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World War I itself began in August of 1914 and lasted until 1918. Almost every European nation took part in the war millions of civilians and soldiers didn't survive. Even though the war technically ended around four years after it started, the lasting effects from it continued on for years to come.
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Germany finished in third to Great Britain and France in the scramble of colonies
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Germany formed an alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary to protect itself against Russia and its threat called Three Emperors' Alliance. Later to protect against France, Germany also formed an alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary called the Triple Alliance.
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A new kaiser, which was the German title for emperor, Wilhelm II took the throne and began plotting with other German leaders to create an overseas empire. This would strengthen Germany's navy. -
Russia's move on Manchuria made Japan upset resulting in conflict as it was a well desired region with rich soil. In the end, Manchuria was returned to China and neither Russia or Japan were happy. -
Russia's Trans-Siberian Railroad was completed and became the first link from Europe to Asia. It contributed to Russia's hopes of expanding trade, landholding, and influence in East Asia. -
Britain's concerns over Germany caused them to join forces with France and Russia to form the Triple Entente
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Two short Balkan Wars both resulted in conflict. The first war ended in Ottoman ruling the peninsula whereas the second war divided Ottoman lands from the Balkan Nation -
Gavrilo Princep, a Bosnian Serbian was trained by the Black Hand which was a secret Serbian terrorist organization in killing the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. -
In August of 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia for the murder of Franz-Ferdinand. Germany supported Austria-Hungary while Russia was pledged to protect Serbia. Almost all of Europe was at war within a matter of weeks because of the different alliance systems, which was greeted by the Europeans with patriotism and eager as France declared war. Nobody knew what to expect next.
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The Schlieffen Plan directed Germany to defeat France in the west and knocking it out of war before Russia could get an army together in the East.
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Germany had passed up Britain as the leading industrial power in Europe. This destabilized Europe's balance of power.
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Britain, France, Russia and partners were known as the Allied Powers or the Allies. Soon Italy who had once been neutral decided to join them.
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Germany first began to use poison gas, but then the Allies' followed in their lead. It blinded/choked victims and at times the winds moved it back towards those who originally launched it. -
The Armenian Genocide brought suffering, torture, and death to more than a million Armenians. By the end, it reduced their population in the Ottoman Empire from 2.13 million to just 387,000 people.
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A U-Boat sank the British passenger ship, the Lusitania, which was carrying ammunition from New York to London. Many passengers also lost their lives. -
In Germany, clothing was hard to come by and in the cities, people didn't have enough to eat. By the next year, food riots and strikes started to increase rapidly.
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Arab nationalists led by Husayn ibn Ali declared revolt against Ottoman power. In the end, the Ottoman empire lost a large amount of territory to the Arabs including Baghdad.
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Heavy battlefield losses were the cause of Britain requiring service of men ages 18-41 to fight in the war.
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Russia's withdrawal from the war dissolved the Eastern Front which was spread through most of present-day Poland. The huge number of lives and resources lost to the war caused their government to collapse.
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Germany made an offer for an alliance with Mexico to promise that if Mexico went to war against the US, Germany would give them new lands in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. War was declared on Germany by the United States in April of that year.
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Airplanes in Germany were being used at first to spy on the enemy, but then began to be used to direct fire and drop bombs on civilians. -
President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement of war goals. The first five points addressed world concerns. The next eight points settled territorial disputes in the Ottoman Empire and Europe. The last point was a “a general association of nations” where different nations would agree to work together. This led to Germany surrendering that year. -
The Germans were enduring horrible hardships which became unbearable causing them to surrender. The Second Battle of Somme led to this which became the main part of the Allies' advance against Germany. On November 11th, the agreement to end all wars was signed. -
An international conference began in January at Paris, France to negotiate the terms of peace. Throughout the next 20 months, treaties with Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey were closed.