World War I 1914-1918 This is a war to end all wars. -American President Woodrow Wilson
Introduction Originally called The Great War 8.5 Million Dead, More Than 17 Million Wounded. The war to end all wars First major war since 1815. Unlike World War II, no clear-cut lines of good and evil. Until World War II, the world s most destructive conflict. The Industrial Revolution meets warfare. Total War Set the pattern for the 20 th century.
Underlying Causes of WWI Imperialism -Creates intense competition Nationalism - National patriotism - Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid 19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic people. The main focus was in the Balkans where Southern Slavs had been ruled over by the two great empires, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The Slavic peoples are a people with similar language, background, and religion as Russia Entangling Alliance System Militarism
1914 The Immediate Cause of World War I
Immediate Cause of World War I Sarajevo, Bosnia June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip Black Hand Society The July Crisis: Austro-Hungary gives Serbia an ultimatum
World War I Alliances Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Japan (1914) Italy (1915) USA (1917) Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Turkey (1914) Bulgaria (1915)
August 1914 Germany faced with a two-front war Must quickly eliminate France, then face Russia The Schlieffen Plan Swift attack through neutral Belgium Sweep around Paris from the north, encircle the city Shift forces to the east to deal with Russia The Schlieffen Plan World War One Video Sequence of the Start of WWI
New Kind Of War Technology Changes Warfare
Poison Gas
Tanks British Mark I Crossing a Trench Stuck in a Trench French Renault Light Tank
Aerial Warfare
A German U-boat
Cannon
Field Artillery Gun
Trench Warfare
Soldiers in Caves
Soldiers in Trenches
No Man s Land
Total War Total War: war fought both on the battlefield and at home Draft men for war. Raise taxes and borrow money for war. Ration supplies and goods at home to save some for the troops. Use the press and print to spread propagandathe spreading of ideas to promote a cause or damage an opposing cause. Allow women to fill the jobs that were left empty by the men fighting in the war.
1917 The Fateful Year
The United States and Isolationist tradition Wilson declares USA neutral in European war Wilson calls for peace without victory US banks loan European countries money World War I President Woodrow Wilson
The Sinking of the Lusitania May 7, 1915 British passenger liner Sunk by German U- boat 1,200 lives lost 128 Americans dead Pushed USA closer to War The Lusitania
Germany Announces Unrestricted January 31, 1917 Germans promise to sink any ship that enters the war zone Cut off supplies to Britain & France Submarine Warfare Force Allied surrender US merchant ships sunk
The Zimmerman Telegram February 28, 1917 British intelligence intercepted German telegram to Mexico Germans promised Mexico territory lost to USA in Mexican War (1846-48) Mexico did not take the telegram seriously The USA, however, did April 6, 1917 USA declared war on Germany The Zimmerman Telegram
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 3, 1918 Bolsheviks signed a separate peace with Germany Germany now free to shift troops to the Western Front Treaty took Russia out of the war. Signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Turning Points of the War Entry of the United States in 1917 on the Western Front. Russian withdrawal because of the start of the Russian Revolution.
Germany s Desperate Situation Russia out of the war, but fresh American troops on the Western Front Austria-Hungary and Turkey almost knocked out of the war Food shortages in Germany Numerous strikes in major cities 500,000 workers on strike in Berlin (January) Increasing inflation November 11, 1918 armistice signed, ending World War I.
The Fourteen Points January 8, 1918 Peace proposal Encourage Allies and Central Powers to end the war Some points were contrary to secret agreements made among the Allies President Woodrow Wilson
The Fourteen Points 8 Points dealt with territorial matters Open, rather than secret, diplomacy Freedom of the seas General disarmament Removal of trade barriers The establishment of a League of Nations.most important
Human and Economic Losses 8.5 Million People Died 17 Million People are Wounded. Famine and Disease spread through many regions. Factories, farms, and homes are destroyed. Nations had huge war debts to pay. Total of all Costs 186,333,637,000 The Allies, bitter at the destruction, insisted that the Central Powers (especially Germany) make payments for war damage they caused. These payments were called REPARATIONS
Consequences of World War I Four empires destroyed German Empire Austro-Hungarian Empire Ottoman Empire Russian Empire Economic devastation Projection of the U.S. into world affairs Russian Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union Rise of Mussolini & Fascism in Italy Rise of Hitler and Nazism in Germany