1. Chapter 23: World War I

2. Section 1: The Road to WWI
Section 1 The Road to World War I
Competition over trade and colonies led to the formation of two rival European alliances—the
Triple Entente of Great Britain, France, and Russia; and the Triple Alliance, consisting of
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Austria-Hungary, as well as numerous other European
governments, confronted challenges from minorities who wished to establish their own
national states. Strikes and
violent actions by Socialist
labor movements also
threatened European
governments. Many European
states responded with
increasing militarism and
nationalism. The assassination
of the heir to the throne of
Austria-Hungary by a Bosnian
Serb militant set off a chain of
diplomatic and military
decisions that led all of the
great powers of Europe into
World War I in 1914.

3. Section 1: The Road to World War I
(Why did the US go to war?)
Zimmerman Note:
•Message from German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman, to his ambassador in
Mexico.
•Britain got the message before it could reach Mexico
•Message asked Mexicans to support Germans in return for land (New Mexico, Texas
and Arizona)
•British gave the
Zimmerman Note to the
American government
•New pressure for the
US. To get involved in
the war; Germany was
clearly prepared to fight
with the Mexicans over
the Southwest United
States

4. Section 1: The Road to WWI (Why did the US go to war?)
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
•German submarine attacks on merchant and passenger ships carrying Americans (attacked
ships with warning them first)motivated US to fight back
•Ships were carrying supplies to the allies; American casualties were a problem for US Gov’t
•President Wilson believed that Americans (citizens of a neutral nation) had the “right to safe
travel on the seas.” RMS Lusitania (British
passenger ship sunk by a
German submarine in
1915)
*1,198 died (128
Americans)
*Germany promised to
warn ships before attacking
them – passengers could
escape.
*Germany did not keep its
promise and attacked
without warning.

5. Section 1: The Road to WWI (Why did the US go to war?)
Assassination leads to war
Balkan Peninsula was known as “the powder keg of Europe”
Austria-Hungary, a central power- had taken control of Bosnia in 1878 (blamed Serbia (an allied power) of
trying to subvert its power in Bosnia
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was shot and killed as he visited
the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo by Garvilo Princip (19 years old), a Serbian National
“Slippery Slope” of alliances leads to war.
Witness to the murder: “Here Princip had
taken his stand. As the car came abreast he
stepped forward from the curb, drew his
automatic pistol from his coat and fired two
shots. The first struck the wife of the Archduke,
the Archduchess Sofia, in the abdomen. She was
an expectant mother. She died instantly.
The second bullet struck the Archduke close to
the heart. He uttered only one word, 'Sofia' -- a
call to his stricken wife. Then his head fell back
and he collapsed. He died almost instantly.
The officers seized Princip. They beat him over
the head with the flat of their swords. They
knocked him down, they kicked him, scraped
the skin from his neck with the edges of their
swords, tortured him, all but killed him."

6. Outbreak of War: Summer 1914
• After the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip (June,
1914), Austria-Hungary sought an alliance with Germany in attacking
Serbia – they needed the alliance because they feared the Russians would
protect Serbia
– Germany promised Austria-Hungary a “blank check” of support – promising full
military and political support in their attack on Serbia
• Russia mobilized (assembling troops and supplies and preparing for war)
its forces in aid to Serbia in July
• Germany told Russia to halt their mobilization, which Russia ignored
• Germany followed the Schlieffen Plan which had the Germans mobilize
against Russia and invade France at the same time; Germany declared war
on France on August 3, 1914; it also issued an ultimatum to Belgium,
demanding the right to move their troops through Belgian territory
– This access caused Great Britain to join the war, declaring war on Germany,
because the Germans violated Belgian neutrality
• By August 4, 1914, all the great powers of Europe were at war.

7. Section 1: The Road to WWI

8. CHAPTER 23: Causes for World War I
Nationalism Imperialism Militarism Alliances
A devotion to the Competition among Countries began European powers
interests and culture European countries building large decided to protect
of one’s nation- to establish colonies militaries to deter themselves by
often lead to a in South America competing countries forming alliances
competitive nature and Africa to get raw Arms race= as one (groups of nations
between countries materials country began to that pledged military
Desire for people of produce more support for each
the same ethnicity to weapons (such as a other)
have their own larger navy or other Triple Entante
country. Increased weapons) other (Allies) France
nationalism in the countries tried to Britain, and Russia
late 19th and early build their navy and Triple Alliance
20th century led to weapons. Most (Central Powers)
conflict throughout European countries Germany, Austria-
the world. required Hungary and
conscription, or
Ottoman Empire
forced military
service for men; this
caused European
armies to double in
size.

9. Section 2: World War I, 1914-1918
Section 2 World War I
On the Western Front, trench warfare between France and Germany turned into a
stalemate and casualties mounted on both sides. On the Eastern Front, Germany and
Austria–Hungary defeated Russia. The air war began in 1915, and in 1916 the British
used armored tanks. Italy switched sides, and the Ottoman Empire joined the war on
the side of the Triple Alliance. The war broadened further when German colonies
came under attack and the British encouraged Arab princes to revolt against the
Ottomans. The United States entered the war in 1917 in response to the German use
of submarines against passenger ships. As the war dragged on, governments
took control of national economies,
censored the news media, and used
propaganda to bolster public opinion.
Women entered the workforce in large
numbers. After the war, many lost their
jobs to men but gained expanded rights
and status. By 1921 women had the
vote in Austria, Germany, Great Britain,
and the United States.

10. Section 2: World War I, 1914-1918
1914 - 1915: Illusions & Stalemate 1916-1917 The Great Slaughter
Western Front Eastern Front Trench Warfare War in the Air
"West" border of "East" border of Western Front: Military First time where
Germany Germany/Austria-Hungary leaders expected troop airplanes were used in
movement and trenches battle.
were unfamiliar in
military tactics.
First Battle of the Fighting against Russia. Only move was to force "The Red Baron"
Marne: 2,000 Paris Russia suffered many 100's of men to run famous German flying
taxicabs and sent them losses toward the enemy lines ace.
to the front line through "No Man's
Land"
Became bogged down Italy betrayed Germany in Millions of men died
in trench warfare the Triple Alliace & this way.
attacked Austria
Germany was successful on War of Attrition: war
the Eastern Front based on wearing the
other side down.

11. Section 2: World War I, 1914-1918

12. Section 2: World War I, 1914-1918
Increased Government Manipulation of Public Total War & Women
Opinion
-Draft (forced service in -Propaganda used to -Women took on the jobs
military begins in US & convince people to fight left behind that men had
Britain) (if they don’t fight they filled
-Government control are weak) -Women lost jobs & had
over pricing. (Price fixing) -Protestors arrested for lower wages after the war
-rationing of food opposing the war -helped give women the
-Control of -Atrocities exaggerated so right to vote (New
transportation, import & that people would feel Zealand was the first
export justified in fighting a war. country to do this)

13. Section 2: WWI, Trench Warfare & Mustard Gas
During World War I, a new style of fighting known as trench
warfare pitted two armies close enough to each other that
they could yell across the lines. But soldiers rarely ventured
into the area between the two trenches commonly referred
to as no man's land for fear of being gunned down, and
battles would often settle into a stalemate. Chemical agents
such as mustard gas became a way to break that uneasy
deadlock. Germany's first attempted at chemical warfare came in 1915 at the Battle of
Ypres in Belgium, in the form of chlorine gas. The gas cleared large sections of soldiers from
the front lines, who fled once exposed, and ultimately killed 5,000 opposing troops
Chlorine gas burns the throats of its victims and causes death by as-phyxiation, much like
smoke kills people during a house fire.

14. Section 3: The Russian Revolution
Section 3 The Russian Revolution
Russia was unprepared for World War I and suffered massive casualties early in the war.
Bread shortages and anger at the mounting casualties brought street protests led by
working-class women and a workers' general strike in Petrograd. Czar Nicholas II stepped
down, ending the Romanov dynasty, and a provisional government was formed.
Meanwhile, Soviets—councils representing workers and soldiers—sprang up throughout
the country. The Bolsheviks, a party committed to violent revolution, played a crucial role
under the leadership of V.I. Lenin. In October 1917, the Bolsheviks overthrew the
provisional government. Civil war ensued between the Bolshevik, or Communist, forces
and anti-Communist, or White, forces. Despite
aid from the Allied forces, the anti-
Communists were defeated by a well-
disciplined Communist Red Army. By 1921 the
Communists were in complete command of
Russia.
The Romanov
family was
murdered by
Bolsheviks. Room
where family was
shot

15. Section 3: The Russian Revolution
Background to the Rise of Lenin Bolsheviks Seize Power
Revolution
-Too many land owning poor -Soviets (working class socialist Nov 6th, 1917 Bolsheviks took
-not prepared for WWI and sent radicals in St. Petersburg) power from the provincial
out to fight without weapons -Bolsheviks: Followers of Karl government.
-German born wife controlled Marx’s idea of socialism. Their -Renamed themselves
government while Czar Nicholas leader was ЛЀНИН or Lenin ‘Communists’
was off fighting. She allowed a (Vladimir Ilyich Ulianov Lenin). -March 3, 1918: Lenin made
priest, Rasputin, to advise her They led a violent revolution. peace with Germany by giving
on every issue. She had 5 -1917 he saw an opportunity to up Poland, Ukraine, Finland
children, 4 girls 1 boy. Her son seize power. Germany sent him and Baltics. This REMOVED
had a fatal disease which she there to cause problems. Russia from WWI.
thought Rasputin could cure. -Bolsheviks promised to end -Russia moved into a civil war
-Rasputin was assassinated the war, give land to the poor, between the ‘Red’ and ‘White’
-March 8th 1917: women lead a give factories to the workers. Armies.
revolt wanting peace & bread …..-The Red Army: Communists
-July 1918: Family is executed. ……- Symbol: Hammer (Workers)
(all members) …….Sickle (farmers)
Lenin
Trotsky
Stalin
Rasputin

16. Section 4: End of WWI
Allied forces finally defeated Germany at the Second Battle of the Marne but would not make
peace with the German emperor. In the face of upheaval, William II fled Germany. Social
Democrats then formed a democratic republic, which signed an armistice with the Allies and
crushed a Communist attempt to seize power. The Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved into four
separate states. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sought to pave the way for a just and lasting
peace by creating the League of Nations. However, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh
penalties on Germany. The war settlements made at the Paris Peace Conference redrew the
map of Europe and dissolved the Ottoman Empire. Ignoring promises made during
the war, France and
Britain took control
of several Arab states
through the mandate
system. As a result of
new boundaries,
many Eastern
European states
included large ethnic
minorities, setting
the stage for later
conflicts.

17. Section 4: End of WWI
April 6th 1917: The United States enters the war on the side of the Allies.
The new troops brought a refreshed spirit to the fighting. This was just as
the Russians left the fight to concentrate on their own issues. American
soldiers were called, ‘dough boys’.
March 1918: Germany was within 50 miles
of attacking Paris. They were pushed back
in the 2nd Battle of the Marne on July 18th.
By September, Germany knew that the war
had been lost.
Removed German
leader
The war ended November 1918 when the
German people forced the autocratic
government out of power and began to form a
democratic government. An armistice (a truce,
an agreement to end the fighting) was signed Wilhelm II of Germany
on Nov. 11th.

18. President Wilson’s 14 points: To try and explain the
war and keep the peace
•Abolition of secret diplomacy by adoption of open covenants (agreements), openly arrived at.
•Freedom of the seas in peace and war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action to
enforce international covenants.
•Removal of international trade barriers where-ever possible and establishment of equal trading conditions among the
nations accepting the peace.
•Reduction of armaments to the lowest point consistent with public safety.
•Adjustment of colonial claims, taking into account the interests of the colonial population as well as those of the rival
colonial powers.
•Evacuation of German troops from Russian territory, and an opportunity for Russia, then engaged in the Communist
revolution, to determine its form of government without outside interference.
•Evacuation of German troops from Belgium.
•Evacuation and restoration by Germany of French territory, with restoration to France of Alsace-Lorraine.
•Readjustment of the frontiers of Italy along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.
•Opportunity of autonomous development for the peoples of Austria-Hungary.
•Evacuation by the Central Powers of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania;
granting of seaports to Serbia; and international guarantees of the
political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the
Balkan states.
•Internationalization of the Dardanelles and self-determination for non-
Turkish peoples under Turkish control.
•An independent Poland with access to the sea.
•Establishment of a general association of nations to afford mutual
guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to large and
small nations alike

19. Section 4: End of WWI
Treaty of Versailles:
Signed June 28th, 1919
formally ended the
war. Treated Germany
very badly in the end
by making them pay
for the damages of
war – called
reparations. Germany
was reduced in size.
Russia had become
the Soviet Union, or
USSR.
The map of Europe was re-drawn. Austria-Hungary was eliminated & Germany and Russia
lost land. New nations emerged: Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Austria & Hungary. Serbia formed Yugoslavia. 10 million people had died.

20. Legacy of World War I
• The death of almost 10 million people and the
destruction caused by the war undermined the
ideas of progress that had been hailed during the
late 19th and early 20th century
• World War I was a “total war” – it involved
complete mobilization of people and resources,
giving government a lot of power over daily lives
(rationing, censorship, etc).
• The turmoil of the war created insecurity
throughout the world; revolutions broke up old
empires and created new states