Transcript World War I
World War I
Standard
SS6H7.a
World War I (1914-1918)
Causes of the War
• The archduke of
Austria-Hungary,
Franz Ferdinand, was
assassinated in
Sarajevo, Serbia.
• Russia joined Serbia
and Germany soon
followed.
• They formed an
alliance which is an
agreement to act
together.
Video Clip
Causes…
• Nationalism-excessive devotion and
loyalty to one’s own country.
• Ethnic Conflict- People that share a
common culture and often the same
language and religion. A major ethnic
conflict existed in the Austro-Hungarian
Empire because the Austrians and
Hungarians had the right to vote. Other
ethnic groups could not and wanted their
independence.
Causes…..
• Ideology- group of ideas, beliefs or
theories that guide individuals, social
movements, or groups. Germany’s world
politics was another cause of WWI. They
felt they deserved “a place in the sun.” In
other words, Germany wanted to be equal
partners with other leading world powers,
like Britain.
Causes…
• Political and Economic Rivalries
between countries
Ex. (trade
interests
threatened)
Partners
What were some causes of
WWI?
What countries participated in
WWI?
Allied Forces vs. Central Powers
Great Britain
Germany
France
Austria-Hungary
Russia
Bulgaria
Serbia
Turkey
United States
Partners
How were sides divided in
WWI?
Weapons & Trench Warfare
• First time the machine gun was used in war.
• Both sides were forced to fight from
trenches.
• This was marked the beginning of chemical
weapons, flame throwers, and planes
(bombers)
• Soldiers fought disease, lice, rats, dogs,
trench foot, as well as bombs and bullets.
Video Clip
Partners
How was WWI fought?
Sinking of the Lusitania
• On May 7, 1915 the Germans sunk the
Lusitania killing all 1924 people on board
including 128 Americans.
• Even though the people were warned not to
travel in a war zone not a single person
canceled.
• Many Americans urged President Woodrow
Wilson to join the war.
America Enters the War
• In 1917 the Zimmerman
message was decoded from
Germany.
• It told Mexico to wage war
on the U.S.
• President Wilson went
before Congress to declare
war on Germany.
America enters the Great War!
Partners
What caused the United
States to enter WWI?
Fighting Ceases
• Over the course of many years solders lost
their will to fight.
• One by one countries began dropping out
of the war with Russia being the first.
• Germany was left alone to fight but
eventually gave up as well when money
and men ran low.
• Germans signed an armistice and on
11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m. fighting ceased,
the war was over.
Conflict and Change were
dominant themes in history
following WWI. Much of Europe
was in chaos. Many people were
hungry and homeless.
Treaty of Versailles
• Germany was required to take full
responsibility for the war.
• The Treaty of Versailles imposed terrible
hardships on Germany.
– Could only have a small army
– Surrendered its overseas colonies.
– Forbidden to build large ships
Continued…
– Had to pay reparations or money to cover
the cost of the war to Great Britain & France
for the damages caused by the war.
– Had to give up territory (land) to surrounding
countries.
- Had to disarm its military.
Purpose of Treaty
To make sure Germany could never again
wage war in Europe.
This led to resentment by the Germans.
President Woodrow Wilson
Worried…
• That punishing the loser nations might
lead to bitterness, instability, and future
war.
• He was right.
Germany plunged into …
• Economic depression,
• People resented its new republic
(government)
• Believed the treaty to be a national
disgrace and blamed it for the country’s
hardships.
• Refer to p.15 in SCIS Europe in Transition
Misery for Germany
• Economy was ruined by the treaty.
• Money was worthless.
• They borrowed money from the U.S. until the
Great Depression.
• Currency (money) decreased in value
• The Great Depression spread through Europe.
• Its industrial areas were not taken away.
• Germans became very angry with their situation
and looked for a way out. They looked for a
strong leader to bring them back to greatness.
• Adolf Hitler used this unhappiness to rise
to power in the early 1930s and lead
Europe back into war (WWII).
Video Clip
Partners
How did the Treaty of
Versailles affect
Germany?
Rise of Adolf Hitler
• Hitler claimed he could fix
all of Germany’s problems.
• He became the Chancellor
of Germany.
• He blamed the government
and “impure” (Jewish and
others) citizens for
everything.
• Hitler blamed many of
Germany’s problems on
one group: The Jews.
• By 1933 he and the Nazi
Party (Hitler’s political
group) controlled
Germany.
Hitler continued….
• Hitler promised the Germans their country would create
jobs and grow to be the most powerful country.
• Europe was plagued with anti-Jewish sentiments, or
anti-Semitism. So promises given by Hitler encouraged
German support. Germans disregarded (didn’t think it
was important or didn’t care) whom Hitler would harm
through his discriminatory and racist ideas.
• Hitler’s belief in a strong central
government, nationalism, and racism was
known as fascism.
Partners
Why did Hitler become so
important to the German
people?
5. What was the Treaty of Versailles?
6. How did Hitler gain popularity with the
German people?
7. How did the war affect the world?
World Wide Depression
How did the war affect the world?
• Germany went broke trying to pay for the
war.
• Europe’s war effort had drained its
colonies of resources.
• France and Britain (victors) even
struggled.
• Many nations had debts to pay.
• Returning soldiers needed jobs.
• Unemployment skyrocketed
• U.S. stock market crashed (1929)
• Around the world, unrest and nationalism
(excessive pride in one’s own country)
grew.
• People wanted strong leadership to make
their countries rich and powerful again.
• World Wide Depression had taken hold of
Europe and the world.
Questions
1. What were some causes of WWI?
2. What countries made up the Allied Forces?
The Central Powers?
3. How was WWI fought?
4. Why did America enter the war?
5. What was the Treaty of Versailles?
6. How did Hitler gain popularity with the German
people?
7. How did the war affect the world?
The Russian
Revolution
• Began in 1917
• 2 Parts
*February Revolution
*October Revolution
February Revolution
• People in Russia were unhappy about the way
the czar was running the country. (Textbook
p.322)
• Russian people were very upset over their
participation in WWI.
• Overthrow of the czar by the people.
• This created chaos at home and on the warfront.
• Russian army was ineffective in the war so they
stopped their involvement.
• An important cause of the Russian
Revolution was the differences between
social and economic classes.
October Revolution
• Another name- Bolshevik
Revolution…marked the first Communist
revolution of the 20th century.
• Led by Vladimir Lenin and based on an
ideology written by Karl Marx.
•More violent than part 1.
•Civil war followed the revolution that
lasted more that 2 years.
•The Bolsheviks kept control of Russia
and continued to rule until nearly the
end of the century.
Questions
1. What effect did the Russian Revolution
have on World War !?
2. Why did the Russian troops have a hard
time dedicating themselves to the war?
3. Who was Lenin?
The End!