Group 1 Presentation: "From Neutrality to War" By Michael Beloshitsky, Gaej Edwards, Danny DeNike, Alessia Cucchi, Brennan Condill, and Anna Bjoeraas

What Were the Causes of World War 1? Nationalism-many countries thought they were better than each other and wanted to take over other nations to make their nations reign supreme.  Militarism-the European countries increased their navies and armies. It all ended with a battle at sea for Britain and Germany, and land for Germany, France, and Russia. Alliances-There were two alliances: The Triple Alliance- German, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (though they did not really fight); and the Triple Entente- Russia, France, and Great Britain. The Assassination-Ethnic Serbs did not believe Francis Ferdinand was the rightful heir to the Austria-Hungary; so one by the name of Gavrilo Princip shot him and his wife, Sophie.

Alliances cause a chain reaction. The Alliance system was a cause of many in WWI.  The alliance was Serbia and Russia.  Another alliance was Germany and Austria-Hungry Russia soon declared war on Austria-Hungry in 1914 Germany declared war on Russia soon after.

Technology  Airplanes, products of new tech, made of canvas, wood, and wire. Can be easily shot down by artillery Machine guns and Artillery gave a huge advantage for armies on the defensive  British mark 1 tanks were the first to go into battle in WW1 not very successful as they would break down and get stuck in mud

Trench Warfare wasn’t only a harsh form of combat, soldiers would often contract "trench foot" from standing for hours in wet, muddy trenches Soldiers also contracted lice from the millions of rats that infested the trenches They lived in constant fear, afraid to pop their heads out of the ground and always aware that their next offensive could be their last Even on a quiet day, soldiers could be killed by snipers or a surprise gas attack Video of Life in the Trenches https://www.history.com/news/life-in-the- trenches-of-world-war-i What is Trench Warfare?

What is a Blockade? A blockade is an effort to cut off supplies, war materials or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. The picture to the right shows Britain's blockade on Germany to starve Germany and Austria-Hungary into submission.

A U-Boat was a German submarine used in World War I A U-Boat was a German submarine used in World War I. In the first World War alone U- Boat's destroyed more than 11 million tons of allied shipping and killed nearly 14,000 people. What is a U-Boat?

Germany Violates Neutral Rights In February of 1915, Germany began sinking allied ships using its U-boats, or submarines On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British passenger liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland German officials claimed that the ship was carrying ammunition and other contraband America protested that an unarmed and unrestricting ship should not be sunk without first being warned and provided with safety for its passengers Germany Violates Neutral Rights

Why does Wilson want neutrality? Neutrality= When you choose not to pick sides.  Not helping or supporting either side in a conflict. President Woodrow Wilson declared that the US would remain "Impartial in thought as well as in action" Wilson did not want to set Americans against each other. The American citizens were from different nations in Europe, and some were even from nations at war. The United States being physically isolated from Europe was also one reason for the US to stay neutral. Things were going well (financially and growing industry)   At that time, most Americans approved of Wilson`s decision to stay neutral. 

How did America enter the war? American trade had sustained Britain and France in the war, while the British blockade of Germany had stopped the flow of American goods to the Central Powers. Suffering severe supply shortages, Germany took action and sent a telegram to Mexico proposing an alliance. A British and an Italian ocean liner were sunk without warning and about 150 unarmed Americans died.  On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany and the positive response arrived only 4 days later.