WWI“The Great War”

Important Dates

June 28th 1914 - WWI Starts (Franz Ferdinand Assassinated)

April 16th 1917 – US Enters the War

November 11th 1918 – WWI Ends (11 / 11 at 11:11am)

***Estimated 38 million deaths. With 7 million being civilians.

Conflict Among Countries:There was a lot of tension in the world – with countries in a hurry to take over smaller ones and creating personal conflicts with one another.

There were four main causes to WWI…

Four Causes of WWI (as seen in the Imperialism Game we played)

Cause #1 – ImperialismThe idea that a larger more powerful country should / could go into a smaller country and make them part of their country

“White Man’s Burden”

Four Causes of WWI

Cause #2 – NationalismWhen people LOVE their country and think they have the greatest country ever!

Four Causes of WWI

Cause #3 – MilitarismThe MASSIVE buildup of weapons – leading to the feeling of ‘superiority’

Four Causes of WWI Cause #4 – Alliances The Secret Alliances came out as soon as countries began attacking each other and lead to a MUCH larger conflict than it would have been.

The Four Causes were all set into play with ONE EVENT that historians considered the “Spark” that set off WWI.

July 28th 1914 - The Event was the Assassination of the Austria – Hungarian Duke name Franz Ferdinand

Austria – Hungary believed it was Serbian Nationalist group “The Black Hand” who killed the Duke so they declared war on Serbia.- Serbia Called on France and Russia to help- Austria Called on Germany to help- UK jumped in and help France and Russia when Germany invaded

Belgium- Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary

Two Sides during WWI

Triple Alliance GermanyAustria-HungaryItaly

Triple EntenteRussiaFranceBritain

•There were 25+ other smaller nations that helped both sides

• The United States stayed NEUTRAL when the war started

• The United States operated with an Isolationist approach to protect American interests. “Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems”

• Eventually the United States began sending weapons to Triple Entente (UK, France, Russia)

WWI gets two nicknames

“The Great War” &

“The War To End ALL Wars”

The War was a horrible war – with both sides killing millions of the enemy. Due to the new weapons both sides ended up just “digging in” and fighting in trenches

Trench Warfare

No Man’s LandArea in between the trenches became known as no man’s land.

It was full of barbed wire, mines, and dead bodies

The fighting went on for three years! Troops were living in these trenches 24/7

Germany developed controversial new weapons to try and end the war Mustard Gas: that would choke and blind the enemy.

U-Boats: (first submarines) that would sink ships even if they were passenger ships

The World condemned Germany and the United States slowly began to drift towards war

Germany used the U-Boats to sink ships carrying weapons to Britain. They also sank many passenger ships that killed many innocent civilians. Some of the ships• Falaba – March 1915

• Sussex – March 1916

• Lusitania – Killed over 1,200 people and 128 Americans

When the Lusitania Sank, Americans were horrified by what Germany was doing.

How was the war looking for the allies?

•Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917.

● Made it a one front war for Germany - all its troops could concentrate on France.

● Looked more and more like the U.S. would have to get involved.

America finally joined the Triple Entente when we intercepted the “Zimmerman Telegram”

It was a telegram that Germany had sent to Mexico – telling them that if they attacked America and helped Germany win, then when the war was over they could have Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona

After the Zimmermann Telegram and the sinking of other American ships by the U-Boats, Wilson and The United States had no choice and United States declares War on the Triple Alliance.

Date: April 16th 1917 (Three years after the war had started)

What did the US do to help?

•US provided the food, money, and fresh troops needed to win the war

How did the War Affect the US?

•Women filled factory jobs

•“Great Migration” - thousands of African Americans moved North to work in factories

What? President Wilson’s Plan for after the war: Wilson's’ 14 Points.

•Fourteen promises, including freedom of the seas & a League of Nations to work for peace

Treaty of VersaillesSigned June 28th 1919

Germany not invited. Either sign or be invaded by allies!

2 Parts

● Germany had to pay for the war: 33 Billion, accept responsibility, but could maintain its army (only 100,000 soldiers).

● Led to the creation of the League of Nations to protect the world from another WW and led to efforts of disarmament.