Causes of World War ICauses of World War I

Background causesBackground causes Imperialism Imperialism - Germany felt it deserved more - Germany felt it deserved more

colonies in Africa and Asiacolonies in Africa and Asia Nationalism Nationalism - Europeans had strong feelings of - Europeans had strong feelings of

pride toward their own countriespride toward their own countries MilitarismMilitarism - belief that a nation needs a large - belief that a nation needs a large

militarymilitary Alliances - Alliances - Europe had divided into two Europe had divided into two

opposing alliances: opposing alliances: Central PowersCentral Powers - Austria- - Austria-Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, Bulgaria, AlliesAllies - Serbia, Russia, France, Great - Serbia, Russia, France, Great Britain, and ItalyBritain, and Italy

Event that started WWIEvent that started WWI

June 28, 1914 June 28, 1914 Serbian shot and Serbian shot and killed Archduke Franz killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Ferdinand, heir to Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary

Austria declared war Austria declared war on Serbia, war beganon Serbia, war began

How WWI was foughtHow WWI was fought

Trench warfareTrench warfare - - troops stayed in troops stayed in trenches and fired at trenches and fired at each other. Trenches each other. Trenches stretched across stretched across France to SwitzerlandFrance to Switzerland

Also used: tanks, Also used: tanks, machine guns, poison machine guns, poison gas, airplanes, and gas, airplanes, and U-U-boatsboats (German (German submarines)submarines)

Machine Guns & Poison Gas Masks

Trenches

Poison Gas

U Boats

Airplane & Zeppelin

America’s Path to WarAmerica’s Path to War

Pres. Wilson wanted Pres. Wilson wanted a policy ofa policy of neutrality neutrality (refusing to take (refusing to take sides)sides)

May 1915, German May 1915, German U-Boat torpedoed the U-Boat torpedoed the British ship British ship LusitaniaLusitania, , turning many turning many Americans against Americans against GermanyGermany

Zimmermann TelegramZimmermann Telegram Discovered by the British. Discovered by the British. Germany wanted Mexico Germany wanted Mexico to join war. In return, to join war. In return, Germany would help Germany would help Mexico their territories Mexico their territories back from America.back from America.

March 1917 - German March 1917 - German submarines sank three submarines sank three American ships. Pres. American ships. Pres. Wilson declared war in Wilson declared war in April.April.