World War I A World at War World

World War I A World at War

World War I � Europe began to divide as the European powers became suspicious of each other. � Germany and Austria formed an alliance with each other. � Britain, France and Russia formed an alliance with each other. � Germany viewed this alliance as a potential threat since it could be attacked from both the east and the west.

World War I � The system of alliance would be the major cause for the outbreak of the war. � Other factors that accelerated the move towards war were militarism, imperialism and nationalism. � Militarism is a policy of glorifying war and readying the armed forces for conflict. Militarists urged their nations to build up their armies and stockpile weapons.

World War I � Imperialism caused rivalries and jealousy between the European powers. Germany and Italy wanted to create their own colonies and catch up with Britain and France attempted to keep Germany from gaining colonies. � World War I almost started in 1911 with the Agadir Crisis. Germany wanted to take Morocco away from France.

World War I � Extreme nationalism added more tension in Europe. � These extreme nationalists in France, Germany and Russia wanted to conquer more territory and add it to their empires. � The Serbians wanted to be free of the Austrian Empire and create their own country. � Austria would not grant their freedom since there was potential for the break up of the empire.

World War I � The assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand by the Serbian Black Hand started the war. � Austria demanded all anti-Austrian activities to cease and to allow Austrian officials to handle the investigation. � Serbia said no and Austria declared war on Serbia. They declared war on July 28, 1914. � Russia mobilized its troops and Germany sent a warning to Russia to have its armies stand down. � Germany declared war on Russia on August 1. Then it declared war on France on August 3.

World War I

World War I � Britain, France and Russia were known as the Allies. � Germany, Austria and the Ottoman Empire were known as the Central Powers. � Germany believed if it moved quickly it could capture Paris and defeat the French once and for all. It did not work and the war turned into a stalemate.

World War I � Trench warfare is when both armies built vast networks of trenches for hundreds of miles across France. � Between the opposing lines lay “no man’s land, ” a wasteland of barbed wire, mud, torn earth and shattered trees. � Attacking soldiers had to climb out of their trenches and charge across no man’s land. � The enemy trench was protected by barbed wire and machine guns and heavy artillery. � Both armies used chlorine or mustard gas to poison their enemies.

World War I

World War I

World War I

World War I

World War I

World War I

World War I � The war was fought in Europe, Africa, Asia. � The United States was neutral and wanted to stay out of the war. � Both Germany and Britain attempted to stop American shipping to their enemy. � When Germany destroyed the British passenger ship Lusitania, many Americans wanted to go to war with Germany. 128 Americans were among the casualties and many of these were women and children.

World War I � America entered the war due to the Zimmerman telegram. � The British decoded a message from the German ambassador to Mexico. The message stated that Germany would help Mexico regain Texas and other parts of the American Southwest if Mexico invaded the United States. � President Carranza of Mexico rejected this offer and remained neutral. � In April 1917 the United States declared war on Germany.

World War I

World War I � Russia had to withdraw from the war due to the Bolshevik Revolution at home. � Now Germany could concentrate on the western front and they began to push the British and French back towards Paris. � In the early summer of 1918, American troops began to arrive in France. America’s entry into the war turned the tide in favor of the Allies.

World War I � Germany had committed all of its resources into a final push to take over France. It proved to be a failure and the Allied troops began to push the Germans back. � The German generals realized they lost the war and they urged their government to call for an armistice—a halt to the fighting. � In October and November of 1918, the Ottoman Empire and the Austrian Empire surrendered. � Rebellions in Germany forced the kaiser to give up the throne. � The war was over on November 11, 1918.

World War I � In January 1919, representatives of the victorious powers met in Paris to construct a peace agreement. � Twenty-seven European and Asian nations took part in the peace talks. Most of the decisions, however, were made by the leaders of the four Allied nations. These men were David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France, Woodrow Wilson of the United States and Vittorio Orlando of Italy.

World War I

World War I � President Wilson offered a plan for peace in a speech to Congress. His proposal, known as the Fourteen Points, rested on five key ideas. � Self-determination. Wilson claimed that nationalities should have the right to establish their own governments, free of foreign control. � Peace without victory. Wilson stated that the Allies should treat their former enemies generously. Harsh punishment, Wilson believed would only cause Germany to seek revenge.

World War I � Disarmament. Wilson wanted the nations of the world to disarm so that no country would fear its neighbors or try to invade them. � Fair treatment of colonial peoples. Wilson called for imperialist nations to look out for the welfare of the people in their colonies. They should have equal weight with the claims of the ruling government. � League of Nations. Wilson urged the formation of an international organization, to be called the League of Nations. He hoped that the League would help both large and small nations to settle their quarrels.

World War I � � � � Britain and France would not agree with many of Wilson’s ideas. They wanted to punish Germany for its role in the war. Germany lost territory in Europe and its colonies around the world as punishment. German territory on both sides of the Rhine River were demilitarized. The Germany army was reduced to 100, 000 men, with no heavy artillery, tanks, or warplanes. The new German army could only consist of volunteers. Britain and France took Germany’s African colonies Germany had to pay reparations—war damages—to other nations. The exact amount owed, $33 billion, was not determined until 1921. The demand for reparations caused great resentment among the German people. Many thought the amount was more than Germany could afford. This opened the door for the rise of Hitler and the Nazis during the lead up to World War II