WORLD WAR I
America Takes the Lead?
BIG QUESTIONS??
 How might people respond when they feel
threatened by others?
 What conditions might justify US entry into
another country’s war?
 How can a country help an ally fight a war?
 What challenges do you think countries face
when discussing a peace plan?
OBJECTIVE: to analyze the
causes of WORLD WAR I
Trouble in Europe
 Nationalism, feelings of intense loyalty to
one’s country was on the rise
 Some groups who spoke the same language
wanted their own country
– Germany, Italy, etc…
 Nations were competing for colonies in
Africa, Asia and other parts of the world
Trouble in Europe
 Germany, Russia and
Italy wanted to expand
 European countries
were building up armies
 Alliances were built
between countries
 If one country in an
Alliance went to war, so
did others
Causes of World War I -
MAIN
– policy of building up strong military forces to
M ilitarism
prepare for war
- agreements between nations to protect one
A lliances
another (divided Europe into two teams)
– when a strong country takes over a weak
I mperialism
country (colonies)
N ationalism – pride in or loyalty to one’s country
Causes of WWI Militarism
Total Defense Spending in millions of
£s (British pounds).
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1914
94
130
154
268
289
398
France
Britain
Russia
Germany
1910-1914 Increase in
Defense Expenditures
10%
13%
39%
73%
Allied Powers:
Great Britain
Central Powers:
Germany
France
Austria-Hungary
Russia
World War I
Ottoman Empire
Serbia
Belgium
Bulgaria
Causes of WWI Imperialism
Causes of WWI Nationalism
BIG PROBLEM
 Europe has created so
many alliances, as is
competing for so much
that…
 Even the tiniest spark
could cause war between
two countries
 Because of alliances, war
between 2 countries will
turn into war between
many countries
The
“Spark”
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at
Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28th, 1914.
First Major Event of WWI
• On June 28, 1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife
of Austria Hungary are visiting Bosnia
On June 28,
1914Austrian
Archduke
Franz
Ferdinand
was killed in
Bosnia by a
Serbian
nationalist
who believed
that Bosnia
should
belong to
Serbia.
Gavrilo Princip after
his assassination of
Austrian Archduke
Franz Ferdinand.
The Point of No Return:
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and
declared war on Serbia.
Germany pledged their support for Austria Hungary.
Russia pledged their support for Serbia.
The Point of No Return:
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Germany declares war on Russia.
France pledges their support for Russia.
Germany declares war on France.
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France.
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on
Germany.
Europe on the Brink of War - 1914
Eastern Front
Western
Front
What should President Wilson Do?
WSPWD!!!
 President Woodrow Wilson has to decide
what the United States will do…
 Should we stay isolationist?
 Should we get involved?
 Many Americans believe that it is
Europe’s war.
 Isolationism: We should stay out of it
 “Armed Neutrality”: remain neutral but
ready to defend ourselves