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Section 1
Causes of The Great War -Imperialism -Countries wanted more land -Europe limited in size -Nationalism -Strong feelings of pride, loyalty to one’s country -Pan-German / Pan-Slavic movement -Form own nations -Militarism -Build up of the military -Every country tried to outdo other countries’ armies -Secret alliances -Countries wanted other countries to help out in case of a fight -Secret negotiations/diplomacy -Alliances during the war -Central Powers -Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire -Allied Powers -Russia, France, England, Italy, Serbia, US -The “spark” (June 1914) -Archduke Ferdinand (heir to throne of Austria-Hungary) -Assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian -AH claims Serbia knew of plot (they were right) -Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia -Alliances force other countries into war
Stalemate -August 4, 1914àGermany invades Belgium then France -Belgium neutral country -First Battle of the Marne stopped Germany from advancing further into France -Both sides literally “dug in” for a long fight -Trench warfare (p. 282-283) -400 miles of trenches dug -Neither side any major gains -Battle of the Somme (1916) -1,200,000 killed or wounded (casualties) -Allies gained 7 miles -Nasty conditions -Diseases -Dead bodies -Stagnant water -Rats, lice
New Technology -Tanks -Very crude (tires instead of tracks, etc) -Mustard gas -Weather important -Airplanes -Not a major factor (By 1917, had some importance) -Mostly used for surveillance -Red Baron -U-boats -German submarine -Better than Allies -Totally dominated seas -Artillery, grenades -Flame throwers
America’s Path to War -When war erupted, Wilson announced policy of “neutrality” -Not taking sides -Most Americans agreed, but still had opinions -U-boats started sinking US merchant ships -Lusitania (May 1915) -British passenger ship torpedoed by u-boat -1,198 killed (128 Americans) -Most likely carrying war materials -Germany launches “unrestricted submarine warfare” -Shoot any enemy ship -Sank 2 more passenger ships -US begins to build up military in preparation for war -National Defense Act (1916) -Zimmerman Note (February 1917) -Secret note from Germany to Mexico -Mexico should join Germany’s side -Germany would help Mexico regain land lost to the US (Texas, NM, Arizona) -Intercepted by Allies -Wilson asks Congress to declare war (March 1917)
Revolution in Russia -During war, Russian army (huge) beaten by Germans -Czar Nicholas IIàpoor leadership -Food shortages, riots, inflation, strikes -Nicholas II abdicates throne -November 1917àBolsheviks take control of Russia -Communist group lead by Vladimir Lenin -March 1918àRussia withdraws from war
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