Aim Could WWI have been avoided The World

Aim: Could WWI have been avoided? The World in 1900

The Balkans at the Start of WWI 1914

I MAIN Causes Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Militarism: Glorification and expansion of the military ü Franco-Prussian War (1870 – 1871). Bismarck provoked the war with the doctored Ems Telegram. Bismarck’s creation of a unified Germany led to the creation of new alliances in Europe. üArms Race: As one country increased its armies, so all the others increased their armed forces to keep the ‘balance of power’.

Militarism: Arms Race

Key Alliances The Three Emperors’ League (1873). between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia. Engineered by Otto von Bismarck. Disorder in the Balkans undermined Russia’s commitment to the league, which collapsed in 1878. The Dual Alliance (1879). A military alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, required each signatory to support the other if one was attacked by Russia. Signed after the collapse of the Three Emperors’ League and during a period of Austro-Russian tension in the Balkans. The alliance was welcomed by nationalists in Germany, who believed that German-speaking Austria should be absorbed into greater Germany. The Triple Alliance (1882). 3 way alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. They must provide military support to the others, if one was attacked by two other powers – or if Germany and Italy were attacked by France. The Franco-Russian Alliance (1894). A response to the Triple Alliance, which had isolated France. Allowed Russia access to French loans and provided France with access to Russian mining, industry and raw materials. It angered Berlin. The Entente Cordiale (1904). Agreements between Britain and France. It resolved some colonial disagreements and other minor but lingering disputes. Was not a military alliance, but a step towards an Anglo-French military alliance. The Anglo-Russian Entente (1907). Britain and Russia had spent much of the 19 th century as antagonists, going to war in the Crimea (1853 -56) and later reaching the verge of war twice. Resolved the status of colonial possessions in the Middle East and Asia. No military commitment. The Triple Entente (1907). Consolidated the Entente Cordiale and the Anglo-Russian Entente into a 3 way agreement between Britain, France and Russia. Not a military alliance but it marked the end of British neutrality and isolationism.

Imperialism The Russo-Japanese War: (1904 – 1905) Following the Russian rejection of a Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launched a naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China. Russia lost. August 1905 U. S. President Theodore Roosevelt mediated a peace treaty at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Japan emerged from the conflict as the first modern non. Western world power and set its sights on greater imperial expansion.

Nationalism made the ethnic groups ruled by the Ottoman Empire (such as the Romanians) and by Austria-Hungary (such as the Serbs) want to be sovereign. Panslavism movement in the Balkan Peninsula: Serbia had became independent in 1878, but in 1900 many Serbs were still ruled by the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary.

II The Keg Blows “Archduke Francis Ferdinand traveled to Sarajevo in June 1914 to inspect the imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Ottoman territories in the Balkan region that were annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908 to the indignation of Serbian nationalists… On June 28, 1914, Ferdinand Sophie were touring Sarajevo in an open car, when Serbian nationalist Nedjelko Cabrinovic threw a bomb; it rolled off the back of the vehicle and wounded an officer and some bystanders. Later that day, 19 -year-old Gavrilo Princip fired into the car, shooting Franz Ferdinand Sophie at point-blank range. Princip then turned the gun on himself, but was prevented from shooting it by a bystander who threw himself upon the young assassin. A mob attacked Princip, who was taken by the police. Meanwhile, Ferdinand Sophie both died within the hour. The assassination of Franz-Ferdinand Sophie set off a rapid chain of events… Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian government. As Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from Kaiser Wilhelm that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian intervention–which would likely involve Russia's ally, France, and possibly Britain as well. On July 28, Austria. Hungary declared war on Serbia. Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia had lined up against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and World War I had begun. ” –www. history. com

The Keg Blows Continued… Gavrilo Princep, a member of the “Black Hand” (a secret Slavic nationalist group) Archduke Ferdinand & Family üAustria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum: Serbia must let A-H officials into the country to stop all violent, nationalist movements, and Serbia must let A-H officials investigate the assassination. Serbia said: NO üJuly 28, 1914 = A-H declared war on Serbia üBoth countries started mobilization = preparing the military for war.

Worldwide involvement = first time in world history that all major nations were involved in a war Every continent provided troops for combat. Troops and laborers were brought in from Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.

III A New Kind of War A) New technologies were used 1. Machine guns 2. Tanks 3. Flame throwers 4. Depth-charge (deep water) torpedoes 5. Barbed wire 6. Airplanes and air traffic control 7. Poison Gas 8. Air craft carriers B) Trench Warfare was used on an unprecedented scale.

“Trench foot” = when the feet would begin to rot and decay due to exposure to water and cold If infected could lead to gangrene

Trench Warfare: Opposing armies conduct battle, at relatively close range, from a series of ditches dug into the ground. It becomes necessary when two armies face a stalemate, with neither side able to advance and overtake the other.

IV The US Entered the War A) At the start of WWI, US president Woodrow Wilson pledged neutrality. B) Tensions arose when Germany tried to quarantine Britain, an American ally. C) 1915 Germany announced unrestricted warfare against all ships (even neutral ones) near Britain. On May 7, 1915 the British Lusitania was torpedoed without warning off the coast of Ireland. Of the nearly 2, 000 passengers aboard, 1, 201 were killed, including 128 Americans. D) April 6, 1917 the US formally entered the war. E) As there were only approximately 100, 000 American soldiers ready, the US adopted a policy of conscription (a draft).

WWI Propaganda A Russian poster to buy Russian War Bonds

V Women and WWI A) After the US entered the war in 1917, women supported the war effort in numerous ways; such as by selling war bonds. B) During the war, women served in the navy and marines, and as nurses. On the home front, women worked in factories and in the government. C) WWI led to several important advances for women. It increased support for women’s suffrage (the right to vote) and contributed to the passage of the 19 th Amendment in 1920. In addition, during the war, the Department of Labor created the Women in Industry Service. After the war, the Women in Industry Service became The Women’s Bureau. http: //www. nwhm. org

VI The End of WWI? A) After the surrender of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, Germany was forced to seek an armistice with the Allies on November 11, 1918. B) The Paris Peace Conference began on January 18, 1919 to debate the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty. Germany was not invited. The “Big Three” were Prime Minister David Lloyd George of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau of France, and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States. The terms of the Versailles Treaty were so hostile to Germany that German Chancellor Philipp Scheidemann resigned rather than sign it. C) On June 28, 1919, Germany signed the Versailles Treaty. (Their military was so weakened Germany had no choice)

The “Big Three” and the Signing of the Treaty of Versailles David Lloyd Georges Clemenceau Woodrow Wilson

The Treaty of Versailles Excerpts ARTICLE 160. By a date which must not be later than March 31, 1920, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry… The total effective strength of officers, including the personnel of staffs… must not exceed four thousand. ARTICLE 198. The armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces. ARTICLE 231. The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.

VI The League of Nations A) In front of the U. S. Congress on January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson, in the last of his Fourteen Points, called for a “general association of nations…formed on the basis of covenants designed to create mutual guarantees of the political independence and territorial integrity of States, large and small equally. ” B) Wilson used his influence to attach the charter of the League of Nations to the Treaty of Versailles. C) Due to concerns that the League would commit the United States to an organization that would reduce the United States’ ability to defend its own interests, the Senate voted to not join.

Wilson’s 14 Points Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points were first outlined in a speech Wilson gave to the American Congress in January 1918. 1. No more secret agreements 2. Free navigation of all seas 3. An end to all economic barriers between countries 4. Countries to reduce weapons 5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial 8 - 13. Self-determination for those in France, Italy, Poland, the Balkans, the former Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires 14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states.

VII Costs of the War During mid-1918, Europe was hit by Spanish flu and an estimated 25 million people died. ***Germany finished paying its reparations Oct 3, 2010***

“Before WWI Germany was a prosperous country, with a gold-backed currency, expanding industry, and world leadership in optics, chemicals, and machinery… That was in 1914. In 1923, at the most fevered moment of the German hyperinflation, the exchange rate between the dollar and the Mark was one trillion Marks to one dollar, and a wheelbarrow full of money would not even buy a newspaper. ” - George J. W. Goodman, 1923 “ The Treaty of Versailles is worthless. 60 million German hearts and minds are on fire with anger and shame. They will cry out ‘We want

Southwest Asia 1922

HW Questions 1. Fill in your Period 6 Chart for WWI. 2. Could WWI have been avoided? 3. How was WWI different from previous wars? Does WWI deserve to be called the “Great War”? 4. If you were the leader of Germany, would you have signed the Treaty of Versailles as it was written? Why or why not? 5. Do you think that the Treaty of Versailles, Wilson’s 14 Points and the League of Nations were truly intended to prevent future world wars? Was it possible to predict WWII? *Justify your answers with historical evidence!

Key Vocabulary Anglo-Russian Entente 14 Points 19 th Amendment Anglo-French Naval Convention Archduke Francis Ferdinand Arms Race Balkans Big Three Conscription Czar Nicholas II David Lloyd George Dual Alliance Franco-Italian Alliance Franco-Prussian War Franco-Russian Military Convention Gavrilo Princip Georges Clemenceau League of Nations Lusitania Nedjelko Cabrinovic Pan-Slavicism Paris Peace Conference Russo-Japanese War Serbia Suez Canal Three Emperors League Treaty of Versailles Trench Warfare Triple Alliance Triple Entente Woodrow Wilson WWI