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Triple Alliance
Created by Prussian ruler, Otto Von Bismarck, the Dual Alliance was formed between Prussia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary in order to isolate France. Bismarck intended to isolate the French after believing that they would be seeking revenge against his nation after losing the Franco-Prussian War. He believed that they would be a threat to peace between nations, and saught help from leading nations. The Triple Alliance formed after Italy joined the Dual Alliance. -
Triple Entente
Also known as "Central Powers," the Triple Entente was an alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia after Kaiser Wilhelm II's idea of creating an equally powerful navy inspired by the British Fleet. The Entente assured the nations that Britain were not allowed to fight against it's allies and vice versa. -
Nation Takes Sides
Europe was divided between two nations, the Central Powers and the Allies. Conflict between the Triple Alliance occured when italy switched to the Allies after accusations of Germany 'unjustly starting war.' Both nations gathered in war until 1814 when millions of soldiers were in a deadlock in France's battlefield, which became the Western Front. -
Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan was a plan of attack that the German armies used at the beginning of World War 1. It is named after its creator, Count Alfred von Schlieffen, who was a former cheif of the German general staff. The plan called for attacking and defeating France in the west and then rushing into the east to fight Russia. After just four days of fighting, German generals gave the order to retreat, leaving the Schlieffen Plan in ruins. -
War in the Trenches
Trench warfare is a type of attacking,counter attacking, and defending from some what permanent trenches dug into the ground. Trench warfare occurs when the fighting has become so exstensive that the opposing sides must sacrifice their mobility in order to gain protection. The idea for trenches came from Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a French military engineer. Trench warfare is still being used in wars, such as the Iraq war, to this day. -
Russia Struggles
Russia was not industrialized, unlike the other leading nations, and began to corrupt during war. The Russians were low on food, guns, ammuition, clothes, food, and blankets. The Allies could not support the Russians due to Germany's control of the Baltic Sea, where most of their trade occured, while the Ottomans controlled straits from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. -
Submarine Warfare
By 1917, Germany was not doing to well on the Western Front. Hoping to keep America out of the war, German Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg believed that the aggressiveness of such a tactic might just scare them off. The German Navy announced that their submarines would sink any ship in the water without warning. Having nothing to do with this proposal, on April 2, 1917 America declared war on Germany, thus entering themselves into World War 1. -
Fourteen Points
Woodrow WIlson's Fourteen Points were first addressed in a speech he gave to the American Congress. These Fourteen Points became the basis for a peace program. In his War Message to Congress Wilson declared America's goal “is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world.” Woodrow Wilson wanted the end of the war to result in a “just and secure peace,” and not merely “a new balance of power.” -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a compromise between Germany and the Allies after British, French, and U.S leaders argued over their aims of peace. Its main goals were to provide £6 million in German reprarations, to ban the union between Germany and Austria, and limitation of the German Navy to vessels under 100,000 tons, with no submarines. -
League of Nations
The League of Nations was to be an international association whose goal would be to keep peace among the nations. This treaty punished Germany by placing severe restrictions on its military operations and forcing substantial territory to be lost. Article 231 placed Germany with the sole responsibility for the cause of the war. Under the peace agreement, the Allies would govern the mandates until they were judged to be ready for independance.
