Causes of World War I

Background causes Imperialism - Germany felt it deserved more colonies in Africa and Asia Nationalism - Europeans had strong feelings of pride toward their own countries Militarism - belief that a nation needs a large military Alliances - Europe had divided into two opposing alliances: Central Powers - Austria-Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, Allies - Serbia, Russia, France, Great Britain, and Italy

Event that started WWI June 28, 1914 Serbian shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary Austria declared war on Serbia, war began

How WWI was fought Trench warfare - troops stayed in trenches and fired at each other. Trenches stretched across France to Switzerland Also used: tanks, machine guns, poison gas, airplanes, and U-boats (German submarines)

Trenches Machine Guns & Poison Gas Masks

Poison Gas

U Boats Airplane & Zeppelin

America’s Path to War Pres. Wilson wanted a policy of neutrality (refusing to take sides) May 1915, German U-Boat torpedoed the British ship Lusitania, turning many Americans against Germany

Zimmermann Telegram Discovered by the British Zimmermann Telegram Discovered by the British. Germany wanted Mexico to join war. In return, Germany would help Mexico their territories back from America. March 1917 - German submarines sank three American ships. Pres. Wilson declared war in April.