Essential Question What caused World War I and

• Essential Question: –What caused World War I and why was the United States unable to remain neutral in this conflict?

From 1914 to 1919, World War I erupted in Europe …the build up of This “Great War” began as powerful, industrial a result of competition militaries over imperial territories…

European rivalries led to two military alliances that threatened to draw European nations into war England, France, Russia Austria-Hungary, Italy, formed the Triple Entente Germany formed the Triple Alliance

Pre-War Alliance Network

Rivalries due to militarism and imperialism increased nationalism among European powers British propaganda poster, 1897 Austrian national poster, 1900

In 1914, Serbian terrorists assassinated Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand which triggered the start of World War I Nationalism was strong in the Balkans, where Serbia hoped to unite with Austrian Slavs

Germany and Austria-Hungary were joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire to form the Central Powers England, France, and Russia became the Allied Powers and eventually were joined by…

…many nations throughout the world, including the United States

The outbreak of WWI in 1914 was a test for America’s new foreign policy By 1914, the USA was a But Americans wanted world power with overseas to remain neutral and territories and influence avoid involvement in in Latin America and Asia Europe’s “Great War”

“The people of the United States are drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is natural and inevitable that there should be sympathy with regard to the circumstances of the conflict… Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality…The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that are to try men's souls. ” —Woodrow Wilson, 1914

Despite efforts by President Woodrow Wilson to remain neutral, the United States joined World War I Americans were outraged by German violations of U. S. neutrality and free trade Americans were outraged by German unrestricted submarine warfare and attacks on passenger ships like the Lusitania Americans were outraged by the Zimmerman Telegram in which Germany offered to return the Mexican Cession if Mexico went to war with the U. S.

The USA remained neutral from 1914 to 1917, but in April 1917 Congress declared war on the Central Powers President Woodrow Wilson promised to “make the world safe for democracy”

Closure Activity: Which other war that America became involved in does World War I compare to? Brainstorm the wars that the United States became involved with from 1775 to 1914. Think about the reasons the USA entered those wars. Which one is most similar to why the USA entered World War I? American Wars American Revolution (1775 -1783) War of 1812 (1812 -1815) Mexican-American War (1846 -1848) Civil War (1861 -1865) Spanish-American War (1898) Filipino-American War (1901 -1904) Reason the USA entered the war