WWI

a belief in increasing a nation's military force as a way to increase the nation's power

an agreement between two or more nations, usually by treaty, to defend each other if one of the countries is attacked.

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

Imperialism is the policy of countries building empires by gaining control of weaker nations.

It is estimated that WWI caused 16 million deaths

Militarism created an escalating cycle. When one country expanded their military force, neighboring countries felt threatened and immediately began to increase their military strength. This paranoia caused a steady build-up of armed forces across Europe.

Countries forming alliances were well-intentioned. They hoped alliances would keep peace because other countries would be deterred from attacking if they knew confronting one country meant their allies would join the fighting too.

Despite forming alliances to ensure peace, the agreements hastened war. Once war began, the alliance system caused more countries to get involved.

1914-1918

A major appeal of imperialism is an increased access to raw materials. Overseas lands usually offered natural resources needed for growing industry. The new territories also offered markets where goods and products could be sold. Countries were increasing their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control.

The competition created by imperialism intensified tension and rivalries in Europe in the early 1900's. Increased competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in conflict that helped push the world into World War I.

Nationalism is an intense loyalty to a country that goes beyond just patriotism.

By placing their own country above everything else, nationalists in many countries generated hatred of other nationalities, which led to problems with foreign relations.

Extreme nationalism caused several issues as countries worked to put their country above all others. Many nationalists believed war was heroic and the ultimate expression of sacrifice for one's country. These attitudes contributed not only to the beginning of the war, but also to the extension of war.

The assassination was done in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of Bosnia and Herzegovina, areas Serbia wanted to take over.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the next in line to be king of Austria-Hungary.

In response, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, causing a domino effect that brought most of the countries of Europe to war.

Technological advancements such as tanks, planes, submarines, chemical weapons, machine guns and artillery changed warfare. WWI was the first mechanized war.

Failure to adapt to new weapons technology resulted in high numbers of casualties throughout the war.

Tanks were developed as a new method to attack the enemy as trench warfare led to stalemates. Armored tanks provided an effective technique for attacking enemy trenches.

Tanks could endure most gunfire, drove right through rows of barbed wire, and could often cross over trenches. Tanks also provided cover for advancing soldiers.

The tank took a direct hit by a shell and burst into flames. The crew were trapped inside as the tank burned.

Chlorine and phosgene gases attacked the lungs, rendering its victims unable to breath. Mustard gas attacked the skin, causing agonizing blisters and excruciating pain.

Gas masks improved, making attacks less effective.

1 million were injured and 100,000 killed.

Submarines could attack the enemy while remaining unseen and undetected.

The ultimate result was it outraged many Americans,helping to draw the U.S. into the war.

He witnessed horses on the deck, but decides he must still launch the torpedo.

Initially, airplanes were used for observation,but technological advances equipped planes with machine guns and bombs, which allowed them to attack enemy planes and locations.

A tracer bullet cut away the thumb of his right finger, then hits the fuel tank, causing a mass of flames.

Lufbery jumped from the plane. He decided to jump instead of burning in the plane

450 to 600 rounds a minute

Artillery were heavy guns that fired explosive shells across large distances. Shrapnel occurs when shell fragments are thrown out by an explosion.

The greatest number of casualties were inflicted by artillery

Trench warfare was a strategy of fighting from series of complex networks of long, deep ditches. Trench warfare occurred because weapon advancements made it nearly impossible for either side to advance. Unable to move, troops began digging trenches for protection.

Armies charged the enemy trench by crossing No Man's Land in the face of massive firepower from machine guns, rifles, and artillery.

Communication trenches connected the front-line trench, support trench, and reserve trench. Communication trenches allowed for the transport of men, equipment and supplies between trenches.

Duckboards were designed in an attempt to protect soldiers from the muddy water that often caused trench foot.

Machine-gun posts and barbed wire protected the front-line trenches.

No Man's Land was the area of land between two opposing trenches.

Corpses and wounded soldiers were left in No Man's Land because enemy fire made it nearly impossible to recover the bodies.

Trench foot was an infection of the feet caused by prolonged exposure to wet, cold, unsanitary conditions.

The feet would become numb and begin to swell. The feet usually turned red or blue and open sores would form.

Trench foot could be prevented by keeping the feet clean, warm and dry.

Lice were nearly impossible to get rid of because the conditions of the trenches were filthy and the men did not have the ability to wash properly.

The rats were attracted to the abundance of garbage that collected in the trenches.

Soldiers trained dogs to hunt and kill the rats.

Shell shock was a condition in which men suffered mental breakdowns from the trauma of warfare.

Troops suffered headaches, dizziness, amnesia and tremors. Their ability to walk and talk could be affected, and occasionally, they experienced fits of rage and terror.

The most common treatment was to remove the victim from the front-lines to provide relief from the trauma of war.

The Allied Powers won the war.

Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, US

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

At the outbreak of fighting in 1914, the United States avoided involvement, adopting the policy of neutrality favored by President Woodrow Wilson.

Anger over the Zimmerman telegram, and the unrestricted use of submarine warfare by Germany, convinced President Wilson to ask for a declaration of war.

In the telegram, Germany asked Mexico to join the war on the side of the Central Powers and attack America. In return, Germany would help Mexico gain control of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico and provide financial support.

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918

An agreement to stop fighting

Germany lacked manpower and supplies. They knew their country would be invaded so they agreed to an armistice.

Although the fighting had ended, negotiations were still needed to establish the terms of the peace following the war.

The United Kingdom, France, the United States and Italy dominated the proceedings.

The results of the conference were the Treaty of Versailles and the establishment of the League of Nations.

President Woodrow Wilson urged reconciliation at the Paris Peace Conference. Many nations wanted to punish certain countries, but Wilson thought the agreements should be fair to all nations.

The Fourteen Points was a list of proposals by Wilson that focused on ensuring an immediate end to the war, and reducing future conflicts.

The League of Nations was a peacekeeping organization. Wilson proposed the organization as a way to prevent future conflicts through negotiations.

Germany

France wanted to gain security and prevent another German attack by forcing Germany to reduce it's military power. Also, they wanted Germany to pay for the war damages they had caused.

Germany had to accept total responsibility for causing the war, give up some of its land, agree to pay the Allied nations billions of dollars in war reparations, and decrease the size of their military.

The League of Nations served as an international peace keeping organization. The goal of the League of Nations was to resolve international conflicts to prevent the outbreak of war.

The U.S. did not join the League of Nations. The U.S. Senate refused to approve the treaty because many feared joining the League of Nations may drag the U.S. into a future conflict.

The organization was successful in several areas such as helping to end slavery in parts of the world and resolves numerous conflicts. It was not successful long-term however, because it failed to prevent the events that led to World War II.

The Treaty caused lingering issues that contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The Treaty left Germany embarrassed and financially ruined. This vulnerable state allowed for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.