1. World War I Begins
Chapter 11, Section 1

2. I believe that the first vote I cast was the most significant vote and a most significant act on the part of women, because women are going to have to stop war. I felt at the time that the first woman [in Congress] should take the first stand, that the first time the first woman had a chance to say no to war she should say it. -Jeannette Rankin: First Lady in Congress

3. Causes of World War I America wanted to stay out of WWI!
Why?
But this was difficult because of 4 key reasons

4. Nationalism The devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation
Think “USA, USA!”
Nationalism can lead to competition among nations (we are in industrial competition with Germany)
Ethnic groups in a country feel resentment towards domination by others
Explain

5. Imperialism Why did imperialism play a role?
They (European countries) built empires (took over other countries)
America joined in
Soon European countries want to control the same countries
Think about the division for Africa and the Berlin Conference

6. Militarism Empires are expensive to build and maintain
This meant… European countries tried to build the biggest and best militaries so others would not mess with them
They used the military as a diplomatic tool
“You are going to do this, or I will break you”

7. Alliance System Defensive alliances in Europe break into two groups
Triple Entente – they will later be known as the Allies, consisted of France, Britain, and Russia
Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. This will change
The problem…if one goes to war, they ALL GO TO WAR

8. Assassination Leads to War
Europe is a keg of gun powder
Because of the four reasons states before tensions are high
It needed a spark to explode and the spark came from an assassination
Assassination of Archduke

9. Outcome
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the next in line to rule Austria (remember monarchies)
He was killed while visiting an area of his empire that wanted to be free (imperialisms)
The people responsible, Serbs, who belonged to a nation aligned with the Allies (Alliances)
Serbia and Austria are now at war
Russia backed Serbia, Germany backed Austria
And the dominos fall

10. Part II

11. The Fighting Starts August 3, 1914 Germany invades Belgium
Germany is executing the Schlieffen Plan
Hold Russia
Push through Belgium to Paris quickly

12. Germans Sweep Into France
Belgium was neutral so…Germany’s actions were condemned worldwide
On September 1914 Germany has pushed into France where their advance is finally halted
Trench Warfare begins
Let’s discuss

14. Americans Question Neutrality
In the beginning a vast number of Americans did not want to join the war
Reasons people wanted to join:
Immigrants from a country involved
Economic ties
Want to be a global power

15. War Hits Home America lent lots of resources to the Allied powers
In 1917 America mobilizes (get’s ready) for war
British Blockade: Britain blockaded all German ports, this meant nothing could get in via the sea
America was still trading with Germany and this made a lot of businesses upset with Britain

16. War Hits Home
Germany response by declaring unrestricted submarine warfare
Bascially, we will sink anything that comes into this area
They sink the Lusitania which carried 128 Americans
America is outraged
Germany continues to sink passenger ships
America warns them to stop
President Wilson keeps calling for peace

17. Zimmermann Note

18. On April 2, 1917 America is at war