Causes of World War I1914-1918

AMERICA ENTERS IN 1917

Long-Term Causes of War Europe was in

so much conflict it was a powder keg waiting to explode and the powder inside was…› Militarism› Alliances› Industrialization› Nationalism

Militarism (glorification of the military)

European leaders knew there was a war coming so they start to prepare› Increase the size of their armies and

stockpile weapons (arms race)› Germany was the frontrunner and

Britain wanted to keep up› This guaranteed that the next war

was going to be deadly Machine guns, tanks, submarines, airplanes

Alliances (making friends)

Another way to prepare for war Allied Powers or Triple Entente: France, Russia,

and Great Britain…US later Central Powers or Triple Alliance: Germany,

Austria-Hungary, and Italy If one of these countries went to war then all of

them would go to war as well…would also ensure that war would be deadly

Imperialism (economic competition)

Fueled by imperialism (the more overseas colonies the wealthier a nation was)

Industrial output (out produce other countries)› Germany was

threatening America’s dominance

Nationalism (devotion to one’s nation)

Nations are starting to have pride in the majority ethnic group in their country› Countries reject that

they are collections of different ethnic groups

Fueled by Social Darwinism

Short Term Cause (Immediate Cause/Spark)

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary (A-H)

He and his wife were killed by Princip a Serbian nationalists (wanted Serbia to be part of Bosnia not A-H, also supported by the Allied Powers) who believed that the Archduke was a tyrant

A-H investigates…Serbians are non compliant…A-H declares war

Alliances are Tested

After A-H declared war there is a domino effect, in one short week a world war had started

Russia began to mobilize to help its ally Serbia…Germany declares war on Russia…France has Russia’s back and declares war on Germany…Germany invades neutral Belgium to get to France and then Great Britain declared war on Germany

Trench Warfare On each front (east and west) of Germany

trenches were dug in the ground for cover Led to deadly stalemate (nothing

happening) The area between two opposing trenches was

known as “no man’s land” because this was the most dangerous place to be

Solution: Mustard Gas was a new technology that could be used to attack the enemy without getting too close to the trenches…lingered on the battlefield for days› Leaves chemical burns (blisters) or can burn the

respiratory system if not fatal› Now a gas mask is part of a soldiers uniform

Trench Warfare & Technology

What Will America Do?

President Wilson encouraged America to be neutral (Washington’s suggestion)

Three Opinions of the War› Isolationists (aka Neutralists): the war is none of

our business, neutrality is American tradition and too many lives would be lost

› Interventionists: the war did affect America› Internationalists: took the middle road (Pres.

Wilson) But many Americans still chose sides and

were affected indirectly…many Americans were immigrants from the countries at war› Most side with Britain and France

America’s Neutrality is Tested ( Unrestricted Submarine Warfare)

Germany set up a blockade around Britain using u-boats or submarines…went undetected and unrestricted

Germany attacked British passenger liner the Lusitania…America is outraged but remained neutral

To keep the US out of the war, Germany promised, in the Sussex Pledge, not to sink passenger or merchant ships…they broke this promise

America Joins the Ranks

America Gets Ready for War

Expanded the size of the U.S. Army and started building more warships (militarism)

Wilson runs for a successful reelection in 1916 on the slogan “he kept us out of war”

America Abandons Neutrality

Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted by the British› Germany tries to gain

Mexico as an ally by giving back Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Mexico upon a German victory

Germany resumes its unrestricted submarine warfare (the straw that broke the camels back)

America declares war on Germany in 1917