Essay about World War I

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World War I

The First World War:
What?
•War involving nearly all the nations of the world

When?
•1914-1918

2

The First World War:
Why?

Long term 1. Alliance system
2. Imperialist
Competition
3. Stockpiling of
Weapons

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of
Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914
3

Short term Assassination of
Franz Ferdinand of the AustroHungarian Empire

1

The First World War:
Who?
Central Powers:

Allies:

Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria

Russia
France
Great Britain
Italy
Japan
United States (1917)

4

The First World War:
Where?

5

Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?
•America was isolationist
•“Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems”

6

2

Which side should the US pick?
Central Powers:

Allies:

•11 million GermanAmericans
•Irish-Americans
hated Great Britain

•Close cultural ties
•Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories) •Big business loaned much $ to allies

US Exports to both sides:

7

Nations
Britain
France
Germany

1914
1915
1916
$594,271,863 $911,794,954 $1,526,685,102
$159,818,924 $364,397,170
$628,851,988
$344,794,276 $28,863,354
$288,899

What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
•Britain blockaded
(stopped) all
German ships going to America

•Germany announced a submarine war around Britain
8

Y-53 German Submarine 1916

What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades
•In May, 1915 Germany told
Americans to stay off of
British ships
•They could/would sink them

9

3

•Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including
128 Americans)
•Was eventually found to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunition 10

German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking

•The US sharply criticized Germany for their action 11

Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster

•Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future

What did it take to get the US involved? 2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
•1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone

12

Why? Otherwise their blockade would not be successful 4

What did it take to get the US involved? 3. Zimmerman Note
•US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico,
•It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in return for an alliance

13

•Zimmerman
Note + the sinking of 4 unarmed American ships led to a declaration of war 14

How was the war looking for the
allies?
Show More

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