1. World War I
“The Great War”

2. The Domino Effect
June 28, 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand & wife Sophie killed in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip (a Bosnian nationalist)
July 28,1914 – Austria-Hungary, convinced Serbia was behind the assassination, declares war on Serbia
July 29, 1914 – Russia, Serbia’s protector, begins mobilization
Germany, A-H’s main ally, demands that Russia stop mobilizing – Russia refuses

3. Germany begins mobilizing, as does France, Russia’s ally
August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia
France declares war on Germany and A-H
Germany begins executing the “Schlieffen plan”, invading Belgium
Attack France first (west), the Russia (east)
August 4, 1914 – Great Britain, Belgium’s protector, declares war on Germany

4. America’s Initial Response
Most wanted to stay neutral
Protect trade/investments – didn’t want to make enemies and risk losing money
Wilson promised to keep U.S. out of the war
1st & 2nd generation immigrants more personally connected than others
Because of increasing press coverage and their dislike of Germany’s autocratic system, most Americans sided with Allies

5. Wilson declared the U.S. as “neutral” on August 4, 1914
Public was split:
Preparedness movement – more popular; wanted to be ready in case it became necessary to enter the war; organized National Security League to gain support
Peace movement – less popular; Midwest Progressives, social reformers, women; founded American Union Against Militarism

6. Leading to U.S. Involvement
America had more economic ties to the Allies
As the war progressed, Britain & France were buying more & more U.S. goods (war supplies)
Americans disliked German & A-H autocratic rule
Anti-Germany propaganda
By 1917, the U.S. began preparing to join the war for 2 major reasons:
1) to make sure the Allies repaid their debt
2) to prevent German acts of aggression, esp. threats to U.S. shipping

7. Leading to U.S. Involvement
German submarines, called U-boats, were able to go anywhere in the ocean undetected, enabling them to attack ships unexpectedly
Began firing on any ship suspected of carrying weapons/aiding British forces
Americans viewed this new tactic as uncivilized
U.S. passenger and commercial ships at risk

8. The Breaking Point
On May 7th, 1915, a U-boat sank the Lusitania (a British passenger ship), which had 1,200 passengers on board (128 Americans)
Wilson demanded Germany stop its “unethical warfare”  Germany promised to stop sinking passenger ships without warning
BUT Germany continued firing on ships, including the Sussex (a French passenger ship) on March 24th, 1916

9. Once again, Wilson responded, threatening to cut diplomatic ties with Germany if the attacks continued
Germany signed the “Sussex Pledge,” again promising not to attack ships without warning (1916)
By this point, neutrality was fading, the preparedness movement was gaining support, and the U.S. was loaning money to the Allies

10. Feb. 3rd, 1917 – Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany
February – March 1917, Germany had resumed its unrestricted warfare and thus violated the Sussex Pledge
Feb. 3rd, 1917 – Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany
The “Zimmerman note” increased the level of concern among Americans
British intercepted a telegram sent from Germany to Mexico
Arthur Zimmerman (German foreign secretary) “invited” Mexico to join the Central Powers if America entered the war, promising them U.S. territory

11. The U.S. Declares War
President Wilson proposed a resolution for war to Congress
First passed in the Senate (82-6), then in the House (373-50)
Wilson signed the war resolution on
April 6, 1917

12. End of the War Jan. 18, 1918: Wilson proposes his Fourteen Points:
(First 5 were ways to prevent another war)
No secret treaties among nations
Freedom of the seas for all
Tariffs lowered or abolished to encourage trade
Disarmament “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety”
Colonial policies that consider the needs of the colonial & native people

13. 6-13. Self-determination of national boundaries – groups could decide to form their own nation or belong to another (e.g. Bosnia)
Creation of the League of Nations (international diplomatic organization)
June 28, 1919: Treaty of Versailles is signed