WWI: Causes

General Causes of WWI

• Alliances among countries led to more involvement when the war started.
• The Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
• The Central Powers consisted of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• The Triple Entente/Allies included Great Britain, Russia, and France.
• Militarism, the buildup of armies and weapons, increased the likelihood of conflict.
• Great Britain had a respected navy.
• Germany was building its navy and acquiring overseas colonies.
• Imperialism, the competition for lands and resources, caused fights between countries.
• Great Britain and France formed closer ties against Germany in Morocco.
• Nationalism, strong pride in one's country or ethnic group, led to tensions and conflicts.
• Germany believed in its spiritual and cultural superiority, especially after the Franco-Prussian War.
• France felt bitter after the Franco-Prussian War.
• Great Britain felt threatened by Germany's economic growth.
• Russia supported Pan-Slavism, the idea of a common Slavic nationality.

Alliances

• The Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Italy later switched sides).
• The Triple Entente included France, Russia, and Great Britain.
• The Central Powers included Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• The Allied Powers included France, Great Britain, Russia (until 1917), Italy (switched sides), and the United States (joined in 1917).

Actions Causing Declarations of War

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip in June 1914 sparked the war.
• Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum after the assassination, leading to war when Serbia failed to meet all demands; The ultimatum included demands to end anti-Austrian agitation, punish any Serbian official involved, and allow Austria-Hungary to join the investigation.
• Russia supported the unification of Slavic nations (Pan-Slavism), fueling tensions with Austria-Hungary.
• Russia mobilized its army in support of Serbia, leading Germany to declare war on Russia.
• Germany sank the British ship Lusitania, killing Americans and increasing tensions with the U.S.
• The Zimmermann Note, a secret German message to Mexico promising U.S. territories if Mexico joined the war, led to the U.S. entering the war; it was intercepted by Great Britain.

Modern Warfare

• Trench Warfare involved soldiers fighting from long, deep ditches, leading to tough conditions and little progress.
• Stalemate occurred when both sides were stuck, with no side making big advances.
• No Man's Land was the dangerous area between enemy trenches, full of obstacles like barbed wire.

Western/Eastern Fronts

• The Western Front was fought mainly between Germany, France, and Great Britain in France and Belgium, using trench warfare.
• The Eastern Front was fought mainly between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, with more movement and bigger battles.

End of the War

• An armistice, an agreement to stop fighting, was signed on November 11, 1918, ending the war.
• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare was Germany’s decision to sink any ship around Britain, leading to the U.S. joining the war after the Lusitania was sunk.
• Poison Gas was a deadly chemical weapon that caused painful injuries and panic.
• The Machine Gun was a fast-firing gun that killed many soldiers, making attacks more dangerous.
• Propaganda was messages used to influence people’s opinions and get them to support the war.
• Tanks were new armored vehicles that helped break through enemy lines and cross trenches.
• U-boats were German submarines that attacked ships, especially to stop supplies from reaching Britain.
• The Schlieffen Plan was Germany’s plan to quickly defeat France (going through Belgium) and then fight Russia; it failed, leading to a longer war on two fronts.

Total War

• Attrition was a strategy where one side tries to wear down the other by causing heavy losses, hoping they’ll eventually give up.
• Total War is when a country uses all its resources, including civilians, in the war effort, affecting every part of society.
• Rationing limited the amount of food, fuel, and other goods available to civilians so that more resources could be sent to the military.
• Propaganda was used to influence people’s opinions and get them to support the war.
• Conscription was forced military service, where men are required to join the army.

End of War

• Abdicate means to step down or give up the throne.
• The Brest-Litovsk Treaty was a peace agreement between Germany and Russia in 1918 which ended Russia’s involvement in the war.
• The Paris Peace Conference was a meeting in 1919 where leaders from different countries came together to decide the terms of peace and create a new map after the war.
• The League of Nations was an international organization created after World War I to help maintain peace and prevent future wars; it aimed to resolve disputes peacefully.

Wilson’s 14 Points

• The first point was to end secret treaties.
• The second point was freedom of the seas.
• The third point was removing economic barriers to trade.
• The fourth point was to reduce the size of national armies and navies.
• The fifth point was adjusting colonial claims with fairness toward colonial people.
• Points 6-13 focused on changing borders and creating new nations based on self-determination.
• The fourteenth point was to create an organization to keep peace, encourage negotiation, and protect all states.
• Self-Determination is the idea that nations or ethnic groups should have the right to choose their own government and political future.

"Big 3" Countries and Leaders

• France's leader was Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.
• Great Britain's leader was Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
• United States' leader was President Woodrow Wilson.

League of Nations

• The League of Nations' goal was to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars by resolving disputes through diplomacy and collective security.

Treaty of Versailles

• Germany’s Guilt Clause stated that Germany had to accept full responsibility for causing the war.
• Territorial Losses included Germany losing land, including the Saar Valley, and colonies being taken away.
• Military Restrictions limited Germany’s army to 100,000 soldiers, and they were forbidden from having an air force or submarines.
• Reparations required Germany to pay money to the Allies for the damages caused by the war.

New Countries Created

• Yugoslavia was created from Serbia/Montenegro/Austria-Hungary.
• Czechoslovakia was created from Austria-Hungary.
• Austria was created from Austria-Hungary.
• Hungary was created from Austria-Hungary.
• Finland was created from Russia.
• Estonia was created from Russia.
• Turkey was created from the Ottoman Empire.
• Latvia was created from Russia.
• Lithuania was created from Russia.
• Poland was created from Germany/Russia.

Key People

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination started the war; he was the emperor of Austria-Hungary.
• Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, sparking World War I.
• Czar Nicholas II was the last king of Russia and abdicated the throne during the war.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II was the emperor of Germany during World War I and stepped down.
• Vladimir Lenin led the Russian Revolution in 1917 and brought communism to Russia.
• Vittorio Orlando was the leader of Italy during the war who wanted more land after the war but was unhappy with the peace deal.
• David Lloyd George was the Prime Minister of Great Britain during the war and helped make decisions at the peace talks.
• Georges Clemenceau was the leader of France during the war and wanted Germany to be punished for causing the war.
• Woodrow Wilson was the President of the U.S. during the war and wanted peace and created the idea of the League of Nations.

Order of Events Leading to WWI

• Russia makes a deal with Austria-Hungary.
• Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
• Austria-Hungary gives Serbia an ultimatum.
• Serbia refuses part of the ultimatum.
• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
• Germany declares war on Russia and looks to France.
• Germany declares war on France.
• German troops enter Belgium (Schlieffen Plan).
• Great Britain declares war on Germany.
• Ottoman Empire joins Central Powers.
• German sinking of the Lusitania.
• Zimmerman telegram intercepted by Britain.
• United States declares war on Germany AND Russian Revolution (Bolshevik’s win).
• Brest-Litovsk Treaty.
• Wilson announces 14 points.
• Allies push the Central Powers back to Germany.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates.
• Germany forced to sign armistice- END OF WW1.
• Paris Peace Conference.
• Treaty of Versailles signed.

Questions and Answers about WWI

• WWI was called the Great War because it was the largest the world had ever seen up to that point.
• Great Britain was #1 in Europe.
• Everybody wanted to be #1.
• Germany had the biggest army.
• The four underlying causes of WWI were Alliances, Militarism, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
• The British felt threatened by Germany because they had a stronger army.
• France and Germany were brought to the brink of war due to losing the Franco Prussian war and getting involved with the situation of Austria-Hungary.
• The Franco-Prussian War was important because it enhanced tensions between countries.
• Austria Hungary did not like Serbia because they wanted land of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• France did not like Germany because they lost war/land to them, took their place as #2.
• GB did not like Germany because Better army, going through Belgium, moving up rankings in Europe.
• The results of militarism contributed to great loss of death and was a sign of attack.
• The main intention of the alliances formed among European nations was to support each other during the war.
• Russia liked Serbia because they were both slavs and saw them as their little brothers.
• The Ottoman Empire did not like the Balkans it felt threatened by rising nationalism among Balkan nations seeking independence, creating tension (lost some territory to them)
• Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• The Balkans were referred to as the “powder keg” of Europe because fighting raised tensions.
• The Serbs were angered by the Archduke Francis Ferdinand’s visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• The Allies were the United States, Great Britain, France, Russian, Italy (Romania helped).
• The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire (Bulgaria helped).
• Germany promised Austria-Hungary a "Blank Check" after the assassination.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because they wouldn't meet all demands of ultimatum.
• Germany declared war on Russia because Russia started to mobilize troops on the border.
• Germany declared war on France because France wouldn’t stay out of the conflict.
• After Russia began winning victories on the eastern front, Germany had to shift troops to East, weakened forces to west.
• The Schlieffen plan was to Go through Belgium, attack France then attack Russia; preventing a two-front war.
• The British declared war on Germany because they were going through Belgium.
• The battle of the Marne influenced the Schlieffen plan where Germany recognizes it won't be a quick and easy defeat, plans for a two-front war.
• The Allies used their colonies formilitary support, providing troops like those at Gallipoli, resources and logistics to sustain war effort.
• The new weapons used during WW1 were Rapid fire machines, airplanes, U-Boats, Tanks, Poison Gas, Zepperlines, and Artillery.
• New technologies in weapons impacted the war by Increasing amount of losses.
• In WW1, battles on the western front resulted in little territorial gain at a stalemate.
• Russia was so ineffective in fighting because they were a yellow army.
• Germany was winning on the Eastern Front.
• Unrestricted submarine warfare meant Germany didn't give warning before attacks on ships.
• The Sinking of the Lusitania was important to WW1 led United States to join war/get angered.
• The Zimmerman note said Germany promised Mexico land (that the U.S. owned) in return for support, intercepted by Great Britain.
• Germany's actions caused the United States to fight in WW1.
• The two reasons the US entered the war were Lusitania sinking and Zimmerman note.
• People in Russia began to revolt from Bread riots, mad at “incompetent” generals, and corruption in government.
• Vladimi Lenin became the new leader and promised to take them out of the war.
• The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was between Germany and Russia to stop fighting.
• The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk impacted German military tactics where They could focus their troops on fighting on the Western front.
• President Wilson used the reasons of War to end all wars and make it safe for democracy to get Congress to declare war.
• The two things that moved WW1 out of the stalemate were The United States arrived, Russia agreeing to stop fighting.
• The Allies promised Italy land from Austria-Hungary if they joined their side.
• Japan wantedExpand influence in Asia, land from Germany for joining the Allies.
• Germany began to lose hope when Generals told the Kaiser the war couldn't be won.
• The Kaiser of Germany did when the people lost hope was advocate (stepped down) and went to the netherlands.
• The new German government stopped the fighting by way Signed armistice, ended war.
• After the war, the winners/Allies organized the Paris Peace Conference with a purpose to get foundation of treaty and redraw map of Europe.
• Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” were a List of terms to resolve current/future wars.
• Britain’s goal for the Paris Peace Conference was Germany to pay penalties, land in the Ottoman Empire, African colonies to be taken from them.
• France’s goal for the Paris Peace Conference was to Weaken Germany, land from Germany, land from the Ottoman Empire.
• The US’s goal for the Paris Peace Conference was Self-Determination, forgiveness of Germany, 14-points.
• Russia and Central Powers were not invited to the Paris Peace Conference.
• Germany was forced to assume sole responsibility for the war under the Treaty of Versailles.
• The Central Powers/Germany had to pay reparations.
• The three things the Versailles Treaty forced Germany to do were pay for everything/responsibility, loss of land, and military restrictions.
• Germany’s colonies went to Great Britain
• In general, the Treaty of Versailles affected postwar Germany by weakening their economy, and leading to WWll (resentment).
• The Treaty of Versailles created the League of Nations.
• The US did not join the League of Nations.
• The main purpose of the League of Nations main purpose to maintain peace and Prevent wars.
• Italy and Japan were upset with the Paris Peace Conference because They didn't get their expected territory.
• After the war ended, women wanted jobs and rights from society.
• The Allies had the most deaths in WW1.
• Germany had the most deaths in WW1.
• WWll comes after WW1.