Standard 5.

4 Guided Notes

Causes of World War Ià MANIA

• Militarismà __Building up of arms across Europe__

• Alliancesà __Formal and secret alliances formed b/t European countries__ (Triple

Entente, Triple Alliance)

• Nationalismà __efforts to make individual nations stronger than others__

• Imperialismà __Competition for land, markets, raw materials heats up_

• Assassinationà _Archduke of Austria killed in Sarajevo__

Factors Regarding US Involvement

• Wartime propaganda, similar to yellow journalism of Spanish American War period

• Traditional sympathies w/ Britain

• Commercial ties with & loans to Great Britain strained neutrality

• __Unrestricted submarine warfare__ declared by the Germans on high seas & waged

against neutral ships trading w/ Britain & France __led President Woodrow Wilson to

ask Congress for a declaration of war__ to “make the world safe for democracy”

• ___Sinking of the Lusitania [1915] __

• Interception of __Zimmerman telegram _ by British (& its publication by sensationalist

press in US led American public to support going to war

Biggest Causes for War?

• _Nationalism & alliances_

• Analyzing role of US in “making the world safe for democracy” in WWI & in the making

of the peace, role of nationalism & alliances in bringing about war must be regarded
 Standard 5.4 Guided Notes

Nationalism & Alliances

• Nationà _refers to a group of people who share a common language, religion, history

& traditions__

– Not all nations had states

– Many were included in empires

• Ethnic & ideological differences led to conflict w/in these empires

• Nationalism promoted competition in military strength & led to complex military

alliances (Triple Entente, Triple Alliance)

• nationalismà ____patriotic feeling, principle, or efforts___

Spark to Start WWI

• __Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in

Bosnia by a Serbian__

– Serbian nationalists were revolting against imperialistic control of the Austro-

Hungarian Empire

• Confrontation b/t Serbia & Austria-Hungary quickly involved much of Europe due to the

alliance system

US Neutrality

• __Policy was isolationism ____

• US initially declared neutrality at start of WWI but European actions caused it to fail

– Trade concerns

– Submarines sunk

– Mexico involved?
 Standard 5.4 Guided Notes

neutralityà __state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc. ;

impartiality___

US Neutrality: Trade

• __Us utilized its traditional trading ties w/ Grate Britian & free trade else where__

• British blockades of German ports limited American trade w/ Germany

• US businesses loaned money to Allies (mostly Britain) to promote trade

US Neutrality: Submarine Warfare

• Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare affected US public opinion on the War

– unrestricted submarine warfareà _when submarines attack merchant ships

without warning rather than following prize regulation___

• 1915 German U-boat’s sinking of the _Lusatian___ outraged President Wilson &

American public

– Lusitania- __British passenger ship which had Americans on board___

• B/c America protested & to appease them, Germany temporarily pledged to restrict

their use of submarine warfare

US Neutrality: Mexico

• __Wilson was re-elected in 1916 on the slogan “he kept us out of war”__

• GB intercepted & published a telegram from Germany to Mexico

– Zimmerman noteà __Germany asked Mexico to declare war on US & after the

war, Mexico would regain their lost territory__

– Attempt to keep US out of WWI

• _Americans outraged b/c this would have violated their neutrality (& it just made them

mad)___

Declaration of War

• Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in Spring 1917

• __Wilson asked Congress to declare war in April 1927__

– “make the world safe for democracy”

– __Fourteen Points peace plan to achieve a “just and lasting peace”__

• Freedom of the seas

• End to secret treaties

• Arms reduction

• Self-determination

• International peace organization

End of World War I

• Due to American involvement, Germany’s last push on the Western front in France was

deflected (Battle of the Bulge)

• __The armistice started on Nov. 11, 1918_

– Ended the fighting between the Allies and the Central Powers

• __President Wilson took leadership position at the peace negotiations at Paris Peace

Conference_

Propaganda

• Propaganda created a united war effort

• propagandaà _particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or

movement__

– _Planted victory gardens___

– Enlisted in the military

– __Bought war Bonds_

– Germans referred to as “Huns”

– Caused discrimination against German Americans

– Stopped teaching German in schools

– Restricted the playing of German music

– Renamed German foods

Versailles Peace Treaty

• President Wilson wanted a peace settlement based on his Fourteen Points

• __Other allies were determined to protect their own national interests & punish

Germany__

• Wilson willing to make huge concessions to get what he wanted

League of Nations

• League of Nationsà _An international organization established to bring about much

international cooperation on health, labor problems, refugee affairs, & the like _

• In order to get the League, Wilson made concessions to European allies

• League of Nations would act as discussion board for member nations

– Created to prevent secret alliances

– Promoted diplomacy instead of war declaration

• __League had no way to enforce its decisions__

• __US Senate injected Treaty of Versailles b/c Wilson refused to make any change when

they expressed concerns/ reservations_