Causes ofCauses of“The Great “The Great

War”War”

Nationalism Nationalism =

intense pride in one’s own country or nationality

European states became more concerned with their own interests than with maintaining the peace that had held for close to 100 years

Militarism Militarism: the

process of building up military strength for the purpose of intimidating other countries

If one nation builds up its military, then all others must do so as well

Confusing (& secret) Confusing (& secret) alliancesalliances

1882: Germany 1882: Germany allied with Austria & allied with Austria & ItalyItaly

1894: France allied 1894: France allied with Russiawith Russia

1904: Britain allied 1904: Britain allied with Francewith France

Germany secretly Germany secretly allied with Ottomansallied with Ottomans

Britain secretly Britain secretly allied with Japanallied with Japan

Archduke Franz Archduke Franz FerdinandFerdinand

1863 – 19141863 – 1914 Nephew of Austrian Nephew of Austrian

Emperor Franz Joseph Emperor Franz Joseph & heir to the throne of & heir to the throne of AustriaAustria

Married Countess Married Countess Sophie who was Sophie who was beneath him in station, beneath him in station, essentially giving up essentially giving up his rights to the thronehis rights to the throne

Sent on an official Sent on an official state visit to Sarajevo state visit to Sarajevo in the Austrian-held in the Austrian-held province of Bosniaprovince of Bosnia

AssassinationAssassination June 28, 1914June 28, 1914 Franz Ferdinand and Franz Ferdinand and

his wife were his wife were assassinated by a assassinated by a Bosnian nationalistBosnian nationalist

Austria demanded Austria demanded that Serbia, who had that Serbia, who had supposedly supposedly supported the supported the assassins, turn over assassins, turn over anyone who was anyone who was involved in the plotinvolved in the plot

When Serbia refused, When Serbia refused, Austria declared warAustria declared war

Russia enters the Russia enters the warwar

Russia, which supported a policy of Pan-Slavism (unity of all Slavic peoples), demonstrated its support for Serbia by declaring war on Austria

Germany, under their Germany, under their monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II, monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II,

sided with Austriasided with Austria

France sided with France sided with RussiaRussia

Germany invaded neutral Germany invaded neutral Belgium to position Belgium to position

themselves to attack themselves to attack FranceFrance

Britain, an ally of Belgium, Britain, an ally of Belgium, declared war on Germanydeclared war on Germany

The Two Sides of The Two Sides of WWIWWI

““The Central The Central Powers” : Powers” : Germany, Germany, Austria, & the Austria, & the OttomansOttomans

““The Triple The Triple Entente”: Entente”: Great Britain, Great Britain, France, & France, & RussiaRussia

The U.S. & The The U.S. & The WarWar

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson 1856 – 19241856 – 1924 2828thth President (1913 – President (1913 –

21)21) A pacifist, he A pacifist, he

supported US supported US neutrality (taking no neutrality (taking no sides) and isolationism sides) and isolationism (avoiding foreign (avoiding foreign conflicts)conflicts)

His Secretary of State, His Secretary of State, William Jennings William Jennings Bryan, was also Bryan, was also dedicated to neutralitydedicated to neutrality

Americans Take Sides

Some were pro-Germany: German immigrants, Irish immigrants (who were more anti-British)

Most were pro-British: most Americans identified with Britain (same language & culture), US businesses traded heavily with Britain, US banks had loaned Britain over $2 billion (had only loaned $27 million to Germany)

German U-boats Germany attempted to

prevent Britain & France from obtaining supplies from overseas by using submarines to attack shipping

Feb. 1915: Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare in the waters around Britain – any ships could be attacked without warning

The Lusitania May 7, 1916: German U-

boat attacked and sank the British passenger liner Lusitania, killing nearly 1200 civilians, including 128 Americans

Wilson responded by warning Germany that it had a responsibility to protect non-combatants or risk war with the US

The Sussex Pledge

After a 2nd attack in March 1916 that injured Americans aboard the French ship Sussex, Wilson issued a sterner warning to Germany

Germany did not want the US to enter the war, so they promised to stop attacking merchant ships without warning

Wilson, who did not really want to enter the war, used the so-called Sussex Pledge as a political tool for getting re-elected

Election of 1916 Wilson won re-

election on the slogan “He kept us out of war!”

Isolationists’ numbers were dwindling though as the war in Europe grew more intense and US interests were threatened

Jeanette Rankin 1880 – 1973 Became the first woman

to ever serve in Congress when she was elected by Montana to serve in the House of Representatives

Dedicated pacifist, she was the only member of Congress to vote against the US entering both WWI & WWII, also opposed the Korean & Vietnam Wars

The Zimmermann The Zimmermann TelegramTelegram

January 1917: German January 1917: German Foreign Minister Arthur Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann sent Zimmermann sent orders to the German orders to the German ambassador in Mexico ambassador in Mexico to offer Mexico an to offer Mexico an alliance with Germanyalliance with Germany

Germany would help Germany would help Mexico reclaim Texas, Mexico reclaim Texas, California, and the California, and the Southwest if Mexico Southwest if Mexico could keep the US could keep the US occupied and out of the occupied and out of the war in Europewar in Europe

Zimmermann Telegram Zimmermann Telegram BackfiresBackfires

Zimmermann’s Zimmermann’s note was note was intercepted by the intercepted by the British and British and published in US published in US newspapersnewspapers

Most Americans Most Americans were enraged and were enraged and began to demand began to demand warwar

Germany’s New Plan

Germany decided they needed to end the war before the US could mobilize

Feb. 1, 1917: resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in the hopes they could force a quick British surrender

Began to attack US merchant ships without warning, prompting Wilson to take action

US Declares WarUS Declares War

April 2, 1917: Wilson appeared April 2, 1917: Wilson appeared before Congress and asked for a before Congress and asked for a declaration of war against declaration of war against GermanyGermany

The Senate approved war by a vote The Senate approved war by a vote of 82 to 6, the House by a vote of of 82 to 6, the House by a vote of 373 to 50373 to 50