1. From Isolation to Involvement to World Power
WORLD WAR I
From Isolation to Involvement to World Power

2. Terms to know
ISOLATIONISM: a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries
NATIONALISM: The belief that one’s country is better than another
IMPERIALISM: The desire to expand one’s country by taking over colonies or smaller countries
ALLIANCE: An association of people, groups or nations working together for a specific purpose
MILITARISM: The collection of weapons in order to prepare for war or armed conflict
NEUTRAL: not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others
SUBMARINE: a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water
WARFARE: the process of military struggle between two nations or groups of nations

3. TIMELINE
MAY 1915 – GERMAN U-BOAT SINKS LUSITANIA A BRITISH PASSENGER SHIP; 2,000 ARE KILLED – 128 ARE AMERICANS
JANUARY 1917 – ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM SENT TO MEXICO FROM GERMANY; PROMISES TO GIVE BACK LAND LOST IN MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR (TEXAS, ARIZONA, AND NEW MEXICO) IF MEXICO WILL JOINS GERMANY IN THE WAR
MEXICO DECLINES – US HAS ALREADY JOINED THE ALLIED POWERS (APRIL DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY)
FALL OF 1918 – CENTRAL POWERS SURRENDER
PRESIDENT WILSON PREPARES PEACE PLAN – 14 POINTS WHICH CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS – AN INTERANATIONAL PEACEKEEPING ORGANIZATION

4. THE PLAYERS ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS Great Britain France Russia
Serbia
Belgium
Later the US
CENTRAL POWERS
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria
Ottoman Empire

5. REASONS THE US GETS INVOLVED IN WWI
US ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES TO GREAT BRITAIN
US IS UNABLE TO REMAIN NEUTRAL
SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA
ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM

6. WHAT WAS THEIR ROLE?
US: PROPOSED 14 POINTS AND CALLED FOR THE FORMATION OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
GERMANY: SANK THE LUSITANIA AND SENT THE ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM
OTTOMAN EMPIRE: JOINED WITH AUSTRIA-HUNGARY AS MEMBER OF CENTRAL POWERS
RUSSIA: JOINED BRITISH EMPIRE AS A MEMBER OF THE ALLIED POWERS

7. Sinking of the Lusitania

8. Germany whispering promises
Zimmermann telegram
Germany whispering promises
to Mexico

9. COMPARE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR WITH WORLD WAR I
*US WON
*NO BATTLES FOUGHT ON US SOIL
*US ENTERED TO HELP OTHERS
WORLD WAR I
*US WON
*NO BATTLES FOUGHT ON US SOIL
*US ENTERED TO HELP OTHERS

10. LEAGUE OF NATIONS ORGANIZED TO KEEP PEACE AMONG NATIONS
INCLUDED IN THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
BEGAN AT THE END OF WWI
US DID NOT JOIN BECAUSE SENATE FAILED TO RATIFY TREATY

11. 14 POINTS
14 POINTS
PEACE PLAN
LEAGUE OF NATIONS

12. To sum it up…
After the Spanish American War the US became imperialist (seeking to gather other countries to control). However, by WWI the US had become isolationist (not wanting to get involved in the affairs of other countries). The US was dragged into WWI because it could no longer stay neutral after the sinking of the Lusitania and after they intercepted the Zimmermann Telegram which was sent from Germany to Mexico asking for their help in return for US land; as well as the need to support Great Britain with whom the US had strong political and economic ties.
When all was said and done, the Central Powers surrendered in the Fall of 1918 and the stage was set for the US to become a global superpower later in the 20th century.