World War IChapter 17

A World War BeginsChapter 17 Section 1

Words to Know

Arms Race: A contest to build weapons and military power.

Terrorist: A person who uses violence for a political cause.

Stalemate: A situation in which neither side wins nor loses.

1914

War broke out in Europe: The Great War

World War I

Great War affected people all over the world: Nations, soldiers, and

civilians all suffered

Causes of War in Europe

Extreme Nationalism: People felt their nation was

better than others Contest:

between nations for trade and for colonies

Growth of alliances: Group of nations that promise

to protect one another European countries

Many did not trust each other Felt big armed force showed

their greatness Arms race:

Contest to build weapons and military power Germany built biggest

army GB built biggest navy

The Archduke and the Terrorist

1914: Austria-Hungary was a weak nation in Europe

A-H: included groups of people from many different backgrounds: Some of these groups

wanted to be free nations

Example: A-H controlled Bosnia:

Bosnia wanted to join the nearby nation of Serbia

The Archduke and the Terrorist cont.

Archduke Franz Ferdinad next in line to be emperor of A-H

June 1914: archduke visits Sarajevo, Bosnia:

Assassinated by a Serbian Terrorist: Gavrilo Princip Wanted Bosnia to break

away and join Serbia

Within 6-weeks war breaks out: A-H declares war on Serbia Other countries pulled into the

war: Agreed to protect one

another

The Central Powers and the Allied

Nations 2 sides:

Central Powers: Germany A-H Ottoman Empire

Allied Nations: GB

France Russia

Land fought on land and at sea

Longest fighting took place on Western Front: France and Belgium Front is a line of battle

When war began both sides hoped for a quick end

The First Years of the War

Each side war did not go as planned

Each side won and lost battles

Neither side close to victory: Neither side close to

giving up

End of 1914=stalemate

Soldiers begin to dig trenches

Trench Warfare

Soldiers on both sides dig trenches: Took cover in trenches

Trenches: 6-8 feet deep Hundreds of miles of

trenches stretched along Western Front

Millions of soldiers will end up dying in the trenches throughout war

Filthy conditions Filled with rats and bugs

that carried diseases

“No-Man’s Land” Between the trenches was

“no-man’s land”: Empty area

Attack: Crawl out of trenches and

cross over “no-man’s land” to the other side

Battles could last for months

Somme River, France: Western Front July-Nov. 1916 More than 1,000,000 soldiers

killed or wounded Either side could defeat the

other

Weapons of War

Had new weapons or used little in previous wars

Machine gun new weapon: Fire 600 rounds per minute Heavy:

Usually kept at the top of a trench

Other new weapons: Tanks Poison gas Submarines Airplanes

ClassworkChapter 17 Section 1 crossword