Download Causes of WWI & Reasons for US entry into WWI

WWI
“THE
GREAT
WAR”
M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI
Militarism
•Nations
increase
their
military
strength to
reach their
goals.
As this occurs, rivals feel threatened
and build up their military strength too.
Alliances
• Defense
agreements
between
nations to aid
each other,
especially
during war.
Imperialism
•A
nation’s
desire to
grow and
expand its
territories.
Nationalism
Two wounded
British soldiers
walk with wounded
German soldier.
IE: Intense patriotism to the point
that one is willing to sacrifice and
even lay down their life.
 The
feeling of
intense
pride and
loyalty to
one's
country
Short Term Cause of WWI
 Assassination of
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand heir
to the AustroHungarian
Empire, was the
spark that
caused the war,
on June 28,
1914.
The Archduke
was killed by 19
year old Gavrilio
Princip member
of the “Black
Hand,” a Serbian
nationalist group
who believed
Austro-Hungarian
rule would
destroy his
homeland.
Picture during the arrest.
Major Allied Powers






France
British Empire
Serbia
Belgium
Russia
United States
Central Powers
Pictured: Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany,
Enver Pasha Ottoman Empire (Turkey),
Emperor Franz Joseph, Austro Hungarian Empire
(Austria/Hungary).
 German
Empire
 AustroHungarian
Empire
 Ottoman
Empire
 Bulgaria
Reasons for
United States
Entry into
WWI
Day 2
Reasons for United States
Involvement in WWI
 The U.S. could
no longer remain
neutral in face of
increasing
threats to its
national
interests.
1.Inability to remain
neutral;
2. the U.S. had close
economic and
political ties to
England.
3. German
submarine
warfare (to
prevent supplies
from reaching
England): sinking
of the Lusitania.
 The Germans shot
at any ships
without warning
— a violation of
international law.
Unrestricted
German Submarine
Warfare
Interception of the
Zimmerman Telegram
4. The Zimmerman
Telegram offered
Mexico the land it lost
to the U.S. during the
Mexican War if Mexico
would align itself with
Germany in the event
that the U.S. entered
the War.
 This outraged
Americans!
April 6, 1917: Congress declared
war on Germany.
The End
of WWI
& the
war’s
Aftermath
Day 3
What occurred when
American troops went to war?
 U.S. President Woodrow
Wilson provided
leadership during the
war, along with his
commander, General
John Pershing, who led
the American
Expeditionary Force of
American soldiers, called
doughboys, in Europe.
On October 4,
1918
-the Germans
requested an
armistice, or an
agreement to
end the
fighting.
Armistice
The armistice
began on
November 11,
1918.
day,
month, 11thhour
th
11
th
11
What is
Armistice
day
called in
the U.S.
today?
Veteran’s
Day !!!
United
States
leadership
as the war
ended
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
 January 1919 – world leaders
gather in Paris, France for a
peace conference.
After returning from the
Paris Peace Conference…
 At the end of
World War I,
President
Wilson prepared
a peace plan,
called the
Fourteen Points.
The League
of Nations
was the
Final Goal
of Wilson’s
Fourteen
Points
The League of
Nations
 This plan called
for the formation
of the League of
Nations, which
would be a
peacekeeping
organization.
The Paris Peace Conference
 The Allies disagreed on how to
“punish” the Central Powers.
 Wilson did not want to punish them –
other allies sought revenge.
The Treaty of Versailles
June 28, 1919
 Eventually, Germany
was forced to accept
responsibility for the
war and agree to pay
money for war
damages…
 War Reparations
 No more weapons.
 No more colonies.
American Opposition
 Wilson presented the
Treaty of Versailles to
the U.S. Senate in July
1919 for ratification.
 The Senate had to
approve the treaty before
the U.S could officially
accept it.
 Many Americans did not
trust the idea of a League
of Nations.
The United States did not join the League of
Nations because there was opposition to it at
home and the United States Senate refused
to ratify the Treaty of Versailles.
American Opposition
 The Treaty of
Versailles was
rejected in 1920 by
the United States.
 The U.S. did NOT join the
League of Nations.
 In 1921 the U.S. signed a
separate treaty with each of
the Central Powers,
officially ending the war.
Map of Pre and Post
WWI Europe
 http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/lessons/ushistory/ww1/preww1.htm