War in Europe

Causes of the War in Europe Nationalism Economic Rivalries and Imperialism The Alliance System Militarism Nationalism- pride in ones nation or its superitority will lead to conflicts. Some ethnic groups became nationalistic and demanded their own country ex: austria-hungary, many ethnic groups wanted to break apart help leading to war. Imperialism- german industrialization threatened British economic supremecy, Russian desire to expand their influence over the Balkans threatened both Austria- Hungary and the Ottoman Turks, Alliance System- separated into two main alliance systems- Germany and Austria-Hungary and other side Russia, France and GB. Any dispute involving one of these countries inevitably involved all of them. Militarism- arms races- who has the strongest, best , and smartest military, also lived of the idea whoever attacked first had a better chance of winning the war.

Inciting Incident Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand June 28, 1914 Central Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Turks Allied Powers- Britain, France, Russia and eventually the US Archduke- heir to the throne of Austria Hungary, was assassinated by a Slavic nationalist. Austria mad at Serbia so invaded. Alliances step in- Russia backed Serbia, Germany supported Austria-Hungary, France was Russias friend, Germany marched through neiutral Belgium (protected by GB) GB also got involved.

Fighting in Europe Trench Warfare Tanks Chemical Warfare- Poison Gas Naval Blockade Airplanes Not sure how to deal with machine guns- so dug trenches, created no-mans land, verydangerous, trenchfoot. Tanks- still new and unable to break through trenches Used chemical warfare instead- mustard gas Naval blockade- GB blockaded Germany, in response Germany used their submarines to sink ships bringing supplies to the US Airplanes- reconnaissance, - not a super important role till later wars

Trench foot

Causes of American Involvement Cultural Ties German atrocities and allied Propaganda Isolation of the central powers Cultural ties- traced ancestry to Britain or allied powers, same political system- democracy, Propaganda- German military marched through neutral Belgium, exaggerated stories of german soldiers cutting off childrens hands, and slicing babies with bayonets. Isolation- bc the germans were blocked off and could not get their side of the story to America the US only heard the allied version of events

Causes of American Involvement (cont’d) German Submarine Warfare Sinking of the Lusitania The “Sussex Pledge” Unrestricted submarine warfare- Jan 1917 Zimmerman Telegram American Idealism Germans used submairines bc their navy was not strong enough to take on the british navy head to head- stopped merchant ships coming into GB, americans felt this violated freedom of the seas- even though most American ships were not targeted. Lusitania- british passanger shipped that sailed from New York, had Americans on board, ship sank in 18 minutes not fast enough to get everyone off on the life boats, 128 americans killed, Wilson refused to declare war over the issue but americans were furious Sussex pledge- Sussex- unarmed French passanger ship, Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany, german government promised not to sink any more passanger or merchant ships without proper warning or making provisions for the passangers. Germany agreed to these terms oly if the US convinced the Allied powers to lift the naval blockade of Germany, Germany knew that after the Sussex pledge bringing back unrestricted warfare would lead to war with the US but in Jan of 1917 Russia was almost defeated on the eastern front and France wasn’t looking so good on the western front so they figured if they brught back unrestricted submarine warfare they could defeat France and GB before the US could mobilize for war. Zimmerman telegram- telegram intercepted written by the foreign minister of Germany to Mexico, promising the lands on New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas back if they allied with the Germans and attacked the Americans American idealism- protection of democracy- our job. In March of 1917 Germans sank several unarmed American merchant vessels and Wilson finally gave in asking Congress for a declaration of war in April of 1917- it passed