The First World War

Causes of the War

Many Americans wanted to stay out of the war.

Several factors made it difficult to maintain neutrality:

•Nationalism•Imperialism•Militarism•Formation of a system of alliances

Nationalism

A devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation.

Led to competitive and antagonists rivalries among nations.

Many feared Germany’s growing power in Europe.

Imperialism

European nations had been building empires slowly.

Colonies supplied the European imperial powers with raw materials and provided markets for manufactured goods.