World War I Begins

1
Section 9-1

• World War I Begins

2
Causes of World War I

• Nationalism- a devotion to the interests and
  culture of ones nation.
• Imperialism- policy in which stronger nations
  extend their economic political, or military
  control over weaker territories.
• Militarism- the development of armed forces and
  their use as a tool of diplomacy.

3
Causes of World War I

• Alliance System-
• Allies (Triple Entente)- France, Britain, and
  Russia.
• Central Powers (Triple Alliance)- Germany,
  Austria-Hungary, Italy, Ottoman Empire.

4
Causes of World War I

• M. ilitarism
• A. lliance System
• I. mperialism
• N. ationalism

5
An Assassination Leads to War

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand- Heir to the Austrian
  throne. Was visiting the Bosnian capital of
  Sarajevo in June of 1914, when a Serbian
  nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) shot him and his
  wife as the royal entourage drove through the
  city. This was the spark that ignited Europe
  into WWI.

6
The Fighting Starts

• Schlieffen Plan- called for holding action
  against Russia, combined with a quick drive
  through Belgium to Paris after France had
  fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia.

7
The Fighting Starts

• Trench Warfare- was used to hold off the German
  advance. Very bloody and deadly type of warfare,
  where two parallel systems of trenches were dug
  across France and Belgium. Armies fought for
  mere yards of ground over three years.
• No mans land- barren expanse of mud pockmarked
  with shell craters and filled with barbed wire
  that was between the trenches.

8
Americans Question Neutrality

• Divided Loyalties
• Socialists criticized the war as a capitalist and
  imperialist struggle between Germany and England.
• Pacifists believed the war was evil and we should
  be setting an example of peace.
• Many Americans didnt want their sons to
  experience the horrors of warfare.
• Naturalized citizens still had ties to the
  nations from which the emigrated.
• Many Americans felt close to Britain because of
  common ancestry.
• Americas economic ties with the Allies were much
  stronger than their ties with the Central Powers.

9
The War Hits Home

• British Blockade
• -blockaded the German coast to prevent weapons,
  military supplies, and food from getting through.
• German U-Boat Response
• -Any ship found in the waters around Britain
  would be sunk.
• -Lusitania- British liner sunk off the coast of
  Ireland. Of the 1,198 persons lost, 128 were
  Americans.

10
The United States Declares War

• Zimmerman Note- a telegram from the German
  foreign minister to German ambassador in Mexico
  that was intercepted by British agents. The
  telegram proposed an alliance between Mexico and
  Germany and promised that if war with the U.S.
  broke out, Germany would support Mexico in
  recovering lost territory in Texas, New Mexico,
  and Arizona.