World War One: Causes & Events

1. Bell ringer • What do you do when someone insult your friends ? Do you defend them? How?

2. World War One Begins • Long-term Causes of World War 1 • A growing sense of nationalism and imperialism fuels competitiveness and antagonism in Europe, this leads to military buildups in many powerful nations • The fears and jealousies results in the creation of two defense alliances, the Allies and the Central Powers

3. World War One Begins • An Assassination Leads to War • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparks the first World War • The alliance system forces many nations into the war

4. World War One Begins • The Fighting Starts • Germany invades Belgium • Armies use trench warfare to fight for small areas of land • Fighting is deadlocked two years

5. World War One Begins • American Neutrality • Although most Americans oppose entering the war public opinion is strongly divided • Economic and cultural ties with Britain plus reports of German atrocities, gain American sympathy for the Allies

6. World War One Begins • The United States Enters the War • The British naval blockade creates terrible food shortages in Germany • German U boats sink British ships, and turn American public opinion against Germany • Wilson is reelected in 1916 on a platform of neutrality, but events prompt the president to declare war