copyright aihe 2009 causes of world war i and america’s entrance into the war
TRANSCRIPT
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Causes of World War I and America’s Entrance into the War
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Turn of the Twentieth Century Europe
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Commonly Cited Causes
Industrialization Nationalism Militarization Imperialism Entangling Alliances
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Only Minor Wars since 1815 Congress of Vienna to end the French
Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The Concert of Europe. Leaders returned Europe to it’s pre 1789 state. Powers agreed to work together to stop
republican revolutions.
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Weak argument as a cause of World War I
If the countries had engaged in a Global Free Market, they would not have been as eager to go to war.
Trading partners rarely go to war with one another.
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Industrialization Fueled greater Imperialism Fostered Nationalism because it led to
greater literacy. The concepts of national and ethnic identity
spread through the written word. Peasants were exposed to the world.
Leaders used nationalism as a unifying factor. To consolidate governmental power Or, for revolutionary purposes
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But, Industrialization did did lead to Militarization Militarization and
Did allow large Armies and steel, steam power Navies.
Did allow the mass production of weapons Did allow various
arms races
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Imperialism Was not the same as a Global Free Market. Empires used colonies for raw materials and
also as customers. It was an internal system. ALSO, New Imperialism Empire for the
sake of Empire. Fierce Competition. Much of it justified by Darwinian Racist Science
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Entangling Alliances Goal of 19th Century European Diplomacy
Balance of PowerBalance of Power
Concert of Europe stated that all European Powers
would work together against
revolutions and unjust aggressors.
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The Diplomatic History 1879 German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck
engineers the Dual Alliance German Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire
1881 Renewal of the League of 3 Emperors 2 empires would remain neutral if the 3rd was
attacked by a 4th power.
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Because of Franco-Prussian War: France did not trust Germany They looked to Russian Empire for an
alliance. Russia did not totally trust Germany or
Austria
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1887 Dual Alliance Remains Bismarck enters a “Reinsurance Treaty with
Russia Each would stay neutral in a war against one
another, unless the other was fighting Austria or France, respectfully.
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More Treaties 1891 Temporary Franco-Russian Agreement 1892 Franco-Russian Agreement Strengthened
The new Kaiser, Wilhelm II rejects the Reinsurance Treaty
1892 Italy joins the Dual Alliance, now the Triple Alliance
1894 Full Franco-Russian Military Alliance
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland
England liked to stay out of European Affairs, unless the Balance of Power, or their own interests are threatened.
England liked their “Splendid Isolation.” Some Brits realize that they did not have any
friends– could be a dangerous situation. They tried to have warm relations with the
United States
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The U.S. wanted nothing to do with the U.K.
Strong American Isolationist Streak
Britain had aided the Confederacy during the American Civil War
Strong Irish-American voting bloc that stopped all attempts at US-UK cooperation
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British hated the French
They considered a treaty with Germany and/or the Triple Alliance.
Germans and English were both Germanic Kaiser Wilhelm was the first grandson of
British Queen Victoria British Royals were Germans from the House
of: Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
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HOWEVER! Germany was challenging Britain in:
Industry Naval Power Imperial Might
Who would be the top Dog?
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Splendid Isolation Comes Home to Roost:
In the Boar War The World rooted for the Boars in South
Africa. Americans equated the Boars
with the American patriots of
1776, fighting to free themselves
from British rule
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Britain could not look to FranceBecause of Centuries of
Mistrust, Competition and War
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Britain was at odds with Russia in: The Ottoman Empire
Persia
China
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1902 Britain enters into a Treaty with the Japanese Empire
They needed a friend They were jealous of German advances in
China
France realizes the German threat and their Foreign Minister, Theophile Déclassé made overtures to Britain
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More Treaties 1904 Entente Cordiale– a Friendly
Understanding Followed by a secret naval & military agreement
1907- Through French efforts an Anglo-Russian Entente the Triple Entente
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Attempts at Peace 1899 Tsar Nicholas II calls a Peace
Conference in The Hague. Establish the rules of war. Court of Arbitration
1907 Second Hague 1909 London Conference
Naval issues were addressed British intransience made it a dud.
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First Morocco 1900 Italy Give France their 1904 Britain blessings 1905 Spain in Morocco March 1905 Chancellor von Bolow got Kaiser
Wilhelm II to visit the Sultan. In a speech at Tangiers, the Kaiser said Morocco would remain independent and was a friend of Germany
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Algeciras Conference 1906 The British backed France The international bank was to untangle
Morocco’s finances The French and Spanish would train the
Moroccan police Teddy Roosevelt got the Germans to accept
this.
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In the East Germany wanted access to Turkey & Persia They wanted an Oriental Express from Berlin
to Baghdad. They decided to strengthen the sick man of
Europe the Ottoman Turks. This would reduce the power of Britain and
Russia in the region.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina Russian Foreign Minister Izvolsky met
Austrian Foreign Minister Aerenthal at Buchlau,
Moravia.
Austria would not object to the Russian fleet using the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straights to get out of the Black Sea and make use of its warm water ports.
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Russia would not object to the Austrian annexation of Turkish Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Austria had administered Bosnia since the Congress of Berlin in 1878.
Britain was LIVID with the arrangement. They didn’t want Russia to have access to the
Mediterranean. The Russians blamed the Austrians.
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The Slavs The Slavs of Serbia and Montenegro felt
betrayed by Russia. Serbia wanted Bosnia-Herzegovina. Russia had not supported their little brother
Slavs. Germany backed Austria and increased
German influence in the region.
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Second Morocco Internal problems in Morocco
French occupy Fez Germans ordered the gunboat, Panther, to
Morocco to protect Agadir. German would allow the French to take
Morocco if the French gave them the French Congo.
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Congo British Prime Minister Lloyd George wanted
France to give everything to avoid war. French gave Germans 100,000 square miles
of worthless French Congo for Morocco. The Germans took it, but were livid. The French public was livid.
They got rid Premier Joseph Caillaux. He was replaced with the fire-eater Henri Poincare.
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The Balkans 1911 Italian – Turkish War 1912 Montenegro, Bulgaria, Serbia,
Greece demand Turkish reform in Macedonia. They declared war on the Turks.
1913 Turkey sued for peace -- Treaty of London Turkey lost all of her European possessions
except Constantinople & Adrianople.
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Second Balkans War 1913 Italy & Austria formed Albania Bulgaria exerting power in Macedonia –
threatened Romania. Romania declared war on Bulgaria. Greece, Serbia, & Montenegro joined Romania. Turks join the Allies.
Treaty of Bucharest Bulgaria lost most of what it had won in the First
War.
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June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was
assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, Princip, on a good will trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia.
The Blackhand wanted to unite all Southern Slavs under Serbian leadership. They had ties with the Serbian government.
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July 23, 1914 Austrian Foreign Minister Count Leopold Berchtold
and Hungarian Prime Minister Count Istvan Tisza Issue an Ultimatum
Serbia must comply within 48 hours Germany wanted a local war Russia wanted to defend Serbia – their “little
Slavic brothers.”
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July 26, 1914 British call for a conference of the UK,
Germany, France, and Italy This was rejected by Germany because of
past conferences. July 27 UK & Germany want Austria to
talk the situation over with Russia.
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July 28, 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia. July 31 Austria agreed to mediation
at Germany insistence. Too late Russia had already mobilization. Kaiser Wilhelm had gotten his cousin, Tsar
Nicholas to reduce full mobilization against Germany and Austria to a partial mobilization against Austria only.
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July 28, 1914 The Tsar’s advisors told him that they could
not issue just a partial mobilization. They talked him into again ordering general
mobilization. Germany issued an ultimatum to Russia. They gave the Russians a half day to
stop mobilization.
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War July 31 Germany declared war on Russia. Germany asked France to remain neutral August 1 France would not commit to neutrality.
France began to mobilize as she decided. August 3 Germany declares war on France
Germany implemented the von Schlieffen Plan- moved through Belgium.
Italy broke its alliance and proclaimed neutrality. Britain declared war on Germany & Austria
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The Protagonists Central Powers
Germany Austria-Hungary Nov 1914 Turks Oct 1915 Bulgaria
Allied Powers Serbia Russia Germany August 1914 Japan May 1915 Italy August 1916 Romania
Co-Belligerent April 1917 USA
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Trench Warfare Battle of the Marne 9-5-14 Because of new weapons, both sides dug in
for three years. From the
North Sea to
Switzerland-
A Race to the Sea
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USA Declares Neutrality
No vital US interests A European Problem They thought it would be over in 4-6 months 1/3 of the American population was foreign born
or first generation Large German & Irish Catholic populations
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America’s economic ties were to Britain & France
Neutrality was impossible 1914 trade w/Britain $743 million 1914 trade w/Germany $345 million
1916 trade w/Britain $3 billion 1916 trade w/Germany $29 million
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Loans Loans to Britain $2.3 Billion Loans to Germany $27 million
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Wilson stopped all Loans and Credits To All belligerents This hurt the American economy
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Germany viewed U.S. neutrality as giving aid to the British and the French Wilson said that to cut aid would be
UNNEUTRAL. It would give Germany an advantage
He said Germany must cut U.S. aid with a blockade of France and Britain.
He knew that the German Navy could not compete with the British Navy.
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British Strategy to Cut Germany off from the U.S.
Illegal blockade of Central Powers’ ports Harass Neutral shipping Arm Merchant ships Carry munitions on passenger ships Fly Neutral flags Call everything on a neutral ship contraband,
including food and medicine These policies violated international law
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Germany used a New weapon to Blockade Britain
The U-Boat
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Germany warned All seas around Britain and ireland to be a
war zone All enemy ships in the zone were targets to be
sunk Neutral ships might be attacked by mistake American passengers should stay off of all
Allied ships
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Wilson reacted: Germany would be held accountable for any
loss of American life He demanded safety for all Americans He refused to forbid Americans to travel on
allied ships
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Germany’s dilemma Germany could not comply with International
law that was created during an earlier time. Ships had to warn other ships before attacking
They demanded that subs had to first surface This ruined the element of surprise The ships could then outrun subs They could shot at subs They could ram subs They could call for help
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1915 Germany gives in and promises to not attack American ships
The issue becomes Americans right to travel on Belligerent ships
Lusitania May 1, 1915 Germany warned Americans in NYC not to
take the ship May 7, 1915 German sunk the ship off the
coast of Ireland 1,198 dead, including 128 Americans
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Americans were horrified William Jennings Bryant wants to forbid any
Americans or munitions on any passenger ship Teddy Roosevelt wants War! Germans agree not to attack any US ships in war
zone 8-30-1915 Germans attack HMS Arabic- two
Americans die. Germany apologizes and promise not
to attack any ship without warning
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February 1 1917 Germany decides it needs to break the
stalemate It will resume unrestricted sub warfare They believed they could starve the Brits out
before the U.S. could get into the war. Germans believed they would lose the war of
attrition, unless they accelerated it.
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Wilson breaks diplomatic relations with Germany
BUT, he won’t go to war Lloyd George and Henry Cabot Lodge call Wilson a
coward. By April 1, the U.K. has only 6 weeks of grain left - French army commits
mutiny - Russians overthrow
the Tsar
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Brits give Wilson the Zimmerman telegram
It ask Mexico to go to war with the U.S. They could get all they lost in 1848 back Wilson begins armed neutrality U.S. declares war on 4-2-1917
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U.S. enters as a Co-belligerent Not as an Ally.
Government takes over much of the economy.
Brutal repression of dissent.
That story is for
another day