World War I

Four Long-Term Causes of WWI Militarism: the policy of building up armed forces in an attempt to intimidate other countries Alliances: agreements between nations to help each other in the event of war

Four Long-Term Causes of WWI Imperialism: the desire of a country to spread its influence around the globe Nationalism: a devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated by Serbian nationalist Caused a chain reaction among alliances These events start the war

Europe Chooses Sides Triple Entente France Great Britain Russia Central Powers (Triple Alliance) Germany Austria-Hungary Italy (Never fought with them)

Schlieffen Plan Germany’s war plan Germany would attack France through Belgium After defeating France, Germany would loop around and attack Russia Plan did not work

A New Kind of War New technology made fighting more difficult Machine Gun Hand Grenades Mustard Gas

A New Kind of War “No man’s land”: was the unoccupied region between enemy lines Trench warfare: system of trenches in which troops attack to open up the battlefield New technology combined with old ways of fighting caused stalemate

Reasons for U.S. Involvement Submarine Warfare (sinking the Lusitania) Economic ties to Britain Zimmerman Telegram

The Lusitania British passenger liner that was sunk by a German u-boat in 1915 Killed 120 Americans Spurred anti-German sentiment in U.S.

Economic Ties to Britain U.S. loaned large amounts of money to Britain If Britain lost, U.S. would lose it’s money

The Zimmerman Note Message sent in 1917 from German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico Offered to give lands from U.S. lost in Mexican war if Mexico would align themselves with Germany

Convoy System The protection of merchant ship from u-boat attacks Ships travel in large groups escorted by warships

Selective Service Act A law enacted in 1917 that required men to register for military service Still in action today

General John J. Pershing Leader of the American Expeditionary Force Soldiers were known as “Doughboys”

The War Ends Allied forces push Germany out of France On November 11, 1918, Germany asks for an armistice, or an agreement to end armed conflict