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World War I Begins: Underlying Causes

World War I Begins: Underlying Causes. 1.) Nationalism: Strong sense of pride in one ’ s nation Led nations to put their own interests before other nations. 2.) Imperialism: Nations competing for colonies Years of fighting between European countries caused bad feelings.

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World War I Begins: Underlying Causes

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  1. World War I Begins:Underlying Causes 1.) Nationalism: • Strong sense of pride in one’s nation • Led nations to put their own interests before other nations. 2.) Imperialism: • Nations competing for colonies • Years of fighting between European countries caused bad feelings.

  2. Underlying Causes 3.) Militarism: • Belief that a strong army = great country • Rivalries made nations try and keep armies stronger than others. 4.) Alliances: • Formation of military agreements between nations. • Allowed small dispute to draw all nations into war.

  3. Triple Entente Triple Alliance Russia France Great Britain Germany Italy Austria-Hungary Underlying Causes

  4. WWI Begins • Balkans • “the powder keg of Europe” • Bosnia annexed by Austria-Hungary; 1908 • Serbia wants Bosnia

  5. WWI Begins • Franz Ferdinand • Heir to Austrian throne • Assassinated in Bosnia. June 28, 1914 • GavriloPrincip • Member of Black Hand Society (Serbia) • Assassinated Franz Ferdinand

  6. World War I Begins • Entangling alliances turn a small skirmish into a world war. • Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. • Russia mobilizes its army to border. • Germany declares war on Russia and France.

  7. WW I Begins • Schlieffen Plan • Germany attack France quickly, then attack Russia.

  8. World War I begins • Triple Entente  the Allies • France, Russia, Britain, Italy (switches sides) • Triple Alliance  Central Powers • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

  9. American Neutrality • Isolationists – What happens in Europe does not concern America. • Wilson calls for neutrality.

  10. US Shipping • European war --> US prosperity • Our rights as a neutral carrier were infringed on by both Great Britain and Germany • GB’s infringements –little reaction • Germany’s infringements – strong reaction

  11. Lusitania • German U-Boats – unrestricted submarine warfare • Sink Lusitania – 128 American deaths • Wilson – angry notes to Germany • Respect rights of neutral sailors! • Germany – agreed to restrict sub warfare

  12. Sussex Pledge • March 1916 – Germany fires on French steamer, Sussex • Sussex Pledge: Germans agree not to sink passenger ships and merchant vessels without giving warning.

  13. Election of 1916 • Wilson – “He kept us out of war” • Republicans – Charles Evans Hughes – straddled fence about war. • Close race!

  14. Zimmerman Note • Telegram between Germany and Mexico • Intercepted by British – March 1, 1917 • Proposal for German-Mexican alliance • Germany to help Mexico regain lost territory – Texas, NM, Arizona

  15. US declares war • Germans sink more unarmed American merchant ships • Revolution in Russia – no more monarchy • US could fight solely for democracy • April 2, 1917 – Wilson asks Congress to declare war • “Keep the world safe for democracy”

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