Causes of the Great

War

1st World War in history

•Great War or War to End all War

•Not called WWI until after WWII

•Total war

•Involved 60 nations and 6 continents

Influences of Spanish-American War

• US began to establish an international Empire

• Becoming an Industrial Power

• “Open Door Policy”

• Liberal Internationalism– Economic and Political Progress went hand in hand– “make the world safe for democracy”

Now Let’s Look at Some “isms”

NationalismNationalism•Countries proud of their

heritage and culture•Similar toSimilar to patriotismpatriotism

•Ethnic groups of similar heritage wanted to free their oppressed brethren and unite their people into one country•Germany wanted to expand its Germany wanted to expand its culture and political influence culture and political influence

throughout Europe.throughout Europe.

Aggressive NationalismAggressive Nationalism

ImperialismImperialism

•France, Great Britain, Germany and Russia were establishing

colonies in Africa and Asia

•economic and political control economic and political control over other countries……over other countries……

•these countries were in competition for colonies

Cartoon-European grab

bag

European nations competing for colonies around the world…..Imperialism

Cartoon-European grab

bag

Cartoon-European grab

bag

MilitarismMilitarism•European nations began

an arms race as they competed for colonies around the world……

Soldiers Mobilized

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

France Germany Russia Britain

Mill

ion

s

Militarism & Arms RaceMilitarism & Arms Race

1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914

94 130 154 268 289 398

Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers [[Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, British and Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, British and

RussiaRussia] in millions of dollars.] in millions of dollars.

1910-1914 Increase in

Defense Expenditures

France

10%

Britain

13%

Russia

39%

Germany

73%

By 1906, President Roosevelt had built the US Navy into By 1906, President Roosevelt had built the US Navy into the 3the 3rdrd largest naval fleet in the world…. largest naval fleet in the world….

The Great White Fleet

AlliancesAlliances•European nations began forming military alliances with one another to maintain a balance of power balance of power

……..

Triple AllianceTriple Alliance Triple EntenteTriple EntenteCentral PowersCentral Powers Allied PowersAllied Powers

Germany Great Britain Austria-Hungary Empire FranceOttoman Empire Russia

The Boiling Point Political Cartoon by Leonard Raven-HillA 1912 political cartoon published in Punch magazine shows the boiling

point of Balkan troubles

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his family. Archduke

was heir to the throne in the Austrian Hungarian Empire. His assassination June 28,

1914 eventually led to WWI.

Garvillo Princip, a Serbian nationalist assassinated the

Archduke. He was trying to gain allowances for his fellow Serbs who

lived under Austrian rule.

Franz Ferdinand’s funeral procession

franz

alliances1

•Austrian-Hungarian Empire controlled

several ethic groups.

•Serbian nationalists wanted to untie Serbs

who lived in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire with Serbia.

•This led to the assassination of the

Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Sarajevo

1. June 28Assassination at Sarajevo

2. July 28Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

3. July 30Russia began mobilization

4. August 1Germany declared war on Russia

alliances1

alliances2

5. August 3Germany declared war on France

6. August 3Great Britain declared war on Germany

7. August 6Russia and Austria/Hungary at war.

8. August 12Great Britain declared war on Austria/Hungary

Two Armed Camps!Two Armed Camps!Allied PowersAllied PowersAllied PowersAllied Powers Central Central

PowersPowersCentral Central PowersPowers

Great Britain

France

Russia

Italy

Germany

Austrian-Hungarian Empire

Ottoman Empire

world map

Causes of WWI – MANIA!Militarism - policy of building up a strong military to prepare for war (ARMS RACE)

Alliances – agreements between nations to provide aid and protect on another

•European powers formed rival alliances to protect themselves

•PROBLEM: One event could drag all countries involved into a conflict

Assassination – of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Imperialism – when one country takes over another country economically and politically.

Nationalism – extreme pride in one’s country

Three Phases which brought US Closer to War!!

• Discrimination against American shipping to Central Powers.– British Blockade– Credits and Loans

• $2 ½ billion to Allied Powers• Less than $300 million to Central Powers

– Exports• $2.75 billion to Allied Powers• $29 million to Central Powers

US tries to stay Neutral

• August 4, 1914 Wilson proclaims neutrality• “Impartial in thought as well as deed/action.”

Phase #2 Submarines

• U-Boats– Advantages– Problems– Wolf packs

•The Germans could not match Great Britain's

superior navy.•Germans introduced

unrestricted submarine warfare with U-Boats

•Germans warned the world they would sink any ship

they believed was carrying contraband to Great

Britain.

U-BoatsU-Boats

•By 1918, Germans had sunk 6,500 allied ships.

Two typesTwo types•small subs

with a crew of 24

•larger subs with a crew of

60

•44 by 1918

Lusitania ad

war zone

•May 7, 1915, the Germans sunk the Lusitania which was British passenger liner.

•Germans believed it was carrying contraband (weapons)contraband (weapons) to the British.

•Killed 1,198 civilians including 128 Americans. •U.S. and other countries outraged towards

Germany because of “unrestricted submarine “unrestricted submarine warfare”.warfare”.

•US believed the Germans had violated international lawinternational law of targeting civilians

Lusitania

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURi21sJsWc

•After the sinking of the Lusitania, public opinion of most Americans was to go to war with Germany.

•Germany promised they would not sink anymore ships unless

warning them first and providing safety for civilians.

•BUT, President Wilson was able “keep us out of war” ….

Sinking of the Arabic Sept. 1, 1915

• British Liner- loss of 2 Americans

• Arabic Pledge--Germany would not sink any unarmed liners

Sussex Sunk: led to Sussex Pledge in March

24, 1916. Germany promised not to sink

anymore ships.war zone

X

Sussex Pledge

• Won’t sink any ships until Germany used adequate search & safety procedures

• Turning point in Wilson’s diplomacy

3rd Phase- Making World Safe forDemocracy

• In 1916, Wilson re-elected– “He kept us out of War”– 277 vs. 254

All-Out Submarine Warfare

• Kaiser Wilhelm- 1917

If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliancealliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizonaterritory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The

details are left to you for settlement....

You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak

of warZimmerman notes

Berlin, January 19, 1917Berlin, January 19, 1917 On the first of FebruaryFebruary we intend to

begin unrestricted submarine warfareunrestricted submarine warfare. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutralneutral the United

States of America.

Zimmerman code

Zimmerman code

zimmerman cartoon

When German submarines sank three American

merchant ships in March 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war.

Declaration of War

• April 2, 1917

• Senators- 82 for 6 against

• Representatives- 373 for 50 against