Chapter 19
Lesson 1

World War I

How did nationalism create conflicts in Europe at the end of the nineteenth century?

* Caused countries to act at the expense of others
* Encouraged people to break away from the control of others


Preparing for War

Militarism - a strong interest in armed power

Conscription - the drafting of young men to serve in the armed forces for a set number of years

Arms race - competition to have the most weapons

European leaders began to form alliances, or agreements, with other nations.
These alliances included the promise to help one another against enemies in case of war.

Triple Alliance

* Austria-Hungary
* Germany
* Italy


Triple Entente

* France
* Russia
* Great Britain


Why did the European nations build up their military power?

* Many leaders believed they could get what they wanted through militarism


The World at War

On June 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand and archduchess was assassinated in Sarajevo by a young Serbian nationalist.
The leaders of Austria-Hungary thought that the Serbian government had something to do with the assassination.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Alliances quickly went into operation


* Austria-Hungary > Serbia


* Germany > Russia


* Germany > France


* Britain > Germany


* Japan > Germany



Allied Powers

* Britain
* France
* Russia

Central Powers

* Germany
* Austria-Hungary
* Allies

United States stayed neutral until 1917 when German submarines attacked United States ships that were trading with Germany's enemies.

On May 7, 1915 the Lusitania ocean liner was attacked by the Germans and sunk killing 1198 people ( 124 were Americans )

On April 2, 1917 President Wilson asked Congress to declare war to "bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free."



How did the assassinations of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife lead to war?

Austria-Hungary thought the Serbs were responsible for the assassinations so it declared war on Serbia. The alliance system then sprang into action.

Why do you think World War I spread beyond Europe's borders?

Because of the system of alliances that was in place


What new roles did women take on during World War I?

At home, women kept their countries going by doing the jobs men had been doing
In their countries' armies and navies, they provided support services

What role do women play in the United States military today?

Women serve in active duty

War in an Industrial Age

8 million soldiers were killed and 20 million were wounded
The high numbers of injuries and deaths during the war resulted partly from new technology, machines guns, tanks and a poisonous spray called mustard gas

How did new technology add to the destruction during World War I?

* Countries how had deadly new weapons

Which side lost more soldiers, the Allied Powers or the Central Powers?

* The Allied lost more soldiers

The war was finally over on November 11, 1918.
* Delegates met in Versailles, France to decide on the terms of peace
* President Wilson proposed Fourteen Points Plan for peace
* Treaty of Versailles included some of Wilson's ideas
* Treaty treated Germany very harshly
* Delegates signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919

Armistice - an agreement to stop fighting

Why do you think Wilson's Fourteen Points proposal was not accepted by the delegates to the peace conference?

Many delegates believed that a lasting peace could be guaranteed only by punishing and disarming Germany

What new countries were formed in Europe because of the treaty?

Poland, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

How did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany?

* Germany had to take full responsibility for the war
* Pay for damages
* Reduce its weapons and the size of its army
* Give up territory