America In WWI

Test: 20-November-2014

World War 1 Question : Due 11-Nov-14

Why did World War 1 break out

in Europe?

Quick Intro

• American leaders had successfully followed G.W.’s advice in his Farewell Address to avoid “entanglements” with Europe.

• However, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. acquired an overseas empire and grew to become a major world power.

• Another turning point in American foreign policy was reached in 1917, when the U.S. entered WWI

Quick Intro

• WWI was a GLOBAL war fought with new destructive technologies.

• Far More destructive than any previous conflict.

The Spark

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (by Serb nationalist in 1914) was the immediate cause of the war.

• Austria-Hungary : BIG multi-national state

• Slavic groups wanted independence (and were willing to commit acts of terrorism to achieve it).

• Serbia (neighboring Slavic State) planned the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (the heir to the throne)

The Spark

• Austria invaded Serbia to avenge the assassination (encouraged by their ally, Germany)

• Existing alliances quickly brought other major powers into war

• Russia: Allied to Serbia

• Germany: Allied to Austria-Hungary

• Britain and France: Allied to Russia

• Quickly escalated into a MAJOR European war

The Causes

• Nationalism

• Economic Rivalries & Imperialism

• Militarism & Military Planning

• The Alliance System

Nationalism

• Extreme loyalty to a nation and concern for its welfare

• Led to rivalries between France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Several nationalities in Austria-Hungary wanted to form their own national states.

Economic Rivalries & Imperialism

• Imperialism: A nation’s attempt to gain control of weaker nations

• European nations divided much of Africa into colonies in order to obtain new materials and sell goods.

• European powers had competing economic interests.

• For example, Russian interests in the Balkans threatened Austria-Hungary.

• Competing colonial claims added to these tensions.

Militarism & Military Planning

• A nation’s policy to maintain a strong armed force

• Powerful military establishments dominated European life. People were often seen in uniform and extolled the virtues of military discipline and war.

• Generals believed it was better to attack than to be attacked because of the time it took to get troops into position

The Alliance System

• The formation of military agreements among nations

• By the 1890s, Europe was divided into 2 alliances

• Any dispute involving two of these nations threatened to involve all of them

The Alliance System

• The Triple Alliance (also known as the Central Powers):

•Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy

• The Triple Entente (also known as the Allied Powers):

•Great Britain, France & Russia