Warm-up
 Explain in sentence form the effects of the
US purchasing and construction of the
Panama Canal.
Objectives
 Militarism, Nationalism, U-Boat
Causes of World War I
Use pgs. 282-284 in the Americans to fill in the chart.
Term/Event
Nationalism
Imperialism
Militarism
Alliance System
Assassination of Archduke
Ferdinand
Definition
President Woodrow Wilson,
August 19, 1914
 The effect of war upon the United States will depend upon
what American citizens say and do. Every man who really
loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of
neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and
friendliness to all concerned…The United States must be
neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that
are to try men’s souls.
•Respond: Identify Woodrow
Wilson’s position toward World War
I in 1914 by writing “stay neutral” or
“declare war” in your notebook.
Then identify one or more reasons
President Wilson gave to support
his position.
President Woodrow Wilson, April
2, 1917
 We are glad…to fight thus for the ultimate peace
of the world and for liberation of its peoples…The
world must be safe for democracy. Its peace must
be planted upon the tested foundations of political
liberty.
•Respond: Identify President
Woodrow Wilson’s position
toward World War I in 1917 by
writing “stay neutral” or “declare
war” in your notebook. Identify
one or more reasons President
Wilson gave to support his
position.
Respond
 Explain what might have happened in
the three years between the speeches
to change Woodrow Wilson’s position.
Short term timeline leading to
World War I
 June 28 - Assassination of Austro-Hungarian
Archduke and heir, Francis Ferdinand (and Sophie,
his wife)
 July 23 - Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia and
invades on July 27
 July 28-30 - Russians mobilize as Serbia’s ally
 August 1 - Germany, Austria-Hungary’s ally, declares
war on Russia (and Serbia)
 August 3 - Germany declares war on France (allied
with Russia) and invades Belgium en route to Paris,
France
 August 4 - Great Britain, France’s ally, declares war
on Germany
Alliance
System
A. Triple
Entente or
Allies—
France,
Britain,
Russia
B. Germany,
AustriaHungary,
Ottoman
Empire are
Central
Powers
C. Alliances
give security;
nations
unwilling to
tip balance of
power
Nationalism
A. Nationalism—devotion to interests, culture of
one’s nation
1. Leads to competition, antagonism between
nations
2.Many fear Germany’s growing power in Europe
3. Various ethnic groups resent domination, want
independence
4. Russia sees self as protector of all Slavic
peoples
B. Imperialism- Germany industrializes, competes
with France, Britain for colonies
Militarism
A. Development of armed forces, their use in diplomacy
B. Cost of building, defending empires leads to more military
spending
C. By 1890, Germany has strongest army on European
continent
1. competes with Britain for sea power
2. leads other powers to join naval arms race
An Assassination Leads to
War
A. Alliances Complicate Conflict
1. Balkan Peninsula known as “the powder keg of Europe”
because:
a. ethnic rivalries among Balkan peoples
b. leading powers have economic, political interests
B. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria shot by Serbian
nationalist
C. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, expects short war
-Alliance system pulls one nation after another into war
Americans Question Neutrality
A. Divided Loyalties
1. Socialists, pacifists, many ordinary people
against U.S. in war
2. Naturalized citizens concerned about effect
on country of birth
3. Many feel ties to British ancestry, language,
democracy, legal system
4. U.S. has stronger economic ties with Allies
than with Central Powers
The War Hits Home
A. The U.S. Prepares
1. By 1917, U.S. has mobilized for war against Central
Powers to:
a. ensure Allied repayment of debts
b. prevent Germans threat to U.S. shipping
B. The British Blockade
1. British blockade, mine North Sea, stop war supplies
reaching Germany
- also stop food, fertilizer
2. U. S. merchant ships seldom reach Germany
3. Germany has difficulty importing food, fertilizer; by 1917,
famine
German U-Boat Response
A. Germany sets up U-boat counter blockade of
Britain
1. U-boat sinks British liner Lusitania; 128
Americans among the dead
- U.S. public opinion turns against Germany
2. President Wilson protests, but Germany
continues to sink ships
The Sussex Incident
B. Sussex sunk March 1916
Unarmed French passenger ship.
80 passengers killed or injured including Americans
C. Sussex Pledge
1. Germany asks U.S. to get Britain to end food blockade
2. Otherwise will renew unrestricted
submarine warfare
Zimmerman Note
 Britain Blockade on German Ports
 Germany tried blockade but doesn’t have
the resources.
 Aurthur Zimmerman sends letter to Mexico
forming an alliance. If US declared war on
Germany, Mexico will declare war on US
The 1916 Election
A. Democrat Wilson defeats Republican
Charles Evans Hughes
1. One of the smallest margins ever from an
incumbent
2. Democrats retained small control of Congress
America Acts
A. Wilson calls for war to make world “safe for
democracy”
- April 2, 1917
Discussion
 Page 290- timeline
 Read both Quotes:
 How do you think they would feel about
WWI?
 What are some difficulties with the War on
Terror?
 When is it necessary to go to war?