The Road to War: Causes and Consequences of WWI

1. The Road to War Chapter 12, Section 1

2. Terrorism! • Austro-Hungarian Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a member of Serbia’s Black Hand group • Those in the Black Hand didn’t want Austria-Hungary to rule over their land • Austria-Hungary was not happy– and the Serbs would have to pay.

4. The MAIN causes of WWI • M- Militarism • Rather than use diplomacy, countries began to build up their armies and to give the military more power • Chose hard power over soft power… • Chose stick over the carrot… • This meant new weapons and warships for their armies • This made war a greater option for resolving conflicts

5. A- Alliances • A complicated system of alliances turned an assassination into a war • When Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated, A-H considered it an attack. • Germany had promised to come to A-H’s aid • Russia had Serbia’s back • France had an alliance with Russia • Great Britain had a loose alliance with France • If you give a moose a muffin…

6. I- Imperialism • In the 1800’s, European powers scrambled for colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific • By 1910 (4 years earlier)the most desirable colonies had been taken. What makes a colony desirable? • Britain and France had started colonizing earlier than Germany. They had more and better lands. • Other countries would have to take lands away from Britain and France if they wanted new colonies

7. N- Nationalism • Countries tended to do things that were best for their own country, which could cause conflicts with other countries • Both France and Germany wanted to own Alsace-Lorraine (a small strip of land between France and Germany) • Diverse ethnic populations inside bigger countries often longed for their own country • Millions of Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, and others in A-H • Poles in Germany and A-H wanted to build an independent Poland • This is still an issue today! Happy Birthday Kosova!

8. The Conflict Expands • July 28, 1914: A-H declared war on Serbia • July 29: Russia began mobilization to protect Serbia • France and Germany both began to mobilize • August 1: Germany declared war on Russia • Stuck between l’rock and a hard place: the Schlieffen Plan • Avoid a war on 2 fronts • Knock France out quickly, and then go east and defeat Russia • Germany had to pass through Belgium to get to France quickly • August 4: When Germany invaded Belgium, Great Britain came to its aid • From peace to war in 1 week

9. The Sides • Germany and Austria-Hungary ↓ The Central Powers • Russia, France, Great Britain, and Serbia ↓ The Allies (The Entente)

10. A Stalemate • Each side was pretty sure they were going to win quickly and decisively. Not so much. • On the Western Front, German was pretty well matched with the forces from France and Great Britain • Neither side was able to gain an advantage, so it was a stalemate

11. The Eastern Front • Russia had some early victories, which scared Germany into sending soldiers to the Eastern Front ahead of schedule. • These two armies were relatively equally matched as well

12. Trench Warfare • Both sides dug into the ground for protection • Each side had rows of trenches • In between was “no man’s land” • Heavy casualties when soldiers were sent “over the top”

13. The Realities of War • Trenches were disgusting– full of mud and bugs and disease • New weapons changed the face of war: • Machine guns • Rapid-fire artillery • Gas: Chlorine and Mustard Gas Strategies that worked in the wars of the past only led to more casualties in WWI • Both sides became desperate and began to attack civilians by burning fields, poisoning wells, and killing livestock

15. Dulce et Decorum Est • Written by Wilfred Owen • Most widely known poem from WWI • "It is sweet and right." • “It is sweet and right to die for your country.”

16. The War Expands • Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (end of 1914) ↓ The Central Powers • Russia, France, Great Britain, Serbia, and Italy (spring of 1915) ↓ The Allies (The Entente)

18. American Response:The Personal Connection • More than 1/3 of Americans were 1st generation immigrants or the children of immigrants • Nearly ¼ of these were from Germany. It’s not hard to guess who they favored in the war. • An 1/8 were from Ireland and held a grudge against Great Britain. Which side they would have liked to be on? • Millions of Americans had recently come from or identified strongly with Great Britain. • Immigrants from occupied countries hoped that a defeat of the Central powers would mean independence of their homeland • Most Americans favored the Allies

19. Mistrust and Propaganda • Many Americans mistrusted the leader of Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II. • Kaiser = Emperor • Autocrat = Ruler with unlimited power • Germans were seen as embodying militarism and cold-blooded efficiency • Propaganda swayed public opinion with exaggerations of German crimes and cruelty

20. American Propaganda

23. German Propaganda

24. American Neutrality • Overseas trade was a huge business for the US • Fear of German submarine attacks and a British naval blockade of the North Sea risked interrupting US business • To protect trade, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the US a neutral country

25. The Preparedness Movement • American business leaders led the Preparedness Movement • They wanted the US to be ready to help Great Britain if necessary • Summer, 1915: the leaders convinced the government to set up training camps • Summer, 1916: Congress agreed to increase the armed forces

26. The Peace Movement • Former Populists, progressives, and social reformers formed The Peace Movement • Women (and suffragists) were a big part of this opposition to potential war • Congress increased taxes on income and on the makers of arms in the hopes of discouraging preparedness.