WORLD WAR ONE1914-1918

Four M.A.I.N

Militarism Alliance system Imperialism Nationalism

The Spark

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Following this event Germany offered Austria-

Hungary a “blank check” Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Because of alliance Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany declares war on Russia.

Begins in August 1914

The game plan

Players Central Powers: Serbia, France, England,

Russia. Italy, and U.S (1917) Triple Entente(Allied): Austria-Hungary,

Germany, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire(Turkey)

Plans Germany

Schlieffen Plan

What type of war?

Stalemate and Slaughter(1915) Causalities on the Western Front:

France: 1.2 Million Germany: 612,000 England: 279,000

In 1915 no sides gained more than three miles of territory

Trench warfare “over the top” Charges

Where is America?

Neutral Rights We will engage with commerce with who ever

we want and we are NEUTRAL! We eventually become one-sided, siding with

England

America joins the war

Why we join the war Sinking of the Lusitania

Sussex Pledge: Germany said they would not sink boats

America said that was an infraction of neutral rights and that there should be freedom of the seas

Zimmerman Telegraph Between Germany and Mexico telling them to

attack America

Food for thought

With America joining the war so late, what impact could they possibly have?

Which of the two cause discussed in class do you think had the biggest impact on America decision to join the war?