FCPS World II SOL Standards: WHII 10a and 10b

FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014

World War I-Causes (1914-1918)You Mean the Whole World Went to War? M.A.I.N. Causes of World War IIn 1914, many European countries were preparing for war. The conflict they would engage in is called World War I. You can remember the causes of the war by thinking of the word MAIN. Each letter stands for one of the major causes – militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism.Many European countries had a policy of militarism, the building of a large military force to use for war. Nations also formed strategic alliances and agreed to cooperate with other nations. During World War I, The Central Powers (see map) formed one side of the conflict. The Allies (see map), which later included the United States, formed the opposition. European imperialism created rival empires who wanted to increase their wealth and power. Lastly, Europeans also had strong feelings of nationalism. For example, Germans, French, and Russians believed in their superiority over other nations. Additionally, the Slavs, an ethnic group on the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe, wanted to unite all Slavs in one country. However, a large territory inhabited by Slavic people was controlled by the Austria-Hungary Empire. The Serbians, who were part of the Slavs, wanted to make that territory independent.

Events of World War IWorld War I began on the Balkan Peninsula. This area was called the “powder keg of Europe” because of the number of armed conflicts in the area. It was there that a Serbian nationalist, Gavrillo Princip, assassinated Austria-Hungary’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand while he was visiting Serbia. Shortly thereafter, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Unknown to Austria-Hungary, Serbia had a secret alliance with Russia. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary to defend Serbia. Kaiser Wilhelm II, the leader of Germany and an ally of Austria-Hungary, then declared war on Russia and France. Great Britain joined the war when Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. World War I, known as “the war to end all wars,” had begun.

Colonial Rule in Africa, 1914Source: http://s53.photobucket.com/user/PoorOldSpike/media/CMSF/imperial-africa.gif.html#/user/PoorOldSpike/media/CMSF/imperial-africa.gif.html?&_suid=1405523637155008692264466551636

Timeline of British Influence in India, 1600-1857Source: http://public.media.smithsonianmag.com/legacy_blog/sarajevo-murder.jpg

Warfare in World War IThe Central Powers found themselves fighting a two front war, with enemies to the west (Britain and France) and the east (Russia). The Western Front quickly became a stalemate, and the two sides dug trenches. These trenches were long channels where troops could take cover during attacks and rest after. The space between the trenches was called no man’s land, which was very dangerous to cross. Gunfire, barbed wires, dead bodies, and poison gas were all used as obstacles to keep enemies from crossing and taking trenches. The trenches themselves, filled with rats, bugs, disease, and injured soldiers, were dangerous, unwelcoming places.

A World War IThis war did not just affect Europe. Battles were fought in Africa, on the Indian Ocean, and in the Middle East. Many countries around the world sent soldiers into battle. Colonies like Australia, India, and French Indochina (Vietnam) became de facto allies with their European “mother nation.” Japan fought with the Allies. Many colonies believed that they would be granted independence if they helped their colonizers win World War I.

World War I-Causes (cont.) WHII 10a and 10b

FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014

Connection to TodayDo you think another world war could begin if the leader of a nation was assassinated today? Explain your thinking.

ResourcesABC-CLIO● World War One http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/310046?terms=world+war+1Marshall Cavendish● World War One http://www.marshallcavendishdigital.com/encnav/World-War-I.27

The United States Joins the War The United States expressed a policy of neutrality at the beginning of World War I. However, the United States sold weapons to countries that were fighting, mainly Great Britain. The United States and Germany also competed for power in Haiti. In response, the Germans declared unrestricted submarine warfare, which meant that German submarines would attack any ship believed to be carrying weapons. In 1915, the Germans attacked the British ship the Lusitania killing many passengers, including several Americans. The United States government warned Germany against attacking Americans, but this event did not bring the United States into the war. In early 1917, the British intercepted the so-called “Zimmerman Telegram.” In the telegram, Zimmerman, a German official, offered to help Mexico win back

Cartoon of the Zimmerman Telegram Source: http://johnsouthard.com/the-zimmerman-telegram/

Key VocabularyMilitarism: the belief that a country should maintain a strong military and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests

Stalemate: a condition in a dispute, competition, or battle where neither side can gain an advantage

Ethnic: belonging to a certain group with a shared identity, heritage, or language

Powder keg of Europe: a phrase used to describe the Balkan Peninsula before WW I

Trenches: a long, thin hole in the ground used as protection from enemies

No man’s land: space between trenches that did not belong to either side

Neutrality: the quality or state of not supporting either side in an argument

Ceasefire: an order or signal to stop fighting, a temporary suspension of fighting

Alliance: an agreement to cooperate between two or more people, groups, or countries

Quick Review1. Which of the following events convinced the United States

to join World War I?2.

A. Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassinationB. The Sinking of the LusitaniaC. The Zimmerman TelegramD. Russia leaving the war

According to the chart, which of the Central Powers lost the most troops?A. Austria-HungaryB. GermanyC. Ottoman EmpireD. Bulgaria

3. According to the chart (in question 2), which of the Allied powers lost the most troops?A. USA B. BritainC. France D. Russia

4. Which cause of World War I do you think was the most significant? Explain your answer.

territories lost to the United States if Mexico would attack the United States to keep them out of the war in Europe. The telegram convinced the U.S. government to openly declare war against Germany in 1917.

Russia Exits the WarOver 1,700,000 Russian soldiers died in World War I. The Russian government under Czar Nicholas II was unable to provide food and ammunition to its soldiers. Meanwhile, the people of Russia were also going hungry. In 1917, an armed uprising overthrew the Russian monarchy. The new Russian leader, Vladimir Lenin, called for a ceasefire between Russia and the Central Powers. This meant that Germany was no longer fighting on its east and could focus her efforts on the Western Front (see map).