UNIT II Part 1 Outline the causes and course of World War I, focusing on the involvement of the United States, including the effects of nationalism, ethnic and ideological conflicts, and Woodrow Wilson’s leadership in the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Origins of the Great War Nationalism- a feeling of pride in ones country was sweeping across Europe. This made the countries of Europe more concerned about their own interests than those of Europe as a whole. Ethnic and ideological differences led to conflicts within these empires. To protect their own interests many countries adopted a policy of militarism which is the process of a country building up its military might for the purpose of intimidating and deterring other countries. This led to an arms race in which countries continually try to produce more advanced weapons. Countries also formed many alliances agreeing to help one another if attacked by another country. Imperialism

Origins of the Great War Nationalism Militarism Arms Race Alliances

The War Begins HOW? Archduke Francis Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungry and was visiting the province of Bosnia. Operating in the province was a Serbian nationalist group called the “Black Hand.” They wanted Bosnia to be Serbian and not Austrian. One member of this group Gallio Princip killed the archduke and his wife. Austria-Hungry accused Serbia of the plot and threatened to go to war. The Russians were allied with Serbia and agreed to back up the Serbs. Shortly there after Europe was divided and at war.

Europe Takes Sides The Central Powers The Triple Entente Germany Austria-Hungry Turkey (Ottoman Empire) Bulgaria The Triple Entente Great Britain France Russia Eventually the United States

The Key Players for the Triple Entente George Clemenceau Tsar Nicholas II Wilson

The Key Players for the Central Powers Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire, Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, Mehmed V of the Ottoman Empire, and Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria

The United States Remains Neutral The United States wanted to stay out of the war and the practice of isolationism was supported by most peace activists in the US Others US citizens supported a policy of preparedness which advocated neutrality while taking steps to prepare for war. These issues were key to the 1916 election that Wilson barely won using the slogan, “He kept us out of the war.”

Events that led the U.S. into the war England was being attacked by Germany The sinking of the Lusitania The Zimmerman Telegram

Events that led the U.S. into the war Germany used U-Boats during WW I President Wilson said that the Germans had no right to sink U.S. shipping on the high seas. WHY? However, the U.S. had secretly begun to ship military supplies to Britain on passenger liners. The Lusitania was sunk by a U-boat and 1,200 people including 128 Americans died. People in the United States were furious and an anti-German feeling swept the U.S. Germany stopped attacking U.S. shipping until 1917 to keep the U.S. out of the war. When Germany resumed unrestricted Submarine warfare the United States moved closer to war.

RMS Lusitania

U-Boat that sank the Lusitania

The Zimmerman Telegram Also in 1917 the British intercepted the Zimmerman telegram from Arthur Zimmerman the German foreign minister to the Mexican Government. The telegram told the Mexicans to attack the United States if they declared war on Germany. In return if the Germans won the war they would give back land to Mexico that the United States had acquired. This further angered the Americans and when Germany started sinking U.S. ships again Wilson asked for war saying, “the world must be made safe for democracy.” April 1917 the United States officially entered the war.