Transcript US Entry into WWI

US Involvement in WWI
US History
Ms. Weston
11/26/07
Europe on the Brink of War
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Remember the causes of the war
with the acronym: MANIA
M:Militarism
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Countries were building up their
militaries and competing with each
other to see whose was the most
powerful.
A: Alliances
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Formed for protection because of so
much militarism
Central Powers: Germany, AustriaHungary, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Ottoman
Empire
Allies: France, Great Britain, Russia
N: Nationalism
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Belief in the greatness of your nation
above all others
Each country fought with each other
over colonies.
Some countries (especially in
Austria-Hungary) began to want their
independence.
I: Imperialism
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Led to competition
• For example, Germany and France
fought over Algiers
A: Assassination
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We’ll talk about this next
EUROPE IS LIKE A POWDER KEG
US maintained neutrality
• President Wilson didn’t want US to get
involved
• Condemned Europe for it’s imperialistic
tendencies
World War I Begins
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Assassination: Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and his wife assassinated
in 1914
Killed by a Serbian nationalist in
Bosnia
• Member of the Black Hand
• Wanted Serbia to be independent from
Austria Hungary
World War I Begins ctnd.
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Austria-Hungary outraged, puts
demands on Serbia
Serbia refused, knowing they could
count on their ally, Russia
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY first to declare
war on Serbia
Alliance System Drags Europe into
War
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To back up Serbia, Russia put troops
near Germany
Germany declared war on Russia and
it’s ally France
France’s ally Great Britain declared
war on Germany.
US STILL MAINTAINS NEUTRALITY!
• American people supported allies
German U-boats Violate
International Law
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Germans used submarines to fight
against British blockade
Announced unrestricted
submarine warfare: would attack
any ship headed for Great Britain
• Warned allies their ships were in danger
• Germans sank over 90 ships including
US tankers, infuriated Americans
The Lusitania
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Germans warned British their passenger liners
were in danger
England still sailed Lusitania from New York to
England
German U-boat torpedoed Lusitania in May 1915
• Sunk in 18 minutes
• 2,000 on board, 1200 died including 128
Americans
• Ship was carrying secret cargo of war
materials.
Wilson still wanted US to stay neutral,
campaigned on promise “He kept us out of war”
The Zimmerman Note (1917)
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Sent by German foreign secretary Arthur
Zimmerman to Mexico
Was intercepted and decoded by British
Telegram stated Germany would again
begin unrestricted submarine warfare
Even worse, telegram proposes alliance
between Germany and Mexico
• Germany promises will help Mexico get land
back
Wilson Declares War
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Because German U-boats begin sinking
ships again
April 2, 1917: Wilson asked for declaration
of war
Put US involvement in moral terms: US
must make the world “safe for
democracy”
Was opposition to war from Socialists,
Quakers and anti-imperialists