The World War I Era The Road to War

America, 1914: US vowed to remain neutral US vowed to remain neutral President Woodrow Wilson’s re-election slogan: ‘He kept us out of the war’ President Woodrow Wilson’s re-election slogan: ‘He kept us out of the war’ Led to 8 million combatant deaths, many more civilians Led to 8 million combatant deaths, many more civilians First modern war First modern war

Green are Allied Powers, Yellow are Central Powers Green are Allied Powers, Yellow are Central Powers Lighter colors are colonies Lighter colors are colonies Grey countries are not involved Grey countries are not involved WWI

Green are Allied Powers, Yellow are Central Powers Green are Allied Powers, Yellow are Central Powers Lighter colors are colonies Lighter colors are colonies Grey countries are not involved Grey countries are not involved WWI

Causes of World War I (M.A.N.I.A.)  Militarism  Military buildup made war more likely  Military officials became influential in European governments  Alliances  Alliances designed to bolster national security  Nationalism (two forms)  Great Powers willing to go to war to protect empire  Ethnic minorities within empires wanted independence

 Imperialism  Scramble for empires created sharp rivalries  Assassination - Archduke Francis Ferdinand  Bosnia was under the control of the Austro- Hungarian Empire  Murdered by a Serbian terrorist, Gavrilo Princip

Alliances

Alliances - Chain of Events  July 28, 1914  Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia  July 29 th, 1914,  Russia mobilized military to protect its ethnic cousins, Serbians  August 1, 1914  Germany, Austria’s chief ally, declared war on Russia  August 3, 1914  France, Russia’s ally, began to mobilize for war against Germany

Major Central Powers  Austro-Hungarian Empire  Ottoman Empire  Germany  Bulgaria Major Allied Powers  Russia  Serbia  France  Great Britain  Italy  Romania  Greece  Japan  United States (April 1917)

American Public Opinions & Neutrality 1. Many Americans felt personally involved - About 92 million Americans were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants 2. Most Americans opposed the Central Powers a)Germany undemocratic – Kaiser an Autocrat b)Viewed Germans as cold blooded & militaristic 3. Remain neutral to protect American investment overseas

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