Origins of World War I

Origins of World War I Objective: The student will describe the movement from U.S. neutrality to engagement in World War I, with reference to unrestricted submarine warfare. Essential Question: What were the origins of World War I? Vocabulary: neutrality, engagement, unrestricted submarine warfare

CAUSES FOR WWI Nationalism Militarism Imperialism Alliances

Nationalism a devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation

Militarism the policy of building up armed forces in aggressive preparedness for war and their use as a tool of diplomacy

Imperialism a nation takes control over a weaker one

Alliance System A system established for military cooperation of agreed nations to prevent the attack of an opposing nation Set-up by Metternich at the Congress of Vienna after Napoleon tried to rule Europe as a French Dictator Two major defense alliances in Europe

European Defense Alliance Triple Entente France Britain Russia Triple Alliance Germany Austria-Hungary Italy

European Defense Alliance Triple Entente will become the Allies Italy will leave the Triple Alliance and join the Entente Triple Alliance will become the Central Powers After Italy leaves, Germany and Austria-Hungary will agree to an alliance with the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire controlled mostly Middle Eastern lands

Alliances During WWI Allies Central Powers Australia Belgium Great Britain British colonies Canada & Newfoundland France French North Africa & French Colonies Greece India Italy Japan Montenegro New Zealand Portugal Romania Russia Serbia South Africa United States Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire

World War I June 28, 1914- A Serbian terrorist assassinates Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife. July 23- Austria threatens war with Serbia and invades four days later. August 1- Austria’s ally, Germany declares war against Russia, Serbia’s ally. August 3- Germany declares war against France, Russia’s ally and immediately begins an invasion of neutral Belgium b/c it’s the fastest route to Paris. August 4- Great Britain, an ally of France, declares war against Germany. Central Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire Allied Powers- Great Britain, France, Russia (Italy joined in 1915, the US joined in 1917

WAR TACTICS Trench warfare Machine guns Tanks

The Somme Total allied dead and wounded: 623,907 Total German dead and wounded: 465,000

Woodrow Wilson 28th President 1913-1921 Democrat “The Man of the Hour”

The United States in WWI President Woodrow Wilson initially proclaimed the neutrality of the United States. Declared America would stay Neutral in a struggle happening 3,000 miles away and did not threaten American lives nor property

German’s U-boat Lusitania

Germany’s Submarine Warfare May 17, 1915- German submarines torpedoed and sunk the Lusitania, a British passenger liner. Most of the passengers, including 128 Americans, drowned. March 1916- an unarmed merchant ship, the Sussex was torpedoed, injuring several Americans. Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany. Germany backed down and promised to not to sink ships without giving due warning.

Sussex Pledge 1916 US warned that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed its tactics Germany agreed with a condition: US had to persuade Britain to lift its blockade of food and fertilizers or Germany would resume unrestricted submarine warfare

Election of 1916 Democrat: Woodrow Wilson “He Kept us out of the War” Republican: Charles Evans Hughes (Supreme Court Justice) Election returns were very close Wilson won “a peace without victory…a peace between equals” Harsh punishments should not be imposed on the other

The US Decides to Enter the War Here’s why: January 1917- Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson cuts off diplomatic relations. In early March they sunk 5 unarmed US merchant ships March 1- News broke of the Zimmerman telegram, a secret offer from Germany to Mexico that proposed that Mexico ally itself with Germany in exchange for aid in recovering lost territories April 6, 1917- Congress issued a declaration or war against Germany.

“Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind. We are glad to fight for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples. The world must be safe for democracy. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful nation into war, but the right is more precious than peace.” -President Woodrow Wilson _______________________________________ Question: Do you think that the United States was doing the right thing when it entered World War One? Why or why not?