History
Causes of World War I
Grade 5
Social Studies Online
Blueprint Skill
Explain the causes of the World War I.
15th Infantry Regiment New York National Guard
Here are African American soldiers from the 15th Infantry
Regiment of the New York National Guard in France during
World War I.
World War I (1914–1918)
Imperial, territorial, and economic
rivalries led to the “Great War” between
the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary,
Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey) and the
Allies (U.S., Britain, France, Russia,
Belgium, Serbia, Greece, Romania,
Montenegro, Portugal, Italy, and
Japan). About 10 million combatants
killed, 20 million wounded.
The war Begins
Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife
assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist,
Gavrilo Princip (June 28). Austria declares war
on Serbia (July 28). Germany declares war on
Russia (Aug. 1), on France (Aug. 3), invades
Belgium (Aug. 4). Britain declares war on
Germany (Aug. 4). Germans defeat Russians in
Battle of Tannenberg on Eastern Front (Aug.).
First Battle of the Marne (Sept.). German drive
stopped 25 miles from Paris. By end of year,
war on the Western Front is “positional” in the
trenches.
1915
German submarine blockade of Great Britain
begins (Feb.). Dardanelles Campaign—British
land in Turkey (April), withdraw from Gallipoli
(Dec.–Jan. 1916). Germans use gas at second
Battle of Ypres (April–May). Lusitania sunk by
German submarine—1,198 lost, including 128
Americans (May 7). On Eastern Front, German
and Austrian “great offensive” conquers all of
Poland and Lithuania; Russians lose 1 million
men (by Sept. 6). “Great Fall Offensive” by
Allies results in little change from 1914 (Sept.–
Oct.). Britain and France declare war on
Bulgaria (Oct. 14).
May 17, 1915
May 7, 1915 brought the United States into World
War I. A German submarine sank the British ocean
liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. More than
1,000 passengers were killed, including 128
Americans. The people of the United States were
shocked! Wilson did not declare war, but instead
asked Germany for an apology, for damages to be
paid, and for a promise not to attack any more
passenger ships. Italy then entered the war for the
Allies and attacked Austria-Hungary from the south.
Sinking the Lusitania: 1915
In February, 1915, the German government
announced an unrestricted warfare campaign.
This meant that any ship taking goods to
Allied countries was in danger of being
attacked. This broke international agreements
that stated commanders who suspected that
a non-military vessel was carrying war
materials, had to stop and search it, rather
than do anything that would endanger the
lives of the occupants.
Sinking the Lusitania: 1915 cont.
The Lusitania, was at 32,000 tons, the
largest passenger vessel on
transatlantic service, left New York
harbour for Liverpool on 1st May, 1915.
It was 750ft long, weighed 32,500 tons
and was capable of 26 knots. On this
journey the ship carried 1,257
passengers and 650 crew.
Sinking the Lusitania: 1915 cont.
At 1.20pm on 7th May 1915, the U-20, only ten miles
from the coast of Ireland, surfaced to recharge her
batteries. Soon afterwards Captain Schwieger, the
commander of the German U-Boat, observed the
Lusitania in the distance. Schwieger gave the order
to advance on the liner. The U20 had been at sea for
seven days and had already sunk two liners and only
had two torpedoes left. He fired the first one from a
distance of 700 metres. Watching through his
periscope it soon became clear that the Lusitania was
going down and so he decided against using his
second torpedo.
Sinking the Lusitania: 1915 cont.
After a second,
larger explosion, the
Lusitania rolled over
and sank in eighteen
minutes. A total of
1,198 people died
(785 passengers and
413 crew). Those
killed included 128
US citizens.
"The World In Shambles"
"It is a fearful thing to lead this great
peaceful people into war.... but the right is
more precious than peace, and we shall fight
for the things which we have always carried
nearest our hearts."
Woodrow Wilson
Important Strategies of World War I
Alliances
Two powerful groups called alliances
were created. The Central Powers were
led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Turkey. Many Americans who had come
from Germany favored the Central
Powers. The Allied Powers were led by
Great Britain, France and Russia. Those
who had come from Great Britain
rooted for the Allies.
Neutrality
Neutrality was the stance taken by the
majority of Americans towards the war.
They felt that Europe was too far away
and that its conflicts were not
trustworthy. President Wilson also
believed that all Americans needed to
"act and speak in a spirit of neutrality."
Trench Warfare
The two armies dug trenches to protect
themselves from bullets and bombs. Then they
put up mazes of barbed wire around the
trenches. The area between the trenches was
called "no man's land." Soldiers ate and slept in
the trenches. First one side, and then the other
would try to break through at some point along
the line. It was very difficult for either side to win
a battle this way, and trench warfare claimed
many lives.
The Big Four Leaders of World War I
The Big Four
Leaders gathered at
Versailles in
January 1919 to
write a formal treaty
for peace.
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson, the President of the
United States at the time of war,
represented the United States in
Versailles himself. He had a difficult
time convincing the other three leaders
to accept his idea of peace without
victory. Wilson was forced to agree that
Germany had caused the war.
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George was the British
Prime Minister who represented the
United Kingdom. During their talks,
George put the needs of his own nation
first.
Vittorio
Orlando
Vittorio Orlando, the Italian Prime
Minister, also put the needs of his
nation first during talks.
Georges Clemenceau
Georges
Clemenceau, the
French Premier,
wanted to make
Germany pay for the
entire cost of the
war since most of
the fighting took
place on French soil.
Peace Treaty Signed at Versailles,
1919
The Parisians had a
parade after the
signing of the Treaty
at Versailles marking
the end of World
War I. Notice the
sign at the top of
this photograph that
reads: "Vive
Wilson."
Resources:
The First World War Chronology
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWchrono
logy.htm
Picture History
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/c/302/p/15/mc
ms.html
The History of American Wars
http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/DE/research/kim
b/masterindex.html