11.1 World War 1 Begins

WWI Begins Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated August 1914 by Serbian terrorists Austria’s ally Germany declared war on Russia, Serbia’s ally Germany then declared war on France, Russia’s ally Basically, everyone was using Ferdinand’s death as an excuse to play with their militaries

WWI Begins

WWI Begins

All Quiet on the Western Front Book written by Erich Maria Remarque, a German WWI veteran

All Quiet on the Western Front

The U.S. waits… U.S. wanted to trade with both sides of the war But the “Allies” (Britain and France) more than the Central Powers Britain blockaded the Central Powers, Germany responded with its “U-boats” U-boat = “unterseeboot”

The U.S. waits… Germans sinking the Lusitania and the Sussex upset us b/c there were U.S. citizens on board But we still stayed out of the war

The U.S. waits… Wilson pushed for isolationism: attempting to stay out of political/military involvement with other countries What evidence of isolationism do you see in the primary sources below?

Zimmermann Telegram/’note’ February 1917, we intercepted telegram between Zimmermann (in Mexico) and his German bosses This was the last straw and pushed us into the war

Zimmermann Telegram/’note’ ACT words of the day: Endeavor Adherence What policy did Germany plan on beginning in February 1917? What would Mexico have gained by joining the alliance with Germany? What other country would Germany have liked to invite to this alliance? If you had been an American citizen in 1917 and saw the Zimmerman Telegram printed in a newspaper, how would it have affected your opinion of the war?