W W I Name: ______________________________________________ 5c: American Involvement in WWI Notes The United States involvement in World War I ended a long tradition of avoiding involvement in European conflicts and set the stage for the United States to emerge as a global superpower later in the 20th century. Essential Question: What were the reasons for the United States becoming involved in World War I? Answer: Reasons for US involvement in war: Inability to remain neutral German submarine warfare‐ sinking of Lusitania US economic and political ties to Great Britain The Zimmerman Telegram Essential Question: Who were the Allies and who were the Central Powers? Answer: Allies: Central Powers: Great Britain Germany France Austria‐Hungary Russia Bulgaria Serbia Ottoman Empire Belgium There were disagreements about the extent to which the United States should isolate itself from world affairs. Essential Question: In what ways did the United States provide leadership at the conclusion of the war? Answer: U.S. leadership as the war ended At the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson prepared a peace plan that called for the formation of the League of Nations, a peace‐keeping organization The United States decided not to join the League of Nations because the United States Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. World War I ‐ USII 4b I. Reasons for U.S. Involvement in World War I
Put an X by each statement that describes a reason the U.S. was involved in World War I.
1. ________ U.S. belief in isolationism
2. ________ U.S. economic and political ties to Great Britain
3. ________ U.S. inability to remain neutral
4. ________ German sinking of the Lusitania
5. ________ U.S. economic and political ties to Germany
6. ________ German sinking of the Titanic
II. The Allies and Central Powers
Identify the alliance each of the following countries belonged to by writing an A for the Allies and a C for the Central Powers.
1. ________ Austria-Hungary
2. ________ Great Britain
3. ________ Ottoman Empire
4. ________ Germany
5. ________ Serbia
6. ________ France
7. ________ Bulgaria
8. ________ Russia
9. ________ Belgium
III. U.S. Leadership
Circle the answers that best complete the statements below.
At the end of World War I U.S. President (Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson) prepared a peace plan that
called for the formation of the (League of Nations, United Nations) as a peace keeping organization. The U.S. eventually decided (to join, not to join) the organization. World War I Terms - USII 4b
Name _________________________________________________ Date ________________
Match the following terms to their definition.
1. ________ isolationism
2. ________ neutral
3. ________ submarine
4. ________ Lusitania
5. ________ alliance
6. ________ Allies
7. ________ Central Powers
8. ________ League of Nations
A. Great Britain, France, Belgium, Russia, Serbia, and later the United States
B. government policy based on the belief that it is in the nation’s best interest to avoid economic and political alliances
with other countries
C. peace keeping organization formed at the end of World War I; U.S. did not join it
D. passenger ship sunk by the Germans; helped to stimulate U.S. involvement in the war
E. an association of two or more nations who agree to cooperate with each other to achieve some common goal
F. a warship built to travel and attack from under water
G. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire
H. not taking sides in a dispute
World War I
As the United States entered the 20th century, it began to take on a leading role in world affairs. Because of this
new position as a world power, or global power, the United States found it more and more difficult to avoid involvement, or remain neutral, in a growing European conflict.
Why did the United States find it more and more difficult to avoid involvement in the growing European conflict? The growing unrest in Europe was caused by a number of factors. One of these factors was nationalism. In the late
1800s and early 1900s, Europeans were devoted to the interests of their own nations. Another factor was militarism.
In order to protect their colonies on other continents, many European nations increased their military strength. For
example, Britain built a larger navy, Russia increased the size of its army, and Germany increased both its navy and
army.
In order to protect themselves, their national boundaries, and their economic interests, many European countries
formed partnerships or alliances with other European countries. Countries in an alliance promised to help each
other if a member of the alliance was ever attacked by another country. This promise of protection led the European
continent into war.
What did these countries form? What is an alliance? Why did many European countries form alliances? In 1914 two powerful alliances, the Major Allied Powers, or Allies, and the Central Powers, marched into war.
The Allies included the countries of Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, and Belgium. The Central Powers
included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. The immediate cause of the war
was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the first in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne. He and his wife
were killed during a visit to the country of Bosnia. As a result, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia.
Germany then declared war on Serbia’s ally, Russia. Great Britain responded by declaring war on Germany.
Who were the Major Allied Powers? Who were the Central Powers? What was the immediate cause for war erupting in Europe? At first the US was able to remain neutral and maintain a policy of isolationism, but there were many disagreements about how much the US should participate in world affairs. President Woodrow Wilson cautioned Americans
to stay impartial. On May 7, 1915 a German submarine, or U-boat, launched a torpedo attack sinking the British
passenger liner Lusitania. Over 1000 people lost their lives including 128 Americans. This angered Americans, but
President Wilson called for calm.
What position did the United States take at first? Who was president at the time? Which event helped to draw the U.S. into the war? Over the next two years, Germany continued to strengthen its navy. It also began a blockade to cut off military
supplies to Great Britain and announced that German U-boats would attack any ship that entered British waters.
This unrestricted submarine warfare resulted in the sinking of three American merchant ships. It also
threatened America’s commercial shipping and its economic and political ties to Great Britain.
What did Germany do over the next two years that would help draw the U.S. into war? Why did Germany begin a blockade? What did Germany announce it would do during its blockade? What resulted in the sinking of three American merchant ships? What did Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare threaten? The final incident occurred in early 1917 when the German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, sent a telegram
to Mexico. The telegram asked Mexico to become an ally of Germany. In return, Germany promised to help Mexico win back lands it lost to the US during the Mexican War. The Zimmerman telegram was intercepted, decoded,
and then printed in newspapers throughout the country. The American people were outraged! Finding it impossible to remain neutral any longer, the US joined the Allies by declaring war on Germany in April of
1917.
What was America’s response to the telegram that Germany sent to Mexico? America played a major role in what would later be called World War I. In addition to manpower, America supplied the Allied armies with much needed food and supplies. Following four horrific years of war, the Central Powers surrendered in November of 1918, and “The War to End All Wars” came to a close. A month later a peace
treaty was drafted in Paris, France. The Treaty of Versailles required that Germany pay the Allies billions of dollars, take the blame for the war, and limit the size of its military forces. It also included a plan prepared by President Woodrow Wilson, called the Fourteen Points, which called for the formation of a League of Nations.
The members of this peace-keeping organization would help each other settle disputes and agree to respect
the rights of other members.
Who won? Who lost? What was the name of the peace treaty signed at the end of World War I? What plan did it include? Who prepared this plan? What was the League of Nations? What did the members of this peace‐keeping organization pledge to do? Upon his return to the United States, President Wilson presented the treaty to the U.S. Senate for approval, but
they failed to ratify it. Many senators did not want the United States to join the League of Nations because they
believed it would cause America to become involved in future European conflicts.
Even though the United
States decided not to join the League of Nations, the stage was set for it to emerge as a global superpower
later in the 20th century.
Why didn’t the U.S. senators want us to join the League of Nations? Did the United States join the League of Nations?