From Isolation to Involvement to World Power WORLD WAR I From Isolation to Involvement to World Power

Terms to know ISOLATIONISM: a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries NATIONALISM: The belief that one’s country is better than another IMPERIALISM: The desire to expand one’s country by taking over colonies or smaller countries ALLIANCE: An association of people, groups or nations working together for a specific purpose MILITARISM: The collection of weapons in order to prepare for war or armed conflict NEUTRAL: not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others SUBMARINE: a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water WARFARE: the process of military struggle between two nations or groups of nations

TIMELINE MAY 1915 – GERMAN U-BOAT SINKS LUSITANIA A BRITISH PASSENGER SHIP; 2,000 ARE KILLED – 128 ARE AMERICANS JANUARY 1917 – ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM SENT TO MEXICO FROM GERMANY; PROMISES TO GIVE BACK LAND LOST IN MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR (TEXAS, ARIZONA, AND NEW MEXICO) IF MEXICO WILL JOINS GERMANY IN THE WAR MEXICO DECLINES – US HAS ALREADY JOINED THE ALLIED POWERS (APRIL 1917 DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY) FALL OF 1918 – CENTRAL POWERS SURRENDER PRESIDENT WILSON PREPARES PEACE PLAN – 14 POINTS WHICH CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS – AN INTERANATIONAL PEACEKEEPING ORGANIZATION

THE PLAYERS ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS Great Britain France Russia Serbia Belgium Later the US CENTRAL POWERS Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire

REASONS THE US GETS INVOLVED IN WWI US ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES TO GREAT BRITAIN US IS UNABLE TO REMAIN NEUTRAL SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM

WHAT WAS THEIR ROLE? US: PROPOSED 14 POINTS AND CALLED FOR THE FORMATION OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS GERMANY: SANK THE LUSITANIA AND SENT THE ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM OTTOMAN EMPIRE: JOINED WITH AUSTRIA-HUNGARY AS MEMBER OF CENTRAL POWERS RUSSIA: JOINED BRITISH EMPIRE AS A MEMBER OF THE ALLIED POWERS

Sinking of the Lusitania

Germany whispering promises Zimmermann telegram Germany whispering promises to Mexico

COMPARE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR WITH WORLD WAR I *US WON *NO BATTLES FOUGHT ON US SOIL *US ENTERED TO HELP OTHERS WORLD WAR I *US WON *NO BATTLES FOUGHT ON US SOIL *US ENTERED TO HELP OTHERS

LEAGUE OF NATIONS ORGANIZED TO KEEP PEACE AMONG NATIONS INCLUDED IN THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES BEGAN AT THE END OF WWI US DID NOT JOIN BECAUSE SENATE FAILED TO RATIFY TREATY

14 POINTS 14 POINTS PEACE PLAN LEAGUE OF NATIONS

To sum it up… After the Spanish American War the US became imperialist (seeking to gather other countries to control). However, by WWI the US had become isolationist (not wanting to get involved in the affairs of other countries). The US was dragged into WWI because it could no longer stay neutral after the sinking of the Lusitania and after they intercepted the Zimmermann Telegram which was sent from Germany to Mexico asking for their help in return for US land; as well as the need to support Great Britain with whom the US had strong political and economic ties. When all was said and done, the Central Powers surrendered in the Fall of 1918 and the stage was set for the US to become a global superpower later in the 20th century.