The Great War

Long Term Causes

– Imperialist and economic rivalries among Euro Powers

– Euro alliance system

– Militarism and arms race

– Nationalist tensions in Balkans

StrategicAlliances

Colonialism

Nationalism

Major Causes of

WWI

Militarism

Imperialism

ArmsRace

By 1914, African

territory was hotly contested by many European powers.

The Race for Africa

GermanEast

Africa

Ethiopia

The Road to War

• Early 1900’s Europe’s major powers had large armies and conflicting goals

• Each international problem brought these nations closer to war.

Foreign Policies of the Major Powers

• Europe seemed peaceful

• However, two military alliances grew out of distrust and fear

• The Triple Entente included France, Great Britain, and Russia.

• The Triple Alliance included Germany, Italy and Austria

Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and

Ireland remained neutral.

Germany

• Thought it should be the strongest military power in Europe

• Strengthened its army and navy

• Sought more influence in Asia and Africa

• Feared a French-Russian alliance

Taking Sides

• Central Powers– Germany

– Austria-Hungary

– Ottoman Empire

– Bulgaria

• Entente Allies (“good guys”?)– UK (Britain)

– France

– Russia

– Italy

– Japan

– USA

The Consequences of Austria’s Declaration of War

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

Emperor Franz Joseph I of

Austria

Serbia

Support

Declare War

START

Support

Declare War

France

Support

Declare War

Declare War

Declare War

Belgium

England

Support

FINISH

U.S. Maintains Neutrality

• Continues to trade w/ both sides

• Britain blockades German ports in North Sea & English Channel– U.S. avoids conflict / stops trade to Central

Powers

• German U-boats sink merchant ships bound for England/France– Lusitania sunk…outrage among U.S. population

• Zimmerman telegram intercepted. Many in U.S. call for war after this ‘insult’ and more ships are sunk.

• April 6, 1917, United States enters WWI.

U.S. Mobilizes for War

• Army ill-equipped for battle, so President Wilson does 3 things:– Initiates the draft – 9 million are forced to

register. 2 million more volunteer– Industry and food production increase drastically

to help the war machine– Established the Committee on Public Information

(CPI) to “propagandize” the war and eliminate dissent.

• Espionage and Sedition Acts limit freedom of speech and press during the war.

The Tide Turns

• Fresh troops add new life to Allied armies. U.S. troops getting beat, so General Pershing intensifies their training then wages aggressive military campaign against the war-torn Germany.

End of War

• German people, tired of war, overthrow their leader – Kaiser Wilhelm – and declare a republic in Germany. They quickly surrender to the allies.– 11a.m., Nov. 11, 1918 (the eleventh hour of

the eleventh day of the eleventh month) – becomes known as “Armistice Day”

What about Russia?

• They went through their own revolution in 1917. The Bolsheviks took control (communist revolution). They decided to stop fighting with Germany and agreed to harsh terms under the treaty…lost lots of land in eastern Europe.

• Even though they didn’t fight the last year, they bore the brunt of Germany’s attacks. More people died in Russia than any other nation in WWI.

Treaty of Versailles• The victorious leaders meet in Versailles,

France to discuss the peace terms of the treaty – What should be done with Germany and the Central Powers?– Punish them or practice restraint?– The “Big Four” dominate discussion:

• President Wilson wants a “peace without victory”– He says we should not punish Germany harshly, but should

address the problems that started the war in the first place» He brings to the table his “Fourteen Points”

• Clemenceau, George, and Orlando want vengeance. – Punish Germany harshly and hold them responsible/make

them pay/demoralize them.

• The European leaders out-vote Wilson and decide to punish Germany for their “aggression”. They are made to pay war reparations, take responsibility for starting the war, and give up large amounts of land.

• One thing Wilson got was his idea of a ‘League of Nations’

• Sadly, our own Senate did not agree to sign the Treaty of Versailles because we wanted to be isolated again from Europe’s problems.