Road to WWI US HISTORY

Long Term Causes of WWI Nationalism Ethnic groups band together and demand independent nations (self-determination) Imperialism Rivalries created as countries compete and fight for foreign colonies Militarism Countries build up military for war Alliances Countries make agreements to support each other

Causes Cont.

Short Term (Immediate) Cause Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand June 28, 1914 After this event, in a few days World War I will start

Events Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated by a Serbian nationalist Austria declares war on Serbia Russia (Serbia’s ally) will step in to defend Serbia Germany (Austria’s ally) will declare war on Russia England and France will join to defend their ally (Russia)

US Neutrality Reasons George Washington’s Farewell Address Avoid Entangling Alliances US isolationism American people did not support a war Woodrow Wilson will win re-election in 1916 by using the slogan “He Kept us Out of War!”

Isolationism Become difficult British blockade and German U-boats (submarines) make trade difficult German U-boats sink US merchant vessels Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Germans warn the US they will sink any ship in the range of their U-boats May, 7 1915 Germans will attack and sink a British ship, the Lusitania (128 Americans die) Lead to an increase in Anti-German opinions in US and an increase in support for entering World War I

Headline in paper following sinking of the Lusitania German U-boat Headline in paper following sinking of the Lusitania

Lusitania Conspiracy Lusitania was a British ship Illegally hiding bombs and military supplies in the bottom of the ship Passengers did not know of this German U-boat torpedo hit the ship and then the bombs on the ship exploded Actually the Lusitania sunk because of the illegal bombs and weapons hid on board

Why does the US enter WWI? Unrestricted submarine warfare and the sinking of the Lusitania Zimmerman Note- February 1917 Sent to Mexico from Germany Propose an alliance between Germany and Mexico Germans want Mexico to invade the US and promise Mexico land they lost to the US US trade disrupted US factories and businesses hurt

US entry US enters World War I on April 2, 1917 President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war to “Make the world safe for democracy” May 1917 US passes the selective service act Requires all men to register for the military draft Current requirements Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service