Mr. Williamson
Somerville HS
MAIN – acronymn1. Militarism – policy of glorifying military power &
valuesExample - When Germany increases its army/navy,
Britain feels like it has to the sameAn “Arms Race” or military buildup occurs
2. Alliance System – Major Distrust in EuropeMajor powers sign treaties pledging to defend each
other in case of attack…called collective securityIntended to promote peace by creating fear in armed
conflictTwo Major Alliances are Created
Triple Alliance – Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire (Central Powers)
Triple Entente – Russia, Great Britain, France (Allied Powers)
3. Imperialism increases global competitionCountries seek outside land/resource interests in
order to improve economy/powerCompetition leads to greater conflict
4. Nationalism increases tensionsStrong feeling of pride/loyalty to a nation ethnic
groupLed countries to put their own interests first,
rivalries begin
Exit TicketBased on the map exercise, select the alliance that you think will be victorious in World War I. Provide 3 pieces of evidence to support your conclusion.
Writing ChallengeCompose a 2-paragraph letter to a family member
from the point of view from a soldier (either Allied or Central Powers).
Use the format below to create your account:Dear…..,1st Paragraph – discuss your condition, your feelings,
new friends, where you are located. Use the Q&A/map/text to help your writing.
2nd Paragraph – describe the fighting that is taking place. Be specific. What is the weather like? Describe the landscape of the area. Use the video/Q&A/text to create a real scene
Closing….Sincerely, _____________
Armies dug multiple trench linesFront trench – machine guns, grenadesMiddle trench – supply areaBack trench – reserve trench with weary soldiers,
bathrooms, medical care
Area b/t enemy trenches “NO MAN’S LAND”A guaranteed casualty
Life in the TrenchesMuddy, dead bodies, overflowing bathrooms, lice,
ratsLed to disease and painful foot infections
Trench Warfare – led to a long stalemate or deadlock where neither side can advance
New WeaponsPoison Gas – blinded or choked its victims, blisters &
burnsAirplanes – Used to observe enemy movements
(RECON), later for bombing missionsSubmarines – U-Boats sank merchant/supply ships
Nations realize in order to win the war, it would require all of society’s resources“Total War” – Gov’ts began to take stronger control
of citizen’s lives
Install new economic controlsCivilians ration/conserve food/goods for military useFactories switch from peacetime to wartime
production
Gov’t seeks to control public opinionUse of propaganda, info designed to influence
people’s opinionsPosters, articles, pamphlets, etc.
Combat Methods Change
Machine Gun – rapid fire weapon, did not take long to reloadArmies could not attack head-on, open field
offensives led to quick deaths
“Big Guns” – for long-range bombings, used to blast through barb wire or spread poison gasInflicted more than ½ of all casualties from WWI
What was used in World War II?Poison Gas – used by both sides, caused blinding or
severe blisters, death. Would have to wear masks for protection
Machine Gun – automatic weapon was much improved and was very popular. Could wipe out waves of attackers, helped create a
stalemate
Tank – armored combat vehicle moving on chain tracks
Airplane – used for photos of enemy lined then later for bombing and first hand combat with other pilots
Submarine – Known as U-Boats, used a torpedo (underwater missle)
Setting the Scene1914 – Europe has enjoyed about a century of
relative peace since the end of the French Revolution
Taste of distrust is in EuropeMajor powers sign treaties pledging to defend each
other in case of attackIntended to promote peace by creating fear in armed
conflict
Two Major Alliances are CreatedTriple AllianceTriple Entente
Triple Alliance – Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary
German Chancellor Otto Van Bismarck believed that France would not attack Germany without assistance.France wanted to avenge its defeat in the Franco-
Prussian War
As a result, he wanted assurances from other countries about protection in case of attack
In WWI, they would be known as the Central Powers.
Triple Entente – France, Britain, Russia
1904 – Britain/France signed an entente, nonbinding agreement to follow common policies.Led to close military/political ties
Russia would later sign a similar agreement with Britain.
They would later become known as the ALLIES.
Rivalries/Nationalism Increase Tension
European powers guarded their status, competed for position in many areas (military, economics, etc.)
Economic DifferencesGermany is the newest of the great powers, Britain
feels threatened by their economic power. Germany feared Russia’s size and resources would make it unbeatable
Overseas RivalriesCompetition for colonies in Africa between
France/Germany almost brought them to war. France strengthen ties with Britain.
International tensions on the rise…lead to buildup of military
Britain/Germany become fierce military competitors and aim to build the world’s biggest navy.
An “Arms Race” follows and the rise of militarism painted war in a romantic way.
Nationalism – strong in both Germany/FranceGermany – new military strength, industrializationFrance – bitter of their defeat in the Franco-Prussian
War, wanted revenge, province of Alsace & Lorraine
Eastern Europe – Russia sponsors a form of nationalism called Pan-Slavism, holding the belief that all Slavic people held a common nationality.Austria-Hungary/Ottoman Empire (Turkey) feel
threatened by the nearby nations (The Balkans, Serbia), could take territory away from them
1912 – Balkan states take large areas of Turkey but inner fighting among these states led to raised tensions.
The Powder Keg – Regional war would escalate into WWI or the Great War
Assassination in Sarajevo – Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria- Hungary would visit Serbia. He was the heir to the current Austria emperor.
Serbs/Slavs viewed Austrians as foreign oppressors and did not want the visit to happen.
Archduke and his wife, though warned, are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip of Black Hand, a terrorist group.
The Reaction – Shocked, Austria-Hungary is hesitant for war.
Kaiser Wilhelm II, now chancellor of Germany, is horrified of the assassination of his ally and urges emperor to take a firm stand and a “blank check” is given to Austria from Germany.
Austria sends Serbia an ultimatum (final set of demands), Serbia refuses on only a few conditions, Austria declares war.
Alliances kick in – see p. 458 in green text if you are confused.
Russia asks Austria to soften demands, they refuse and mobilize its defense for Serbia, appeals to ally of France.France accepts as it wants revenge for their defeat
from Germany.
In turn, Germany declares war on Russia/France as a result of their alliance.Italy/Britain remain neutral at the start
Germany wanted to crush France quickly because they would have to fight a two-front war (east/west, Russia/France).
Developed the Schlieffen Plan to march through Belgium, encircle French Army.
However, Britain/European powers signed a neutrality agreement with Belgium. Once they were invaded by Germany, Britain follows suit.
Map Activity – P. 455 in Green TextbookAnswer the following questions on your own:1. How many soldiers did the United Kingdom,
France, Germany and Russia? Provide answers for each country.
2. Which alliance had more soldiers, the Central or Allied Powers?
3. Name three cities in the Austria-Hungary empire.
4. List 4 neutral nations on the map.5. What alliance was the Ottoman Empire
associated with?6. List the countries included in the Balkans.7. Approximately, what is the distance between:
Paris-BerlinVienna-SarajevoConstantinople-Budapest
Great War becomes the largest conflict in historyFrench – 8.5 million menBritish – 9 millionRussian – 12 millionGerman – 11 million
Germans go through Belgium in order to sack Paris quickly, they fail to capitalize on their invasion
Schlieffen Plan fails for multiple reasons:Russia mobilized quicker than previously thought,
Germany had to fight both in the East/WestBritish/French drove Germans back making quick
victory impossible
Eastern FrontRussia advances into Germany in 1914Suffers HEAVY losses, loses at TannenburgBecause of lack of industrialization, not equipped to
fight modern war1915 – Bulgaria joins the Central Powers and helps
defeat SerbiaRomania joins the Allies but is later crushed by
Central PowersItaly declares war on Austria-Hungary, Germany
Italy was promised Austrian lands by the Allies if victorious
Battle of Carpetto – Italians suffered heavy losses but are bailed out by the Allies in order to stop Central Powers advance
Ottoman Empire joins the Central Powers, 1914Ottomans control the strait connecting the Black
Sea to the MediterraneanCalled the Dardenelles, this was how the Allies got
supplies to Russia
Battle of Gallipoli – Turks trapped Allies on the beach for 10 months resulting in 200k casualties. Allies withdraw from the Dardenelles
Role of Propaganda – played a significant role in creating support for the war effort for all countries.
Your task with your partner:Create a SIMPLE propaganda poster for your
assigned countryCreate a pro-war message in your poster on why you
think war is the answerUse illustrations, pictures from the text to help you
create your posterLastly, be creative and use the next slide to help you
create your propaganda poster.GOOD LUCK!
1917 – European societies cracking under the strain of warMass casualties, food shortages, stalemate drags on
without end
Total War – Nations realized that this war required channeling the nation’s entire resources into a war effortGov’t took on a stronger role directing economic/political
policy. Raised taxes/borrowed $ to finance warThe Draft (conscription) required all young men to be
ready for the militaryNavy Blockades were used to keep ships from carrying
supplies in and out of countriesLusitania – British sea liner torpedoed by German U-Boat
carrying 1200 passengers, including 128 Americans
Women’s Role – women take over jobs, keep the economy rollingWorked in War Industries – weapons, suppliesNurses, VolunteersGave women a new sense of pride/confidence
Morale Collapses – Troops/Civilian Morale PlungesWar Fatigue – large casualties, food shortages,
failure of generalsRussian Revolution – distraction at home for Russia
US Enters the WarHistorically supported Allies because of cultural tiesGerman resumes unrestricted submarine warfare,
President Wilson is outraged1917 – The Zimmerman Note
German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman send a note to his ambassador in Mexico to propose that if Mexico aided the Central Powers, they would help them recoup NM, TX, and AZ.
Wilson’s 14 Points – Wilson’s goal to be a peacemakerFreedom of seas, free-trade, large reductions in arms,
etc.League of Nations
Victory at Last – US Enters, Allies launch a large attack forcing Germany back across France/Belgium
German generals inform the Kaiser that defeat is inevitableUprisings force the Kaiser to step down, new gov’t in
place
New German government sought an ARMISTICE, or agreement to stop fighting on 11/11/18 at 11am
NOW KNOWN AS VETERAN’S DAY
The Great War is over!
“A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words”Using the following painting, create an account as
if you were the main soldier in this piece of art. Place yourselves in the soldier’s shoes knowing what you know about the fighting, weapons and trench warfare that was so popular during WWI, create a diary entry/personal account of 2-3 paragraphs about their/your current situation.
GOOD LUCK!
World Leaders arrive in France for the Paris Peace Conference
Costs of War – human/material costs are staggeringBattle zones from France to Russia are completely
destroyedFarms, factories, roads, churches in rubbleReconstruction would prove costly
People are bitter about the warAllies BLAME the conflict on their enemies and force
them to pay reparations (payments for war damage) to the Allies
The Peace ConferenceWorld leaders gather to discuss the fate of EuropeCentral Powers/Russia not allowed to take part in
negotiationsLeaders
Woodrow Wilson – US, wanted his 14 Points Plan Georges Clemenceau – France David Lloyd George – Britain
Land promised to Italy was not given as it violated “self-determination”
Various nationalities of the Ottoman, Russia, Austria-Hungary empire made it difficult to build nations around them
League of Nations, Wilson’s idea, would be created for collective security
Treaty of Versailles – June 1919, Allies order new German gov’t to sign the treaty they had drawn up. Had to sign it, they had no choice.Germany had to accept full-blame of the warHuge reparations billCut the size of German militaryGive back Alsace Lorraine to FranceLose their overseas colonies
Treaty left widespread dissatisfaction, leading to a greater conflict in the future
Birth of the League of Nations – more than 40 nations join. Agreed to negotiate disputes rather than resort to war
Based on the reading, answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper with your partner:
1. Germany was unable to send representatives to the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. Do you believe this is a fair practice? Explain.2. Of the 6 terms of the Treaty summarized for you, which three (3) do you feel are the harshest? Be able to briefly explain your rationale for each.3. List 3-4 key words/phrases that describe how Germans felt toward the Treaty.
In your groups, each individual student will have a choice of creating 1 of the below assessments on the Treaty. People in the same group CANNOT DO THE SAME CHALLENGE.1. Write a letter to a relative (from the perspective of a
German mother-father) about the Treaty of Versailles and your unhappiness with the terms of the agreement. 2 paragraphs!
2. Create a newspaper headline and small informational article about the treaty itself, the terms and its effect on Germany. 2 paragraphs!
3. Create a visual/cartoon on the Treaty of Versailles and its effect on the German people. No color is necessary. Be creative!
Hint: Create rough drafts, use notebook, share ideas with teammates Treaty of Versailles summary sheet. rubric to be distributed, also online. 20 points
Based on the discussions in class, create your own “Treaty of Versailles” with a minimum of at least 8 points that will be the basis of the Post-WWI Peace Agreement. Brainstorm then place onto the provided poster.
Be sure to take into account all stakeholders (winners, losers, etc.) when creating your peace agreement. Think about the viewpoints discussed yesterday/today and goal of a lasting peace.
Also, compose a 1-2 paragraph response on how your treaty differs from the one created at the Paris Peace Conference. Refer to yesterday’s handout!
Lastly, your group will present both at the end of class today.
Small Project Grade – 15 points (5 for each – poster, response, presentation)