Pre-War (Causes of the War, European Entrances into the War)
MAIN
Militarism
Alliances
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Imperialism
Nationalism
The “Powder Keg” and the “Spark”
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Tensions in the Balkan Region
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by the Black Hands
The Key Players
Germany, the Ottoman Empire (Sick Man of Europe), Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria – Central
Powers
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France, Russia, Great Britain, United States, Italy – Allied Powers
The Timeline of Events
Franco-Prussian War (1871)- Germany wins and France cedes Alsace-Lorraine
Germany’s delicate alliance system o Bismarck o Excluding France from all Alliances
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Moroccan Crises o German use of force (The Panther)
 Solidification of the Entente- Britain and France share military info
Balkan Wars- Austria-Hungary blocks Serbian annexation of Albania and Macedonia
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the Austrian Ultimatum
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Declaration of War- Austria on Serbia; Russia Mobilizes; Germany’s “Blank Check” to AH;
France on Germany; Britain on Germany
The Great War
“Total War”- mobilization an entire country for the war effort
“War of Attrition”- Tiring out the enemy
Schlieffen Plan- Avoid a Two Front War
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Belgium Neutrality and Germany’s Violation
Quick mobilization of Russian on the Eastern front
Battle of the Marne- German advance is halted
Trench warfare ensues- STALEMATE
Trench Warfare
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New Technology
No Man’s Land
Death and Destruction
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Disease and PTSD
Eastern Front
Russian losses
Gallipoli Campaign- FAIL
American Neutrality
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President Wilson- “He Kept us Out of War”- 1916
Attack on neutral ships
Sinking of the Lusitania
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War loans and trade relationships with Allies
Russian Revolution
Zimmerman Note
Declaration of War- “Make the World Safe for Democracy”

U.S. Contributions to War
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Selective Service- U.S. creates draft
Black Jack Pershing and the AEF
Convoy System
U.S. on the “Home Front”
Creation of: o War Industries Board o National War Labor Board o Food Administration o Committee on Public Information
 Propaganda
 Minutemen
 “How the War Came to America”
 Subsequent treatment of Germans
Espionage and Sedition Acts o Charles Schenck vs. the United States o Socialists (Eugene Debs) and Labor Leaders
End of the War and the Treaty of Versailles
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Germany falters o USA entrance o Failure to finance war by taxing firms; Inflation o Resentment of people- rationing and starvation o Armistice- 11/11/18
Paris Peace Conference o The Big Four- Germany is excluded
 Wilson; Clemenceau; Lloyd George; Orlando
 Intentions of each?
Conditions of the Treaty o Military; Financial; Territorial; Judicial (War Guilt Clause) o Creation of new countries (self-determination) o Was the treaty a success? o United States- Didn’t ratify treaty o League of Nations
Social Effects of the War
Great Migration
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Women’s Suffrage
Influenza (Worldwide)
In Europe: o Russian Revolution o Armenian Genocide
Main Themes
1.
Was the war inevitable? (MAIN)
2.
Why was the war so destructive (consider trench warfare and new technology)
3.
Why did the US enter war?
4.
To what extent should civil liberties be sacrificed for public safety (i.e. Schenck)
5.
U.S. use of “total war”
6.
Was the Treaty of Versailles successful? How did it contribute to future conflict?