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Nationalism
Nationalism is the belief that one country is better than the other countries. German nationalism is called Weltpolitik, the idea that Germany would become a world power. Germany grew jealous of the British and French empires and because of this, Germany wanted to exert more control. -
Alliances
The alliances that countries made with each other caused the war to become a world war. For example, Germany was an ally to Austria-Hungary. When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Germany also entered World War One because of their alliance with Austria-Hungary. Germany was a close ally with Austria-Hungary since 1879. -
Militarism
Between 1890 and 1913, many nations began to build up their military power. Military spending increased. Powerful nations started building up their armies and navies so that they would not be outdone by the nations they were competing with. An example of militarism was Great Britain. British militarism was needed for the interests of the nation. The British Navy was one of the largest in the world at the time. Military leaders and soldiers fighting for Great Britain were praised and glorified. -
Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country conquers a territory and forces a country with less power to be subject to them. For example the British Empire had control over India, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and countries in the African continent by 1900. British imperialism was focused on trade and Britain's world power was strengthened by their Navy. -
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia were assassinated on June 1914 by Gavrilo Princip. This event led up to World War One. -
Germany's Blank Check to Austria- Hungary
Germany was allies with Austria- Hungary before World War 1. When Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated, Wilhelm the Second promised Austria that Germany would support them with a "blank check", which meant that Germany would aid Austria-Hungary if there was a war between Austria- Hungary and Serbia. -
World War One begins
World War One started as a war between Austria- Hungary and Serbia. But because of the complex system of allies, this caused many other nations to enter the war. Great Britain got involved in the war when Germany attacked France by moving through Belgium. Since Britain and Belgium were allies, this caused Britain to get involved in the war. The war was fought on the western front of Germany and France and on the eastern front with Germany and Russia. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British ocean liner. It was attacked when the German U-boat fired a torpedo. The torpedo hit the side of the boat and began to sink. After about 20 minutes the Lusitania had sunk. Only 761 of the 1,959 people aboard the ship survived. Americans were outraged when they heard that this passenger ship had been sunk. This event propelled the United States to join the Allies in the war against Germany. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a telegram sent from the German foreign office to Mexico that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico. If Mexico would ally with Germany against the United States, in exchange Mexico would gain the US territory of New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. -
Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare
In 1917, Germany returned to its use of unrestricted submarine warfare. Since the British navy was blockading Germany in hopes to starve them, the Germans returned to the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. They hoped to break the British blockade of German supply ports and knock the British out of the war within a year. -
US entry into World War One
The Zimmerman Note was the event that lead the US into World War One. The US Army was built up quickly because of the draft and volunteers. The newly arrived troops from the US helped boost the morale of the Allies. Because of this the Allies were able to defeat the Germans. -
Effects of World War One
Because of World War One, the US was established as global economic world power. The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War One was more than 41 million- 18 million dead and 23 million wounded. As the Austria- Hungary empire dissolved, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia were created. World War One also caused disillusionment, fear, insecurity, and despair in people. This resulted in the "Lost Generation", the generation that came after World War One. -
Treaty of Versailles
This treaty was signed on June 28, 1919 and it ended World War One. This treaty forced Germany to accept responsibility for the war and to pay reparations to the allies. This treaty made the Germans angry. The Germans felt it was unfair since they had to take the blame for the war and pay the reparations to the other countries. -
Dawes Plan and Young Plan
In the Dawes plan, USA loaned money to Germany, Germany used that money to pay reparations to France and Great Britain, and Britain and France used the reparation money that Germany gave them to repay the war loans that they owed to the United States. In 1929, the Young Plan reduced Germany's reparation payments and extended the time that Germany had to pay them. The Wiemar Republic is established in Germany after World War One. When US banks stop loaning money to Germany the republic collapses. -
The Great Depression
There were many causes that contributed to the Great Depression. One cause was the Stock Market crash of 1929. When stocks fell, people began to panic and sell their stocks. Another cause of the Great Depression was the failure of the banking system. Many people used credit to buy things they couldn't afford, and when people began to withdraw their money from the banks, banks failed because they did not have the money on hand. -
Hitler's rise to power
After World War One, Hitler entered into German politics. As Hitler became more powerful, he joined the Nazi Party and soon after became the leader of it. In 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and became the dictator of Germany.
