Background to World War I
A. Underlying causes
1. Militarism (arms race). Click on battleship for some footage
of a BB firing its guns.
2. Nationalism (increased national pride among great powers
and the people these empires rule).
3. Imperialist rivalries.
4. Alliance System – A defense against future wars ends up
dragging all countries into war. The major Alliances:
 Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (will drop
out)
 Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain.
B. Steps to War In Europe
1. Balkan Crisis: A struggle between Russia and AustriaHungary developed over the control of the Balkan states.
2. Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is
assassinated in 1914 by a Serbian nationalist.
3. Declaration of War 1914. Austria-Hungary, using the
assassination, issues Serbia an ultimatum demanding that
anti-Austrian agitation be suppressed. War follows and pulls
in other alliance members.
C. The U.S. leading up to War
1. Neutrality and free and open access to the seas. We
maintain our right to open navigation of the seas as a
Neutral power.
2. Britain blockades Germany (Battleships) then Germany
blockades GB (U-Boats).
3. The British passenger liner Lusitania is sunk in 1915,
American killed, Wilson warns Germany to cease use of
unrestricted u-boat warfare.
 Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - a submarine can attack any vessel flying a
hostile flag or suspected of giving aid to an enemy, without warning or provocation.
Prior to WWI, belligerents observed "Prize" or "Cruiser" rules, which stated that the
ship couldn't sink a passenger ship, only a merchant vessel of an enemy nation, and
that the crew/passengers aboard any vessel must be clear and safe before it was
sunk.
4. Arabic sunk, more Americans killed. Germany promises to
abandon unrestricted u-boat warfare (Arabic Pledge).
Sussex sunk, Germany renews promises (Sussex Pledge).
5. U.S. sends more supplies to Britain and France than to
Germany. 1st and 2nd generation immigrants support
neutrality, majority want Britain and France to win.
6. British news stirs propaganda against Germany. They
control the Atlantic Cable.
7. Preparedness. National Security League promotes
expansion of armed forces.
8. Opposition to war. Progressives, Socialists against military
buildup.
9. Wilson wins in 1916. Beats Charles Evans Hughes on
pledge to stay out of the war.
D. Immediate Causes of US Entry in WW I
1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare causes U.S. to break
diplomatic relations with Germany.
2. Zimmerman telegram-March 1, 1917, Germany proposes
alliance and offers Mexico help in regaining territory lost
during Mexican-American war; intercepted by British.
3. Russian Revolution - overthrow czar and proclaim republic.
Wilson deems Russian as an acceptable “ideological and
moral” ally.
4. Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war - April 1917.