1. The Great War that Shaped the 20th Century
WORLD WAR I
The Great War that Shaped the 20th Century

2. Question: What caused World War I and could it have been avoided?
From 1914 to 1918, World War I raged in Europe
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Question: What caused World War I and could it have been avoided?
This “Great War” was a the first war that involved multiple nations.

3. MILITARISM IMPERIALISM ALLIANCES
From 1870 to 1914, a number of developments increased tensions among the European powers and led to World War I
The
MILITARISM
ALLIANCES
IMPERIALISM
NATIONALISM
causes of World War I
While peace and harmony characterized much of Europe at the beginning of the
1900s, there were less visible—and darker—forces at work as well. Below the
surface of peace and goodwill, Europe witnessed several gradual developments
that would ultimately help propel the continent into war.

4. What does this word mean to you?
“MILITARISM”

5. MILITARISM defined
Militarism is having a policy of aggressive military preparedness (being always ready to fight)

6. The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced militaries in Europe
MILITARISM
The Industrial Revolution led to large, advanced militaries in Europe
Yet another troubling development throughout the early years of the 20th century was the rise of a dangerous European arms race. The nations of Europe believed that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military. By 1914, all the Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies. In addition, military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and move troops in case of a war. Generals in each country developed highly detailed plans for such a mobilization. The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war was known as militarism. Having a large and strong standing army made citizens feel patriotic
Europeans believed that to be great, nations had to have strong militaries always prepared for war

7. MILITARISM

8. HOW DID MILITARISM HELP START THE WAR?
Every nation was paranoid over the intentions of other nations
Because of this paranoia, nations engaged in an arms race.
They built up their armies, navies, and weaponry, wanting to be ready for war
The two main competitors in the arms race were Germany and Britain

9. What does this word mean to you?
“ALLIANCE”

10. ALLIANCE defined
An alliance is a bond or connection between nations, groups, or individuals

11. ALLIANCES Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente
Growing rivalries among nations led to the formation of two military alliances that threatened to draw European nations into war
Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente
Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance

12. The member nations of each alliance promised to fight for its partners if one of them was ever attacked

13. What does this word mean to you?
“IMPERIALISM”

14. IMPERIALISM defined
Imperialism is the seizure of a country or territory by another country

15. HOW DID IMPERIALISM HELP START THE WAR?
The Industrial Revolution led to an increase in manufacturing in Britain, Germany, and France
Because of the increased manufacturing, they needed places to sell what they made as well as sources of raw materials

16. IMPERIALISM
European nations competed fiercely for colonies in Africa and Asia
This competition increased European rivalry and mistrust

17. What does this word mean to you?
“NATIONALISM”

18. NATIONALISM defined
Nationalism is a sense of national identity and pride in one’s nation
It is also the seen as the desire of an ethnic group to have its own nation

19. NATIONALISM Rivalries increased nationalism among European powers
One such development was the growth of nationalism, or a deep devotion to one’s nation. Nationalism can serve as a unifying force within a country. However, it also can cause intense competition among nations, with each seeking to overpower the other. By the turn of the 20th century, a fierce rivalry indeed had developed among Europe’s Great Powers. Those nations were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France. This increasing rivalry among European nations stemmed from several sources. Competition for materials and markets was one. Territorial disputes were another. France, for example, had never gotten over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate in the Balkans, a region in southeast Europe. Within the Balkans, the intense nationalism of Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and other ethnic groups led to demands for independence.
British propaganda poster, 1897
Austrian national poster, 1900

20. “European Balance of Power, 1914”
NATIONALISM
European rivals tried to maintain a balance of power while also trying to overpower each other
“European Balance of Power, 1914”

21. SEETHING WITH NATIONALISM: THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE

22. THE BALKANS: THE POWDER KEG OF EUROPE
Austria-Hungary ruled over part of the Balkans, a group of nations in Southeast Europe. Many of them were willing to fight to be their own nation.

23. THE BALKANS: THE POWDER KEG OF EUROPE
Serbia wanted its own nation and was supported by its Slavic brother, Russia

24. With the tensions high from MILITARISM, ALLIANCES, IMPERIALISM, and NATIONALISM …all that was needed was a spark

25. THE SPARK:
Assassination of the Austro- Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist

26. WORLD WAR I
Fighting the Great War

27. The conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary triggered the alliances and started World War I

28. Europe before the war
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29. (The US and Italy will join by the end of the war)
Europe at the outbreak of World War I
THE CENTRAL POWERS:
Germany
Austria-Hungary
The Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
THE ALLIED POWERS:
France
Britain
Russia
Serbia
(The US and Italy will join by the end of the war)

30. Most people anticipated that the war would be over by Christmas 1914
When the war began in August 1914, Europeans were enthusiastic about fighting
French Recruits
German Recruits
Most people anticipated that the war would be over by Christmas 1914

31. …then sending troops to the East before Russia fully mobilized for war
When the war began, Germany’s biggest problem was the potential of fighting on two fronts
Germany’s solution was the Schlieffen Plan, which involved quickly defeating France in the West…
…then sending troops to the East before Russia fully mobilized for war

32. The German army marched through Belgium and France
But, English, Belgian, and French troops stopped the Germans at the Battle of the Marne
Meanwhile, Russia mobilized faster than expected, so Germany had to divert troops from France

33. Most of the fighting was in France (the Western Front)
The Schlieffen Plan failed and the Central Powers had to fight a two-front war
Most of the fighting was in France (the Western Front)
The fighting between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia was the Eastern Front
By 1915, the war was a stalemate as each side settled into their trenches

34. Soldiers spent years in the trenches, facing shelling from artillery fire. To leave the trench meant death. As a result, the land between trenches was called “No Man’s Land.”

35. Soldiers going “over the top”

36. 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.
Trenchfoot

37. The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Machine guns

38. The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Long-range artillery

39. The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Tanks

40. Airplanes and zeppelins
The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Airplanes and zeppelins

41. Flamethrowers and grenade launchers
The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Flamethrowers and grenade launchers

42. The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Poison gas

43. The industrialized nations invented new weapons to gain an advantage and win the war
Submarines
Submarines (German subs were called U-Boats) were used to attack large ships.