1. America in the First World War

2. Europe Descends into Chaos Tensions between European powers had been rising because of…. MilitarismEach world power had huge standing armies AlliancesEach power made secret alliances with one another ImperialismEach nation competed for overseas colonies leading to hostility NationalismCountries had extreme pride in their power and supremacy

3. European Alliances

4. The Immediate Cause of WWI In June 1914 Austrian Royalty, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was Assassinated by A Bosnian radical. 1.Austria demanded retribution 2.Serbia refused and called on alliances with Russia 3.Austria called on alliances with Germany 4.Austria declares war July 1914 beginning WWI.

5. Causes of WWI

6. Technologies of WWI World War I saw the advent of new technologies such as… 1.Machine Gun 2.Poison Gas 3.War Plane 4.War Blimp 5.Tank 6.Long Range Artillery

7. Trench War World War I became the first war in which majority of deaths came from weapons and not disease 1.Both sides dug trenches 2.Battles dragged out for months for small tracks of land 3.Sides slaughtered one another wholesale 4.Civilians were often victims of bombing and gassings

8. Trench Warfare

9. America on the Onset Americans from the beginning of the war claimed Neutrality. 1.Woodrow Wilson tried to maintain neutrality 2.Industrial Interests were trading with both Central powers and Triple Entente. 3.Germany was blockaded by Britain and began using submarines to break blockade

10. The Boat In 1915 The British Passenger Liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat 1.British were smuggling arms on the ship 2.Americans were killed on the ship. Wilson demands an end to submarine warfare 1. Sussex Pledge: signed between Germany and America

12. The Zimmerman Note Germany knew it had to resume unrestricted submarine war and it would draw US into the conflict. 1.Germany telegraphs Mexico asking them to invade US 2.Hoping to keep US occupied allowing it to win the war 3.Britain intercepts to the message and America declares war joining the fight.