Intro & Causes of… The Great War ~or~ World War I

Serbia Austria- Hungry Russia Germany France England Which of the four (4) causes of the Great War is being displayed in this political cartoon? What do the colors of the National Names above the bubbles refer to? 1) Warm up Quickcode: Red: VM08905 Yellow: YR49997 Green: JJ13786 Blue: LN09585

The Outbreak of World War I ■ The outbreak of WWI in 1914 was a test for America’s new foreign policy – The USA was now an imperial power after the Spanish-American War – The U.S. built the Panama Canal, used the Roosevelt Corollary to control Latin America, & created the Open Door Policy in China neutrality – But, the USA maintained a policy of neutrality in European affairs 2) Define

MILITARISM ALLIANCES IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM What caused World War I?

By the 20 th century, European powers began to glorify war as a means to accomplish their goals Britain, France, Germany developed modern armies & navies, leading to an arms race in Europe Militarism 3) Think back…

Germany, Austria- Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance England, France, & Russia made up the Triple Entente Alliances & Imperialism Increasing militarism led nations to form powerful alliances in case of war IMPERIALISM: European nations took colonies, competition for colonies led to rivalries

Pre-War Alliance Network

Nationalism Feelings of nationalism led strong countries to want to gain more power & led many weaker nations to want to re-define their boundaries Nationalism was strong in the Balkans, where Serbia hoped to unite with Austrian Slavs In 1914, Serbian terrorists assassinated Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand

The assassination sparked World War I The Western Front The Eastern Front The Allied Powers The Central Powers

?? The Great War quickly became the 1st “World War” 4) Who vs Who?

American Neutrality ■When World War I began in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared U.S. neutrality But by 1917, the USA entered WWI as an Allied Power… WHY?

Document A-1 5) What is this saying?

Document A-2 6) Infer…

Document B U.S. Losses to German Submarine Warfare,

Document C U.S. War Loans 1914—1917: To the Allied Powers: $2.25 billion To the Central Powers: $27 million 7) Analyze!

Document D Intercepted telegram from Germany to Mexico, ) Huh?

Document E The German officer knocked at the door… The officer ordered the soldiers to break down the door, which two of them did. The peasant came and asked what they were doing. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was shot at once without a moment’s delay. The wife came out with a little sucking child. One of the Germans took a rifle and struck her a tremendous blow with the butt on the head. Another took his bayonet and fixed it and thrust it through the child. He then put his rifle on his shoulder with the child up on it, its little arms stretched out once or twice. The officers ordered the house to be set on fire…The man, his wife and child were thrown on top. (James Bryce, head of the Committee on Alleged German Atrocities as reported to British Parliament, 1915) 9) Why pubish this story?

Document F We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts,—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own Governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free…The world must be made safe for democracy. (President Wilson, April, 1917) 10) What is this?

In Nov 1917, Vladimir Lenin & the Bolsheviks successfully overthrew the Russian gov’t & established the Soviet Union, the 1 st communist nation Document G 11) Infer!

America Enters the War ■By 1917, the USA entered WWI as an Allied Power because: –German unrestricted submarine warfare violated U.S. free trade –Germany’s Zimmerman Telegram offered to return the Mexican Cession if Mexico invaded the USA –President Wilson hoped to stop the Central Powers & make the world “safe for democracy” ■The USA declared war in April 1917 Americans were killed when the Lusitania, Sussex, & Arabic sank

■EQ’s: –What were the four causes of World War I? –Despite their wish, why was the United States unable to remain neutral in this conflict? Answer 12&13