World War I: Causes, Events, Impact & Legacy

TAKEAWAYS:

• WWI was caused by alliances, militarism, imperialism, and nationalism (the "MAIN" causes).
• The war began with Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia after Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination.
• Trench warfare and new weapons (machine guns, tanks, poison gas) made WWI the deadliest conflict before WWII.
• The Treaty of Versailles (1919) punished Germany harshly, planting seeds for WWII.
• WWI reshaped global politics, ended empires (Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian), and created the League of Nations.
• Nepal remained neutral but faced economic and social changes due to the war’s global impact.

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Introduction: Why Did WWI Happen?

World War I (1914–1918) was the first global war in history. It involved 30+ countries and killed 20 million people. To understand it, we must look at its causes, key events, and consequences.

1. Causes of World War I (The "MAIN" Causes)

Use this mindmap to remember the four main causes:

Key Idea:

• Militarism: Countries built huge armies and navies, making war more likely.
• Alliances: Like a domino effect—if one country fought, its allies had to join.
• Imperialism: Fighting over colonies (e.g., Morocco Crisis, 1905–1911).
• Nationalism: Strong pride in one’s country led to conflicts (e.g., Serbia vs. Austria-Hungary).

Shows Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance (Image: historicair (French original) Fluteflute & User:Bibi Sai, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons)

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2. The Spark: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The immediate cause of WWI was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne) on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo (Bosnia).

Who Killed Him?

• Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Serbian nationalist (member of the Black Hand group).
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and gave it a harsh ultimatum (July 23, 1914).

How Did the War Start?

1. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (July 28, 1914).
2. Russia mobilized to defend Serbia (allied with Serbia).
3. Germany declared war on Russia (August 1) and then on France (August 3).
4. Germany invaded Belgium (neutral) to attack France → Britain declared war on Germany (August 4).

Result: The alliance system turned a small conflict into a world war.

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3. Key Events of WWI (1914–1918)

WWI had three main phases:

1. 1914–1916: Stalemate & Trench Warfare
2. 1917: Turning Points (USA joins, Russia quits)
3. 1918: Allied Victory

A. 1914–1916: Trench Warfare & New Weapons

• Soldiers fought in muddy trenches (long ditches) for years.
• No side could break through → stalemate.
• New weapons made war even deadlier:
  • Machine guns (killed hundreds in minutes)
  • Poison gas (mustard gas blinded/suffocated soldiers)
  • Tanks (first used by Britain in 1916)
  • Airplanes (used for spying and dogfights)

B. Major Battles

Key Idea:

• No side won in these battles → millions died for little land gain.
• Trench foot (from wet conditions) and shell shock (PTSD) were common.

C. 1917: Turning Points

1. Russia Quits the War (February Revolution)

   • Russia was weak due to food shortages and poor leadership.
   • Bolsheviks (Communists) took over (led by Vladimir Lenin).
   • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918): Russia gave up land to Germany and quit the war.

2. USA Joins the War (April 1917)

   • Germany used unrestricted submarine warfare (sinking US ships like the Lusitania).
   • US President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany.
   • Fresh troops and supplies helped the Allies win.

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4. End of the War (1918) & Treaty of Versailles

A. Germany’s Defeat (November 1918)

• Germany ran out of soldiers and food.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II fled, and Germany became a democracy.
• Armistice signed on November 11, 1918 → war ended.

B. Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The Allied leaders (USA, Britain, France) punished Germany:

• Germany had to:
  • Accept full blame (Article 231: "War Guilt Clause").
  • Pay huge reparations (£6.6 billion).
  • Give up colonies and land (Alsace-Lorraine to France, Danzig to Poland).
  • Reduce its army and navy.
• New countries created:
  • Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (from Austria-Hungary).
  • Turkey lost land (Middle East became British/French mandates).

Problems with the Treaty

✅ Good:

• Ended the war.
• Created the League of Nations (first global peace organization).

❌ Bad:

• Harsh terms humiliated Germany → led to Hitler’s rise and WWI.
• No real disarmament (Germany’s neighbors kept big armies).
• Colonial powers (Britain/France) took over Middle East (later caused conflicts).

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5. Impact of WWI on the World

A. Human Cost

• 20 million dead, 21 million wounded.
• Spanish Flu (1918) killed 50–100 million (worse than the war!).

B. Political Changes

• End of Empires:
  • Ottoman Empire → Turkey + Middle East mandates.
  • Austro-Hungarian Empire → Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia.
  • Russian Empire → Soviet Union (Communist).
• New Countries:
  • Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania became independent.
• Women’s Rights:
  • Women worked in factories → voting rights expanded (e.g., Britain in 1918).

C. Economic Changes

• USA became the world’s leading economy (Europe was poor).
• War debts: Germany owed money to Allies, Allies owed money to USA.

D. Nepal’s Experience

• Nepal stayed neutral (King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s policy of non-interference).
• Economic impact:
  • Salt trade declined (British blocked routes).
  • Army (Gurkhas) fought for Britain → some Nepali soldiers died.
• Social changes:
  • Returning Gurkha soldiers influenced Nepali society.
  • Western ideas spread (democracy, nationalism).

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6. Legacy of WWI

• Set the stage for WWII:
  • Treaty of Versailles made Germany angry → Hitler rose to power.
  • League of Nations failed (no real power to stop aggression).
• Changed warfare forever:
  • Tanks, airplanes, and machine guns became standard.
  • Total war: Governments controlled economies, propaganda, and people’s lives.
• Redrew the world map:
  • Colonialism weakened → led to decolonization after WWII.

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Exam Tip: How to Score Full Marks in NEB Exams

NEB exams on World War I usually ask:

1. Short questions (5–10 marks):

   • "What were the main causes of WWI?" → Use MAIN (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism).
   • "Why did the USA join WWI?" → Unrestricted submarine warfare, Lusitania sinking.
   • "What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?" → Blame, reparations, land loss, League of Nations.

2. Long questions (15–20 marks):

   • "Describe the major events of WWI." → Use timeline (1914–1918) with battles, alliances, turning points.
   • "What was the impact of WWI on Europe?" → Political (new countries), economic (USA rises), social (women’s rights).
   • "How did WWI lead to WWII?" → Treaty of Versailles → Hitler → Nazi Germany.

3. Map-based questions:

   • Label the Western Front, Eastern Front, and key battles (Marne, Somme, Verdun).
   • Show the spread of the war (how alliances dragged in more countries).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Memorizing dates without explanation → Always explain why a date matters. ❌ Ignoring causes/effects → NEB loves cause-and-effect questions. ❌ Forgetting Nepal’s role → Mention neutrality, Gurkha soldiers, economic impact.

Sample NEB-Style Questions & Answers

Question 1 (Short Answer – 5 marks)

"What were the immediate and long-term causes of World War I?"

Answer: Immediate Cause:

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914) by Gavrilo Princip (Serbian nationalist).

Long-term Causes (MAIN):

1. Militarism: Arms race between Germany and Britain (dreadnought battleships).
2. Alliances: Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain) vs. Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).
3. Imperialism: Competition over colonies (Morocco Crisis, 1905–1911).
4. Nationalism: Serbia wanted independence from Austria-Hungary; France wanted revenge for 1871 defeat.

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Question 2 (Long Answer – 15 marks)

"Describe the major events of World War I from 1914 to 1918. How did the war end?"

Answer: World War I (1914–1918) can be divided into three phases:

1. 1914: Outbreak & Stalemate

   • July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
   • August 1914: Germany invaded Belgium → Britain joined.
   • Battle of Marne (Sept 1914): Germany failed to defeat France → trench warfare began.

2. 1915–1916: War of Attrition

   • Gallipoli Campaign (1915): Allied failure in Turkey.
   • Battle of Verdun (1916): 10-month battle, 300,000+ deaths (Germany vs. France).
   • Battle of Somme (1916): 1 million casualties; tanks used for first time.

3. 1917: Turning Points

   • February Revolution (Russia): Bolsheviks took over → Russia quit war (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918).
   • USA joined (April 1917): Helped Allies with troops and supplies.

4. 1918: Allied Victory

   • Germany launched final offensive (Spring 1918) but failed.
   • November 11, 1918: Armistice signed → war ended.
   • Treaty of Versailles (1919): Germany blamed, punished, and disarmed.

How the War Ended:

• Germany ran out of soldiers and resources.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated → Germany became a democracy.
• Allied forces (including USA) pushed Germany back.
• Armistice signed on November 11, 1918 at 11 AM ("11/11 at 11").

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Question 3 (Map-Based – 10 marks)

*"On the outline map of Europe, mark and label the following:

1. Western Front
2. Eastern Front
3. Battle of Marne
4. Battle of Somme
5. Battle of Verdun"*

Answer: (Since we can’t draw here, here’s how to do it in the exam:)

1. Western Front: Draw a line from Belgium to Switzerland (France-Germany border).
2. Eastern Front: Draw a line from Poland to Romania (Germany-Russia border).
3. Battle of Marne: Mark near Paris, France (1914).
4. Battle of Somme: Mark near Amiens, France (1916).
5. Battle of Verdun: Mark near Verdun, France (1916).

Tip: Use different colors for Allied vs. Central Powers and label clearly.

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Final Revision Checklist

Before the exam, revise: ✔ MAIN causes (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism). ✔ Key dates: 1914 (start), 1917 (USA/Russia changes), 1918 (end). ✔ Major battles: Marne, Somme, Verdun, Gallipoli. ✔ Treaty of Versailles terms (blame, reparations, League of Nations). ✔ Nepal’s role (neutrality, Gurkhas, economic impact).

Good luck! 🚀 You’ve got this!