Download The United States in World War I 1914-1920

The United
States in World
War I
1914-1920
•Copy into your notes:
•When World War I
began in 1914, the
United States declared
its neutrality. However,
soon the U.S. began to
side with the Allies, and
in 1917 the U.S. was
drawn into the war.
Do Now
•On a ½ sheet of
paper, list the
causes of World
War I.
The Main
Causes of
World War I
•Militarism
•Since the late 1800s, the
major European powers
had been increasing their
armies and navies
•England and Germany
were in a naval arms race
(building more and larger
ships to control the seas)
The Main
Causes of
World War I
Central Powers:
Austria-Hungary,
Germany,
Ottoman Empire
Allied Powers:
Russia, France,
Great Britain
• Alliances
• European countries had been
forming secret alliances since
the early 1900s
The Main
Causes of
World War I
• Imperialism
among the
major
European
nations led to
competition
that increased
militarism and
nationalism.
•Imperialism
The Main
Causes of
World War I
• Nationalism
• A rise in nationalism was
caused by imperialism among
the strong European nations
• And by a desire for
independence among groups
within empires
The Immediate
Cause of World
War I
• Assassination of AustriaHungary Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
• June 1914
• Killed by Yugoslavian
nationalist Gavrilo Princip
• Austria-Hungary declares war
on Serbia as a result in July
1914
The Outbreak
of War 1914
• Germany sided
with AustriaHungary
• Russia sided
with Serbia
• Soon, all of
Europe was
engulfed in war
• The declaration of war led to
the unraveling of secret
alliances
The War in 1914
1st Battle of the Marne,
1914
September 6th-12th
Germany losses:
250,000
French losses: 250,000
• World War I was the deadliest
war in history up to this point
• New technology and old
tactics led to hundreds of
thousands of deaths
• Soon, the war evolved into a
stalemate fought in the
trenches
The United
States Declares
Neutrality
• President Wilson declared U.S.
neutrality at the outset of the
war
“The United
States must be
neutral in fact, as
well as in name,
during these
days that are to
try men's souls.”
--President
Woodrow
Wilson, 1914
• Followed the tradition of not
involving the U.S in European
affairs
• Washington’s Proclamation of
Neutrality (1793)
• Monroe Doctrine (1823)
• Many Americans did not think
the war would have any impact
on the U.S.
Closing:
1. In your opinion, explain
what you think was the
most important cause of
World War I.
2. Explain 2 reasons why
the United States
declared its neutrality at
the beginning of World
War I.