WORLD WAR I The Great War 1914-1918
Jan 17, 2016
FHAO – World War 1
Objectives: Students will be able to describe some of the
conditions in Europe leading up to World War 1. Students will work together to understand the origins
of World War 1. Students will make determinations about the impact of
World War 1 on Germany during the creation of the Weimar Republic.
Essential Questions: How do choices and circumstances help some political
parties gain power and cause others to lose power? How do people respond to disappointment, shame, and
humiliation?
FHAO – World War 1
Group Analysis: Complete assigned reading in the HHB
book and answer guided reading questions. Prepare to share about your reading to the
class.
Causes
Long Term M (militarism) A (Alliance System) I (Imperialism) N (Nationalism)
Short Term-Direct Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of
Austria-Hungary by Serbian nationalists Provokes Austria-Hungary to declare war on
Serbia…Alliances are called upon
Nationalism
Nationalism, or devotion to one’s nation; kick-started international and domestic tension. Groups of people started to believe that a nation
should express the heritage of a single ethnic group. Heightened international rivalries. New Nations formed = Unification of German &
Italian States EXAMPLE: Alsace-Lorraine – This was a former
French territory taken by the Germans in 1871. The French were humiliated in battle and wanted the land back.
Social Darwinists believed that the best nation would come out ahead in the constant competition among countries.
Industrial output, trade and the possession of an overseas empire were the yardsticks of wealth and greatness.
Imperialism
Imperialism – Industrialization led to population
increase in Europe Population increase led to a higher need
for overseas access to resources Industrialized nations competed among
them selves as they carved colonies out of Africa islands in the Pacific China.
Example: Austria-Hungary annexed parts of the Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Militarism
Militarism: Glorification of the military grew, in the
competing countries and fueled this arms race even more.
A strong NAVY would support the ideals of Imperialism
Germany armed themselves more than anyone else. Most dangerous guns in the world.
Machine Gun, Mobile Artillery, Tanks, Submarines, Airplanes
Alliances
Alliances: Nations knew that if they declared
war, powerful allies were obligated to fight along with them.
Alliances
Prior to WWI Triple Entente – Great Britain, Russia,
France Triple Alliance – Italy, Germany, Austria-
Hungary During WWI
Triple Entente (“Allied Powers”) Triple Alliance (“Central Powers”) – Italy
drops out; Ottoman Empire added
Short Term Cause
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914.
Assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia.
Gavrilo Princip, an ethnic Serb, killed them both. He believed that Bosnia rightfully belonged to Serbia.
This assassination triggered WWI!!
Short Term Cause
Assassination of Ferdinand Austria-Hungary issues ultimatum to
Serbia = investigate & punish who did this
Austria-Hungary gets support from Germany = Germany begins to Mobilize
Serbia gets support from Russia = Russia begins to mobilize
Short Term Cause
JULY 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on
SERBIA… Alliances are called upon… Germany & Russia are brought into the
conflict
American Neutrality
The U.S. remains neutral from 1914-1917 (war ended in 1918)
Wilson wants U.S. to serve as light of democracy for rest of world
Hard to pick sides: 1/3 of Americans in 1910 were immigrants
(most from Europe) Immigrants chose sides – supported home
lands (U.S. was divided) Germany seen as bully – invaded Belgium;
killed innocent civilians
America Goes to War
Woodrow Wilson urges congress to declare war on April 2, 1917
The U.S. must now mobilize for war
Armistice Day
The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month…1918 Germany agreed to a ‘cease-fire’ & signed
the armistice (truce) We celebrate as ‘Veterans’ Day
Final Toll – bloodiest war in history (until WWII) 20 million dead (1/2 civilians) 10 million displaced (refugees)
Wilson fights for peace
WWI 1914-1918; Who lost? What happened after war? The Treaty of Versailles Woodrow Wilson wants PEACE throughout the
world… Wilson’s 14 Points:
There were 3 parts to speech 1-5: Laws to prevent future wars 6-13: Boundary changes based on the principle of
self-determination 14: The League of Nations – International
peacekeeping *Not many of his points were actually agreed to
The Treaty of Versailles
Allies (along w/ Central Powers) signed peace treaty – Hall of Mirrors; June 28, 1919
Provisions: Established 9 new nations (Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia)
Ottoman Empire divided b/w France & G.B. (Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan)
* Punished Germany: 1) return Alsace-Lorraine to France, 2)no army allowed, 3) War-guilt clause 4) Reparations!
Russia (now the USSR) lost more land than Germany