World War I: Causes, Consequences, and the Treaty of Versailles

Causes of Imperialism

Economic Rivalry

Competition between countries for lands increased military expenditure.

Political Rivalry

New powers (USA and France), alliances, Balkans conflict.

Colonialism

• Industrial development = demographic growth - life improves
• Strategic moves
• Developed countries compete for dominance = suspicion between powers

Congress of Berlin

USA, Germany, Japan VS England

Portugal, Belgium, Italy: interested in African colonies (raw materials)

German Otto von Bismarck distributed Africa.

Consequences of Colonialism

For the Colonies

• No industrialization
• Land exploitation
• Imposition of conquering power
• Destruction of ethnic structures
• Artificial borders

For the Empires

• Development of industrialization
• Strategic moves
• Arms race
• Suspicion between powers
• Prestige
• Introduced and spread their culture

Causes of World War I

• Nationalistic fervor: Countries desired to be the best and most successful.
• Militarism: Germany and Russia built massive armies and navies.
• Acceptance of war as a means to achieve goals.
• Imperial rivalry: Germany sought a larger empire to rival Britain's.
• Alliance system: Countries pledged to defend each other in case of attack.

Consequences of World War I

• Emergence of the USA as a global power
• Exaltation of nationalism
• Disappearance of large empires
• Creation of the League of Nations

Phases of the War

Schlieffen Plan

To defeat France quickly and then fight Russia alone.

Reasons for failure:

• Brave Belgian resistance
• British intervention
• Russian preparedness
• Battle of Marne

Trench Warfare

Stalemate between the two armies in "No Man's Land."

Final Battles

At Sea

• Protecting supply ships from the USA
• Blockading enemy ports
• German use of U-boats
• British blockade of Germany

Russian Revolution

Heavy losses led to the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Russia signed a treaty with Germany and left the war.

In the Air

• British use of airships for escorting merchant ships
• German use of airships to attack British cities
• British development of fighter and attack aircraft

US Entry into the War

U-boat attacks on US supply ships led to the US joining the war and blockading German ports.

German Revolution

Germany became a republic.

Treaty of Versailles

Allied powers: France, Britain, and USA

Germany was deemed the main culprit of the war.

• Reparations: Germany had to pay for damages to France and Great Britain.
• Military restrictions: Germany's army was reduced.
• Loss of colonies
• Territorial losses to France
• Exclusion from the League of Nations

League of Nations

A peacekeeping organization initiated by US President Woodrow Wilson.