Causes and Consequences of World War I: A Comprehensive Overview

1. World War I Chapter 19

2. Activity: War • For what reasons do countries go to war? • In your opinion, are there any good reasons to go to war? Explain.

3. Causes • Nationalism – devotion to ones own country • Imperialism – countries extending their land and building empires • Militarism – building up armed forces • Naval arms race

4. 2 Sides • Allies – France, Britain and Russia • Central Powers (Triple Alliance) – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy • Ottoman Empire also a big player

5. Green – Allies Gold – Central Powers Gray - Neutral

6. Assassination Leads to War • Archduke Franz Ferdinand is shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. • June 1914 • Ferdinand was the heir to the Austrian Throne • Princip a Serbian nationalist • People thought it would be a short war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia • Many nations brought into conflict

8. Fighting Begins • August 3, 1914 – Germany invades Belgium • Schlieffen Plan – defeat France first then Russia • Trench Warfare • “No Mans Land”

12. A letter home… • Imagine that you are fighting in WWI, in the trenches. Write a letter to a loved one (Mom, Dad, sibling, spouse, best friend) that detail what a soldier must have been thinking in the trenches. • Fears, experiences, sights, sounds, smells • Must be at least ½ a page no more than 1 page.

13. What about the US? • The question of neutrality • Do we stay out and profit by selling goods? • Do we stop the “Bully of Europe”

14. War Hits Home • British blockade of Germany • US ships can’t deliver goods • Sinking of the Lusitania by German U-boat • Americans on board • Other ships attacked, Americans killed • Woodrow Wilson elected president in 1916 • America declares war • Zimmerman note – Germany tries to lure Mexico away from US

15. War in America • Selective Service Act – Draft • 3 million drafted • Mass production of War Goods • Convoy System – protect ships

16. New Inventions • Machine Gun – 600 rounds per minute

17. New Inventions • Airplanes with guns

18. New Inventions • Anti-Aircraft Guns

19. New Inventions • Poison Gas and Gas masks

20. New Inventions • Tanks

21. War at Home • Income Tax • Anti-Immigration Scare • American’s fearful of an attack from within • Espionage and Sedition Acts • Don’t say bad stuff about the gov’t • Food Conservation • “One day meatless, another sweetless, two days wheatless and two more porkless

22. Everyone Helping • The “Great Migration” • African Americans flocking to the north to gain factory jobs • Women also taking jobs that were once seen as strictly for men

23. War Comes to a Close • Nov. 1918 – Both Germany and Austria Hungary surrender • Armistice – Truce • At 11:11 on 11-11-1918 • 22 million dead, 20 million wounded • World’s deadliest war, so far

24. After the War • Wilson’s 14 points – plan for world peace • League of Nations – countries and settle disagreements • Treaty of Versailles • Germany is responsible for war • Must pay reparations – war damages • Germany losses territory (Poland) • Breaks the German economy