The Great War

4 Long Term Causes of WWI

A. M ilitarism The glorification of military strength The great powers of Europe entered into an arms race as they greatly expanded their armies and navies, adopted the universal conscription, large reserves, and detailed planning for their military systems.

B. System of A lliance Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Triple Entente: Great Britain, Russia, France The alliances avoided war for a long time, but they created the risk that a single incident could trigger a widespread war.

C. I mperialism Once areas and cultures began pushing away from one another, other nations saw them as territories that should be taken over. Nations in need of foreign markets began staking claims to these small areas, which caused open hostility Ex: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and angered Serbia, who thought it should be theirs. (Territorial Rivalries)

D. N ationalism A strong, spirited love of one’s country. The belief that groups of people are bound together by territorial, cultural and (sometimes) ethnic links. It was particularly strong in the central European area known as the Balkans, the “Powder Keg of Europe”.

II. Short term causes of the war ● June 28, 1914: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the A-H throne) by a Serbian nationalist ● July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

Key dates and events leading into WORLD WAR I

June 28, 1914 “Spark of the War” (the Powder Keg): the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Serb nationalist Princip

Princip and the Archduke

July 28, 1914 Ultimatum from Austria- Hungary to Serbia was not fully accepted, and Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia

August 1, 1914 Russian troops began to mobilize on the German border, preparing to assist Serbia; Germany declared war on Russia, who refused to stop mobilization.

August 3, 1914 Germany declared war on France, who had also begun mobilizing its military

August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany after Germany violated Belgium neutrality.

As you can see, it is just like a trail of dominoes falling…

November 1914 Ottoman Empire (known as Turkey after WWI) entered the war on the side of the Central Powers.

May 1915 May 1915 Italy entered the war against Germany/ Austria-Hungary

II. Good Guys vs. Bad Guys

A. Major Central Powers 1. Germany 2. Austria-Hungary 3. Bulgaria 4. Ottoman Empire

1. Great Britain 2. France 3. Russia 4. Italy- remained neutral for several months but joined the Allies after signing a secret agreement to receive spoils of war. 5. U.S.- joined late C. Major Allied Powers

Allied Powers in green Central Powers in orange

The STALEMATE Trench Warfare: –Tall Enough to Stand Up Straight –Rats –Lice –Trench Foot –Stench –No Man’s Land

New Military Innovations The Tank: The Machine Gun

Airplanes: Poisonous Gas

German Submarine –(U-Boats)

Woodrow Wilson David Lloyd George- United States Great Britian Franz Joseph Kaiser Wilhelm Austria Germany

The U.S. Enters War Neutrality: –Beginning of War (Neutral) –Cash n Carry –Lend/Lease –Favoring Allies (Investments in France and GB)

U.S. Reasons: Entry to War Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Sinking of the Lusitania –128 Americans died –3 more ships….

U.S. Reasons: Entry to War Zimmerman Telegram Russia’s Fall to Communism

The War at Home April 6, 1917 –Declaration of War Selective Service Act of 1917 Victory Gardens/Rationing Food Factories –War Materials Only! Propaganda