World War I

1. World War I AP World History

2. Causes • European rivalries • Competition over new markets & empires • Nationalism • Unification, Alsace Lorraine, Slavic issues, Balkan wars • Militarism • Glorification of war & military, conscription, increased size of armies and navies • Alliances • Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy • Triple Entente – France, Russia, and Great Britain

3. The Spark • June 28, 1914 • Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) is assassinated by a Serbian nationalist group • Austria-Hungary blames Serbia • Imposes severe conditions • Russia supports Serbia • Mobilizes forces and Germany declares war

4. The War • Greeted with enthusiasm by many • Believed it would be a six month war • Alliance system dragged the entire continent into war • Germany invades neutral Belgium & Britain declares war • Schlieffen Plan - German plan to defeat French in six weeks & then turn and defeat the Russians • Failed with the Battle of the Marne (Paris was saved)

6. 1914-1916 • Battle of Tannenberg (Poland-1914) – severe Russian defeat • Western Front - stalemate • Battle of Verdun (1916) • Battle of Somme(1916) • Gallipoli (Turkey – 1915) • Allied invasion of Turkey by Australians & New Zealanders • Allies withdraw in 1916 • Innovations: • Poison gas, submarine warfare, machine gun, airplane, tank, and trench warfare • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, & Bulgaria • Allies: France, Great Britain, and Italy (had changed sides), (U.S. will join)

8. 1917 • U.S enters war • Public opinion had been divided • Lusitania sunk in 1915 (pg. 755) • Zimmerman telegram • Unrestricted submarine warfare • Russian Revolution • Terrible hardships caused by war • Soldiers & civilians suffer • Bread riots in St. Petersburg • Czar Nicholas II abdicates • Provisional Government takes over in Russia • Does not withdraw from war

9. Civil War in Russia • Two groups vie for control of Russia • Mensheviks & Bolsheviks • Mensheviks • The majority • Believed in a mass led socialist revolution • Bolsheviks • Led by Vladimir Lenin • The minority • Believed in a socialist revolution led by a small group

10. Civil War in Russia • Three year war • Red Army defeats the White Army • Czar & family are killed in 1918 • Bolsheviks now call themselves communists • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - Lenin signed to end war with Germany • Lose much western territory and 1/3 of population

11. World War I Ends • American entrance tips scales in Allies’ favor • Gained industrial & human resources • Was a global war • Asia, Africa, & Middle East also • 9 million soldiers killed • 21 million soldiers wounded • 13 million civilian casualties

12. Woodrow Wilson • Proposes Fourteen Points to prevent future wars • No reparations • League of Nations • Recognition of freedom of the seas & trade • Limitations on arms • Self rule • End of secret alliances • Just settlement of colonial claims

13. Treaty of Versailles (1919) • Very severe on Germany – was meant to be punitive • Reduced German army • Banned conscription • Banned manufacture of major war weapons • Reduced Germany’s size • Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was revoked • Allied forces would occupy the Rhineland region of Germany • Stripped Germany of all overseas colonies • Demanded that Germany accept blame for the war & pay war reparations

14. Results of World War I • Loss of global power for Europe • Rise of the U.S. and Japan • Rise of Bolshevism in Russia • Increased nationalism among European colonies around the world • Political and social power shifts in several nations