Transcript World War I

World War I
A United States
Perspective
World War I
and
United States Entry
Focus Question
Was the United States entry
into World War I justified
and / or another example of
imperialism? Explain.
World War I in Europe
Causes
• Nationalism
• Imperialism
• Military
Build Up
• Alliances
- Triple Alliance
(Germany, Austria
Hungary, Italy)
-
Triple Entente (England, France, Russia)
World War I
The Spark
The Archduke
Ferdinand, heir to
the AustrianHungarian throne,
was assassinated in
Sarajevo.
The Assassination
set off a series of
chain reactions.
The Archduke and his wife Sophie
arrive in Sarajevo, June 28, 1914.
THE
GREAT WAR
HAD
BEGUN…
…IN EUROPE
World War I
The United States Early Reaction
President Wilson
asked the United
States to stay
neutral in word
and deed. It was
“Europe’s War” ...
… for now.
World War I and the United States
Tilting the Support for the Allies
• Germany attacks
Belgium
• Bias reporting of
War (British View)
• Anti-British
sentiment of Irish
American
• Economic Ties
Belgium’swere
neutrality
The
resentment
between
Germans
often
wasand
referred
to as
a deep.
Ireland
England
ran
depicted
aspaper”
barbarians
“scrap
of
by
Even in America the antiU.S. monetary
returns
were
by
the
British
press.
the
Germans.
British feeling was prevalent.
linked to an Allies’ victory.
World War I and the United States
Blockade: United States Position
Woodrow Wilson’s interpretation of
international law supported the British
blockade of Germany but not the German use
of U-boats blockading England.
World War I and the United States
The Lusitania’s Sinking
Germany warned
Americans not to
board the British
luxury liner.
Americans did Germany
not heed the
sunk the 128 Americans died.
warning.
Lusitania.
World War I
The U.S. Moves Toward War
• Sussex Sinking
• Suspension of Sussex Pledge
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• Zimmerman Note
World War I
President Wilson Declares War
The world must be made safe
for democracy. We have no
selfish ends to serve. We desire
no conquest, no dominion. We
seek no indemnities for
ourselves, no material
compensation for the sacrifices
we shall freely make. We are but
one of the champions of the
rights of mankind.
World War I
and
United States Entry
Focus Question
Was the United States entry into
World War I justified and / or an
unreasonable example of
imperialism? Explain.