The Beginning of WWI Ch 19.1

Causes of WWI  M- Militarism  A- Alliances  I- Imperialism  N- Nationalism  M- Militarism  A- Alliances  I- Imperialism  N- Nationalism

Militarism  Increased military spending occurring because of imperialism and nationalism  Country’s tried to out do each other with their military  Militarism and use of armed forces became a popular tool of diplomacy  Germany had the biggest military  They had a draft and training standards  Germany became an issue when they expanded their navy and threatened Britain  Naval order came from Kaiser Wilhelm II  Arms race occurred between Britain, Germany, U.S., France, Italy, and Japan  Increased military spending occurring because of imperialism and nationalism  Country’s tried to out do each other with their military  Militarism and use of armed forces became a popular tool of diplomacy  Germany had the biggest military  They had a draft and training standards  Germany became an issue when they expanded their navy and threatened Britain  Naval order came from Kaiser Wilhelm II  Arms race occurred between Britain, Germany, U.S., France, Italy, and Japan

Alliances  Triple Entente (Allies)  France, Britain, and Russia  Triple Alliance (Central Powers)  Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy  Alliances created a form of international security  Triple Entente (Allies)  France, Britain, and Russia  Triple Alliance (Central Powers)  Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy  Alliances created a form of international security

Imperialism  Countries had been building their own empires around the world  Using economic, political, and military control everywhere  Countries were running out of land to claim  Countries had been building their own empires around the world  Using economic, political, and military control everywhere  Countries were running out of land to claim

Nationalism  Nationalism: devotion to ones own countries interest above any others  Led to rivalries among nations  Ethnic countries wanted independence or protection  Nationalism: devotion to ones own countries interest above any others  Led to rivalries among nations  Ethnic countries wanted independence or protection

Issues in the Balkan Peninsula  There is instability within the countries of the Balkan peninsula (ethnic rivalries)  Russia wants to go through to get to the Mediterranean  Germany wants to build a railroad  In 1878 Austria Hungary takes over Bosnia and then accuses of Serbia of trying to interfere  All of these issues leads to the “powder keg” of Europe  There is instability within the countries of the Balkan peninsula (ethnic rivalries)  Russia wants to go through to get to the Mediterranean  Germany wants to build a railroad  In 1878 Austria Hungary takes over Bosnia and then accuses of Serbia of trying to interfere  All of these issues leads to the “powder keg” of Europe

Assassination tips the Balance  June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir of Austria) is visiting Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)  Ferdinand is shot by Gavrilo Princip (member of the Black hand, Serbian nationalist group)  July 28, 1914 Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia (think it will be a short war)  But.. Alliances take Effect:  August 1Germany declares war on Russia  August 3 Germany declares war on France  Germany invades Belgium on August 3  Great Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary  June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir of Austria) is visiting Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)  Ferdinand is shot by Gavrilo Princip (member of the Black hand, Serbian nationalist group)  July 28, 1914 Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia (think it will be a short war)  But.. Alliances take Effect:  August 1Germany declares war on Russia  August 3 Germany declares war on France  Germany invades Belgium on August 3  Great Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary

The Fighting Begins  Germany’s strategy: Schlieffen Plan  Germany would split their army  1 st group to take action against Russia  2 nd group to take action against Belgium to capture French Paris  Both armies would combine to take Russia  Belgium is lost but Allies are able to try and save Paris at the Marne River in France  At the Marne both sides dig in trenches to wait each other out  Germany’s strategy: Schlieffen Plan  Germany would split their army  1 st group to take action against Russia  2 nd group to take action against Belgium to capture French Paris  Both armies would combine to take Russia  Belgium is lost but Allies are able to try and save Paris at the Marne River in France  At the Marne both sides dig in trenches to wait each other out

Trench Warfare  Stalemate as each side waits on the other  Three kinds of trenches: Front line, support, and reserve  Dugouts (underground rooms) were used as officers rooms  Area between the trenches was called “no mans land”  Filled with barbed wire, shell craters, and machine gun fire  Stalemate as each side waits on the other  Three kinds of trenches: Front line, support, and reserve  Dugouts (underground rooms) were used as officers rooms  Area between the trenches was called “no mans land”  Filled with barbed wire, shell craters, and machine gun fire

Gruesome War  First battle was the Battle of Somme on July 1, 1916  60,000 British died on the 1 st day  The battles that follow have the same pattern of high death with stalemate  First battle was the Battle of Somme on July 1, 1916  60,000 British died on the 1 st day  The battles that follow have the same pattern of high death with stalemate

American Neutrality  We have no reason for war  New immigrants (Irish and German) have sympathies with the Central Powers  We appeal more to Britain because of our economic ties  We have no reason for war  New immigrants (Irish and German) have sympathies with the Central Powers  We appeal more to Britain because of our economic ties

Reasons for U.S. to go to War  Ensure Allie repayments to the U.S.  Prevent Germans from threatening U.S. shipping  British blockade on German ports prevent U.S. from trade  Germany responds using U-Boats  Any boat around Britain would be sunk  Germans sink the Lustiania (had 128 American passengers  Zimmerman Note  Telegram from German foreign minister to Mexican ambassador  Proposed alliance between Mexico and Germany  If Mexicans turned against the U.S., if Germany won they would get Mexico their lost land  Ensure Allie repayments to the U.S.  Prevent Germans from threatening U.S. shipping  British blockade on German ports prevent U.S. from trade  Germany responds using U-Boats  Any boat around Britain would be sunk  Germans sink the Lustiania (had 128 American passengers  Zimmerman Note  Telegram from German foreign minister to Mexican ambassador  Proposed alliance between Mexico and Germany  If Mexicans turned against the U.S., if Germany won they would get Mexico their lost land

Election of 1916  Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, ran with slogan “He kept us out of War.”  Charles Evans Hughes is Republican nominee  Wilson wins  U.S. declares war on April2, 1917  Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, ran with slogan “He kept us out of War.”  Charles Evans Hughes is Republican nominee  Wilson wins  U.S. declares war on April2, 1917