On June 28, 1914, an assassination in the Balkans created an international crisis, igniting a European powder keg created by nationalism, massive military buildups, complex alliances, and imperial rivalries. By August, Europe was at war. The widespread use of trench warfare on the Western Front in France created a destructive stalemate that lasted four years. The introduction of new weapons, including heavy artillery, tanks, machine guns, and poison gas, produced casualty levels that dwarfed those of previous wars.
What will they want you to know next year?
Lesson 1: World War I Begins
Causes of the War
Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, and Alliances
Internal Dissent
The Outbreak of War
Assassination in Sarajevo and Responses
The Conflict Broadens
Lesson 2: World War I
1914 to 1915: Illusions and Stalemate
The Western Front
The Eastern Front
Trench and Air Warfare
A World War
Widening of the War
Entry of the United States
The Impact of Total War
Increased Government Powers
Manipulation of Public Opinion
Total War and Society
Lesson 3: The Russian Revolution
Background to Revolution
Lenin and the Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks Seize Power
Civil War in Russia
Triumph of the Communists
Lesson 4: World War I Ends
The Last Year of the War
Collapse and Armistice
Revolutionary Forces
The Peace Settlements
Wilson's Proposals
The Paris Peace Conference
The Treaty of Versailles
The Legacies of the War
Chapter Note-Taking Guide
Chapter Study Guide
Chapter Place and Time
Chapter Skillbuilder
Lessons in text-only form
Lesson 27-1
Lesson 27-2
Lesson 27-3
Lesson 27-4