Transcript Causes of WWI – MANIA!

The Royal Family
Czar Nicholas II
 Russia
 Cousin of Kaiser
Wilhelm
 Also wanted control
over the Balkans
region of Europe
 Moves troops to the
German border while
preparing for war
with Austria
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Germany
Wants to show the
world Germany’s
military strength
Declares war on Russia
and France after
Russia mobilizes
its’ troops
Bell Work
Take out your notes from last week to help
you and your handouts from Friday
(telegrams/questions)
1. Who is Nicholas II and Wilhelm II?
2. How are they connected?
3. What background information do you
have (remember) about the subject of
their telegrams?
Inquiry Question:
Who is most to blame for causing a
World War?
The Nicky Willy Telegrams
Read each of the Telegrams between Tsar Nicolas
and Kaiser Wilhelm
Answer the guiding questions on the worksheet
provided in complete sentences.
Using the information from the guiding questions,
write a 3-5 sentence explanation of who was more
to blame for causing Germany and Russia to go to
war
Glossary
Calamity – Disaster
Gravest – most serious
Dastardly – dishonorable
Territorial conquests – taking over land
Jeopardize – endanger
Grave – serious
Preventive – cautionary
Avert – avoid
Obligatory – required
Discussion
Who seems more responsible for Germany
declaring War on Russia?
Bell Work
1. Have you ever heard of the term
propaganda?
2. What is it? And What is used for? (if you
don’t know what it is, guess)
3. Do you know of any examples?
What is propaganda?
“information, especially of a biased or
misleading nature, used to promote or
publicize a particular political cause or
point of view.”
-google definition
“ideas or statements that are often false or
exaggerated and that are spread in order
to help a cause, a political leader, a
government, etc.”
-Mirriam-Webster
In your notes…
- Propaganda is media that uses carefully-crafted
messages to manipulate people’s actions and
beliefs. It has one purpose: to persuade you.
WWI Poster
3,000,000 Belgians are
destitute in Belgium. They
must not starve. Support the
local fund. LOC Summary:
Poster showing a woman in
a helmet (Minerva,
personification of Britain?)
caring for a mother and
children.
WWI Poster
Irish World War I
recruiting poster. Poster
showing a family at
home, surprised by
German soldiers bearing
bayonets. Text reads: "Is
YOUR home worth
fighting for? It will be too
late to fight when the
enemy is at your door so
JOIN TO-DAY"
WWI Poster
London opinion "Your
country needs you".
LOC Summary: Facial
view of Lord Kitchener
with his arm and fingers
pointing at the viewer.
Bell Work
• What are the 3 types of techniques used in
propaganda? (look at your handout from
yesterday)
• Which of these do you think is the most
effective (to persuade people)?
Bell Work
1. What does the term stalemate mean?
2. How do you think this applies to the war’s
beginning and progression?
• Stalemate- a situation in which no
progress can be made or no
advancement is possible
• A situation in which further action is
blocked; a deadlock
• The central and allied powers competed
for victory during WWI
• Developed strategic battle plans
• Made few gains
• Initially supposed to be a short war
• Failed military strategies and trench war
led to a deadlock
What new weapons were used in
WWI?
-Machine gun
-grenade
-Poison gas
-flamethrower
-Submarine
-trench mortars
-Airplane
-Tank
-Why these weapons? Why now?
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!
Machine guns
• capable of firing up to 500
rounds per minute
• very heavy (often more
than 110 lbs)
• required at least 3 well
trained men to set up and
operate effectively
• German army had more
than 10,000 units
• British and French had
fewer than 1,000 each
Poison gas
• use of poison gas:
developed as a new way of
overcoming the stalemate of
unexpected trench warfare
• Prior to war seen as
uncivilized
• Used extensively by the
Germans
• Poison gas use was
outlawed in 1925
Tank
• large armored carriers
• resistant to rifle and
machine-gun fire
• initially called
‘landships’
• used by all sides
(British-first to develop
& use)
• unreliable at first
Trench mortars
• a short, stumpy tube designed
to fire a projectile at a steep
angle to fall straight down on
the enemy
• advantages: could be fired
from safety
• lighter than other artillery
• 22 bombs per minute
• used by Germans & later
developed by the British
Flamethrowers/grenades
•
Grenades- small bombs
•
Developed by Germans &
adapted by the British
•
Idea of a flamethrower is
to spread fire by launching
burning fuel
•
Portable & non-portable
•
First put into used against
the French
•
useful when used at shortrange
Bell Work
1. How did people feel about the war when it
first started?
2. What was one reason for the war’s
stalemate?
1. Review the reading on deadlock with your partner
2. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of
paper (although you’re working together you should
each have your own responses written)
3. Title it: Causes of stalemate
4. Answer the following questions:
1. What were the deadlock’s causes and how did they
happen?
2. What were the strategies used?
3. Who was involved?
4. Who was affected?
5. Create a list of the stalemates MAJOR causes.
6. Come up with a plan that would end the deadlock.
Schlieffen Plan
• Plan was another cause for the stalemate
was failed military plans (perceived
initially to be strategic without flaw).
• This was the case for the German plan- to
conquer quickly and lead to victory
• The plan failed
Schlieffen Plan
After going over the plan answer the
following questions:
1. What was the strategy behind the plan?
2. How was it implemented?
3. Why did it fail?
4. How do you think the plan might have
worked?
Bell Work
1. What was the Schlieffen plan?
2. Why did it fail?
Why was WWI a Stalemate?
• What’s a stalemate?
– Neither side can make a move to win.
• Machine gun. How did this change war?
• Trench Warfare = “solution”.
• Millions die without gaining ground.
Trench Warfare
• First major trench lines- completed Nov.
1914
• Extended nearly 400 miles
• 6,250 miles by end of 1914 (all allies
combined)
Organization of the trenches
• Allies used 4 types:
• Front-line (firing & attack)
• Support trench (men & supplies to assist)
• Reserve trench (men & supplies for
emergencies)-dug hundred yards back
• Connecting trenches were communication
trenches (messages, supplies, men)
• German trenches- more sophisticated
(electricity, beds, toilets, more than 50 ft
below)
Morale booster
• On avg. British lost 7,000 everyday
• To keep soldiers fresh as much as
possible -3 week rotation schedule
• Front -> support -> reserve trench
• 3rd week- men played sports, relaxed, etc.
No man’s land
• Territory between the trenches
• Marked w/ huge craters from shelling
• Filled w/ barbed wire to slow down
advances by enemy
Timing of movements at the front
• Attacks took place before dawn or at
dawn
• Poison gas attacks more effective in
morning
• At sundown soldiers-conducted raids,
eavesdrop, investigated layouts