The Great War 1914 1918 Marching Toward War

The Great War, 1914– 1918 Marching Toward War Ch. 13 Section 1 In Europe, military buildup, nationalistic feelings, and rival alliances set the stage for a continental war.

Main Causes of World War I 1) The Rise of Nationalism 2) Imperialism 3) Militarism (arms race) 4) Alliance system 5) Assassination of the Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary

Rising Tensions in Europe The Rise of Nationalism • Europe enjoys peace in late 1800 s – Considered the century of peace • BUT, problems lie below surface 6 Nations were rivals for power in Europe – called the Great Powers - Germany, Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy & Russia - Competed economically and for land • Nationalism in the Balkans leads many groups to demand independence Alliances began to form

Map of Europe Pre-WWI

Rising Tensions in Europe Imperialism Competition for colonies stirs mistrust among European nations • Mutual animosity spurs European countries to Militarism European nations engaged in arms race • Militarism—policy of glorifying military power, preparing army • Increase competition and mistrust

Tangled Alliances Bismarck (Prussia) Forges Early Pacts Otto von Bismarck unified Germany Otto von Bismarck worked to keep peace in Europe after 1871 • Believes France wants revenge for loss in 1870 Franco-Prussian War Seeks to isolate the French with a series of treaties and alliances: - signs treaty with Russia in 1881 - forms Triple Alliance— Germany, Austria. Hungary, Italy—in 1882

Tangled Alliances Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace • Kaiser Wilhelm II become German ruler in 1888 • Foreign policy changes begin in 1890 with dismissal of Bismarck - alliance with Russia dropped; Russia then allies with France - Created a possible two front war for Germany - effort to strengthen German navy, which alarms Britain • Britain, France, Russia form Triple Entente alliance in 1907

Crisis in the Balkans A Restless Region • Many groups in Balkans win independence during early 1900 s from the Ottoman Empire • New nation of Serbia made up largely of Slavs • Austria-Hungary annexes Slavic region Bosnia and Herzegovina (1908) • Serbia outraged, sees itself as rightful ruler of these Slavic lands

Crisis in the Balkans A Shot Rings Throughout Europe • Serbian rebel kills Austro. Hungarian royal official (Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand his wife) in June 1914 • Austria declares war on Serbia; Russia comes to aid of Serbia (Stop)

Europe Plunges into War Ch. 13. 2 One European nation after another is drawn into a large and industrialized war that results in many casualties.

The Great War Begins Armies on the March • Russia moves troops to its borders with Austria and Germany • Germany declares war on Russia, quickly attacks France • Great Britain declares war on Germany

The Great War Begins Nations Take Sides • By mid-August 1914, two sides at war throughout Europe: - Central Powers— Germany, Austria. Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria (and other nations) - Allies—Britain, France, Russia, Italy (and other nations); U. S. in 1917.

A Bloody Stalemate The Conflict Grinds Along • Schlieffen Plan—German plan to defeat France, then fight Russia • German army quickly advances to outskirts of Paris • Forced to retreat at First Battle of the Marne • Schlieffen Plan fails; Germany has to fight twofront war

A Bloody Stalemate War in the Trenches Western Front—heavy battle zone in northern France Conflict descends into trench warfare —armies fighting from trenches • Battles result in many deaths, small land gains • Life in trenches is miserable, difficult, unsanitary • New weapons only lead to more deaths • Massive losses for both sides at 1916 battles of Verdun and Somme

The Battle on the Eastern Front Early Fighting • Eastern Front—site of main fighting along the German. Russian border • Russians push into Austria and Germany, but soon forced to retreat Russia Struggles • Russia’s war effort suffering by 1916; many casualties, few supplies • Huge size of Russian army keeps it a formidable force - prevents Germany from sending more troops to the Western Front (2 front war)

A Global Conflict Chapter 13 Section 3

Main Idea • World War I spread to several continents and required the full resources of many governments. • The war propelled the United States to a new position of international power, which it holds today.

Introduction • WWI was much more than a European conflict. • Australia and Japan entered the war on the Allies’ side. • India supplied troops to fight alongside their British rulers. • Ottoman Turks and Bulgaria allied themselves with Germany and Central Powers. • Countries were searching for other allies and new war fronts to tip the balance.

War Affects the World • Main combatants looked beyond Europe for a way to end the stalemate. • However, none of the alliances they formed or new battlefronts they opened did much to end the slow and grinding conflict.

America Joins the Fight • 1917 – the focus of the war shifted to the high seas. • Germans intensified the submarine warfare that had raged in the Atlantic Ocean. • Germans announced their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. – Their submarines would sink any ship without warning in the waters around Britain. • Germans used their submarines (U-boats) to stop supplies from reaching the Allies.

Lusitania • May 7, 1915 – German U-boat sunk the British passenger ship Lusitania. – 1, 198 dead • 128 U. S. citizens • Germany claimed the ship was carrying ammunition. – True • American public = outraged • President Woodrow Wilson sent a strong protest to Germany. • After two more attacks, Germany agreed to stop attacking neutral or passenger ships.

A Flawed Peace Chapter 13 Section 4

Treaty of Versailles— 1918 Allied Leaders from 32 nations met in Paris, France to discuss the terms of peace. The BIG FOUR made most of the decisions • David Lloyd George (PM of England) • Georges Clemenceau (Premier of France) • Vittorio Orlando (Premier of Italy) • Woodrow Wilson (President of the US)

David Lloyd George Prime Minister of England • A moderating influence on both the harsh demands of Georges Clemenceau and the idealistic proposals of Woodrow Wilson • To a large extent, shaped the final agreement • He later concluded that the treaty was a failure • Predicted that Europe would experience a renewed war within twenty years

Georges Clemenceau Premier of France • Georges Clemenceau wanted the destruction of Germany • His nickname was ‘The Tiger’ because of his aggressive nature.

Vittorio Orlando Premier of Italy • Clashed with Woodrow Wilson over Italy's territorial demands • The terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty undermined Orlando's position

Woodrow Wilson President of the United States • Supported the Versailles Treaty • Insisted that his Fourteen Points should serve as a basis for the US signing of the peace treaty • His ideas were considered idealistic

Provisions of the Treaty of Versailles I. Germany surrendered areas under their control A. In Germany 1. the Alsace-Lorraine region to France 2. the Saar Valley (coal mine region) to the League of Nations 3 minor border regions to Denmark and Belgium 4. Poland was created from parts of Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary