1. Warm Up – November 13
Grab the guided notes and answer the following questions on a post it:
What were the four MAIN causes of World War I? What “spark” ignited the start of the war?
Who countries made up the Allies (4 main countries)? Which countries made up the Central Powers (2 main countries)?
What was the goal of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan? What were the results of this plan?
What two fronts was World War I fought on? Where were the two fronts?
What kind of combat was used during World War I? What did this combat result in (what did both sides spend a lot of time doing)?
Describe the new weapons that were used during World War I? What could these weapons do that was different than previous wars that we’ve discussed?

2. Causes of WWI Reading 1. What were the four major causes of WWI?
Download the Causes of WWI Reading from today’s date on my website and answer the following questions on the same post – it as the warm up:
1. What were the four major causes of WWI?
2. How did the French Revolution and Napoleon influence people in Europe?
3. What need did the Industrial Revolution create in Britain, France, and Germany? What became clear as the Scramble for Africa came to a close?
4. How did countries build up their militaries? How did technology play an important role in militarization?
5. What was the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente?

3. Unit 7: Imperialism and world war I
The United States Enters World War I

4. EUROPE 1914
What are advantages and disadvantages of belonging to an alliance system?

5. American Sentiments Towards WWI
World War I began in summer of United States President Woodrow Wilson desired US neutrality – over 3,000 miles away
Immigrants generally supported their homelands’ respective alliances (German-Americans support Germany, etc)
Some Americans wanted Isolation
Some Americans supported the Allies
Common culture/ancestry with the British
Germany’s brutal destruction of Belgium
More economic ties to Allies compared to Central Powers

6. US Involvement Looms
By 1915, US favored an Allied win to ensure that the Allies repaid war debts to US BUT still didn’t want to get involved.
British naval blockade of Germany – 2 results
US ships carrying goods for Germany did not challenge the British blockade  US goods rarely made it to German destinations, originally angered US (can’t make $)
Many Germans died of starvation

7. Two Events that Led to US Entrance into WWI
Germany sinks Lusitania
Germany fought GB blockade with U-boats (submarines) – any ship in water around GB would be sunk
May 7, 1915 – German U-boat sunk GB’s passenger ship Lusitania with 128 Americans on board
Germany claimed boat carried ammunition  US outraged with Germany and Central Powers
Wilson – no military action, but threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany if they didn’t stop using “unrestricted submarine warfare”
Germany – agreed only if the US could persuade BG to lift blockade, if not warfare would continue

8. Two Events that Led to US Entrance into WWI
Wilson reelected in 1916 – still advocated for US neutrality and peace between nations at war.
Zimmermann Note - Jan. 1917, telegram from the German foreign minister to a German ambassador in Mexico, intercepted by British
Proposed a German-Mexican alliance
Should the US enter the war, Germany would support Mexico in regaining land in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Proved Germany was hostile towards the US…

9. US Enters WWI
April 2, 1917 – Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, Congress agreed
“Property cannot be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind… We are glad… to fight… for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its people… The world must be made safe for democracy… We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no domination. We week no indemnities… It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war… But the right is more precious than its people.”
-Woodrow Wilson, 1917

10. TOD – November 13
Answer the following questions on the same post it as the warm up:
At the outset of the war, what policy did the United States follow? What were they doing during this time to assist the British and French in the war effort?
What two events eventually led to the United States joining the war? What advantages do you think the allies gained by having the United States join their side three years into the war?