Transcript WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR I Background Causes of World War I • Alliances • Nationalism • Imperialism • Militarism Alliances An agreement between between countries to come to each other’s aid in case of war. Two major alliances: Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (does not enter war on this side, replaced with Ottoman Empire) Triple Entente: France, Russia, and Great Britain If one nation was pulled in war, all would enter Nationalism Extreme loyalty to a nation and concern for its welfare Multi-ethic empires (Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire) had many groups seeking independence Balkans are ready to explode (“powder keg of Europe, Balkan Peninsula)—Serbia and Bosnia in Balkans Imperialism A nation’s attempt to gain control of a weaker nation Nations wanted control to gain raw materials, Europe had divided Africa in 1884 Militarism A nation’s policy to maintain strong armed forced Britain and Germany competed for the strongest navy Militarism included complex plans in case war broke out Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary Shot by a Serbian nationalist in Bosnia, part of A.H. Assassination is considered the “spark” of the war A.H. blamed Serbia and Germany gave A.H. a “blank check” saying they would back them no matter what A.H. then gave Serbia an “ultimatum” saying they must agree to all their demands or they would declare war—A.H. declared war anyway Russia then mobilized in case of war—Germany then declares war on Russia and France Germany then invaded Belgium in order to get to France (Schlieffen Plan) Britain then declares war on Germany as Belgium was neutral Main Players •Allied Powers •Central Powers Allied Powers • France • Great Britain • Russia (withdrawl in 1917 due to Bolshevik Revolution) •Italy (secret treaty in 1917, wants land) • United States Central Powers • Austria-Hungary • Germany • Ottoman Empire A New Kind of War Machine Gun Trenches Poison Gas Tanks U-Boat America Neutral? •America sympathetic to Allies •Lusitania •Sussex Pledge •Zimmerman Note Lusitania • May 1915, a German submarine sank the British ocean liner Lusitania. • Among the hundreds killed, 128 were American. • President Wilson warned Germany not to continue to violate international law, which required warships to provide for the safety of the passengers and crews of trading ships they sank. • Germany apologized. Zimmerman Telegram • The British intercepted and decoded a secret radio message from Germany to Mexico • In this “Zimmerman Telegram,” Germany urged Mexico to attack the United States in return for regaining the southwestern United States. • This was the final straw! America Readys for War The United States enters the War • The US declares war on April 6, 1917 • Over 100,000 Georgian men and women contributed to the Allied victory Georgia in the War •Soldiers trained in GA at Fort Benning, Fort McPherson, and Camp Gordon—helped state’s economy •Textile mills made uniforms •Railroads carried troops and goods to port •Victory Gardens—planted to have vegetables so more for the troops •Women helped •3,000 from Georgia died in the war War Closes— Wilson’s Fourteen Points Three Goals: •Elimination of War Causes •Right to choose government •League of Nations (Wilson’s dream) Treaty of Versailles --Very harsh on Germany who is forced to agree --Strip Germany of territory, military reduced --Must take blame for entire war --Must pay reparations (payments for war damages) Lives Lost Russia France Great Britain United States Germany Austria 1,700,000 1,357,000 908,000 130,174 1,800,000 1,200,000 Diseases, hunger, and other war-related causes 20,000,000 Mangled 6,000,000 WW I Causes WW II