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Before WWI, many countries were very casual about M.A.I.N: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism. They all played a part in the war, as many countries had similar values and common enemies. They formed alliances, which was, in theory, to prevent war by making it a scare tactic. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy created the Triple-Alliance, while Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple-Entente.
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As the war continued, new weapons, tactics, and vehicle's were produced over time. Chemical warfare was introduced, along with tanks, submarines, and better, faster rifles and guns, for example, the machine gun.
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Machine guns, or known as a maxim gun, were invented 30 years before WWI, 1884. However, they were not widely used at the start of the war because of their long reload time. Yet many other versions of the maxim gun dominated the battlefields
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When Franz Ferdinand visited Serbia, he's assassinated by a Serbian terrorist group called "The Black Hand." The goal of the assassination was to separate Austria-Hungary from the South Slavic provinces and be reclaimed. There were south Slavic's in Austria-Hungary at the time, and because of Nationalism in Serbia, they were not keen on letting that slide.
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The first soldiers in Canada came to fight Under British orders in August 1914.
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The Germans first created the U-Boat Submarine in 1915. It was used overseas to help sink enemy ships and was very useful during both wars.
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Victory Bonds was to give loans to the government to help fund the war. You would receive interest after 5-20 years when the war ended, depending on when the economy stabled. These bonds were active from 1915-1919.
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The Second Battle of Ypres was fought on April 22nd – May 25th, 1915, in the town Ypres near western Belgium. German soldiers were fighting against the First Canadian division; this was also the first few battles where chlorine gas was introduced into war by the Germans, kicking off chemical warfare. The gas attack devastated the Canadian army, as many Canadian soldiers used clothes soaked in urine or water in a quick attempt to minimize damage from the gas.
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Men more controlled women; their salary belonged to men; they weren't allowed to get "Male Jobs", and were not allowed to vote. But as more men were sent off to war, women were accepted into the workforce, giving supplies to soldiers, which kicked off the women's movement, giving them equal rights.
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In 1917, The Russians started two revolutions, which would lead to more freedom and less pressure as imperial rules were torn down. They lived in a feudalistic society, with low pay 'peasants' had to fight for tooth and nail to stay afloat, while the nobility had it easy and cared little for others below them. In early 1971, the lower class repented, and after days of rioting, the army turned against the now ex-leader, Tsar. He gave up his power, and the soviet union was formed.
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Vimy ridge happened on April 9th to 12th 1917, in the northeast of Arras, western edge of the Douai Plain. It was the first war where all 4 Canadian divisions came together to take over the Germans. The battle was over; while Vimy ridge wasn't the most crucial war, it brought teamwork and harmony to the Canadian divisions that would benefit them later on.
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Commonly known as the Third Battle of Ypres, on April 9th to 12th 1917, The British and Canadian army managed the Capture German ground and soon declared victory. However, the battle did nothing to contribute to the war. And is seen as an extreme, unnecessary blood bathed event.
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In short, conscription was to force men to enlist in the army as many started to avoid signing up for the war. Many people who were not originally born in Canada (like the french), but lived in the country did not want to fight.
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Because of the war, funds were needed to give supplies and pay the soldiers' salaries. Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, passed the tax plan on September 20th 1917. This help funded the war effect going on in Canada.
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In the upcoming election, Prime Minister Borden thought about staying in power and keeping conscription enforced. He decided to let soldiers, wives and mothers of soldiers vote. As many are already at war, and they would like the extra help, and wives and mothers would support that in the hope that more soldiers will come back home instead of dead.
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The battle of the Somme was known as the biggest, bloodiest war that has ever happened today. It lasted from July 1st - November 18th in 1916. Britain and France's soldiers teamed up to help take down the German forces. By the end, over a million casualties happened on both sides; 423,000 from Britain, 200,000 from France, and 500,000 from the Germans. Britain and France managed to overpower the Germans and end up winning the battle.
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An armistice is an agreement made to stop a war. On November 11th, 1918, an armistice signed at Le Francport near Compiègne ended the war. Soldiers from all sides were drawn out of battle and sent home as the world began anew and was rebuilt.
