3. Origins of World War I
Causes of WWI
Imperialism: European competition for trade & territory in Africa, Asia, &
Pacific
Fed militarism (glorification of the military)
Nations built up forces (protection & glory)
Military leaders gained influence in governments
Nationalism: (pride in one’s nation or ethnic group)
Boosted tensions
National groups sought freedom from Austria-Hungary
Serbians & Balkan nationalists (powder keg of Europe)
Alliance System: formed as tensions mounted
Germany & Austria-Hungary
France, Britain, & Russia
Conflict between 2, would soon involve others
War Begins
June 28, 1914
Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary
throne
A-H accused Serbia of supporting terrorism; declared war on July 29
20 countries became involved
Allies: led by France, Britain, & Russia
Central Powers: led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, & the Ottoman Empire
4. The Deadliest War
Quick victory sought by both sides
September
Germany: 30 miles from Paris, France
1st Battle of Marne
French & British halted German advance
Area became known as Western Front
Fighting settled into a long stalemate w/ trench warfare
Charges on the enemy resulted in mass casualties as both
sides fought back & forth over the same piece of land
5. Technological Advances
Made war more lethal
Airplanes: scouting & ground support
Armored tanks
Machine Guns
Heavy artillery
Poison gas: most feared
1st used by Germans
Caused choking, blinding, severe skin blisters
Banned by 140 nations after the war
6. American Neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson
Issued proclamation of strict & impartial neutrality
Ethnic Loyalties
Americans supported ethnic group
German Americans: central powers
Irish: central powers; hated England
British propaganda
Used to win American support
Spread of information designed to win support for a
cause
Focused on Germany’s brutal treatment of Belgians
7. Supplying the Allies
American firms
Could sell to both sides
Most traded w/ Allies
Banks also lent to Allies
British blockade
Stopped supplies from reaching Germany
Wilson agreed w/ blockade only if British bought more
American cotton to make up lost sales w/ Germany
8. The Lusitania
Germany’s navy
Few surface vessels to impose blockade
Large supply of U-boats
1905
Germany announces use of U-boats to blockade Britain
May 7, 1915
Lusitania sunk by German U-Boat
1,200 people died
128 Americans
President Wilson & American public were outraged
Germany said Lusitania was carrying ammunition to
England
Germany announced U-boats would no longer target
passenger liners fearing U.S. entering the war
9. Entering the War
November 1916
Wilson reelected under slogan “he kept us out of war”
Tried to make peace with warring powers
Attempt failed
Germany continued unrestricted U-boat attacks in
February 1916
Wanted to cut off British supplies from U.S.
Break stalemate on Western Front
U.S. cut diplomatic ties w/ Germany
10. Zimmermann Telegram
February 24
British intercepted German
telegraph
Wilson was shown telegraph
Germany proposed Mexico to
join the war on Germany’s
side
Germany would help Mexico
re-conquer New Mexico, Texas,
& Arizona
Released to press on March 1
Americans were outraged
Ready for war after U-boats
sank 3 American merchant
ships
11. Russian Revolution
March 1917
Military defeats & food shortages led to an uprising
Russian tsar overthrown
New gov’t vowed to keep Russia out of War
U.S. could now enter the war
Joined Allied powers
Did not side w/ a tyrant
Sided w/ other democracies to fight tyranny
12. Declaring War
April 2
Wilson asked Congress to
declare war on Central
Powers
Goal:
To fight “…for the rights of
nations great and small
and the privilege of men
everywhere to choose their
way of life and of
obedience. The world
must be made safe for
democracy.”