The First World War Long term causes Militarism
- Slides: 10
The First World War: Long term causes: Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Short term cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro. Hungarian Empire
The First World War: Allies: Russia France Great Britain Italy Japan U. S. (1917) Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria
Which side should the U. S. choose? Central Powers: Allies: Ø Close cultural ties Ø Big business provided large amounts of money in loans to the Allies Ø There were 11 million Americans of German descent Ø Irish-Americans hated Great Britain U. S. exports to both sides:
Why did the U. S. get involved? Blockades Britain blocked all German ships going to America Germany began a submarine war around Britain
Why did the U. S. get involved? German attacks of British passenger ships In May, 1915 Germany warned Americans to stay off British ships; Germany was likely to sink them
Why did the U. S. get involved? *British ship Lusitania torpedoed by Germany, which suspected it of carrying Allied weapons; it sank with about 2, 000 passengers and crew, including 159 Americans; Lusitania was later found to have been carrying 4200 cases of ammunition for the Allies
Why did the U. S. get involved? The U. S. sharply criticized Germany for its action, but did not get involved in the war at that time Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster
Why did the U. S. get involved? In 1917 Germany warned of “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone 8
Why did the U. S. get involved? The Zimmerman note, intercepted by British spies, was from Germany to Mexico In the message, Germany promised to return to Mexico the U. S. states of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico in exchange for Mexico’s help in Germany’s war effort: German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman wrote that if the U. S. entered the war, Germany and Mexico should form an alliance. It was part of an effort to distract the U. S. and keep it from sending aid to France and Great Britain. 9
Why did the U. S. get involved? 10 The Zimmerman note, along with the sinking of four unarmed U. S. ships, led to an American declaration of war against Germany
