Chapter 18.1: World War I: Setting the Stage
Four Factors arose in early 1900s in Europe:
1. Nationalism: various ethnic groups tried to gain political power and unity.
2. Imperialism: nations began competing and fighting for new territory.
3. Militarism: building up of armed forces. The Dreadnought- World’s first modern
battleship built by England.
4. Alliances: Triple Alliance- Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Triple Entente- France,
Russia, and England.
Triple Alliance
Otto von Bismarck- leader of Germany wanted to keep France diplomatically isolated and
without allies. He made pacts with Russia to keep peace. Bismarck formed an alliance in 1882
with Austria-Hungary and Italy.
Triple Entente
William II became leader of Germany in 1888. 1894 France and Russia aligned. Competition for
colonies and naval buildup began between Germany and England. These factors lead to England,
Russia, and France forming an alliance.
Balkan “Powder Keg”
Serbia wanted Bosnia and Herzegovnia. Austria-Hungary got them first. Russia was a protector
of all Balkan Slavs and supported Serbia. Germany was recruiting the Ottoman Empire. Tensions
and competition was mounting.
June 28, 1914- Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife- heirs to Austria-Hungary- were
assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Serbian terrorist group the Black Hand.
July 28, 1914- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Mobilization of Europe
Germany and Russia both mobilized their military. August 1, 1914- Germany declared war on
Russia. August 3- Germany declared war on France. Between France and Germany was
Belgium. Belgium was neutral. August 4- Germany invaded Belgium and England declared war
on Germany.
The War Expands
Japan entered the war on side of England and France, hoping to gain German territory. Italy
remained neutral until it signed a treaty with England, France, and Russia.
October 1914- Ottoman Empire Allied with Germany providing a strategic position- control of
the Dardanelles.
October 1915- Bulgaria allied with Germany.
18.2: A New Kind of War
The Belligerents- warring nations.
Central Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans, Bulgaria
Allied Powers- England, France, and Russia
Allies had more soldiers, bigger navy and industry.
Innovations in Warfare
An Industrialized War, weapons were mass produced. Germany- 1st country to use submarines
effectively- U-boats. Also used poison gas. Some other new weapons- machine guns and long
range artillery. Protective trenches were dug.
Airplanes were also used to observe and drop bombs. Baron Manfred von Richthofen became
known as the “Red Baron.” A German pilot shot down over 80 enemy planes.
1916- England introduced tanks.
Soldiers also changed from professionals to drafted civilians.
Propaganda was also used to stir patriotism.
Early Years of War
Germany attacked France across Belgium. Getting to the Marne River where France held
them off long enough for Russia to mobilize. August of 1914- Germany defeated Russia
decisively. Germany then invaded Russia-Poland.
Gallipoli
Russia had more soldiers but no supplies and outdated weaponry. France and England tried to
change this. 1915- Attacked Ottoman Empire and tried to take Constantinople. They failed after
several months.
Naval Warfare
England set up a blockade on the North Sea. This began to starve German civilians and cut off
supplies to German Army.
Germany also set up blockade around England. Using U-boats to sink merchant ships. May
1915- U-boat sank a British luxury liner- the Lusitania, killing 1200 people, 128 Americans.
Woodrow Wilson warned Germany to stop unrestricted submarine warfare.
Stalemate
By late 1915 war had become a stalemate- neither side gaining an advantage- caused by
trenches. War became a war of attrition- one side trying to outlast the other.
United States and World War I
1914- Wilson and rest of America did not want in War. But US supplied food, raw materials, and
war supplies to both sides. The warring nations began seizing these supplies.
1917- Various factors pushed US into War:
Zimmerman Note- Germany tried to get Mexico to fight US
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare- German U-boats sank merchant ships killing
American sailors.
Central Powers were governmentally anti-democratic.
April 6, 1917- US declared war on Germany.