World War 1

Chapter 1

The main buildup that led to the start up of World War 1 was the difference between Nationalism and Imperialism.

Nationalism is patriotic principles, feeling or efforts. For example, nationalism can be described as extreme pride in one's country.

Imperialism is a policy of expanding a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. For example it is imperialism when one country takes over another country both economically and politically.

These difference of opinions on these two theories provided the timber for the beginning of WW1. Now all the countries needed was a spark.

As you can see in the following chart, many countries have already been preparing for the war between 1910 through 1914.

France - 10%
Britain - 13%
Russia - 39%
Germany - 73%

Another reason for the beginning of WW1 was how Serbia and Slavic Nationalists wanted Austria-Hungary to become completely Slavic. Austria-Hungary did not approve knowing that Serbia would rebel if Austria-Hungary became Slavic. Austria-Hungary then annexed two countries in return that Serbia wanted to receive, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The spark to WW1 was the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife while thew were in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Austria-Hungary blamed the tragedy on the Serbian Government. It was Austria-Hungary's intention to start a war.

CHAPTER 2

After the beginning of WW1 Russia offered to help Serbia in the war, while Germany was offered help by Germany

The Triple Entente Alliance-
Great Britain
France
Russia

The Triple Alliance
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy

The Battle of Marne

• Fought between France/Britain vs. Germany
• Fought near Paris
• Germany's goal was to defeat France before the Russians could offer support
• Germany ended up losing the battle

Most of WW1 was fought with trench warfare which is when opposing troops fight against each other from trenches facing each other.

The Battle of Verdun

• Fought between France and Germany
• The battle lasted about 10 months
• Around 700,000 people died
• France won this battle.

The Lusitania

• The Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk during WW1.
• The Lusitania was on its way to Great Britain before it sunk.
• The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat.
• Proper warfare protocol was to not attack passenger ships without warning
• A task which Germany failed to complete.

Americans were outraged about the sinking of the Lusitania!

The Zimmerman Telegram

• The Zimmerman Telegram was a proposal sent from Germany
• This Telegram was sent to Mexico and requested they join the central powers
• Sent from Arthur Zimmerman to Count Johann.
• The telegram broke the Sussex pledge which was a mistake for Germany 
• America severed all relations with the German Government

One of the last battles in WW1 was won by the Americans and the French. America sent approximately 1.2 million troops overseas to fight this battle.

WW1 lead to the Bolshevik Revolution due to the fact that the Russian government refused to pull-out earlier in the war. The Russian government was later overthrown.

Chapter 3

World War 1 was finally ended in 1918 by the signing of the Treaty of Versailes. This treaty divided Europe into many new countries including the following-

- Yugoslavia
- Poland
-Lithuania
-Lativa
-Esonia
-Finland
-Czechoslovakia
- Hungary

Americans were opposed to this treaty because it formed a "League of Nations"

Following the war, the Ottoman Empire lost their alliances with Germany and ended up splitting their land up amongst the central powers.

THE END