The Road to War Chapter 19 Section 1

The Road to War Chapter 19 Section 1

The Causes of WW 1 • Militarism • Alliances • Imperialism • Nationalism

Militarism • Aggressively building up armed forces to prepare for war • Germany was competing with G. B. to build battleships.

Militarism • Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies 1880 1914 • Germany 1. 3 m 5. 0 m • France 0. 73 m 4. 0 m • Russia 0. 40 m 1. 2 m

Alliances • By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances. • Alliances made it more likely that a war would start. • Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread.

Imperialism • All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory. • The British feared Germany in Africa. • France and Germany in conflict over Alsace-Lorraine • Austria fearful of Russia and Serbia in the Balkans

Nationalism • 2 types of Nationalism – Countries want to prove that they are great – Nations also wanted to assert their independence. • In Europe, the Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule. Serbia’s national flag

Significant Individuals • Kaiser Wilhelm II – King of Germany • Built up German army and navy • Aggressive foreign policy • Determined to make Germany a top nation. • Distrusted by other powers “Germany must have its place in the sun” “The world belongs to the strong. ”

Significant Individuals • Franz Joseph • Emperor of Austria. Hungary • Old man, no male heirs. • Nephew Franz Ferdinand to rule after his death “

The Crisis • 28 June 1914 • Heir to Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo. • Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria. • Hotbed of Slav nationalism Seal of the Black Hand group

The Crisis • “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke • Bomb attempt fails in morning • Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon. • Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists

The Crisis • Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum. • Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the ultimatum. • Russia mobilizes their troops to support Serbia – or the readying of troops for war • Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down. – Russia refuses “Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …”

The Conflict Expands • Germany declares war on Russia • France, Russia’s ally declares war on Germany and Austria • Within 2 weeks all major powers of Europe involved in the war

The Schlieffen Plan • Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia. • “Knock out blow” to prevent 2 front waraimed at France first. • Avoid French defenses by invasion of Belgium. • Germans thought Britain would not intervene. • Brits decide to honor an old treaty with Belgium and get involved in the war

Stalemate and Modern Warfare • By September 1914, the war had reached a stalemate – neither side is able to gain an advantage. • When a French and British force stopped a German advance near Paris, both sides holed up in trenches separated by an empty “no man’s land. ” – Small gains in land resulted in huge numbers of human casualties. Modern Warfare • Neither soldiers nor officers were prepared for the new, highly efficient killing machines used in World War I. • Machine guns, hand grenades, artillery shells, and poison gas killed thousands of soldiers who left their trenches to attack the enemy. • As morale fell, the lines between soldiers and civilians began to blur. The armies began to burn fields, kill livestock, and poison wells.

The American Response • Many Americans were European immigrants or the children of European immigrants, many felt personally involved. – Some had sympathies for the Central Powers, most Americans supported the Allies. • To protect American investments overseas, President Wilson officially proclaimed the US neutral in August, 1914.

The Preparedness and Peace Movements The Preparedness Movement • Americans with business ties to GB wanted country to be prepared to come to Britain’s aid • “Preparedness”-prepare for war • Asked US government to set up military training camps and increase funding for the military The Peace Movement • Others, including women, former Populists, Midwest progressives, and social reformers, wanted peace. • Congress insisted on paying for preparedness by increasing taxes (hopefully making war more unpopular).