1. World War I (1914- 1918) Theme Notes: Conflict

2. Underlying Causes: Nationalism ► France sought revenge against Germany (bitter over loss in F-P war; Germany occupied border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine) ► German pride in military power and industrial growth ► Pan-Slavism in Eastern Europe ► Serbian desire to create and rule a South Slav state (Balkan Peninsula)

3. Underlying Causes: Imperialism ► British felt threatened by rapid German economic growth ► British concern over German competition for colonies ► Economic rivalries among Britain, Germany, and France ► British and French desire to contain German territorial claims in Africa

4. Underlying Causes: Militarism ► Military power seen as symbol of national prestige ► Glorification of war by all powers ► Arms race among great powers ► Influential military leaders ► Belief in Social Darwinism

5. Underlying Causes: System of Alliances ►A►A►A►Agreements among nations to aid each other if attacked: Triple Alliance; Triple Entente ►R►R►R►Russian agreements with smaller Slavic nations ►E►E►E►Emergence of Allies ►E►E►E►Emergence of Central Powers

6. Immediate Cause: Balkan Powder Keg ► Archduke Ferdinand (heir to throne of A- H) murdered by Serbian nationalist that wanted start Slavic Revolution and unite Slavs (some lived under A-H control); A-H declared war on Serbia; Russia (an ally of Serbia) mobilized military; Germany declared war on Russia and France; Britain declared war on Germany

7. Opposing Sides ► Central Powers (Germany, A-H, Ottoman empire) ► Allies (Russia, France, GB, Italy, US [1917]) ► Italy (1915) had signed secret treaty with Allies to gain Austrian-ruled lands inhabited by Italians ► Japan joined Allies in 1914; sought German spheres of influence in China

8. Fighting of World War I ► Trench Warfare ► New Technology (machine gun; tank; submarine; airplane; poison gas/gas mask) ► Unrestricted Submarine Warfare led to US entry (sinking of Lusitania- all 1200 passengers died, 128 Americans) ► Stalemate on western front through 1917; huge losses contributed to Russian Revolution; Russia withdrew from war; US helped Allies win war; Germany surrendered – Nov. 1918

9. Lusitania ► On May 7, 1915 the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine, the U-20. The Lusitania sank after a subsequent massive internal explosion blew out her starboard bow. The sinking galvanized American opinion against Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and played a role in the United States' later entry into World War I on April 17, 1917. May 71915torpedoed U-20unrestricted submarine warfareUnited StatesWorld War IApril 171917May 71915torpedoed U-20unrestricted submarine warfareUnited StatesWorld War IApril 171917

10. End of World War I ► 10 million dead/20million wounded ► 5 separate treaties, one with each of defeated nations; Treaty of Versailles applied to Germany ► Treaty of Versailles – 1919; Germany lost land, colonies, had military reduced, forced to accept blame for war, had to pay reparations – caused bitterness ► League of Nations – peacekeeping organization, part of Wilson’s “14 Points;” no power of enforcement; US didn’t join; weak and unsuccessful