The Drift Toward War
Long Term Causes
Nationalism
Imperialism
Militarism
Alliances
Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Triple Entente – France, Russia, Britain
Short Term Causes
Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by
Serbian nationalists triggers war between alliance systems.
The Drift Toward War
The Schlieffen Plan
Germany’s plan to defeat France swiftly while the
Russian army was mobilizing.
Moving the massive Germany army took time and the
Schlieffen Plan failed at the Battle of the Marne.
Set the course for a long and deadly conflict.
Global War
After the domino effect of the alliance systems pulled
most European countries into the war, a total war with
devastating impact ensued.
Mutual Butchery
Stalemate
Trench Warfare
New Technology: Machine Guns, Poison Gas, Tanks,
Planes, Submarines, Long Artillery
Had devastating affects
Battle of Verdun – 315,000 French deaths, 280,000 German
deaths.
Only 160,000 identifiable bodies as the were so badly
mutilated that they were unrecognizable.
Global War
Total War: The Home Front
As war took men away from jobs, unemployment disappeared
and women were required to fill the gaps.
After the war, many women did not retain their jobs when the men
came back
Rationing
Limited the amount of goods / resources people on the home front
could use in an attempt to preserve resources for the war
Propaganda
Biased communication meant to sway public opinion and maintain
support for the war
Censorship
Governments censored news and arrested dissidents and pacifists.
Global War
Conflict in East Asia and The Pacific
The European war took on global consequences as
colonies became embroiled in it, and third parties like
Japan, the Ottoman Empire, and U.S. got involved.
Japan took advantage of Germany’s focus on Europe to
confiscate German positions in Asia and the Pacific.
Allied themselves with the Allied Powers (Britain, France,
U.S.)
Issued the secret 21 Demands to the Chinese government
during this time as well in their attempt to establish complete
control of China
Became apparent Japan intended to dominate all of Asia.
Global War
Battles in Africa and Southwest Asia
The Allies in Africa had a more difficult time conquering
German possessions there.
British, French, and Belgian forces fought along with African,
Arab, and Indian forces in fierce battles with German Troops
and colonials.
Disease in the jungles killed many groups
Ottoman Empire at war
Joined the Central Powers and fought the Russians and British for
control of the Dardanelles.
Had initial success against the British, but in the end were
unsuccessful.
Ottoman Empire became Turkey after WWI.
The End of the War
The Russian Revolution
1917 – Internal protest and military struggle led to Tsar
Nicholas II abdicating the throne, ending 300 years of
Romanov rule
Provisional government took over and continued to
wage war
In the midst of this unrest, Vladimir Lenin led to the
Bolsheviks to prominence eventually gained control of
Russia, ending their participation in the war and
focusing on moving Russia forward.
Focused on “Peace, Land, and Bread”
The End of war
U.S. Intervention and the Collapse of the Central Powers
President Woodrow Wilson initially promised neutrality
Reason for Intervention in April 1917
German unrestricted submarine warfare
Lusitania sunk in 1915 killing 123 Americans
Zimmerman Note
Economics
Central Powers Collapse
U.S. intervention ended the stalemate
German people and soldiers began to revolt, causing internal
problems.
War ended with an Armistice on November 11, 1918.
The End of War
The Paris Peace Conference
War was devastating – 15 million dead and additional
millions dying in the difficult years following the war.
Treaty of Versailles at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919
ended the war, but laid the foundation for continuing
problems
Woodrow Wilson (U.S.), Georges Clemenceau (France), Lloyd
George (Britain) dominated the conference
Soviet Union and Central Powers not invited
Fourteen Points
League of Nations
Reparations – Germany blamed and had to pay!
Boundaries redrawn throughout Europe.
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