World War I Causes and Events

Outbreak of War (1914): Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, followed by declarations of war by other European powers
Trench Warfare (1914-1918): Stalemate on the Western Front, characterized by trench warfare and heavy casualties
Battle of the Somme (1916): One of the bloodiest battles in history, with over 1 million casualties
United States Enters the War (1917): US declares war on Germany, shifting the balance of power
Russian Revolution (1917): Russia withdraws from the war, allowing Germany to focus on the Western Front

Kaiser Wilhelm II: German Emperor, known for his aggressive foreign policy
Woodrow Wilson: US President, advocated for neutrality and later led the US into the war
Georges Clemenceau: French Prime Minister, played a key role in the Allied victory

Treaty of Versailles (1919): Imposed harsh penalties on Germany, contributing to widespread resentment
League of Nations: Established to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars
War Guilt Clause: Germany forced to accept responsibility for the war, leading to widespread resentment

Total Deaths: Estimated 37 million casualties, including 17 million deaths
Economic Cost: Estimated $22 billion in damages, equivalent to $330 billion in today's dollars
Global Impact: Redrew the world map, led to the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union, and contributed to the outbreak of World War II

Imperialism led to competition for colonies and resources, increasing tensions between European powers.
Nationalist movements in Europe, such as the unification of Italy and Germany, led to increased rivalry and aggression.
Militarism led to a build-up of military forces and alliances, creating a volatile situation in which a small conflict could escalate into a global war.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, sparked the war.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, leading to a chain reaction of declarations of war by other European powers.
The war initially involved a series of rapid advances by German and Austro-Hungarian forces, but soon became bogged down in a stalemate on the Western Front, characterized by trench warfare and heavy casualties.
The Battle of the Somme, fought from July 1 to November 1, 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles in history, with over 1 million casualties.
The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, following Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram, which attempted to persuade Mexico to declare war on the US.
The Russian Revolution, which began in March 1917, led to Russia's withdrawal from the war, allowing Germany to focus its resources on the Western Front.

The Triple Entente, consisting of France, Britain, Russia (until 1917), and the United States, was formed to counter the growing power of Germany.
The Triple Alliance, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (until 1915), was formed to promote mutual defense and cooperation.
The Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, fought against the Allied Powers, consisting of France, Britain, Russia (until 1917), and the United States.
Italy initially remained neutral, but eventually joined the Allied Powers in 1915.

Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor, was known for his aggressive foreign policy and his role in escalating the war.
Woodrow Wilson, the US President, initially advocated for neutrality, but eventually led the US into the war, motivated by a desire to make the world "safe for democracy".
Georges Clemenceau, the French Prime Minister, played a key role in the Allied victory and was a strong advocate for the harsh treatment of Germany.

The Treaty of Versailles, imposed on Germany in 1919, imposed harsh penalties, including massive reparations, which contributed to widespread resentment and economic instability.
The League of Nations, established by the Treaty of Versailles, was intended to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars, but it ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II.
The War Guilt Clause, which forced Germany to accept responsibility for the war, led to widespread resentment and contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany.

The war resulted in an estimated 37 million casualties, including 17 million deaths.
The economic cost of the war was estimated at $22 billion in damages, equivalent to $330 billion in today's dollars.
The war had a profound impact on the global order, leading to the redrawing of the world map, the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers, and contributing to the outbreak of World War II.