Transcript World War I
Although
the United States
tried to remain neutral,
what events eventually
pushed the nation into
World War I?
Alliances:
• Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
• Triple Entente – Great Britain, France, Russia
Military
Buildup
• Both Great Britain and Germany began building
their naval powers
Nationalism
and Self-Determination
• Pride in one’s homeland and the idea that
people who belong to a nation have the right to
govern themselves.
Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
assassinated in Serbia by a member of the “Black
Hand” on June 28, 1914.
July 28, 1914 – Austria declared war on Serbia
August 1, 1914 – Germany declared war on
Russia
Russians were ethnic Slavs and felt an obligation
August 3, 1914 – Germany declared war on
France
Britain declares war when Germany crossed into
Belgium
Allies:
• Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Serbia,
Greece, Belgium
Central
Powers:
• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman
Empire
“We
must be impartial in thought as well
as in action.” –Woodrow Wilson
What
are the possible positive and
negative impacts of this statement?
Why
would American citizens disagree
with President Wilson’s statement?
Unterseeboots
(U-Boats) being used by
the Germans to attack British and French
vessels
Sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915 –
killed 1,200 passengers (128 Americans)
March 1916 – Sussex Pledge made
between U.S. and Germany
Germany
sent a telegram to Mexico
promising to give back lost territory
“taken” by the United States if Mexico
allied itself with Germany.
• Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
German
U-boats resumed unrestricted
submarine warfare
• Sank 6 American merchant ships without
warning between February 3 and March 2
April
4, 1917 - U.S. declares war on
Germany