World War I: Factors, Causes, and Alliances

1. World War I

3. Factors • Causes • Nationalism • Territorial disputes • Imperialistic rivalries • Arms Race • Balance of power is shifted • Press & public opinion • No international agency for arbitration • Alliance system

4. Nationalism • Sense of intense pride for ones culture. • New idea becomes powerful for promoting ones culture and interests above. • Basic idea of self determination that people who share a national identity and have their own country and government. • The southeast area of the Balkans holds the strongest nationalism.

5. Territorial disputes • In Europe the area of Alsace-Lorraine • Between France and Germany • Germany took the area in 1871 • France is determined to get back

6. Imperialistic Rivalries • A lot of almost wars over imperial states. • Conflict in Africa and Asia over imperialist states.

8. Arms Race • A feeling of military preparedness is the best insurance of peace. • Countries build up military to intimidate or threaten other nations • Alfred Mahan in naval power • His ideas of having powerful navy took hold in Europe • Britain has largest navy • Germany is racing to catch up

9. Balance of Power • Europe has a system of keeping a balance of power. • Not letting one nation become to powerful to intimidate others and take over all of Europe • Unification of Germany and Italy will start to upset the balance of power in eyes of other countries

10. Press • Yellow Press • Sensationalist reporting that exaggerates stories to get attention of readers • Spanish American War • “Remember the Maine” • Yellow press will sway public opinion and pressure governments one way

11. International Agency • No agency for arbitration • Countries settle disputes themselves • With military intimidation • Or War

12. Alliance System • There is secret diplomacy • One country will support another by word • Full Alliance system • Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria, and Italy • Triple Entente – France, Russia, and Brittan • If one country attacks another, everyone goes to war!

13. England • By the start of the war is at the height of power abroad. • Have colonies around the world • Largest navy in the world • Smallest land army in Europe • Oversea • Self-government to Canada, Australia, and South Africa • Tightened reins on non-white colonies – India • Content and Confident by 1914

15. Germany • Nationalism has gripped the state from 1870’s • Prussia – military state • Sought to unite the German states into one nation • Fought a series of wars to make the German State • Extreme industrial growth • Kaiser Wilhelm II • Grandson of Queen Victoria • Has withered left arm – overcompensates with being a bully and being aggressive • Have ample resources to fuel their economy • By 1914 • Economically advanced • Aggressive foreign policy • Rich, powerful, and aggressive • Growing naval power – to try and rival Brittan

16. France • Republic in Crisis • Politics • Panama Canal Scandal – bribed public officials to keep project going • Dreyfus Affair – Jew was blamed for spying for Germany • Army is a state within a state • Economy • Set backs in Alsace-Lorraine • Demoted from 2nd to 4th in world trade • By 1914 • A nation divided • Anti-military sentiment – pacifist

17. Italy • Economically backwards • Lacking in natural resources • Growing population • Growing labor unrest – riots in streets • Illiteracy • Population is susceptible to manipulation by state • Colonial ventures • Ethiopia – lost to Ethiopian army • Libya – is only imperialist colony – not very strategic • By 1914 • Is in no condition for war

18. Russia • Nicholas II • Cousins with Kaiser Wilhelm • Is a very inept leader • Cannot make a decision • Constantly flip-flops • Military • Has the largest land army • One of the smallest navies • Technology • Is behind – still has mounted Calvary • Not industrialized • By 1914 • Has 6,000,000 men available • Only has 4,000,000 rifles • Oops! In other words not prepared

19. Austria/Hungary • Two separate states • Lack of cooperation between Austria and Hungary • Emperor Francis Joseph only source of Unity • Agrarian society • Not advanced economically • Military strength • Small navy • Small army • By 1914 • Large nationalism faction – lack of unity in state • Not ready for a war

20. The Event • Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand • Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne • Serbian nationalist shot him and his wife • Austria gives ultimatum to Serbia • Let them come in and find who is responsible or else! • Serbia politely refuses • Germany gives Austria “blank check” support • Austria declares war on Serbia

22. Alliance System • Russia mobilizes army to back Serbia • Mobilizes against both Austria and Germany border • Russia only has plans that can mobilize against both instead of against Austria • Nicholas will send Wilhelm apology telegram for mobilizing against him on July 31st • Germany will declare against Russia war on August 1st • The rest of Alliances will fall into place

23. German Response • Schlieffen Plan • Two front war • Heart of France is through Belgium • Conduct war at enemies expense • Fight on their ground not Germany’s • Great victories will demoralize enemy • Defeat France first – they are weak with no army or navy. At the same time occupy Russia, then bring east troops over to defeat Russia once France is defeated. • Germany will declare war on neutral Belgium and plunge through towards France

25. America Declares Neutrality • Difficulties in neutrality • Large immigrant population, each group will support their cultural ties. • Most Americans will side with British and French • Cultural ties with British • Leading trade partner between America and British • France – helped out during Revolutionary War • Wilson knew that America was a melting pot of cultures and nations he did not want to see American against one another.

26. New Technologies • Search – get into groups • Machine Guns • Artillery field guns • Poison gas • Submarines • Tanks and armored cars • Airplanes • Give some stats for each • The significance • Describe what it is and what it does • The effect in battle or during the war • Tell me which you think had the greatest impact on the war and why.

27. 1st Battle of the Marne • German army advanced to within 30 miles of Paris • French and British troops held Germany near Marne River • Sept 6-10 1914 with the German retreat • Almost 500,000 casualties total 4 days of fighting

28. Western Front • War will become a War of attrition • Trench warfare along with new technologies • Warfare strategy does not keep up with technologies • Offensive warfare – to charge forward against machine guns and entrenched defensive positions • Three year stalemate on western front

29. Battle of Somme • July – November 1916 • Shelled Germans for 1 full week used over 1 million shells • On first day after shelling stopped British charged and lost 20,000 in the first hour! And lost 60,000 the first day. • British kept up offensive after offensive and finally won after four months of fighting having 620,000 casualties. Germans had over 500,000 casualties. • They had gained about 16 miles of ground.

31. Eastern Front • More Flexible • Much more movement of the front lines • German success • German will push Russians back • Russia will fold with revolution • Sign treaty of Brest-Litovsk • Peace between Russia and Germany • Gave Germany all Land lost in World War I • Russia will be in a Civil War the next 4 years

32. US Involvement • Munitions sales • Loans to Allies • This will begin myth that bankers and munitions drug the US into WW I • By 1915 Wilson will prepare for war • 1916 Congress passes two acts: • National Defense Act – expand size of army • Naval Construction Act – build more warships

33. Britain Blockade • Britain, early in the war, started the blockade of Germany. • Had largest navy wanted to use it to keep goods from reaching enemy • International Law said that a country could confiscate weapons and other war contraband • Britain will stop every ship for Germany and take all items. • Germany will respond with unrestricted Sub warfare • Look at map on page 176

34. Unrestricted Sub Warfare • Sinking of the Lusitania 1915 – 128 Americans Dead • Lusitania was carrying munitions – American propaganda – said is was passenger ship • Begins myth that Americans on belligerent ships drug US into WW I • Germans will promise not to sink unarmed passenger ship • 1916 sinking of Sussex • Germans will promise again to sink unarmed ship • 1917 Germany will resume sub warfare • Germany will risk war with US • Germany wanted to end war before the US gets involved

35. End of US Neutrality • Germany became desperate • US traded with both allies and central powers • British blockade stopped all goods from reaching Germany • Germans will increase sub warfare • And Send Zimmerman Telegram • Look at the document • Fill out document worksheet