1. The Beginning of WWI
Ch 19.1

2. Causes of WWI
M- Militarism
A- Alliance
I- Imperialism
N- Nationalism

3. Militarism
Increased military spending occurring because of imperialism and nationalism
Country’s tried to out do each other with their military
Militarism and use of armed forces became a popular tool of diplomacy
Germany had the biggest military
They had a draft and training standards
Germany became an issue when they expanded their navy and threatened Britain
Naval order came from Kaiser Wilhelm II
Arms race occurred between Britain, Germany, U.S., France, Italy, and Japan

4. Alliances Triple Entente (Allis)  France, Britain, and Russia
Triple Alliance (Central Powers) Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Italy
Alliances created a form of international security

5. Imperialism
Countries had been building their own empires around the world
Using economic, political, and military control everywhere
Countries were running out of land to claim

6. Nationalism
Nationalism: devotion to ones own countries interest above any others
Led to rivalries among nations
Ethnic countries wanted independence or protection

7. Issues in the Balkan Peninsula
There is instability within the countries of the Balkan peninsula (ethnic rivalries)
Russia wants to go through to get to the Mediterranean
Germany wants to build a railroad
In 1878 Austria Hungary takes over Bosnia and then accuses of Serbia of trying to interfere
All of these issues leads to the “powder keg” of Europe

8. Assassination tips the Balance
June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir of Austria) is visiting Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)
Ferdinand is shot by Gavrilo Princip (member of the Black hand, Serbian nationalist group)
July 28, 1914 Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia (think it will be a short war)
But.. Alliances take Effect:
August 1Germany declares war on Russia
August 3 Germany declares war on France
Germany invades Belgium on August 3
Great Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary

9. The Fighting Begins Germany’s strategy: Schlieffen Plan
Germany would split their army
1st group to take action against Russia
2nd group to take action against Belgium to capture French Paris
Both armies would combine to take Russia
Belgium is lost but Allies are able to try and save Paris at the Marne River in France
At the Marne both sides dig in trenches to wait each other out

10. Trench Warfare Stalemate as each side waits on the other
Three kinds of trenches: Front line, support, and reserve
Dugouts (underground rooms) were used as officers rooms
Area between the trenches was called “no mans land”
Filled with barbed wire, shell craters, and machine gun fire

13. Gruesome War First battle was the Battle of Somme on July 1, 1916
60,000 British died on the 1st day
The battles that follow have the same pattern of high death with stalemate

14. American Neutrality--stop
We have no reason for war
New immigrants (Irish and German) have sympathies with the Central Powers
We appeal more to Britain because of our economic ties

15. Reasons for U.S. to go to War
Ensure Allie repayments to the U.S.
Prevent Germans from threatening U.S. shipping
British blockade on German ports prevent U.S. from trade
Germany responds using U-Boats
Any boat around Britain would be sunk
Germans sink the Lusitania (had 128 American passengers
Zimmerman Note
Telegram from German foreign minister to Mexican ambassador
Proposed alliance between Mexico and Germany
If Mexicans turned against the U.S., if Germany won they would get Mexico their lost land

16. Election of 1916
Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, ran with slogan “He kept us out of War.”
Charles Evans Hughes is Republican nominee
Wilson wins
U.S. declares war on April2, 1917