The Great WarExplosion

Focus Question: Explain how the following quote

corresponds with U.S. foreign policy ideas:

“To make the world safe for democracy”-- Woodrow Wilson,

April 1917

EXPLOSION

The world erupted into war in August 1914 Led to more than 37 million casualties Decimated a generation in Europe

Great Power Politics The World dominated by the Great

Powers Great Powers: Nations capable of

defeating any one other nationAustria-Hungary BritainFrance GermanyItaly RussiaUnited States

Jockeying for supremacy likely

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand War was set off with the assassination of Franz

Ferdinand on June 28, 1914. Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary Shot in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina Killed by a Serbian nationalist

Catalyst of the War

Causes of the Great War

Militarism Trust in the military Glorify military glory Promoted an arms race to “prove

supremacy” More troops, more guns, more ships Pushed rivals to develop more troops,

more ships, more guns

Imperialism Available territories had dried up Need for new territories did not

Desire for the territories of other nations

Equality of power

Nationalism Intense devotion to one’s country

fostered Desire of Great Powers to dominate Desire for small nations to gain

independence Destablilized the situation

Entangling Alliances Defensive alliances

If another attacked an ally, the others were to help

Europe divided into two armed camps Triple Alliance Triple Entente Smaller nations tied to Great Powers

War! World War 1 (the Great War) -- July 28,

1914 Snowballed into tragedy Europe torn between the Allies and

the Central Powers

Stalemate! The Great War bogged into stalemate

Russian numbers too great in the East Trench warfare in the West

Casualties mounted

Neutrality Initial intent was to remain neutral

U.S. interests were not at risk U.S. public opinion torn Isolationist tendencies U.S. militarily unprepared Wilson as a peacemaker

However . . . U.S. drawn toward the Allies

German violation ofneutral rights (Belgium)

Trade imbalance American bank loans

to the Allies German U-Boat campaign

U-Boat Campaign World War I saw the first mass use of

submarines (Unterseeboot) Germany targeted military and supply

ships

U.S. Opinion inflamed Civilians killed when passenger liners

attached Lusitania Sussex

Wilson threatened to cut ties with Germany

Sussex Pledge (May 1916) Germany agreed to stop targeting

certain ships

Preparations Influential Americans proposed entering

the war in 1915 National Defense Act passed in June,

1916 Saw a rapid growth of the military

Increased Army to 175,000 troops50 new warships for the Navy

1916 Presidential Campaign Seen as a referendum on U.S. policy Wilson promoted Progressive causes Anti-War Sentiments strong “He Kept Us

Out of the War”

U.S. Declares War – April 1917 Zimmermann Telegram

Germany to start “unrestricted submarine warfare” in February 1917

Germany attempts alliance with Mexico Plan was for Mexico to declare war on the U.S.

U.S. Merchant ships sunk by U-boats Spectre of U.S. economic difficulties

Not a Bang, but a Whimper The War ended on November 11, 1918

German troops simply gave up Could not match numbers of the Allies

Allied troops did not set foot in Germany during the War