Download Causes of WWI - Mrs. Gilbert`s Site

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Causes of World War I
Long-Term Causes
Militarism- Policy of building up strong armed forces to prepare for war (Competition between
different countries)
Alliances-
Agreements or promises to defend and help another country (A crisis involving one
member could affect all of the nation’s allies)
Imperialism- A policy in which one nation takes control of the economic or political affairs of another
country or region (Nations competed for power, which led to wars - ex: Spanish American
War)
Nationalism- Pride in one’s country and unity (mistrust and hatred towards other countries)
Short-Term (Immediate) Causes
1) June 1914: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie by a Serbian nationalist.
2) Tensions in the Balkan peninsula.
3) July 1914:Austria-Hungary threatened to go to war with Serbia.
4) July 1914: Russia mobilized its forces to come to the aid of Serbia.
Central Powers
Allied Powers
1. Germany
1. Great Britain
2. Austria-Hungary
2. France
3. Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
3. Russia (exited the war in 1917)
4. Later United States (entered 1917)
What caused the U.S. to enter WWI?
1. Cultural Ties: Few Americans were neutral. Some favored the Central powers (German-Americans).
Most favored the Allies. America had long standing cultural ties with Britain and
France.
2. Economic Ties: * American trade to the Allies increased during the war. American business and
agriculture benefited. The US also financed over $ 2 Billion in loans to the allies.
* Most Americans did not believe trade or loans violated American neutrality.
President Wilson in 1916 was in favor of the allies. In his election campaign he
advertised the slogan “He kept us out of the war.”
3. Propaganda: Allies conducted effective propaganda campaigns in the United States. They pictured the
war as one of civilized democratic nations verses the barbaric monarch of Germany.
4. German Submarine Warfare: (Lusitania): Germany used a policy of unrestricted submarine
warfare and Germany attempted to block any ship that was an ally or helping the allies.
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The Lusitania was a British ship that sailed from Great Britain to New York…this ship was
sunk by Germany. The ship carried close to 200 American civilians. This upset the U.S.
government because at the time the U.S. was neutral.
5. Zimmerman Telegram/Note: A telegram sent from Germany to Mexico inviting Mexico to join
Germany…if the Central Powers win, Germany promised to get Texas, New Mexico, and
Arizona back to Mexico.
6. Russian Revolution: Russians overthrew the Czar, so it appeared to the United States that if they
joined the war they would be joining an alliance of democratic nations.