1. Chapter 1: Impact of World War I
Crisis and Conflict
An Enquiry Approach to Modern World History Secondary 3
Chapter 1: Impact of World War I

2. Did World War I change the world?
What was the world like before World War I?
What was the world like after World War I?
The world before 1914.
What caused the war.
Effects of the war on the world.
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

3. In a Nutshell World War I When did it happen? Where did it happen?
1914–1918
Where did it happen?
Europe, Africa and the Middle East
Who fought in the war?
1) Allied Powers
(Leading member: Britain)
2) Central Powers
(Leading member: Germany)
Who won?
The Allied Powers
How many died?
Soldiers: 8 million
Civilians or people who were not soldiers: 6 million
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4. Allied Powers Central Powers
Britain
France
Serbia
Russia
Italy (joined after May 1915)
Central Powers
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Turkey vs
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5. What was the world like before World War I?
Powerful countries
Alliances among the great powers
What was the world like before World War I?
Competition for colonies
Strong feelings of nationalism
Arms and naval race
Assassination of Archduke of Austria-Hungary
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6. Powerful countries Britain  Largest colonial empire in the world.
 Most powerful navy.
France  Defeated by Germans in 1871 Franco- Prussian War.
 Lost resource-rich Alsace-Lorraine.
 Looked for ways to recover it.
Russia  Largest empire in Europe.
 Largest army.
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7. Powerful countries Austria-  Large, unstable and divided empire.
Hungary  Different ethnic groups often attempted to break away to form own nation-states.
Germany  Economy grew rapidly after reunification.
 Army best-trained and equipped in Europe.
 Kaiser Wilhelm II’s ambition.
Ottoman  Empire stretched from Europe to the
Turkey Middle East and Asia.
 Central government too weak to control all parts of its empire.
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8. Rapid growth in economy and power after 1871 reunification.
Germany:
Rapid growth in economy and power after 1871 reunification.
Best-trained and equipped army in Europe.
Huge territorial ambition.
Britain:
Largest colonial empire in the world.
Most powerful navy.
Russia:
Largest empire in Europe.
Largest army.
Less advanced industrialisation.
The Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Turkey):
Empire stretched from Europe
to the Middle East and Asia.
Central government too weak to control all parts of its empire.
France:
Resource-rich Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by Germany in the 1871 Franco-Prussian War.
Looked for ways
to recover it.
Austria-Hungary:
Large, unstable and divided empire.
Different ethnic groups often attempted to break away to
form their own nation-states.
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9. Competition for colonies
Acquire colonies to:
further national security.
enhance national prestige.
obtain raw materials.
gain access to markets for manufactured goods.
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10. Competition for colonies
Britain and France already in control of most of Africa and Asia.
Very little left for Germany.
Competition for colonies.
tension
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11. Germany
Arms and naval race
Germany’s ambition to expand army and navy to rival its enemies.
Powerful military as bargaining voice, bragging rights and fulcrum to expansionist policy?
Austria-Hungary
Kaiser Wilhelm II in an interview published in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph in November 1908
“Germany is a young and growing empire. She takes part in trade that is rapidly expanding. Germany must have a powerful fleet to protect that trade. She must be able to fight for her interests in any part of the world. Only those powers that have great navies will be listened to with respect.”
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12. Britain
Arms and naval race
France
Britain, France and Russia felt the threat posed by an ambitious Germany.
Also increased army and navy to maintain balance of military power.
The race is on!
Russia
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13. Arms and naval race
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14. Arms and naval race
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15. Alliances among the great powers
1882
(Triple Alliance Agreement)
Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy allied to form the Central Powers.
1907
(Triple Entente Agreement)
Britain, France and Russia allied to become the Allied Powers.
The Balance of Power:
The great powers thought that forming alliances could deter countries from starting a war. This was because such a war would not be easy to win as it would quickly escalate as more countries joined the fight via the alliances.
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16. Alliances among the great powers
Instead, these alliances meant that a war between two countries would soon involve their allies and become a bigger conflict.
Played an important part in causing World War I.
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17. Alliances among the great powers
Because of the Triple Entente, Germany hatched the Schlieffen Plan.
Plan would prevent Germany from having to fight the Allied Powers on two fronts in the event of war:
France and Britain in the west.
Russia to the east.
Pivotal action of the Plan was to defeat France with lightning attack through neutral Belgium and take out the Western front.
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18. Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006
Germany risked having to fight the Allied Powers on both the Eastern front and the Western front.
The Schlieffen Plan called for surprise occupation of neutral Belgium and lightning attack and defeat of France through Belgium.
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19. Strong feelings of nationalism
Many Slavs lived in the Balkans, in nation-states like Bosnia and Serbia.
Serbian nationalism inspired plans for creation of larger Serbian state (Serbia and Bosnia).
Austria-Hungary threatened by prospect of larger Serbian state south of its border.
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20. Serbian nationalism to the south of Austria-Hungary’s border created a threat for Austria-Hungary.
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21. Strong feelings of nationalism
1908  Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia.
Many Slavs decided to set up secret societies  goal was to force Austria-Hungary out of Bosnia.
Russians were also Slavs  protective towards fellow Slavs in the Balkans.
Opposed to Austria-Hungary’s attempts to prevent spread of Serbian nationalism.
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22. Assassination of Archduke of Austria-Hungary
28 June 1914  Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was shot in Bosnia.
Killer was member of ‘Black Hand’, a secret society based in Serbia.
The perfect excuse for Austria-Hungary to remove Serbian threat once and for all.
 accused Serbia of planning the murder.
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23. Events which led to start of World War I
28 June 1914:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
23 July 1914:
Germany offered to back Austria-Hungary against Serbia. Austria-Hungary demanded that Serbia hand over leaders of the ‘Black Hand’ by 25 July.
26 July 1914:
Russia joined the fray by supporting Serbia.
28 July 1914:
Leaders of ‘Black Hand’ not handed over. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
3 August 1914:
As Belgium was under British protection, Britain sent ultimatum to Germany to withdraw from Belgium.
3 August 1914:
Germany declared war on France. Schlieffen Plan set in motion, Germans entered neutral Belgium.
1 August 1914:
Germany declared war on Russia; France mobilised its troops to support Russia.
31 July 1914:
Russia mobilised its army in support of Serbia. Germany feared an imminent Russian invasion.
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24. Events which led to start of World War I
4 August 1914:
Britain declared war on Germany as German troops had not withdrawn.
World War I began!
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25. What really caused World War I?
Critical Thinking
Powerful countries?
Alliances among the great powers?
Competition for colonies?
What really caused World War I?
Strong feelings of nationalism?
Assassination of Archduke of Austria-Hungary?
Arms and naval race?
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26. What really caused World War I?
Which view do you agree with?
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

27. What really caused World War I?
Which view do you agree with?
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

28. What really caused World War I?
Which view do you agree with?
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

29. The Course of the War
Schlieffen Plan did not materialise as planned for the Germans.
It was very difficult to penetrate the formidable defence formed by a line of trenches. Hundreds of thousands of deaths were suffered in bloody trench warfare.
By the end of 1914, both sides stuck in a stalemate of bloody trench warfare.
Little land gained but heavy casualties.
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30. The Germans’ intended lightning attack of France did not succeed
The Germans’ intended lightning attack of France did not succeed. Instead their advances were slowed drastically by stiff Allied resistance.
Long lines of trenches dug from Belgium to the Swiss border ensured both sides got stuck in a fruitless yet bloody trench warfare
– a stalemate.
In 1914, the Germans failed to even reach Paris. The Schlieffen Plan had collapsed. They were drawn into a two-front war.
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31. The Course of the War November 1914:
The Ottoman Empire entered the war on Germany’s side.
March 1918:
Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany and exited the war because it had suffered very heavy casualties on the Eastern front. Ceded land and resources to Germany. End of war on the Eastern front.
April 1917:
The USA declared war against Germany due to outrage over loss of innocent American lives when German submarines sank the Lusitania.
May 1915:
Italy joined the war on the side of the Allied Powers. In return, Italy was promised territory which it hoped to gain from Austria-Hungary.
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32. The Course of the War March 1918:
With the end of the war on the Eastern front, Germany redeployed its troops there to the Western front and launched a massive offensive there.
July 1918:
Germany could not sustain its offensive on the Western front as its resources were depleted due to the two-front war between 1914 and 1918.
October 1918:
The Germans were forced to retreat.
Turkey and Austria-Hungary pulled out of the war, leaving Germany as the lone Central Power in the war. Germany was fighting a losing battle.
June 1918:
Large numbers of fresh USA troops started arriving on the war front.
August 1918:
Allied forces counter-attacked.
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33. The Course of the War
November 1918: The Kaiser was overthrown in a revolt.
Germany became a republic.
Its new leaders asked for an armistice and was granted that on 11 November 1918.
World War I was over.
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34. What was the world like after World War I?
Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people
Changes to society
What was the world like after World War I?
Four empires broke up
World economy damaged
Self-determination became popular
New nation-states were set up
New boundaries created problems
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

35. Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people
Nearly 8 million soldiers killed.
Millions of young men wounded and permanently disabled by gas or exploding shells.
Many others suffered from post-war trauma.
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36. Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people
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37. Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people
Millions of displaced refugees who had lost almost everything.
Poor living conditions, lack of food and spread of disease.
Many more killed due to diseases.
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38. Four empires broke up
Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Russia broke up into smaller countries.
Many ethnic groups set up their own nations.
Former colonies of German and Ottoman Empires administered by Allied Powers until they were ready for self-government.
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39. Self-determination became popular
Self-determination and self-government championed as a principle of peace.
Czechoslovakia
Hungary
Self-determination
Self-determination
Austro-Hungarian Empire
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40. New nation-states were set up
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New nation-states were set up
Many new countries were set up because of nationalism.
Lithuania
Latvia
Yugoslavia
Estonia
Nationalism
Poland
Hungary
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41. New boundaries created problems
Although new nation-states were formed, ethnic groups did not get to form nations of ethnic uniformity.
Many ethnic minorities lived within the borders of newly-created states.
These new borders caused ethnic tension.
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42. World economy damaged World trade disrupted.
Resources of great powers depleted.
Farms, factories and industrial areas destroyed  no production.
Infrastructure destroyed  lengthy restoration.
Massive unemployment.
Countries cash-strapped, saddled with huge debts.
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43. Changes to society Divisions in society were heightened.
The war brought to the fore differences between two opposing camps of society — pacifists and militarists.
The horrors of war tilted some groups more towards pacifism.
But other groups became even more fiercely inclined towards militarism. They felt this was the best way to protect their country against invasion and annexation.
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44. Changes to society Disillusionment with existing system.
Segments of society lost faith in the existing system of government.
Looked for alternative social ideologies.
Communism emerged.
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45. Changes to society Changes to the position of women.
Many males in the families were killed in the war.
Women’s responsibilities increased.
Women’s expectations about their role in society also changed  equal rights, equal opportunities.
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

46. Changes to society Changes to the position of workers.
Working class given right to vote in recognition of its contributions to the war  expansion of electorate.
Increasing support for government welfare programmes such as state-provided healthcare and education.
Greater expectation for equality with middle class and upper class.
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47. What was the world like after World War I?
Millions of dead, wounded or homeless people
Changes to society
What was the world like after World War I?
Four empires broke up
World economy damaged
Self-determination became popular
New nation-states were set up
New boundaries created problems
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

48. What does this picture tell you about the impact of World War I?
Homeless people:
There were numerous displaced refugees who had lost almost everything.
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

49. Destroyed infrastructure:
A lengthy restoration was required and the economy was damaged.
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

50. Changes to position of women in society:
They expected equal rights, equal opportunities.
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51. Unemployment:
Many jobs were displaced by the war.
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52. Major countries involved
Summary
World War I
Major countries involved
Impact
Causes
Central Powers
Political
Powerful countries.
Competition for colonies.
Arms and naval race.
Alliance system.
Strong nationalism.
Assassination of Archduke of Austria-Hungary.
Economic
Allied Powers
Social
Crisis and Conflict: Impact of World War I Copyright 2006

53. Major countries involved
Summary
Major countries involved
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Turkey
Central Powers
Britain
France
Serbia
Russia (until 1917)
Italy (from May 1915)
USA (fought as an Associated Power from 1917)
Allied Powers
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54. Summary Impact Political Economic Social Old empires broke up.
Creation of new nations and nation-states.
Ethnic tension due to new borders.
Self-determination by countries formerly ruled by empires.
Impact
Political
Farmland and industrial areas destroyed  no more production.
Infrastructure destroyed.
World trade disrupted.
Massive unemployment.
Countries saddled with huge debts.
Economic
Social
Divisions in society heightened.
Emergence of Communism.
Changes to the position of women and workers.
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