WW1 Project Presentations
Key Questions:
1. What were the causes of WWI in Europe?-
mutual defense alliances- countries don't like eachother, so they form alliances
imperialism- taking over other countries, british empire expanded over 5 continents, wanted africa and asia because of raw materials
militarism- maintain a large military, france and german armies doubled, competition b/w britain and germany for mastery of the seas,
nationalism- pride in your country, slavic people inbosnia wanted to be part of seria instead of austria-hungary, in other ocuntreis, strong nationalism contributed to the beginning and extension of the war
assassination of archduke ferdinand- spark of the war, June 28, 1914, gabrilo princip one of 6 assassins, killed Franz and wife sophie, shot them in front of a deli after finding out other attempts had failed
2. What were the major alliances of WWI? Central- austro hungarian empire, german empire, ottoman empire, kingdom of bulgaria. Allied- great britain, france, US, italy, russia.
3. What were the goals of WWI for all the major countries involved?
-Austria-Hungary- control serbia, gain control of the ottoman empire, defend the border between italy and austria-hungary
-Great Britain-maintain their superpower status, worreid about the German threat, protect france both being threatened by germany france
-Germany-maintain German Unificatino, isolate france, acquire colonies
-Russia-got out of the war (lost to germany), Bulshivik Revolution(comunist revolution)
-France-avenge previous military defeats(recapture the alsace-lorraine), cripple german industrial capacity, become the dominant continental power
-US-"safe for democracy" woodrow wilson
4. What were some of the major land battles prior to US involvement-1914-March, 1917?
-Battle of Verdun-the most brutal events of WW1,1916, lasted 19 months, intense artillery, German commanders ordered an attack, French fort surrendered to german army
-Battle of Marne- sept. 4, 1914, German army through Belgium, and france, french army and troops rushed from paris in taxis
-Battle of Ypres- 5 battles of ypres, paused during the war to celebrate christmas, also calledthe first battle of flanders, was the last major obstacle tothe german advance, 2nd battle was the first that used poison gas, 3rd battle known as battle of passchendaele, 4th battle known as battle of the lys, 5th battle known as the advance of flanders and battle ofthe peaks of flanders
-Battle of Somme-july 1st-nov.14th, also known as somme offensive
-Battle of Cambrai-include an experimental artillery action, british campaign of the first world war, noted for the first large-scale use of tanks in a combined arms operation,
5. What were some of the major naval battles of WWI?
-Battle of Jutland-one of the biggest battles, result-british dominant of the north sea
-Battle of Dogger Bank-result huge victory for british
-Battle of Heligoland-result British victory
-Battle of Coronel- result a German victory
-Battle of Falkland Islands-result German victory
6. What were the US reactions to WWI starting in 1914?
-Wilson declared neutrality
7. What were the causes for US involvement in WWI?
-US was very upset with both sides in the war (G.B. and Germany were both stopping and sinking US ships) eventually US drew closer to the war and allies. Why? German sinking of british ships and killing of US citizens
-Trade with England increased, trade with Germany decreased
-The Zimmermann Note-a telegram sent by the foreign secretaty of the german empire, sent to the german ambassador in the US, intercepted and ddecoded by British cryptographers, letter was given to the press. said that- germany tried to get mexico to declare war on the US, germany promised mexico would get the mexican cession back if they won, germany wanted to keep the US out of europe.
-War Hawks(people who thought we should be at war)
-British and American Propaganda
-Preparedness Program(1915)- prepareing the military (militarism)
-American Business-munitions businesspushed US into war to make money
-German declaration of "unlimited submarine warfare" -ties into sinking ships and killing americans
8. What were the major land battles for the US in WWI?
-The Battle of Cantigny-US and France against Germany-america's first signifant battle, reduce small area made by germans
-The Battle of Belleauwood-France US and british empire against Germany
-The Battle of Lehamel-Austrailia US and UK against German Empire
-The Second Battle of Marne-France US UK and Italy against German Empire-ended string of German victories (before US got there), start of Allied Victories (turning part of the war)
9. What were the major military strategies for winning the war for both Allied and Central Powers?
-Schlieffen Plan-german plan of attack, plan was devised to be able to counter a joint attack, made by alfred von Shlieffen, wanted to:defeat france quickly, no britain or russia, takeout french forts on german border. Problems: belfium was stronger than anticipated
-Plan 17-french plan of attack, wanted Alsace andLorraine, put into action by the french commander in chief Joseph Joffre, relied on Elan Vital
-Plan G-Germany attacks russia full scale, russia lets them "invade" russia, once deep into russia attack the germans, foreshadowingtowards WW2
-Plan 19-germany attacks France, russia attacks Prussia en route to germany, two armies attack while the rest protect russia from austria-hungary
-AEF (American expoditionary force)-select american troops, deployed to assist french and britain forces, often referred to as the "dough boys"
10. What were some of the weapons of WWI?
Bayonet- a blade attached to the end of a rifle
Flamethrower- fire spreading mechanism-first used by the germans in the war (bed if you were in the trenches)
Poison Gas-chloride filled mechanisms-first used by the french-germans then created mustard gas
Submarines or U-boats-underwater boats, first time Germans used them they sunk 3 British ships, and it got the US into the war
Tanks-armored cars that have firing mechanisms attached to them used in WW1, tanks usually got stuck in trenches
Machine Guns-weapons that would fire at a faster rate and for a longer time, got jammed a lot
Airplanes-some for bombing, and dog fighting
11. Describe trench warfare.-battling between two opposing armies that are both in trenches, trench fever happened a lot because there were many men trapped in these small trenches, rats were horrible in the trenches, soldiers would write letters to their loved ones during the day, they would get up for morning and night 'stand to' where they would just get up and prepare for possible surprise attacks, sometimes the two armies would agree to a breakfast truce where they wouldn't shoot at eachother or attack during the morning hours
12. Describe what happened on the US Home Front in WWI.
-Homefront-where the people did what they could to help with the war
-worked in factories, made victory gardens(planted food to help supply the soldiers with food)
-supported war-sent weapons, food, and bullets and a lot of other materials to the french and russia, women worked in the factories at men's jobs
-what it was like-WW1 was: the most devastating war, known as "the war to end all wars"
-african americans- managed war efforts, worked in factories to make goods for the war, they were nurses to help the sick, supported war with boycotts and bonds, the women took the place of the men that died in the armed forces
-women-stayed home to manage house and families, worked in factories, production from ammunition, worked in factories for very long hours, worked in US, women gained respect from politicians because they were strong and independent, women'ssuffrage was granted
13. Describe Wilson's 14 Points.
Open covenents of peace-
No more secrets- Prohibit treaties
- Absolute freedom of navigation of the seas-
- 3 conditions- general peace, no fighting with other nations, League of Nations remains neutral
- Trying to eliminate high tariffs and trade barriers around the world
- Adequate gurantees given and taken
- You cannot have too many weapons/lessen weapon numbers
- Domestic safety-protectin against invasion
- A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims
- Can't pick sides between colonies
- Listening to both sides of the colonial opinions
- Evacuation of all Russian territories
- Evacuate German troops out of Russian territory
- Russia can decide what form of government they want without any interference (determine their own political set up)
- Belgium must be evacuated and restored
- German troops need to evacuate Belgium
- Belgium deserves to be independent like they were before the war
- All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored
- France has taken Germany's control of French territory
- France is allowed to recover Alsace Lorrqaine (region in NE France)
- All Italians are allowed to live in Italy and gain some land from Austria-Hungary
- People that live in Austria-Hungary should have self-determination
- Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated and restored
- People of the Balkan states should be independent
- must evacuate the Central Powers of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania
- Turkish people should be governed by Turkish government, non Turkish people should govern themselves
- Poland should be independent and should have access to the sea
- League of Nations is created to make independence to all states
14. Describe the points of the Treaty of Versailles.
-the treaty forced Germany to give territories to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Poland
-took away about 13.5% of Germany’s 1914 territory and some 7 million people (and possessions)
-German army-100,000 men –ban on heavy artillery, gas, tanks and aircraft
-German navy- had to ship under 10,000 tons –ban on submarines
-germany had to take full responsivility for starting the war
-they had to pay 33 billion dollars
-The league of nations was set up- a world wide peace keeping organization
15. Why did the US never pass the Treaty of Versailles?
-Wilson was a democrat, but the party that was at Congress was Republican
16. Why did the Allied Powers win WWI?
-British blockade of Germany, great britain blocked off germany by setting up a blockade in the north sea so germany couldn't get supplies out
-the US had a huge role in the war and it was mostly economic our trade shifted from central to allied
17. Describe the impact WWI had on the world.
-Spanish flu-a new strain came out and there was a pandemic on our hands, 50 million people died
18. How did countries react to the Treaty of Versailles?
-France-thought the restrictions on germany were too lenient, signed treaty but didn't like it
-US- angry block of 12-18irreconciliables opposed the treaty, nationwide speaking tour in the summer of 1919 to refute them, US thought it favored the british, congress passed the knox-porter revolution
-Germany- germans dispised the treaty of versailles, started a protest against unfai demands and violation of honour, referred to treaty as diktat (take it or leave it)
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