WORLD WAR I 1914 1918 UNDERLYING CAUSES Militarism

WORLD WAR I 1914 -1918

UNDERLYING CAUSES Militarism Alliance system Imperialism Nationalism

• Militarism • Glorifying military power and keeping an army ready for war • All but Great Britain had large standing armies • Stressed the importance of quick mobilization and organization of troops in case of war • Citizens felt patriotic • Also frightened citizens • Why would citizens become fearful?

• Alliance system • Growing rivalries and mistrust led to creation of the alliance system among European nations • Designed to keep peace in Europe • Triple alliance ---> Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy • Triple entente--->Great Britain, France, Russia • Nations pledged to intervene if ally was attacked

• Imperialism • Nations in Europe competed for colonies in Africa and Asia • Pushed countries to brink of war • Developed a deeper sense of rivalry and mistrust

• Nationalism • • Caused intense competition among nations Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, France, and Italy Competed for markets and materials Territorial disputes

ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE • June 28, 1914 • Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand wife Sophie shot while visiting Bosnia • Immediate cause which started WWI • Austria gave Serbia a list of demands • July 28, Austria declares war • Russia joins war and sends troops to Austrian border

FIRST WORLD WAR BEGINS…. Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire Italy Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Japan Italy

Where is the US in all of this? • President Woodrow Wilson decided to remain neutral at the onset of the war • May 7, 1915, German U-boat sinks British ship Lusitania • January 1917, Germany announced policy of unrestricted submarine warfare • German submarines would sink any ship, neutral or not, without warning • 128 American citizens

ONE STEP CLOSER TO WAR…. • February 1917, German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman writes telegram • “Zimmerman Note” • Germany would help Mexico reconquer the land it had lost to the US if Mexico would ally themselves with Germany • April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany

WWI QUIZ 1. What single event set in motion the start of WWI? 2. How did Germany get involved in the war? 3. Identify the 4 underlying causes of WWI. 4. Which two major countries made up the Central Powers?