World War I

 

I.                    Causes of World War I in Europe

A.     Nationalism

1.                  pride in one’s country

2.                  the belief that each nationality has right to own homeland

3.                  ethnic groups within Austro-Hungarian empire wanted own countries

 

B.     Economic Competition ad Imperialism

1.                  European nations trying to become economic powers

2.                  colonies add to the economic power of country by giving raw materials and new markets

3.                  nations in Europe like France, Britain had well established colonies

4.                  New nations like Germany and Russia start moving into areas for expainsion

 

C.     System of Alliances

1.                  for protection against war

2.                  two major alliances

3.                  Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) becomes known as the Central Powers

4.                  Triple Entente (Russia, France, Great Britain)  becomes known as the Allies

5.                  any dispute with any of the nations brought in all the nations.

 

D.     Assasination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand

1.                  immediate cause of the war

2.                  Austria-Hungary invades Serbia in retaliation for Serbians involvement in it

3.                  Russia had a treaty with Serbia to protect it.

4.                  Draws in all the allies on each side

 

II.                 US involvement

A.     Neutrality

1.                  US takes traditional stand of neutrality

2.                  Wilson pledges to keep US out of war

3.                  public sympathetic to Great Britian and France

 

B.     Freedom of the Seas

1.                  US becomes involved in the war over this issue

2.                  idea = neutral nations  have the right to ship non-war goods to nations at war

3.                  German submarines begin sinking US ships shipping goods to England

C.     Zimemrman Telegram

1.                  offered US territory to Mexico for helping Germany

2.                  leaked into US press

3.                  US public outraged

 

D.     US enters war

1.                  1917-1918

2.                  “make word saf for democracy”

3.                  Wilson given powers over businesses to make weapons and war goods.

4.                  military draft

5.                  Taxes increased and war bonds sold

6.                  basic rights suppressed (limit free speech)

 

E.      Technology changes

1.                  machine guns used

2.                  poison gas

3.                  airplanes

4.                  submarines

5.                  prevent quick war

6.                  US helps Allies win

 

III.               Peace Settlement

A.     German Surrender

1.                  November 1918

2.                  massive destruction to Europe

 

B.     Fourteen Points (1918)

1.                  Wilson’s war aims

2.                  each nationality have own country

3.                  freedom of seas

4.                  reduced arms

5.                  end to secret dealings between countries

6.                  League of Nations

a.       peaceful settlement of disputes between countries

 

C.     Versailles Treaty (1919)

1.                  different from 14 Points

2.                  harsh on Germany

3.                  pay war reparations (money ) and take blame for war

4.                  Austro-Hungarian empire divided into smaller states

5.                  Germany lost colonies and European territory

6.                  Germany lost navy

7.                  German army drastically reduced

8.                  League of Nations established

9.                  US does not approve Versailles Treaty

 

D.     US retreats inot Isolation

1.                  US refused to join League of Nations for fear of continued involvement in European problems

2.                  US public supports due to costs of WWI and lack of benefits