Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in Europe led to rising tensions prior to World War 1. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 resulted in countries taking sides in the war as either part of the Allied or Central Powers. The US initially remained neutral but increasing attacks on US shipping by German U-boats led the US to enter the war in 1917 on the side of the Allies. After the war ended in 1918, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany in an attempt to assign blame and prevent future wars.

2. ▪ Militarism- Build up of armies and navies
▪ Alliances- Nations organized against each other
▪ Imperialism- Competition for markets and colonies
▪ Nationalism- Belief your country is the best
 ASSASSINATION OF
ARCHDUKE FERDINAND

4.  1914 a man from Serbia killed Austria-
Hungarian heir to throne Archduke Ferdinand
 CENTRAL POWERS - Austria-Hungary;
Germany; Bulgaria; Ottoman Empire
 ALLIED POWERS- Serbia; Russia; France
Great Britain

7.  German-American and Irish-American
immigrants wanted US to back Central
Powers
 Many Americans disliked autocratic leader in
Germany
 America remained neutral

9.  December 1914 National Security
League
 train men for combat
 make sure people are ready for war
 make sure people are patriotic

10. Even though the US proclaimed its
neutrality it began to trade more
and more with Allied powers.
Germany warned US it would use its
U-Boats to sink American ships
transporting ammunition

12. U-Boat = submarines
May 7,1915 Germans sink British
passenger liner Lusitania
 *Cause of American Entrance Into War
Killed 1,200 passengers 128
Americans

16.  On May 24,1916 Germans sink French
passenger ship Sussex
 US threatened to cut off diplomatic
relations with Germany if they didn’t
stop submarine warfare

18.  Britain intercepts a telegram from
Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign
secretary to Mexico
 Telegram offers Mexico help if they fight
the United States

26. Liberty Bonds were sold to pay for
war
People could redeem the bonds
after war with interest
$20 Billion was raised

29.  With less immigrants coming to
America factories turned to African
Americans and Mexican Americans to
work
 500,000 African Americans left the
South for Northern cities

30. 400,000 women joined the
workforce
1918 Congress proposes the
Suffrage Amendment
August 24,1920 Amendment
becomes law

34.  People began to distrust anything
related to Germany
 Changed German sounding names,
burned books
 Attacked and lynched people of German
ancestry

35.  Espionage Act of 1917
 Crime to interfere with draft
 Crime to mail “treasonous” materials
 Sedition Act of 1918
 Crime to say or publish anything bad about the
government, constitution, flag, or military

36.  Supreme Court rules free speech can be
restricted during wartime
 Clear and present danger
 “fire” in a movie theater

37.  1917 Russian Revolution
 Communist state established
 Russia out of war
 Fear communism will sweep through US

39.  November 1918 war ends
 Allies win
 Paris Peace Conference Jan. 1919
 Meeting of world leaders to discuss peace

40.  Woodrow Wilson’s plan for peace
 No secret diplomacy
 Freedom of seas
 Free trade
 Reduce arms
 Self-Determination
 League of Nations

42.  Germany loses
 Blamed for war
 Reparations
 Loss of military
 Loss of land
 Loss of colonies

44.  Many fear it will pull US into more wars
 Senate does not approve Treaty of Versailles
 US not in League of Nations

46.  US- largest creditor
 Countries owe US $
 European nations can’t pay
 The Dawes Plan
 US lends money to Germany
 Germany pays reparations
 Allies pay US

47.  Kellogg-Briand Pact
 1928 15 nations meet and sign pact
 War outlawed except in self-defense

48.  Senate rejected Treaty
 July 2, 1921 Congress votes to end war
 Congress ratifies separate peace treaties
with Germany, Austria and Hungary