WWI A Local Conflict Goes Global Underlying Causes

WWI A Local Conflict Goes Global

Underlying Causes “MANIA” z. Militarism z. Alliances z. Nationalism z. Imperialism z. Anarchy (international)

Militarism: Glorification of War & Military z. Build up of large reserve armies z. Mobilization - organize resources for combat (triggers other nations mobilizing) z. Naval Expansion - William II (GR) fires Bismarck and expands navy ywants to be equal to G. B. (most powerful) y. G. B. feels threatens, expands, develops new battleship - Dreadnought

Alliances - Defense Agreements Among Nations z. Three Emperors’ League: (1881) Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary - doesn’t last b/c of A-H rivalry with Russia in Balkans z. Triple Alliance - (1882) Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary - attempt to isolate France z. Triple Entente - (1907) France, Russia, G. B. Entente: Friendly understanding between nations

Nationalism - Extreme Pride in One’s Nation or Desire to Form a Nation z. French Nationalists sought revenge against Germany for loss of Alsace-Lorraine z. Slavic Nationalism - Pan. Slavism: Unify all Slavic people under one empire

Imperialism - domination of one country by another z. Germany and France came close to war over control of Morocco z. Germany wanted to create Berlin to Baghdad Railway - caused resentment among British and Russians y. British feared interference with India and reduce traffic thru Suez Canal

Anarchy z. International Anarchy z. Nations of Europe pursue policies without regard for the wishes of their neighbors z. Crisis - No international organization to monitor

Immediate Causes of WWI z. Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of A-H (June 28, 1914) by Gavrilo Princip member of Serbian nationalist group “Black Hand”

Why the Assassination? z. Ferdinand planned to give Slavs of Bosnia-Herzegovina a voice in the gov’t equal to that of Austro. Hungarians z. This threatened the movement for a separate Slavic state

What Happens Next? z. A-H hold Serbians responsible z. A-H seeks assurance (backup) from Germany in event of war z. Germany issues “Blank Check” to A-H y. Willhelm II gives full support to any actions A-H might take against Serbia

Tensions Build!! z. A-H issues ultimatum (set of final conditions that must be accepted to avoid severe consequences) to Serbia z. Demands that Serbia allow A-H officials into country to suppress all subversive movements & conduct investigation z. Gives Serbia 48 hours to agree or face war z. Serbia does not agree to all parts A-H declares war on Serbia! (July 28, 1914)

Other Countries Get Involved z. Russia (friend of the Serbs) mobilizes troops along borders of Germany & A-H z. Germany warns Russia to stop - they don’t! z. Germany issues ultimatum to France – 18 hours to decide if it would support Russia – France said it would support Russia

What a Tangled Web We Weave…

Declarations of War z. Germany declares war on Russia (Aug 1, 1914) z. Germany declares war on France (Aug 3, 1914) z. Great Britain still hoped to remain neutral and not go to war, but…

Germany Invades Belgium! z. Germany demands passage across Belgium to fight France (*Part of Schlieffen Plan) z. British protest demand made by Germany upon neutral nation of Belgium y 1839 Treaty signed by G. B. , Russia, France & Germany guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality

z. Germany invades Belgium z. G. B. demands they withdraw z. Germany responds calling treaty, “a scrap of paper” z. G. B. declares war on Germany (Aug 4, 1914)

*The Schlieffen Plan z. Germany’s invasion of Belgium was part of this plan z. Germany had enemies to East & West & did not want to fight a war on both fronts at the same time z. Believed Russia would be slow to mobilize and that they could fight & defeat France (W. Front) first in 6 weeks & then fight Russia on Eastern Front

Expectations z. Both sides thought the war would be a quick ordeal… z. Kaiser told his soldiers, “you’ll be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees. ” z. They underestimated the role industrialization would play in this war. French troops marched off shouting, “We’ll be home by Christmas”

The Reality of World War I

The British government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war. They said the war would be safe, hardly any fighting, a good lark and over by Christmas. A picture of soldiers going ‘Over the Top’ They used advertising posters to encourage this idea!

The reality of ‘going over the top’ was very different!

Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them at all times. They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they were British after all.

How the uniform and equipment changed after just three weeks in the trenches…

Posters always showed men ready and willing to fight. They never showed the boredom of the trenches or actual fighting taking place. Why do you think the government showed no fighting?

No smiling and relaxed faces… No clean uniforms… Their equipment is scattered everywhere… Boredom and sleep are obvious…

The soldiers had very little decent food, and what food they had was often attacked by rats. These rats were the size of small rabbits and badgers because they had fed on the decomposing bodies of dead soldiers.

WWI: Turning Point U. S. Enters, Russia Exits

U. S. Position at Beginning of War z. U. S. neutral – war is a “European affair” z. U. S. strongest, neutral industrialized nation z. Major supplier of food, raw materials & munitions to belligerent (warring) nations z. Insists on free trade and free travel What changes to draw the U. S. into war? ? ?

Financial Interests at Stake! z. U. S. private banks/corporations lent money to both sides until… z. U. S. begins to trade more & more with Great Britain because of blockade of Germany z. Many goods bought on credit – wanted to insure repayment

Sinking of the Lusitania – May 1915 z. Germans sink British passenger ship off coast of Ireland z 128 Americans killed z. U. S. warns Germany to back off z. Germany temporarily ends unrestricted submarine warfare

British Propaganda z. Most news about the war came from Great Britain z. Exaggerated German atrocities against defenseless citizens “It should be America’s duty to help us subdue the mad dog of Europe”

Zimmerman Telegram March 1917 z. Message from German foreign minister to German ambassador to Mexico z. Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for

German Submarines z. Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare – hopes U. S. won’t enter or that they’ll defeat G. B. first z. German subs attacked any naval vessel, enemy or neutral, found in what Germany determined was a “war zone” z. Germans sink 4 American merchant ships

The “Sinking” of the U. S. Patience

April 2, 1917 – Pres Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war “The world must be made safe for democracy” April 6, 1917 – Congress votes to enter war on side of Allies

Meanwhile… Over in Russia

1 st Russian Revolution March 1917 z. Russian czar overthrown z. Leaders of revolution promised to establish a constitutional gov’t z. All allies now had democratic govt’s z. WWI became a war between democratic and non-democratic nations

Russia Before World War I z 1905 Russo-Japanese War ends; Russia defeated and economy strained z. Czar Nicholas II calls for election of a national Duma – legislature y. Had little power

Russia During WWI z. Russia was cut off from supplies/allies because Turkey (Central Power) controlled the Dardanelles y. Strait which gave access to the Med. Sea z. However, Russia helped the war effort by diverting German troops from attack against the French and British

Provisional Government z. Temporary gov’t – constitutional assembly z. Kerensky – prov gov’t prime minister z. Rival for power – Soviets (council of workers) z. Soviets – socialists - called for immediate peace, transfer of land to peasants & control of factories by workers z. Gov’t lost its support

Opens the Door for Revolution: Socialism Enters z. Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of gov’t z. Mensheviks (Kerensky) believed a socialist revolution would be the work of masses z. Bolsheviks – more radical – wanted to introduce a socialist society by force

Lenin & The Bolsheviks z. Lenin – Leader of Bolsheviks z. Returned from exile – aided by Germany to get Russia out of war z. Organized Bolsheviks z. Used slogan: “Peace, Land & Bread”

2 nd Russian Revolution z. Nov 1917 – Bolsheviks staged a coup d’etat in Petrograd z. Established socialist state z. Ended private ownership of property z. Distributed land among peasants z. Made Peace! March 1918 – withdraws from WWI z. Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany z. Lost much of western territory – 1/3 of

Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism, 1919

Russian Civil War z. Communists (Bolsheviks) = Reds z. Royalists, liberal democrats, moderate socialists = Whites z. Whites promise to defeat Reds and re-enter WWI z. Communists defeat White forces Photograph of Red Army soldier about to be executed by members of the

WWI Comes to an End

German Surrender z. On the 11 th Hour of the 11 th Day of the 11 th Month the war comes to an end (November 11, 1918), as Germany accepts an armistice. z. Allies meet to discuss a treaty.

The Treaty of Versailles with Germany The Big Four-all had different allied objectives

David Lloyd George-Great Britain z Prime minister who wanted to expand Britain's Colonial Empire, preserve its naval and industrial supremacy and make Germany pay for the war.

Georges Clemenceau z French Premier z Wanted to ensure security against future German invasion z Weaken Germany by imposing military limitations, financial payments, and territorial losses.

Vittorio Orlando z Premier of Italy z Sought to enlarge Italy's territory in Europe and expand its empire overseas

Woodrow Wilson z President of the United States z Sought to provide a just and lasting peace and create a better world by implementing the Fourteen Points*

*Fourteen Points-Wilson’s Plan for a Lasting Peace z 1. Open covenants (treaties) of peace openly arrived at. z 2. Freedom of the seas z 3. Removal of international trade barriers (such as tariffs). z 4. Reduction of armaments z 5. Impartial adjustment of colonial claims with regard for the interests of native peoples

Fourteen Points Cont. z 6 -13. Adjustment of European boundaries in accordance with the principle of nationality, that is, the right of any national group to selfdetermination regarding its own government and independent state. z 14. Establishment of a League of Nations to handle international disputes. z European nations approved of the 14 Points only sparingly because of their nations interests.

Treaty of Versailles z. Of Wilson’s Fourteen Points, only a few were taken seriously. One of them was the League of Nations, What were the others?

Differing Views of the Treaty z. Arguments Against: a harsh treaty that planted the seeds of WWII- The treaty transferred German-inhabited territory, seized all colonies of Germany, and compelled Germany to accept sole war guilt. It forced Germany to be unarmed while other nations remained armed, and it wounded German pride. By attacking the treaty the Nazi party gained support of the German people, achieved power, and bought on WWII.

Arguments For: A fair treaty that was not enforced z. The treaty transferred German territory chiefly on the basis of nationality, assigned German colonies as League of Nations mandates with the objective of eventual disarmament, and provided a League of Nations. The treaty alone cannot be blamed for the German people’s support of Nazism. Furthermore, if the military provisions of the treaty had been enforced, Nazi Germany would not have been able to wage war

Results of WWI-Social z. A. almost 10 million soldiers were killed and over 20 million soldiers were wounded z. B. Millions of civilians died as a result of the hostilities, famine and disease. z. C. The world was left aflame with hatred, intolerance, and extreme nationalism. z. D. debt and economic dislocation caused the depression of 1929.

Political z A. The U. S. emerged as a leading world power z B. 3 major European powers dethroned. Germans, Austria-Hungary, and Russia z C. New national states arose…Poland Czechoslovakia z D. League of Nations established to solve international problems z Many European nations turned to dictatorship because of economic and political discontent– Russia, Italy, Germany.

Economic z. A. total cost of the war was 350 billion dollars. Led to heavy taxation of the people of Europe. z. B. International trade suffered because of increased tariffs z. C. Russia became communist, thus a new economic system was introduced