World War I Long Term Causes Militarism Alliance

World War I

Long Term Causes • Militarism • Alliance System – Allies = GB, FR, RU, then IT & US – Central Powers = GER, A-H, OE • Imperialism • Nationalism

Nationalism • Self-determination – idea that people with same • ethnicity, language, political ideals have the right to form a sovereign state Groups in E. EUR wanted their own states – Threatened Ottoman Empire, Hapsburg, & Russian empires • Most troublesome were the Serbs in A-H – Wanted unification with Serbia

National Rivalries • Industrial countries competed for markets & • • • colonies Naval race b/w GER & GB Colonial powers clashed with each other around the globe as they tried to gain colonies. Citizens in strong countries wanted their country to be on “top”

Treaties of Alliance • Fear of other countries led countries to sign • • defensive treaties with each other Intended to help keep peace, but actually created system where any small problem could set off a large conflict Two major alliances: – Triple Alliance (Central Powers) – Triple Entente (Allies)

• Each country had inflexible military plans and • • timetables in which to defeat enemies GER afraid of two front war (enemies on each side) Created Schlieffen Plan – knock FR out quick before RU could mobilize, then attack RU

The “Spark” that Started the Fire • June 28, 1914, a Serb nationalist killed Archduke • • • Franz Ferdinand Triggered the largest war in history (up to that time) Black Hand (group who wanted all Serbs in Serbia) planned it July 28, 1914, A-H declared war on Serbia

• July 29, RUS mobilized to defend Serbia against A-H – Also against GER b/c Nicholas II knew AH and GER had alliance • GER demanded RUS stop – Also sent demand to FR asking what they would do if GER & RUS went to war – No reply • GER declared war on RUS & FR

In the Beginning… • Aug. 3, 1914, GER • • • invaded Belgium In effort to get to FR Aug. 4, GB told GER to get out of BEL, they refused GB then declared war on GER

• Came during harvest time Global War • Many believed it would solve all their problems • War fronts bogged down quickly • Everyone thought the war would be won quick – They were wrong • It was a war of attrition – wear down the enemy with modern weapons killing millions

• First time in history – nations used TOTAL WAR – • • using all human and material resources for war Women in many countries went to work in industries to build war materials Colonies were drawn into the war by their mother countries – Supplied soldiers & laborers

• Most soldiers were young men • • who thought they would be heroes War strategies were mostly offensive, not defensive GER made it as far as Paris when it stalemated Millions died while battle lines remained almost unchanged Trenches were dug and the enemies settled in

• Italy: – Withdrew from CP to be neutral – Promised land if they joined the Allies – They did, but did not get all the land they had been promised – Led to resentment after the war and possible WWII

• Trench Warfare: – Barbed wire kept soldiers from advancing across “noman’s land” – Machine gun created to help break stalemate – Poison gas first used – Tanks first used (GER) – Airplanes used in “dogfights” between “aces” – GER u-boats caused severe damage to Allied shipping

• Eastern Front: – – CP able to drive RUS out and back into RUS counterattacked to no avail Left people resentful and the tsar unpopular CP took over lots of E. EUR territory Australian troops charging a Turkish trench

• Human slaughter unbelievable • Thousands died to gain a few yards • Naval blockades kept food from reaching whole • populations Starving people might convince their gov’t to surrender

The Homefront • Defeat would come when • • the strength of a nation’s people was broken War now fought b/w entire societies, not just militaries “total victory” only acceptable outcome Total war meant there was a homefront and a military front Homefront – each nation mobilizes the economy and gets civilians involved

• Nations began to use censorship, restrict free speech • Gov’ts began to control industries in their countries • Had to convert some industries to build war materials • Set wage & price controls • Extended work hours

• Women in War – – – Worked in the factories building war materials Gave them some control over their lives Women in GB, GER, AUS & US got right to vote partly due to their contributions to the war – Didn’t make as much as men doing the same job.

• Propaganda – Posters, pamphlets, etc. used to talk trash about the enemy – Tried to make people see that defeat would mean the end of everything worthwhile – GER’s called the “Huns” – Many stories were untrue or embellished

War in East Asia & the Pacific • Three reasons for expansion – 1) EUR gov’t carried problems into their colonies – 2) EUR population wasn’t enough – 3) desires & objectives of JA & US did not have to do with causes • JA entered side of Allies (NZ • • & AUST also fighting) Took GER colonies JA tried to take part of CH, but GB told them no

• Reasons for War: – Sinking of Lusitania – 1915 – Unrestricted submarine warfare by GER – Zimmerman note – Entered on side of Allies on April 6, 1917 – Woodrow Wilson wanted to make the world “save for democracy” US Entrance

Russia Withdraws • • Russian people wanted out of the war Turned on the tsar & his family Bolsheviks (communist group) led revolution in 1917 War b/w the “reds” & “whites” Killed Nicholas II and his family New gov’t, led by Lenin (big believer in Marxism), signed peace treaty with GER could now withdraw from RUS and fight rest of Allies

The End… • US didn’t bring any great battle victories • It was the idea of “endless” US soldiers and supplies • • • that broke GER Civilians in GER unhappy – want GER to surrender Food riots, breakdown of military discipline Rebellions against war in several countries

• GER threw everything into one last battle, but • • with US help, Allies broke through and began pushing GER back GER almost out of human resources and material resources GER signed armistice on November 11, 1918 at 11: 00

• BEL & FR most devastated The Aftermath • Maybe as many as 15 million dead • 20 million wounded • Millions of others were disabled, orphaned or • homeless Postwar years saw starvation and a flu virus that would kill millions worldwide

Paris Peace Conference • Big Four met in Paris – US, • • • GB, FR & IT Wilson seen as hero in EUR (to begin with No representatives from CP were allowed RUS not invited The end treaty would leave many angry and lead to WWII Wilson had proposed his plan for world peace

• Called the 14 Points: – – – – Freedom of the seas No secret treaties Arms reduced to lowest possible amount Tariffs lowered or abolished Self-determination 6 -13 – border changes to reflect ethnicities 14 th – League of Nations • Wilson gave up all other points to get the League of nations

• Other Allies didn’t like his points b/c they had • • • already agreed on others at the beginning of war IT disgusted b/c they didn’t get the land promised to them CP felt betrayed FR wanted GER destroyed so they could never cause a war again

• Treaty of Versailles: – – – GER had to sign “war guilt” clause No GER navy or air force Reduce GER army to 100, 000 men GER & AUS could not have political union CP’s (mostly GER) had to pay reparations (cost of the war – Broke up A-H into separate countries

• A treaty also broke up • • • the OE It created Lebanon, Syria, Palestine & Iraq Made them protectorates of GB & FR until they could selfgovern (basically colonies) Republic of Turkey recognized as country – Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) began to modernize TUR – Made it more secular – Separation of Islam and state

– Adopted EUR laws, Hindu-Arabic numerals, Roman alphabet, western clothing – Constitutional monarchy (but Ataturk basically a dictator until death in 1938) – TUR very successful at transforming

League of Nations • First permanent international security • • organization aimed at keeping world peace 42 original members from around the world Two flaws: – No power to enforce its decisions – Relied on collective security for keeping peace

• They believed that aggression against one, was aggression against all – Many countries didn’t like that • US never joined • It failed to stop aggression of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin & Tojo in the 1930’s

Self-Determination • b/c of war, several places became countries or • • • gained independence POL, CZ & YU became sovereign states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & Serbia – freedom Article 22 of Covenant of League of Nations said colonies couldn’t govern themselves – Their care should be trusted to nations with experience (GB & FR) – Another way of justifying imperialism

Changes… or NOT • Many EUR countries still • • • had colonies Most colonies thought they would get freedom for helping with war Economies were devastated, but eventually regained strength US became more powerful Colonists who fought in war came home with nationalist ideas War spread revolutions to those areas