2. Causes of WWI
The Ammo
Nationalism
The Trigger The Explosion
Imperialism
Assassination of
Archduke Francis WWI
Ferdinand
Militarism
Alliance System
3. Nationalism and Alliances
• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Italy
• Triple Entente: France, Great Britain, and
Russia
– A series of crisis tested these alliances
• Internal strife within countries because of
industrialization
• Militarization- the growth of mass armies
heightened tensions
4. Outbreak of War 1914
• Serbian problem- Serbia wanted to create a large,
independent Slavic state in the Balkans
– Russia and Austria-Hungary controlled Slavic nations
• Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in
Sarajevo in 1914
– Austria offered Serbia an ultimatum
• Russia supported Serbia and began to mobilize
• Germany supported Austria and declared war on
Russia when they ignored Germany’s warning
5. The War Begins
• 1914 Germany follows Schlieffen Plan and
invades Belgium
• Trench Warfare began in France near the
Marne River
– 3 kinds of trenches- front line, support, reserve
– “no mans land” lay between enemy trenches
• Led to a stalemate and the loss of thousands
of lives
6. Illusions and Stalemate
• Government propaganda influenced public
opinion to support the war
– Most believed the war would be over in a few
weeks
• Italy betrayed their allies and attacking Austria
– Italy joined the Triple Entente making them the
Allied powers
• Germany defeated Serbia allowing them to go
back on the offensive
7. The Great Slaughter 1916-17
• Trench Warfare: they would at times try to
“soften up” the other side with artillery and then
send soldiers to attack with bayonets
– Rarely worked because men running unprotected
would be shot and killed
• War of attrition- war based on wearing the other
side down
• Airplanes appeared on the battle front for the
first time
– At first used to spot enemy’s position, later used to
attack using mounted guns
8. War Hits Home
• British blockaded German coast to prevent
weapons and supplies from getting through
– The US was upset about the blockade because it
limited freedom of the seas
• Germany responded with a counter blockade by
U-boats- they sunk any British or allied ship found
in the waters around Britain with no warning
– May 7, 1915 a U-boat sank the Lusitania killing over
100 innocent US citizens
– US did not respond militarily, but instead convinced
Germany to change its tactics
9. US Enters the War
• Germany resumed unrestricted submarine
warfare
• Zimmerman Note: a telegram intercepted by the
British proposing and alliance between Germany
and Mexico, and stating that the Germans would
support Mexico in recovering lost territory
• The Russian Monarchy was overthrown and
Russia withdrew from the war
• US declared war on April 2, 1917
10. Total War
• Total War- involves a complete mobilization of
resources and people
– Affected all citizens in warring countries
– European countries set up planned economies
• Governments manipulated public opinion
through propaganda and exaggerated what other
countries were doing
• War created new roles for women- women had
to take over men's jobs after they went to fight
