The Great War“World War One”

Causes• Immediate cause: assassination of

Archduke Franz Ferdinand– Heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne

• Primary Causes– M: Militarism

– A: Alliances

– I: Imperialism

– N: Nationalism

MILITARISM• Build up of huge standing armies and

navies– Arms race between Germany and Great

Britain to build warships– German U-Boats

• Submarines– Used for blockades– Leads to unrestricted submarine warfare

Dreadnought-class warship

German WWI U-boats

ALLIANCES

• Triple Alliance– Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary

• AH blames Serbia for assassination, looks for Germany backing

• AH declares war on Serbia, Germany declares war on Russia and then France

• Triple Entente (Allied powers)– France, Russia, Great Britain

• later joined by the U.S. • When Austria declares war on Serbia, the

Serbs will turn to Russia for assistance

IMPERIALISM

• European nations fight over colonies in Asia and Africa

NATIONALISM

• Extreme pride in one’s country or ethnic group– Leads to military build up due to military

competition between countries• Self-determination: people who belong to a

nation should have their own country and government– the Balkans

• Area ruled by Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire

• Serbs, Bosnians, Croats, Slovenes see themselves as one people

– Push for independence

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

• the spark that starts the war!!

• June 28, 1914: Archduke Ferdinand and his wife visit Bosnian capital of Sarajevo– Shot by Bosnian revolutionary

• Member of group “Black Hand”– said that Serbian officials knew of plot

• Let the crazy alliance system begin!!

SLUTZ

• Reasons why the United States entered WWI

• S: Sussex

• L: Lusitania

• U: Unrestricted submarine warfare

• T: Ties with Great Britain

• Z: Zimmerman note

SUSSEX

• The Sussex: French merchant ship sunk by German U-boats– 1916

• b/c Germany didn’t want U.S. to enter war, agrees to Sussex pledge– Germany promises not to sink anymore

merchant/civilian ships without warning

LUSITANIA

• May 7, 1915

• British luxury liner sunk by German U-boats– 1,200 passengers killed– 128 Americans

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare• Feb 1915

– Germany announces unrestricted U-boat attacks even on civilian vessels

• Aimed to destroy British supply lines

• No ship safe regardless of what flag they flew!

• Feb 3- March 21, 1917 U-boats sink 6 U.S. merchant ships w/o warning

TIES WITH BRITAIN

• American connections with British culture

• Anti-German propaganda

Zimmerman Note

• January 19, 1917

• German ambassador writes to Mexico– Promises to help Mexico regain lost

territories of TX, NM, AZ • If Mexico allied itself with Germany were the

U.S. and Germany to go to war

• Letter leaked to the press

On the first of February, we intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare. In spite of this, it is our intention to

endeavor to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we propose an alliance on the

following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and make peace together. We shall give generous financial support, and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to

reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details of settlement are left to you. You are

instructed to inform the President [of Mexico] of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will

be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President, on his own initiative, invite Japan to

immediate adherence with this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call to the

attention of the President that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England to

make peace in a few months.

U.S. at WAR!

• April 2, 1917 President Wilson asks Congress for declaration of war