The Spark of World War IThe Spark of World War I& & thethe Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

Presentation created by Robert MartinezPrimary Content Source: The Story of US by Joy Hakim

Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo Princip, a lean angry teenager, was , a lean angry teenager, was a member of a terrorist organization called a member of a terrorist organization called

the Black Hand.the Black Hand.

His country, Bosnia-Herzegovina, had His country, Bosnia-Herzegovina, had been taken over by the Austro-Hungarian been taken over by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Princip was determined to set his Empire. Princip was determined to set his

country free to join with Serbia.country free to join with Serbia.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary

The Serbian Empire had paid to train the The Serbian Empire had paid to train the Black Hand.Black Hand.

On June 28, 1914, On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Archduke Franz FerdinandFerdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian , heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, arrived in throne, and his wife, Sophie, arrived in

Bosnia’s capital of Sarajevo.Bosnia’s capital of Sarajevo.

It was a Serbian holiday, and not the best It was a Serbian holiday, and not the best choice of days for a conquering leader to choice of days for a conquering leader to

visit, but he had come anyway .visit, but he had come anyway .

The royal party climbed into four open The royal party climbed into four open cars. Six Black Hand member, including cars. Six Black Hand member, including

Gavrillo Princip, all trained to assassinate, Gavrillo Princip, all trained to assassinate, stood along the route the motorcade was stood along the route the motorcade was

taking.taking.

The first to them threw a bomb. It blew off The first to them threw a bomb. It blew off a wheel and wounded two soldiers. The a wheel and wounded two soldiers. The

police quickly arrested the bomb thrower police quickly arrested the bomb thrower and the procession sped off to its and the procession sped off to its

destination, the City Hall.destination, the City Hall.

Princip, disappointed, headed for a café on Princip, disappointed, headed for a café on Franz Josef street. Meanwhile the Franz Josef street. Meanwhile the

Archduke carried on with his official visit Archduke carried on with his official visit at the City Hall.at the City Hall.

After the ceremonies, he asked to be After the ceremonies, he asked to be driven to the hospital to see the two driven to the hospital to see the two

injured officers. It was an unscheduled injured officers. It was an unscheduled visit and the driver, made a wrong turn, visit and the driver, made a wrong turn, which took him into narrow Franz Josef which took him into narrow Franz Josef

Street.Street.

There wasn’t room to turn the car around, There wasn’t room to turn the car around, so the driver stopped before putting the car so the driver stopped before putting the car in reverse. Gavrillo Princip, who was in reverse. Gavrillo Princip, who was standing on the sidewalk outside the café, standing on the sidewalk outside the café, couldn’t believe it. There was the Archduke couldn’t believe it. There was the Archduke just a few feet away.just a few feet away.

Princip stepped forward and fired two Princip stepped forward and fired two shots. Both Franz Ferdinand and Sophie shots. Both Franz Ferdinand and Sophie

bled to death in the car.bled to death in the car.

Exactly a month later, on July 28Exactly a month later, on July 28thth, Austria-, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia and France were allies of Serbia. Within and France were allies of Serbia. Within

weeks, weeks, World War IWorld War I had begun. had begun.

All the major European countries had All the major European countries had joined an joined an alliance systemalliance system mutual mutual

protection, the protection, the Triple EntenteTriple Entente and the and the Triple AllianceTriple Alliance..

The Triple Entente Triple Alliance

U.S. President U.S. President Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson warned warned Americans to stay out of foreign Americans to stay out of foreign

entanglements. So, the United States entanglements. So, the United States stayed neutral.stayed neutral.

On May 1, 1915, the German Embassy in On May 1, 1915, the German Embassy in Washington placed an advertisement in the Washington placed an advertisement in the New York newspapers warning of dangers New York newspapers warning of dangers at sea. at sea.

The ad said, “The ad said, “Travelers intending to Travelers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and Great Britain…between Germany and Great Britain…vessels flying the British flag…are liable to vessels flying the British flag…are liable to destructiondestruction.”.”

That same morning the luxurious That same morning the luxurious LusitaniaLusitania set sail for England, filled with tourists, set sail for England, filled with tourists,

business people, and others who wanted business people, and others who wanted to get to England. to get to England.

Many voyagers were nervous about the Many voyagers were nervous about the trip, but passenger ships had traditionally trip, but passenger ships had traditionally

been safe from military attack.been safe from military attack.

Six days later, within sight of the Irish Six days later, within sight of the Irish coast, a German submarine, the U-20, coast, a German submarine, the U-20,

fired a single torpedo without warning at fired a single torpedo without warning at the the LusitaniaLusitania..

Eighteen minutes later the Eighteen minutes later the LusitaniaLusitania was was beneath the waves. Of 2,000 passengers, beneath the waves. Of 2,000 passengers,

1,198 drowned.1,198 drowned.

Meanwhile, Mexico was having a Meanwhile, Mexico was having a revolution. For 30 years, Mexico had been revolution. For 30 years, Mexico had been

under the iron fist of dictator, under the iron fist of dictator,

General Porfirio DiazGeneral Porfirio Diaz. .

Upset with the United States support of the Upset with the United States support of the corrupt Mexican government, Mexican corrupt Mexican government, Mexican revolutionaries, such as revolutionaries, such as Pancho VillaPancho Villa, , began raiding small U.S. towns and began raiding small U.S. towns and

ranches in the United States.ranches in the United States.

President Wilson sent U.S. President Wilson sent U.S. General John General John PershingPershing into Mexico to capture Pancho into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa (never succeeds). The invasion into Villa (never succeeds). The invasion into

Mexico was not very popular with the Mexico was not very popular with the Mexican people. Mexican people.

For a while it looked as if there might be For a while it looked as if there might be war with Mexico. And that was exactly war with Mexico. And that was exactly

what Germany hoped for. Distracted with what Germany hoped for. Distracted with the War in Europe, the United States the War in Europe, the United States

backed off and withdrew troops.backed off and withdrew troops.

After two years, the United States was After two years, the United States was under great pressure to enter World War I. under great pressure to enter World War I.

U-boatU-boat, submarine warfare, was making , submarine warfare, was making many Americans very angry with Germany many Americans very angry with Germany

and its allies. and its allies.

If the United States got involved, it would If the United States got involved, it would be on the side of Britain and France. But be on the side of Britain and France. But President Wilson seemed determined to President Wilson seemed determined to

stay stay neutralneutral..

Then, on January 16, 1917, the German Then, on January 16, 1917, the German foreign minister, Arthur von Zimmerman, foreign minister, Arthur von Zimmerman,

sent a telegram to Mexico City. The sent a telegram to Mexico City. The message was intercepted by British message was intercepted by British

Intelligence and decoded.Intelligence and decoded.

Zimmerman

The The Zimmerman telegramZimmerman telegram suggested an suggested an alliance between Germany and Mexico alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States. Germany had against the United States. Germany had promised that Mexico would recover “the promised that Mexico would recover “the lost territory of Texas, New Mexico, and lost territory of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.”Arizona.”

When the When the Zimmerman telegramZimmerman telegram was made was made known to the American public, it swayed known to the American public, it swayed

the U.S. into World War I.the U.S. into World War I.

With the United States at war, With the United States at war, General General PershingPershing would lead the would lead the AmericanAmerican

Expeditionary ForceExpeditionary Force successfully into successfully into Europe.Europe.