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Causes of World War I

Causes of World War I. Assassination leads to war . Balkan Peninsula = “Powder keg of Europe” 1) Ethnic Rivalries 2) Leading rivals had economic and political interests The “Spark” Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria shot by Serbian nationalist.

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Causes of World War I

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  1. Causes of World War I

  2. Assassination leads to war • Balkan Peninsula = “Powder keg of Europe” • 1) Ethnic Rivalries 2) Leading rivals had economic and political interests The “Spark” Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria shot by Serbian nationalist

  3. Situation 1 • War breaks out in Europe between two great alliance systems • Allies (France, Britain, and Russia) • Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Empire) • Archduke Franz Ferdinand is killed ( July 28, 1914 Austria Hungary declares war against Serbia) • US stays neutral, sells to both sides

  4. Situation 2 • Aug. 3, 1914 Central Power (Germany) attacks and quickly defeats neutral Belgium. • Gruesome (Yellow Journalism) stories appear in American newspapers concerning how Germans treated the Belgian people. • Schlieffen Plan – hold Russia, drive through Belgium, on to Paris, then Russia US Remains neutral

  5. Situation 3 • Allies stop US ships and confiscates goods purchased by Central Power (Germany) • They ignore formal US complaints • The US stays neutral because… (see situation 4)

  6. Situation 4 • 1915-1917 Allied powers blockade the ports of Germany. In desperation… • Central Powers launch submarine warfare to attack all ships sailing to and from Great Britain • Neutral US ships were sunk • US stays neutral under Woodrow Wilson

  7. Situation 5 • May 7, 1915 the US luxury liner Lusitania was sunk. • 1,198 persons die (including 128 Americans) • Germany boasts about actions • US Public opinion begins to turn

  8. Situation 6 • 1915 Sussex Pledge: Germany says “we will sink no more passenger ships without warning • March 1916 Germany breaks promise. Sussex sinks 80 Americans killed/injured • US warned it would break diplomatic relations in Germany didn’t stop sinking ships • Germany agreed if US could convince British to lift blockade

  9. Situation 7 • Wilson wins 1916 Election- Calls for peace • Germany renewed unrestricted submarine warfare • Zimmerman note proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany and if US was defeated in war, Mexico could recover lost Texas territory. • Congress declares war in April of 1917

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