Download The Great War “World War One”

The Great War
“World War One”
Causes
• Immediate cause: assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
– Heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne
• Primary Causes
– M: Militarism
– A: Alliances
– I: Imperialism
– N: Nationalism
MILITARISM
• Build up of huge standing armies and
navies
– Arms race between Germany and Great
Britain to build warships
– German U-Boats
• Submarines
– Used for blockades
– Leads to unrestricted submarine warfare
Dreadnought-class warship
German WWI U-boats
ALLIANCES
• Triple Alliance
– Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
• AH blames Serbia for assassination, looks
for Germany backing
• AH declares war on Serbia, Germany
declares war on Russia and then France
• Triple Entente (Allied powers)
– France, Russia, Great Britain
• later joined by the U.S.
• When Austria declares war on Serbia, the
Serbs will turn to Russia for assistance
IMPERIALISM
• European nations
fight over colonies
in Asia and Africa
NATIONALISM
• Extreme pride in one’s country or ethnic
group
– Leads to military build up due to military
competition between countries
• Self-determination: people who belong to a
nation should have their own country and
government
– the Balkans
• Area ruled by Austria-Hungary and Ottoman
Empire
• Serbs, Bosnians, Croats, Slovenes see
themselves as one people
– Push for independence
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
• the spark that starts the war!!
• June 28, 1914: Archduke Ferdinand and his
wife visit Bosnian capital of Sarajevo
– Shot by Bosnian revolutionary
• Member of group “Black Hand”
– said that Serbian officials knew of plot
• Let the crazy alliance system begin!!
SLUTZ
• Reasons why the United States entered WWI
• S: Sussex
• L: Lusitania
• U: Unrestricted submarine warfare
• T: Ties with Great Britain
• Z: Zimmerman note
SUSSEX
• The Sussex: French merchant ship sunk by
German U-boats
– 1916
• b/c Germany didn’t want U.S. to enter war,
agrees to Sussex pledge
– Germany promises not to sink anymore
merchant/civilian ships without warning
LUSITANIA
• May 7, 1915
• British luxury liner sunk by German U-boats
– 1,200 passengers killed
– 128 Americans
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
• Feb 1915
– Germany announces unrestricted U-boat
attacks even on civilian vessels
• Aimed to destroy British supply lines
• No ship safe regardless of what flag they
flew!
• Feb 3- March 21, 1917 U-boats sink 6 U.S.
merchant ships w/o warning
TIES WITH BRITAIN
• American connections
with British culture
• Anti-German
propaganda
Zimmerman Note
• January 19, 1917
• German ambassador writes to Mexico
– Promises to help Mexico regain lost
territories of TX, NM, AZ
• If Mexico allied itself with Germany were the
U.S. and Germany to go to war
• Letter leaked to the press
On the first of February, we intend to begin unrestricted
submarine warfare. In spite of this, it is our intention to
endeavor to keep the United States of America neutral. In the
event of this not succeeding, we propose an alliance on the
following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together
and make peace together. We shall give generous financial
support, and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to
reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and
Arizona. The details of settlement are left to you. You are
instructed to inform the President [of Mexico] of the above in
the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will
be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest
that the President, on his own initiative, invite Japan to
immediate adherence with this plan; at the same time, offer
to mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call to the
attention of the President that the ruthless employment of our
submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England to
make peace in a few months.
U.S. at WAR!
• April 2, 1917 President Wilson
asks Congress for declaration of
war