Chapter 8:

The First World War

Section 1: A World Crisis

Main Idea: Rivalries among European nations led to the outbreak of war in 1914

Learning Objectives for Section 1

What the causes of World War I were How the War broke out Why the war quickly reached a stalemate

Daily Bell ringer/Preview Section 1In 1912 Serbian teenager Gavrilo Princip joined

the blackhand terrorist organization. He wanted to free his homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina from Austria-Hungary. On June 28, 1914, Austrian Archduke Frank Ferdinand was visiting the Bosnian city of Serajevo. Princip and 6 other terrorists were in position around the city waiting to assassinate him. As Princip stepped out of a sandwich shop he saw the car carrying Ferdinand. Princip reached for his pistol and fired, killing the archduke and his wife. Within a few weeks, most of Europe would be at war.

Review Questions

Why did Gavrilo Princip join a terrorist organization?

What happened within a few weeks of the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand

Causes of World War 1

NationalismOttoman Empire was falling apart and being

absorbed by other Empires such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Many groups such as the slavs resisted this, and wanted their independence

Russia argued with the Austro-Hungarian rulers about the future of Serbia

ImperialismGreat race to colonize other landsGreat Britain and France had expanded to

Africa, Asia, and the Middle EastKaiser Wilhelm II of Germany wanted colonies

for Germany too, and realized he needed a stronger military to accomplish this

Militarism- the policy of military preparedness and building up of weaponsGermany begins to build up a navyGermany enlarged its army and supplied it

with the latest weapons including machine guns

Germany began to develop a military plan called the “Schlieffen Plan” in which attacks France and Russia at the same time

Great Britain, France, and Russia began to become alarmed and start building up their militaries in preparation

AlliancesSome nations formed alliances or partnerships to

protection and to maintain peaceGermany, Austria-Hungary, Italy for the Triple

AllianceRussia and France form a secret alliance and

soon Great Britain joins them forming the Triple Entente

European Leaders believed this created a balance of power

Reading Focus Question #1

What were the causes of World War 1?Nationalism ImperialismThe Rise of MilitarismMilitary Alliances

War Breaks Out

Franz Ferdinand is assassinated by Princip He is immediately arrested and during the

investigation, The Austro-Hungarian officials learn that the Serbian government supplied the terrorists with bombs and weapons

Austria-Hungary is furious and blames Serbia for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia Russia mobilizes to help Serbia, Germany views Russia’s move as an act of

aggression and declares war on France

Reading Focus Question #2

How did war break out?The assassination of Franz FerdinandSystem of alliances was set in motion

Germany makes the first move, crossing into neutral Belgium to surprise France

Belgium and Britain were allies which drew Great Britain into the war.

All European powers were splitGermany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman

Empire “Central Powers”Great Britain, France, and Russia form the

“Allies”

Germany attacks Belgium and easily defeats their army: villages are burnt down, civilians, women, & children are executed

French army mobilized in their bright red uniforms and brass helmets to face a German army dressed in grey uniforms

French soldiers marched row by row onto the battlefield with bayonnets expecting hand to hand combat only to face machine gun fire

War began in the summer and Germany predicted a quick victory

Expected to be home by fall Were killing 15,000 French soldiers each day On Sept. 7, France launched a counterattack

known as the First Battle of the Marne In a 5 day battle, 250,000 lives were lost, and

France managed to push Germany back 40 miles.

Battle of the Marne provided time for Russia to mobilize

Germany had to move troops from its attack on France to face Russia

The War Reaches a Stalemate

First Battle of Marne ended in a stalemate French and German armies dug trenches

to defend their positions and protect themselves from fire

Trenches reached more than 400 miles Neither side was able to advance and they

faces a stalemate

Scientists on both sides began developing new weapons

German scientists began to develop poisonous gas

Also developed gas masks as protection This also produced a stalemate

British developed the first armored tank In the 1st battle these were used in, 18 out of 48

got stuck in the mud Airplanes became useful to map enemy

positions and attack the trenches from above Airplane pilots became involved in spectacular

air battles called “dogfights”

Reading Focus Question #3

Why did the war quickly reach a stalemate?Both French and German troops had dug

trenches as protection from enemy fire and defend their positions; neither side could advance

Review Questions for Section 1

What single event triggered World War I? What other country joined Germany and

Austria-Hungary to form the Central Powers?

Why do you think World War I was known as the “Great War”?

Why did European leaders think that the war would be short?

Which nation was better prepared for the war, France or Germany?

Despite the loss of lives how did the Battle of Marne help the Allies

Who won the First Battle of Marne? What new weapons were developed during

World War I? Was trench warfare an effective strategy during

World War I?

Section 2: The United States in World War I Main Idea: The U.S. helped turn the tide

for an allied victory

Learning Objectives for Section 2

Understand Why the United States tried to stay neutral in the war

Learn which events showed that America was headed into war

Identify what contributions Americans made in Europe

Learn how he war ended

Bellringer /Section 2 PreviewWould you travel into a war zone? On May 1st 1915,

some 1900 passengers and crew boarded the British luxury ship, Lusitania in New York. They were headed for Great Britain, which was in a war zone. The nervous passengers had been told that the ship was too fast for any German submarine. On the afternoon of May 7th, as the ship approached the British Isles, a crew member spotted ominous air bubbles and streaks in the water below. The ship had been attacked by German torpedos. 18 minutes later, the Lusitania sank. More than 1200 people including 94 children died. Among the dead were 128 Americans

Review Questions

What assurance were passengers given about taking the Lusitania into a war zone?

What was the first sign of trouble?

What did it indicate?

The United States stays neutral

Before the sinking of the Lusitania, Americans were unconcerned about the war

President Woodrow Wilson embraced a policy of Isolationism- a policy of not being involved in the affairs of other nations

Despite his policy of neutrality, United States was leaning toward the allies.

Concerned about Germany’s war tactics Had commercial/trade ties to Great Britain Great Britain was buying $75 million of war

goods each week

Germany’s naval strategy Great Britain created a blockade against

Germany Germany planned a strategy against the British

navy using U Boats- small submarines 1915 Germany declared all water against Great

Britain a war zone and that it would destroy any ship, even neutral U.S. ships in that area

This policy angered American citizens President Woodrow Wilson believed this violated

the Laws of Neutrality President Woodrow Wilson advised they would

hold Germany responsible if any American lives were lost.

Heading for War Sinking of Lusitania angered American citizens President Wilson demanded an end to

unrestricted submarine warfare Germany agreed to only attack supply ships Less than one year later, Germany attacked a

French passenger ship, the Sussex U.S. threatened to enter the war Germany made the Sussex Pledge, which was a

pledge not to attack without warning and without saving human lives

Reading Focus Question #1

Why did the United States try to stay neutral in the war?The United States had a long standing

tradition of isolationism

Wilson’s Re-election

In his campaign, Wilson pledged not to send his sons to die in Europe

His opponent, Charles Hughes took a stronger pro-war stance

Wilson won by only 3% margin Once elected, Wilson began to work

toward a peace settlement

In February 1917 Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare

Two days later, President Wilson ended diplomatic relations with Germany and asked Congress to install guns on merchant ships

The Zimmerman Note Meanwhile, Germany tried to build an

alliance with Mexico offering them the land of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona

Mexico expressed no interest in fighting Great Britain intercepted the Zimmerman

note and sent it to the Americans who published it

Americans began to demand war against Germany

The United States Declares War In Russia, a revolution occurred

overthrowing Tsar Nicholas II and setting up a democracy

New government made the U.S. more sympathetic to the Russian government

In March 1917, German U boats sank 3 merchant ships violating neutrality

Wilson approached Congress asking for a declaration of war

Reading Focus Question #2

Which events showed that Americans were hearing into war?Relations with Germany deteriorated, sinking

of U.S. merchant ships

Americans in Europe

May 1917 Congress passed the Selective Service Act- required all men between the ages of 18-30 to register to be drafted into the armed forces

Most men volunteered to be drafted Some asked to classified as concientious

objectors, but were denied

In 1917 new recruits reported for training No barracks, no supplies Soldiers faced long days of intense

training Black soldiers were segregated from white

soldiers Some feared training black soldiers

because they feared they would be dangerous after the war

Latinos were allowed to enlist but were given menial tasks

Military set up programs to improve their English before sending them to war

Arriving in Europe

American Soldiers going to Europe were called the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)

Arrived in France in 1917 Used a “Convoy-System” in which Troop

Transport ships were surrounded by destroyers for protection

Convoy system was effective in reducing the loss of ships and lives

By the time the Americans arrived, Germans occupied all of Belgium and part of Northern France

Germany was beginning to defeat Russia, who was facing civil war and starvation

Russia was taken over by the Bolsheviks, a communist group who withdrew Russia from the war and signed a peace agreement with Germany

By March 1918, Germany had pushed the Allies back 70 miles from Paris

American soldiers had to dig 3,000 yards of trenches and set up 12,000 yards of barbed wire which they did in the middle night

In the trenches, soldiers stood in deep mud as rats ran across their feet, shells exploded nearby, mustard gas floated into the trenches

U.S. Contributions in Europe

U.S. troops help stop Germans at Chateau-Thierry

In Northern France, U.S. Marines recaptured Belleau Wood and 2 nearby villages

Finally halted Germany’s advance

Reading Focus Question #3

What contributions did Americans make in Europe?Major factor in Allied victory, helped stop the

German advance,saved Paris

American Military Women

French speaking American women were recruited as switchboard operators “Hello Girls”

20,000 nurses served Women also served as typists and

bookkeepers

The War Ends

On July 15, 1918 Germans launched their last offensive at the Second Battle of the Marne

U.S. blew up ever bridge the German’s had built Allies launched a counterattack, Americans

fought a a separate army. AEF defeated Germany and pushed them back

to the France-Germany border Allies continued to push north toward Belgium

The Armistice By late 1918, the war was crippling the German

economy, many civilians lacked food and supplies

Food riots and strikes erupted across Germany Revolution broke out in Austria-Hungary Soldiers in the Central Powers began to desert Austria-Hungry signed a peace treaty with the

Allies Germany also signs a peace treaty with the

Allies

Allies demanded Germany leave all the areas it occupied, surrender its aircraft, artillery, tanks, and U Boats

Germany also had to give some of its land to Allies

8.5 million people died in World War I

Reading Focus Question #4

How did the war end?Riots and strikes erupted in Germany;

revolution swept across Austria-Hungary; Central powers began to surrender; on Nov. 11, 1918 an armistice went into effect

Review Questions What was the purpose of the Selective

Service Act? What is a conscientious objector? Who made up the American Expeditionary

Force? How did U.S. troops help defeat the

Germans at the second Battle of the Marne?

What demands did the Allies make of Germany in return for an armistice?