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U.S. History: The Causes of World War I and early U.S. Involvement

Explore how President Wilson transformed U.S. foreign policy during the early years of World War I, from neutrality to involvement. Learn about the causes of the war, the United States' initial neutrality, and the events that ultimately led to U.S. entry into the war.

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U.S. History: The Causes of World War I and early U.S. Involvement

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  1. U.S. History: The Causes of World War I and early U.S. Involvement AIM: How did President Wilson change foreign policy during the early years of World War I (1914-1917)?

  2. What was World War I? • World War I was at the time the most destructive global conflict ever fought. From the years 1914-1918, most of the countries in the world fought against each other, leaving millions dead and billions of dollars worth of damage.

  3. What were the causes of World War I? • All you have to do is remember the M.A.I.N. causes! • M-militarism-European countries were building up weapons and armies • A-alliance system-almost every country had an alliance with another country • I-imperialism-European countries became jealous of other countries foreign land holdings • N-nationalism-every European country believed that it was the “greatest” country-BIG EGOS!

  4. The spark that started the war… • On June 28th, 1914, the Archduke Ferdinand, the next in line to become king of the Austria-Hungary Empire, was killed by a Bosnian terrorist organization known as the Black Hand. • This triggered many European countries to declare war on each other.

  5. The Allies vs. the Central Powers Which countries were Allies? Which Countries were part of the Central Powers?

  6. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD WAR I!! • The United States stayed NEUTRAL during the first 3 years (1914-1917) during World War I. • President Woodrow Wilson changed our foreign policy from Imperialism to Isolationism-staying away from all foreign affairs. • Wilson got re-elected with the slogan, “He Kept us out of the War!”

  7. Why did the United States stay neutral? • The United States had practice neutrality in foreign affairs since George Washington suggested in back in 1796. • Staying neutral allowed the United States to keep selling supplies to the Allied Powers. This meant the U.S. economy did extremely well. • Many people felt that it wasn’t any of our business going over and fighting in the war.

  8. Why did the United States get involved in World War I? • The first reason was because U.S. trading ships were being attacked by German “U-Boats.” • A “U-Boat” was a submarine. Germany was attacking our ships so that we couldn’t deliver supplies to the British and the other Allies. • The biggest example of this was the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, a passenger ship going to England. 128 Americans died.

  9. Why did the United States get involved in World War I cont’d… • The second reason was the Zimmerman Note, discussed by the British in 1917. • In this note, the Germans tried to get Mexico to attack the U.S. to keep us out of WWI. • If the Mexicans did this, the Germans would offer military assistance to try and get the Mexicans back the South West of the United States.

  10. The United States gets involved • After the Zimmerman Note in 1917, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. • He stated that it was the duty of the United States to “make the world safe for democracy.”

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