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The Origins of World war I
How it Began and How It Became America’s war
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Goals for this lecture What were the MAIN causes of World War I in Europe? How did both sides in this war predict quick victory? How did this war descend into a bloody stalemate by 1915? What was America’s initial response to this war? How did America maintain an un-neutral neutrality though 1917? Why did America eventually get involved in this European war?
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The Fundamental Causes of The Great War
The war that broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914 grew out of growing tensions between European states set off by a spark… Some of the tensions that were growing in Europe were also growing in United States. You will need to know the MAIN causes of World War I
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The MAIN Causes of the Great War
M- Militarism A- Alliances I- Imperialism N- Nationalism How do some of these ideas connect to what we studied in American history in the last chapter?
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Militarism: The Military and the Survival of the State
The nations of Europe grew fearful of one-another and built up strong militaries to provide securities The build-up of on army would drive its neighbors to build up there’ military Nations would place military leaders in positions of political power Democratic leaders gained support by posturing Monarchies united nations by preparing for common enemies When you are a hammer, you see the world’s problems as nails…
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Alliances: Finding Friends to Secure Borders
Along with militarism, alliances became a way nations guaranteed security Germany felt surrounded by enemies Made an alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary (Triple Alliance ) France feared Germany Germany conquered part of French territory in 1872 France allied with Russia Britain's fear of Germany’s growth bright it to join the Triple Entente Map activity see 631. (Note that Italy does not join Germany and Austria-Hungary to war in 1914
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The Allies and Central Powers 1914
7 The Declaration of war by Britain in 1914 would include the British Empire including Australia, New Zealand and Canada
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Imperialism: Nations Racing for Empire
The imperialism that grew popular in America in the late 19th century was also gripping Europe Germany was a new nation and was trying to challenge the British on the high seas A conflict between European nations could begin in many parts of the world
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Nationalism: Emotional Energy
Nationalism as a sense of pride and connection to your culture. A wave of nationalism supported by newspapers and mass society would inspire people to exude enthusiastic support for their nation and antipathy toward other nations National pride could be manipulated by leaders to unite people against a common enemy
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The Main Causes of the Great War Provided the Potential for a Huge War
Militarism- War plans and modern technology would rapidly mobilize huge well equipped armies Alliances- A dispute between two states could rapidly involve a number of states Imperialism- War between European states would involve the people and resources of much of the world Nationalism- Large populations would enthusiastically join the war or fight to the death for national survivial
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The Spark that Set off the War
Europe was divided into two militarized camps when… A Serbain nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia Serbians objected to Austrian rule in Bosnia Austria blamed the nation of Serbia and would go to war against this nation This would set off a chain of MAIN events to start World war I
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The Guns of August: The Main Event
12 June 28: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist- Austria presents Serbia with an ultimatum July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. July 29: Russia, Serbia's ally, orders the mobilization of troops. August 1: Germany, an ally of Austria-Hungary, declares war on Russia and demands the neutrality of Russia's ally France; France refuses and mobilizes. (remember von Schlieffen Plan) August 3: Germany declares war on France. August 4: Germany invades neutral Belgium, as per the Schlieffen plan to knock-put France; Britain responds by declaring war on Germany. November 5 Ottomans join Central Powers (anti-Russian) Italy joins the Allies April 1915 Americans declare neutrality but economically support allies
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America and the War American government viewed it as a European matter- no need to get involved Many immigrants sided with their “old country” compatriots America’s common heritage with England and historical ties with France would create public sympathy for the allies British propaganda supported their cause in America
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Un-Neutral Neutrality
While officially neutral, American trade largely supported the Allied powers American economy depended on trade with Britain and British blocked trade with Germany Germans challenge British rule of the seas with u-boats (submarines) Subs target ships with war materiel to keep them from supporting Britain’s war effort Sinking of ships without warning creates tension with United States By 1917, American loans were paying 40% of the war for allies
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The Lusitania Crisis 7 May German u-boats sink the British Lusitania die (128 Americans) Germany claims it was carrying war materiel to Britain (it was) America saw it as an unprovoked attack on civilians- demanded Germany pledge not to sink ships on the high seas Germany pledges to stop targeting ships by 1916-(Sussex Pledge) can not afford to have America officially in the war America makes relatively mild preparations for war by the summer of 1916 Trade with allies skyrockets by 1916
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Meanwhile in Europe… Most nations thought that modern technology would make the Great War quick and decisive War quickly became a defensive stalemate defined by a western front of two parallel trenches extending from the North Sea to Switzerland Front expanded to the Middle East By 1916, armies were trying to bleed their opponents to defeat
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Germany’s Desperate Gamble: 1917
British blockade was strangling Germany while American trade supplied the allies Germany gambled that resuming unrestricted submarine warfare was necessary to defeat Britain Hoped that it would take too long for America to stop Germany’s last offensive Hoped to bring Mexico into a war against United States- The Zimmermann Note- intercepted and deciphered by the British
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The Zimmermann Note We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: we make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
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A Declaration of War Influenced by the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Note, President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany America entered the war as the allies faced some very hard times A revolution in Russia would lead it to surrender to Germany and Austria French army near mutiny by summer of 1917 Germany planning to end the war Would America’s entry to the war be too late?
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