World War I began in 1914 after tensions between European powers led to a system of alliances that pulled countries into war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, drawing in allies on both sides. Over four years, new military technologies like machine guns, tanks, aircraft, and poison gas led to stalemate and trench warfare with millions of casualties. The U.S. initially remained neutral but entered the war in 1917 after German U-boats attacked American ships. An armistice in 1918 ended the war. The ensuing Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany, sowing seeds for future conflict.
2. Tension in Imperial Europe
During Imperial Age, European nations
sought power through acquisition of colonies
Countries competed with each other for relative
power
They began to get paranoid about their
neighbors—If a war broke out, would they be
strong enough to survive?
Nations began to look for ways to ensure their
security
3. Militarism
Policy of aggressively building up a
nation’s armed forces in preparation
for war
4. Alliances
Secret treaties
or informal
understandings
between nations
that promised
they would side
together in the
event of war
7. Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the Austria-
Hungarian throne.
His assassination
was the spark that
ignited the war.
8. Brinksmanship
A strategy where a country seeks an
advantage by creating the impression
that they are willing and able to push
a situation to the point of war in
order to get their demands
10. Ultimatum
A statement, especially in diplomatic
negotiations, that expresses or
implies the threat of serious penalties
if the terms are not accepted
12. Kaiser Wilhelm II
German leader during
World War I. He declared
war on Russia and invaded
France.
13. Allied Forces
The group of nations that opposed
the Central Powers; originally
consisting of Great Britain, France
and Russia and later joined by the
U.S., Italy and others
14. Central Powers
The group of nations--led by
Germany, Austria-Hungary and the
Ottoman Empire--that opposed the
Allied Forces
40. Isolationism
Foreign policy of neutrality and non-
involvement
Wilson made a declaration of
neutrality just days into the war
41. Blockade
An effort to cut off food, supplies, war
material or communications from a
particular area by force
England used their powerful navy to cut off
Germany
Some estimate 750,000 Germans died of
starvation
42.
43. U.S. Exports
•After war
began, U.S.
traded even
more Allies
•U.S. economy
boomed from
supplying Allies
with war
materials and
extending credit
46. Lusitania
British passenger ship sunk off coast
of Ireland by German submarine; 128
Americans dead, led to U.S. outrage
47. American Reaction
Wilson issues warning to
Germany
He affirms Britain’s right to
blockade Germany but
demands Germany stop
attacks on ships
Secretary of State, William
Jennings Bryan, resigned in
protest of U.S. non-neutrality
48.
49. Germany Resumes Attacks
Germany declares they will attack
without warning after all
Submarine attacks seen as unfair
tactic by Americans
50.
51. Zimmerman Telegram
Telegram intercepted by
British intelligence
German ambassador asks
Mexico to enter the war
on the German side
In return Germany
promises to help them
recover territory they lost
in the Mexican War
52. Autocrat
A ruler with unlimited power
Russian Revolution ends their autocracy
Makes it easier for U.S. to justify war “to make the
world safe for democracy”
Russia out of war, leaving France and Britain
vulnerable
Wilson declares war on April 6, 1917
54. Harlem Hellfighters
369th (Colored)
Infantry
Regiment
integrated into
the French
Army
Received
France's highest
combat medal
55. Selective Service Act of 1917
Act that
authorized the
draft
Draft began
almost
immediately
56. "Four Minute Men"
75,000 volunteers
recruited by the
Committee on Public
Information
Gave 4-minute
speeches in support of
the war effort
Helped turn public
opinion
69. Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson
drafted 14-point plan for
peace in 1918
First presented to joint
session of Congress before
war to justify entry in moral
terms
Later presented at Versailles
peace conference after the
war, but failed to win
approval of all 14 points
into final treaty
Wilson advocated “Peace
without victory”
70. Main Points
No secret alliances
Freedom of the seas
Removal of trade barriers
(tariffs, etc.)
Reduce military to just
what’s necessary to protect
your own country
Let go of some colonies
Create a League of Nations
74. Terms of the Treaty
Germany humiliated:
--Charged with war crimes
--Forced to accept guilt for the war
--Must drastically reduce military
--Allow France to occupy the
Rhineland for 15 years
--Give up territory
--Pay reparations
France wanted revenge and security
against any future German threat
75. League of Nations
International body
proposed by
Woodrow Wilson to
ensure peace and
stability after the
war through
cooperation and
accountability
80. Dulce Et Decorum Est
Poem written by
British poet and
solider Wilfred
Owen, famous for
its horrific imagery
of war
Owen died in battle
shortly before the
armistice