America In WWI
Test: 20-November-2014
World War 1 Question : Due 11-Nov-14
Why did World War 1
break out in Europe?
Quick Intro
• American leaders had successfully followed G.W.’s advice in
his Farewell Address to avoid “entanglements” with Europe.
• However, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S.
acquired an overseas empire and grew to become a major
world power.
• Another turning point in American foreign policy was
reached in 1917, when the U.S. entered WWI
Quick Intro
• WWI was a GLOBAL war fought with new destructive
technologies.
• Far More destructive than any previous conflict.
The Spark
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (by Serb
nationalist in 1914) was the immediate cause of the war.
• Austria-Hungary : BIG multi-national state
• Slavic groups wanted independence (and were willing to commit
acts of terrorism to achieve it).
• Serbia (neighboring Slavic State) planned the assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand (the heir to the throne)
The Spark
• Austria invaded Serbia to avenge the assassination (encouraged by
their ally, Germany)
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Existing alliances quickly brought other major powers into war
Russia: Allied to Serbia
Germany: Allied to Austria-Hungary
Britain and France: Allied to Russia
Quickly escalated into a MAJOR European war
The Causes
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Nationalism
Economic Rivalries & Imperialism
Militarism & Military Planning
The Alliance System
Nationalism
• Extreme loyalty to a nation and concern for its
welfare
• Led to rivalries between France, Germany, AustriaHungary, and Russia. Several nationalities in
Austria-Hungary wanted to form their own
national states.
Economic Rivalries & Imperialism
• Imperialism: A nation’s attempt to gain control of weaker nations
• European nations divided much of Africa into colonies in order
to obtain new materials and sell goods.
• European powers had competing economic interests.
• For example, Russian interests in the Balkans threatened AustriaHungary.
• Competing colonial claims added to these tensions.
Militarism & Military Planning
• A nation’s policy to maintain a strong armed force
• Powerful military establishments dominated European
life. People were often seen in uniform and extolled the
virtues of military discipline and war.
• Generals believed it was better to attack than to be
attacked because of the time it took to get troops into
position
The Alliance System
• The formation of military agreements among
nations
• By the 1890s, Europe was divided into 2 alliances
• Any dispute involving two of these nations
threatened to involve all of them
The Alliance System
• The Triple Alliance (also known as the Central Powers):
• Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy
• The Triple Entente (also known as the Allied Powers):
• Great Britain, France & Russia