Causes of WWI and American involvement

WWI Connections to today The reasons why the war was started are similar to the reasons why countries fight today It’s one of the first times the US is involved in an international conflict and we have been involved ever since

Vocabulary Alliance – European countries promised to help each other if attacked. This was a problem because small conflicts became large wars Imperialism – European countries competed against each other to gain new land and resources in foreign places (like the American colonies). More land = more power.

Vocabulary from the book Militarism – Policy of aggressive military preparedness. Policy of building a strong and huge military. Makes rival countries feel threatened. Countries do this today. Nationalism – Feeling that a specific nation, language or culture is superior to all others. Some call this patriotism. Created rivalries and extreme competition between countries.

“The Spark” Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire and his wife are murdered. They were shot by a Serbian nationalist. Event “sparks war” and kicks off Europe’s system of alliances

What does being “neutral” mean?

Why did America want to stay neutral? Millions of Americans had immigrated from and sympathized with the nations of the Central Powers President Washington had said in his farewell address that America should not be involved in European wars and America had followed it ever since

How was America not neutral? America traded with warring nations America sent supplies and raw materials to the allies America supplied $180 million dollars to the allies and only $20 million to the other countries

Lusitania and Submarine warfare Germany violated international law because their submarines did not stop and search merchant ships (a ship carrying supplies and people not fighting in the war). They just attacked them. The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine. 128 Americans died. America wanted revenge on the Germans