many soldiers deserted
1917 - Russian Revolution begins
1918 - Russia signs peace treaty with Germany and withdraws from war
Russia’s withdrawal will make Germany very happy
U.S joins the War
Initially, U.S was neutral
However, 3 reasons led to their involvement:
#1: Sinking of Lusitania
#2: Resumption of Unrestricted Sub. Warfare
#3: Zimmerman Telegram
Treaty of Versailles
The first 26 articles of the Treay set out how the League of Nations would be organized
The rest of the 440 Articles detailed Germany’s punishment:
Blame - war guilt clause - Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war
Reparations: germany had to pay what was equilvalent to $33 billion for the damage done during the war
Army
NO SUBS, NO PLANES
6 SHIPS, 100,000 SOLDIERS
DEMILITARIZED THE RHINELAND (the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France)
Territory - Germany lost territory (land) in Europe. Lost Alsace Lorraine to France. Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France
WAR REPARATIONS: Germany was required to pay significant reparations for the damages caused during the war, totaling around 132 billion gold marks.
Imperialism- The domination by one country of the political, economic, or social life of another country or region.
Stalemate- refers to a situation in warfare where neither side makes progress. (TIE)
Nationalism- belief that people’s greatest loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people who share a common culture and history
Entente- refers to alliances
Armistice- an agreement to stop fighting. (PEACE)
Militarism- the glorification of the military also helped to feed the arms race. (ALLIANCE)
Schlieffen Plan- invaded Belgium to sneak up on France.
Zimmerman Telegram- promised Mexico land if they allied with Germany
Self-determination- the right of people to govern their own nation
Collective Security- a system in which a group of nations act as one to preserve the peace of all
War Guilt Clause- “Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war.”
Reparations- “Germany had to pay what was equivalent to $33 billion for the damage done during the war.”
Fourteen Points- an outline of lasting world peace.
League of Nations- an international peace-keeping body to settle world disputes.
People to Know
Archduke Francis Ferdinand:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. He was assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by a member of the Black Hand, which triggered the start of World War I. His death led to a series of events that escalated tensions between European powers.
REMOVED-
(Arthur Zimmermann was a German foreign minister during World War I. He is best known for sending the Zimmermann Telegram in 1917, which offered Mexico help to reclaim land from the U.S. if they joined the war against America. The telegram was intercepted by Britain, and its publication helped push the U.S. to enter the war.)
Black Hand:
(The Black Hand was a secret Serbian group formed in 1911. They wanted to create a bigger Serbia and used violence to achieve this. The group was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which led to World War I.)
For the following 4 men, answer the following questions: What country was he from? What were his thoughts going into the Paris Peace Conference? What were his thoughts coming out of the Paris Peace Conference?
Woodrow Wilson: Wilson is from the United States. Going into the conference, Wilson wanted to create lasting peace with the League of Nations. Coming out of the peace conference, Wilson was disappointed because the league wasn’t made true to what he wanted.
Vittorio Orlando: Vittorio is from Italy. Going into the conference, he wanted Italy to get some land. Coming out of the conference he was disappointed that Italy didn’t get as much land.
David Lloyd George: George is from the UK. Going into the conference, George wanted to make sure that Germany got punished, yet not too badly. George was somewhat satisfied with the conference, yet thought punishment was too harsh and would lead to some later problems with Germany.
Georges Clemenceau: Clemenceau is from france. Going into the conference, Clemenceau wanted Germany to be punished very harshly for the war. Coming out of the conference, Clemenceau was very satisfied with the severity of the punishments to Germany.
Answer the following Questions
Which countries were part of the Allied Powers? Central Powers?
Britain, France, and Russia were the Allied Powers. Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers.
REMOVED What region was referred to as the “powder keg” of Europe?
The Balkans were the region referred to as the “powder keg”. The countries were Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and Russia.
Describe total war and provide examples.
Total War is the channeling of a nation’s entire resources into a war effort. For example, raised taxes and borrowed $ to pay the costs of war, food was rationed and other products as well.
Describe the role propaganda played during WWI.
Propaganda is information that is sometimes biased or has a misleading nature. It is used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. Propaganda was used to control public opinion. The aim was to keep complete casualty figures and other discouraging news from reaching the public.
Describe how the mentality of soldiers changed throughout the war.
At the beginning of the war, the soldiers were excited and patriotic. They were eager to serve and believed the war would end quickly. As the war dragged on, soldiers faced the horrors of trench warfare, with mud, disease, and constant danger. The early excitement turned into fear and disillusionment. BY 1917, many soldiers were mentally exhausted and numb from constant violence. Many suffered from what was called “shell shock”. By the end of the war, soldiers were focused on surviving rather than glory. They had lost faith in the war’s purpose and were weary of the endless fighting.
What caused the U.S. entrance into the war?
The sinking of Lusitania, the Resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, and the Zimmerman Telegram caused the U.S.'s entrance into the war.
When did WWI end?
November 11, 1918; 11th hour of the 11th month of the 11th
Which countries were not invited to the Paris Peace Conference?
Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
What does “BRAT” stand for?
Blame, Reparations, Army, and Territory
Describe Germany’s response to the Treaty of Versailles.
The Germans were mad because they weren’t at the conference that discussed the Treaty of Versailles. They initially didn’t agree but ended up agreeing in the end, even though they didn’t want to. But the people were mad because of the new rules, because under the treaty, taking away half of their army, they thought they were defenseless.
REMOVED When did Germany finish paying their war reparations?
Germany finished paying their war reparation in 2010.
What role did technology/weapons play in the war?
The machine guns caused high casualties with rapid fire. Artillery helped with heavy bombardments, causing massive destruction. The poison gas caused fear and injury, but it wasn’t always effective. Tanks helped break through trenches but were unreliable at first. Airplanes were used for reconnaissance, dogfights, and bombing. Submarines targeted ships, disrupting trade and logistics.
Difference between Eastern Front & Western Front
The western front trench warfare in France and Belgium, with long stalemates and high casualties. While in the Eastern Front, it was more mobile and open battles in Russia and surrounding area, with fewer entrenched positions.
White Toast Stale- Western
White French Toast Stale- French