Militarism
reliance on military strength, countries throughout Europe had been improving and building up their armies in order to compete with one another, industrialization created new methods of shipbuilding and the use of iron, steel, and chemicals for warfare
Alliance System
rivalries over colonies and trade grew during the age of imperialism and nationalism, the major powers of Europe were divided into two loose alliances in the later 1800s, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were the Triple Alliance, and Great Britain, Fra
Nationalism
many nations in the Balkans had dreams of becoming independent nations, while the countries in Europe still wanted to show their power and influence in the world
Imperialism
the countries of Europe had spent their time expanding outside of Europe and would continue to do so into the mid 1900s, Austria-Hungary will make an imperialistic play that leads to catastrophe
Assassination
the Balkan region was considered the powder keg of Europe, tension between ethnic groups and the anticipated annexation of Serbia by Austria-Hungary led to the spark that blew the powder keg, the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
Why did a Serbian assassinate Francis Ferdinand?
he was the heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungary empire, Serbia would gain autonomy, would cause chaos because the leader of Austria-Hungary was close to death, He wanted to create a triple monarchy by annexing Serbia
Why did Austria need German support?
because Austria-Hungary was too weak to face Russia alone
Explain the blank check.
the blank check was all of Germany's backing for Austria
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
-Heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungarian empire
-Touring city of Sarajevo
-Shot by a Serbia nationalist, member of the Black Hand
-June 28th, 1914
How can the Germans help Austria-Hungary?
-Germany viewed Austria-Hungary as the victim and offered them a blank check
Why is Germany so confident in supporting Austria
1. Austria-Hungary was too weak to face Russia alone
2. Convinced that Russia wouldn't help Serbia because Serbia killed a future monarch
Define ultimatum
a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms
What were the terms of Austria's ultimatum to Serbia?
1. Serbia was to suppress all anti-Austria propaganda, publications, and societies
2. Serbia had to remove all anti-Austrian officials
3. Serbia had to allow Austria police enter Serbia to enforce #1 and #2 and to investigate the assassination
How long did Serbia have to respond? What would be outcome if they did not agree?
It had to be answered in 48 hours of they would go to war, and if it wasn't Austria would declare war
What was Serbia's reply?
-Serbia agreed to the first 2, but rejected the 3rd
-Serbia suggested they go to arbitration (mediation)
What is arbitration?
the hearing and determining of a dispute or the settling of differences between parties
When did Austria declare war on Serbia?
July 28th, 1914
Why did Russia feel pressure to support Serbia?
France pressured them because they feared an immediate attack
What country was putting pressure on Russia to mobilize?
France
Why did Germany declare war on Russia on Aug. 1st?
Germany demanded Russia to stop mobilization-Russia refused
Why did Germany declare war on France on Aug. 3rd?
Germany sent an ultimatum to France to stay neutral-France refused, August 3rd Germany declared war on France
Explain the Schlieffen Plan. Read about the Battle of Marne on page 526.
-written in 1893 after Russian and France made an alliance
-German intelligence predicted it would take Russia 6 weeks to mobilize
-during that time Germany would invade France through Belgium and have enough time to regroup and face the Russians
-Allies
Why did it fail?
Russians mobilized faster than they anticipated and Belgium and France fought back more than anticipated
What were the 2 reasons for GB joining the war?
1. Germany committed a moral crime by invading a neutral country
2. Great Britain would not tolerate an enemy occupying a country so close to them
What countries made up the Allied Powers?
Russia, Great Britain, France, The United States, and Italy (made up of 27 nations)
What countries made up the Central Powers?
Austria-Hungary and Germany (made up of 4 nations)
What countries made up the Triple Entente?
Great Britain, Russia, and France
What countries made up the Triple Alliance?
Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy
How were the Central Powers able to win victories at the beginning of the war when they were outnumbered?
Central Powers had victories in the beginning because Great Britain and France could not work together and Russia was unprepared
Describe Italy's actions during WWI.
Italy at first was a member of the Triple Alliance, once the Allies promised them land, they switched over to the Allied powers (stayed neutral)
What is a stalemate? When did WWI reach it?
A stalemate is when no improvement can be made on either side, WW1 reached a stalemate in 1915
Define war of attrition.
-wearing down of each other by constant attacks
Describe trench warfare.
-Both sides dug trenches from Switzerland to the Atlantic
-In between the trenches was "no man's land" where soldiers died by the 1000s in attempts to break the stalemate
Which countries fought on the Western Front?
-Germany vs. France and Great Britain
What new weapon was introduced there?
1. Germans- Mustard Gas
2. Great Britain- tanks
What motivated Russia to keep fighting on the Eastern Front?
-Germans could push the Russians back, but there was too much Russia ahead of them, nationalism
What is mustard gas? Where was it used?
A chemical weapon, on the Western front
How did GB prevent war materials from reaching the Central Powers?
A naval blockade
How did the Germans retaliate?
-The Germans still had an advantage below the surface- submarines or U-boats
-They could evade British ships and attack British supply lines
What was the first action by Germany that upset the US?
The sinking of the Lusitania
What happened on February 1, 1917?
Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare
What caused tensions to increase between the US and Germany?
The Zimmerman telegram
Explain the German plans with Mexico.
To take back Arizona, Texas, and New mexico
April 2, 1917 the final straw...what was it?
Woodrow Wilson asked congress to declare war
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
January 19th, 1918
Identify the 4 main reasons for the Central Powers defeat.
1. 27 Allied nations vs. 4 Central Powers, and the Allies had more manpower and resources than the Central Powers
2. Allies had almost complete control of the seas, could blockade the German coastline and starve them of resources
3. Allied states had mora
Who attended the signing of the Treaty of Versailles?
France: Georges Clemenceau
Great Britain: David Lloyd George
Italy: Vitorio Orlando
USA: Woodrow Wilson
How were the Germans punished?
-Reduced German army, banned conscription (draft), could not make weapons
-Return Alsace and Lorraine to France, made Poland independent
-Lost all over seas colonies
-Germany had to accept blame for the war
-Pay reparations to the Allies
What document did Woodrow Wilson present?
The 14 Points Plan
Which two countries were seeking revenge on Germany?
Great Britain and France
What was the League of Nations? Why did the US not join?
The League of Nations was a group of nations that worked to preserve peace. The U.S. did not join because they feared that they would have to get involved in more European Wars.
Besides casualties and debt what were 2 other short term outcomes?
-10 Million soldiers died
-3-4 Million civilians
-28-30 million were wounded
-$33 Billion in damages ($452 Billion today)
-People of Eastern Europe were homeless or stateless
-Spanish flu kills 20 million people world wide
What four empires were destroyed following the war?
1. Germany
2. Austria-Hungary
3. Russia
4. Ottoman (Turkey)
Why is that considered to be a long term outcome?
-Destruction of Central and Eastern European empires
-Communism spreads in Russia
-New Eastern European nations were weak and nationalist tensions were high
-German resentment, regarded treaty as unfair, anger led to Hitler rise
-General decline of Europe
November 11th, 1918
signing of the armistice (ending war)