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Learn about the 6 causes of WWI, formation of alliances, trench warfare, U.S. involvement, Zimmermann Note, Russian Revolution, defeat of Central Powers, and the stage set for the Cold War. Discover the events leading to the outbreak of WWI and the significant impacts on global history.
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World War I World History Chapter 27
Causes of The Great War • 6 Causes of WWI • 1. Imperialism – intense rivalries for colonies • 2. Need for new markets • 3. Nationalism – pride in one’s country • 4. Competition for colonies in Africa and India • 5. European rivalries • 6. Militarism – growth of mass armies • As rivalries among European nations grew, armies also grew • In the 1890’s Germany began to enlarge its navy in order to rival Great Britain • Russia = 1.3 mill; France, Germany 900,000; Britain, Italy, Austro-Hungary 250-500, 000 troops
Before The Great War • Armies continued to mass • After the war broke out, numbers increased further because of conscriptions (military draft) • Slavic minorities in the Balkans, Irish in the UK, and Poles in Russian empire wanted their own country • Europe was divided into two loose alliances: • Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy created the Triple Alliance • Great Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente • The alliances would set the stage for the war to come
The Spark of War • In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was touring Bosnia in an open top car when he was assassinated by Serbian nationalist GavriloPrincip in the streets of Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia) • Austria offered to forgive the incident if Serbia went along with a few demands they knew no one would accept and Serbia didn't • Austria-Hungary quickly declared war on Serbia. Germany quickly offered support to Austria, and Russia honored its alliance with Serbia
Alliances were formed • Because of the alliances already set up, war quickly broke out • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey became the Central Powers • Meanwhile, Great Britain, France, Russia and others became the Allied Powers • At first, Germany was the successful aggressor taking over much territory in France • Eventually, they became locked into trench warfare on the western front and the war stalled at the First Battle of the Marne
Trench warfare • See video (3 MINS) • For soldiers who avoided death, the trenches were a nightmare • Rats and lice were prevalent • Rain flooded the trenches • Disease and unsanitary conditions bred disease and sickness that claimed almost as many lives as the fighting did • Many soldiers faked illness or shot themselves to avoid staying in the trenches
Meanwhile in the U.S. • At first U.S. is neutral to war • Many sympathize with U.K. and the Allies • U.S. even sold weapons to the U.K. • Germany got mad and sank a bunch of ships (including a passenger liner called the Lusitania) with their U-boats (submarines) • British propaganda had a great influence on Americans. Stories about German atrocities-brutal acts against defenseless civilians - angered Americans. (They did not realize that many of the stories were exaggerated or not true.)
The Zimmermann Note • In January 1917, Arthur Zimmermann sent a secret telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico • In the Zimmerman note, Germany offered to help Mexico regain Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if Mexico would help fight on Germany’s side • The British intercepted the telegram and decoded it and it was then published in American newspapers. • Americans were enraged. • When revolutionaries in Russia overthrew the czarist government, president Wilson went to Congress and said “the world must be made safe for democracy” • On April 6, 1917, Congress voted to declare war on Germany
Meanwhile in Russia • World War I showed Russia’s economic weaknesses • Along with that The Russian government was corrupt, and could not deal with the problems of the modern warfare • By the spring of 1917 the Russian people had lost faith in their government and Czar • The royal family was imprisoned and the rule of the Russian aristocracy had come to an end • With the overthrow of the czar, a temporary government was set up to rule Russia until a constitutional assembly could be elected
Russian Revolution • Two factions fought for control of the soviets, the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks • The leader of the Bolsheviks wasVladimir Lenin a revolutionary socialist and Marxist • On November 17, 1917 Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government and controlled Russia in 1918 renamed themselves the Communist party • Communists renamed the land they ruled the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the Soviet Union • This set the stage for the future: The Cold War
The Defeat of the Central Powers • At the end of May the Germans reached the Marne River just 37 miles from Paris • At the same time there were thousands of American troops landing in France every day and Britain had set up blockades in the Atlantic Ocean to prevent Germany from gaining supplies • The Germans were stopped short and the allies began to counter attack • Allied forces were pushing the Germans back and in September Bulgaria surrendered • They were quickly followed by the Turks • By October the Austria-Hungary Empire had stopped fighting; they broke up and formed separate governments
Defeat Continued… • Wilson told German leaders that he would only deal with leaders that represented the German people • The Kaiser gave up the throne in November and a German republic was announced • In 1918 the German Republic signed an armistice that on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918 all fighting would stop • Germany had to turn over all of their munitions, submarines and war prisoners • And the allies would occupy the territory west of the Rhine – the war was over
The Costs of World War I • The costs of WW I were very high • It left an estimated 8.5-10 million soldiers dead and another 21million wounded • Germany suffered the most casualties with 1.8 million dead or wounded with Russia close behind • France lost over 1.4 million soldiers • Civilian casualties were also very high due to things like Naval blockades, Military encounters, famine and disease had all taken their toll • The Financial loss has been estimated at more than 300 billion dollars
Peace talks • Woodrow Wilson (U.S.), David Lloyd George (U.K.) Georges Clemenceau (France) and Vittrio Orlando (Italy) became known as the Big Four • They were the leaders of the Allied Powers • Held a conference in Paris • Wilson created the Fourteen Points (a plan to bring peace and stability to the region) • After 6 months of negotiations, the Treaty of Versailles was signed • Signed on June 28th, 1919 • The Treaty carved large chunks of land from Germany, placed restrictions on the Government and made them pay reparations
Treaty of Versailles • The Germans strongly objected to paying reparationsdenying that they were alone in starting the war • The Alsace Lorraine region was returned to France, Poland was restored as an independent nation, and Belgium gained some territory • Germany had to stop its military draft and the Navy could only have a few warships and no submarines • Their Military was not allowed to manufacture heavy artillery, tanks or Military airplanes • The allies did not have the ability to enforce this • WWII would result
