USHC Standard 5 The student will demonstrate an

USHC Standard 5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of domestic and foreign developments that contributed to the emergence of the United States as a world power in the twentieth century. USHC 5. 4: Analyze the causes and consequences of United States involvement in WWI, including the failure of neutrality and the reasons for the declaration of war, the role of propaganda in creating a unified war effort, the limitation of individual liberties, and Woodrow Wilson’s leadership in the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations.

WWI

President Woodrow Wilson (1913 -1921): • an anti-imperialist • believed democracy was essential to a nation’s stability and prosperity • believed that the U. S. should promote democracy in order to ensure a peaceful world free of revolution and war Despite 40+ years of peace, tensions among European nations were building in 1914

There were several causes of World War I: 1. The Alliance System • In the 1860’s the German kingdom of Prussia launched several wars to unite the many German states into the German Empire • Germany became one of the most powerful nations in the world, and changed European politics • The Prussians fought and defeated France, and forced them to give up land along the German border • Germany signed alliances with Italy and Austria. Hungary, creating the Triple Alliance • Russia and France had a common interest in opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary • They signed the Franco-Russian Alliance

German Kingdom of Prussia

2. The Naval Race • Germany began to build a navy, challenging Great Britain’s historical dominance of the sea • By the early 1900’s, an arms race had begun between Great Britain and Germany • This arms race increased tensions between Great Britain and Germany, bringing Britain closer to France and Russia • Great Britain refused to sign a formal alliance • Their new relationship with France and Russia became known as entente cordiale, or a friendly understanding • Great Britain, France and Russia became known as the Triple Entente

3. The Balkans Crisis • Nationalism was a powerful idea in Europe in the late 1800’s • Many people were willing to go to war to expand their nation at the expense of others • Self-determination: the idea that people who belong to a nation should have their own country and government • Groups within the region known as the Balkans began to press for independence from the Ottoman Empire and the Austria-Hungary Empire because of nationalism • The people in this region were known as Slavs

3. The Balkans Crisis • The first group within the Slavic people to gain independence were the people of Serbia • They believed their nation was meant to unite the Slavs into one nation • Russia supported Serbia, because they were a rival of Austria-Hungary • Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia; an area within the Balkans region that belonged to the Ottoman Empire • The annexation demonstrated to Serbia that Austria-Hungary had no intention of letting the Slavic people in its empire become independent

The Balkans

4. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • In June of 1914 the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, visited the Bosnian capital • A Bosnian revolutionary shot Ferdinand his wife to death • This took place with the knowledge of Serbian officials, knowing it would start a war with Austria-Hungary • On July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia • This caused the European alliances to mobilize

4. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • Russia mobilized its army, including troops stationed on the German border • On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia • Two days later, Germany declared war on France

At the beginning of the war, Germany needed to move through Belgium, in order to invade France Belgium had been guaranteed neutrality by Great Britain, so when German troops crossed the Belgium border Great Britain declared war on Germany

Those fighting for the Triple Entente-France, Russia, Great Britain and Italy-were called the Allies Those fighting for the Triple Alliance-Germany, Austria-Hungary, The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria-were called the Central Powers

WWI Alliances