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Imperialism
Imperialism is when one nation takes over another. Imperialism was one of the main causes of World War 1. The British Empire was expanding and Germany wanted more power and more land. -
Nationalism
Nationalism is an extreme loyalty to one's nation. During World War 1, all nations thought that they were better and more powerful then everyone else. This created a fierce competition and rivalry between European nations. -
Militarism
Each European nation wanted to have the best and strongest military. This caused conflicts between the nations before World War 1 had even begun. Great Britain and Germany were both striving for the largest and most powerful navy because of militarism. In 1914, Germany's army had one of the greatest increases. Germany's army increased by about 170,000 soldiers. -
Alliances
In 1914, six of the most powerful European countries split into two opposing alliances. One side of the alliances was called the Triple Entente. This alliance was formed in 1907 and the countries in this alliance were the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. The other side was the Triple Alliance which was formed in 1882 and consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were on a tour of a town called Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. They were touring the town in an open car when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot to death along with his wife, Sophie. The shooter was known as 19 year old, Gavrilo Princip. This event was one of the most important events leading up to World War 1. -
Germany's Blank Check to Austria-Hungary
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany pledged his country's unconditional support Austria-Hungary on July 5, 1914. After the assassination of the Archduke and his wife, Austria-Hungary's conflict with Serbia worsened. Germany's alliance with Austria-Hungary and Serbia's alliance with Russia caused even more tension in Europe. The blank check was definitely a major event leading up to World War 1. -
World War 1 Begins
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Because of Serbia's alliance with Russia, Germany was against Russia. After Germany invaded France, Great Britain entered the war. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner, was sunk by German submarines. The Lusitania was attacked without warning and sank in about 20 minutes. More than 1,100 deaths occurred with the sinking of the Lusitania, 128 of which were Americans. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a cryptic telegram sent to Mexico from German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmerman. Germany was offering U.S. territories to Mexico, if they joined them as an ally. -
Germany's Resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germany declared the area around the British Isles a war zone. The U-Boat submarine shot Torpedos at ships. This was the cause of American entry into World War 1. -
U.S. Entry into the War and Her Impact On It
The United States entered the war because of Germany's decision to resume the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and because of the Zimmerman Telegram. The United Stated finally entered the War against Germany in April 1917. -
Effects of WW1
Women replaced men in many city style jobs like working in factories, offices, and shops. People chose republics over monarchies. The total number of casualties was 41 million; 18 million of which were deaths and 23 million wounded. A feeling of disillusionment spread across the world. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace settlement between the Allies and Germany after World War 1. The Treaty was harsh on Germany and forced Germany to accept responsibility for causing the war and for all the damage the war caused. Germany was forced to give up land and pay 33 billion dollars in war reparations. -
Dawes Plan and Young Plan
Germany and the Weimar Republic were on the brink of a financial collapse and were in danger of not being able to pay war reparations. The Dawes plan was worked out by American banker, Charles G. Dawes as a payment plan for Germany. The Young Plan was the second negotiation of Germany's World War 1 reparations payment. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in history. It lasted from 1929 to 1939. Due to the stock market crash, millions of people lost their jobs. -
Rise of Hitler
Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1919. He joined a political party during World War 1. The party was against Marxists, opposed a democratic post-war government, against the Treaty of Versailles, and advocated extreme nationalism. By 1933, Hitler and the Nazis controlled Germany. Hitler became a dictator and outlawed all other political parties. -
