2. This lesson will look at the reasons for
World War I, as well as the events that
led the United States to enter the war
and take a role in global politics.
3. I. World War I
A. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was
assassinated.
1. Archduke’s assassin wanted Bosnia
to unite with the independent nation of
Serbia.
4. B. The main causes of
WWI were;
1. Nationalism
2. Imperialism
3. Militarism and European Alliances.
5. C. Nationalism
1. The feeling of loyalty and pride
people have for their country or for
other people who share a common
history, language, or culture.
i. Examples; Czechs, Slovaks and
Poles.
6. D. Imperialism
1. The colonies provided raw materials
and markets for European
manufacturing.
2. The desire to increase their empires led
to competition and power struggles
among European nations.
7. E. Militarism
1. Causes 2. Effects
i. Nationalism in i. Led to a
Europe. dangerous arms
ii. Germany had the race.
largest army in ii. Other nations in
Europe. Europe
iii. Britain had a strengthened
strong navy. their own armies.
iii. Germany will
build up naval
power.
8. F. European alliances
1. Prior to the war, European nations had
entered into a network of alliances to
further increase their power.
2. Countries would come to their alliances
aid if that country is under attack.
i. Many of these agreements were kept
secret, which meant that a country might
not be able to guess the consequences of
its action.
9. Alliances
3. Central Powers 4. Allies
i. Austria-Hungary i. Great Britain
ii. Germany ii. France
iii. Bulgaria iii. Russia
iv. Ottoman Empire
12. II. The U.S. Enters the
War
A. U.S.
1. Woodrow Wilson attempted to keep
the United States neutral.
2. The U.S. sold large quantities of food
and war goods to both sides of the
war.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
13. 3. The British seized cargoes bound for
non Allied Nations.
4. Germany used the submarine to attack
and sink American ships without
warning.
i. Lusitania- 128 American died.
14. B. What will eventually
draw the U.S. into the
war?
1. Zimmerman note- The note revealed
Germany’s offer to help Mexico take
back Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if
the U.S. enters the war.
i. Important because the U.S. would have to
defend its southwest border.
2. At Wilson’s request Congress declared
war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
16. C. Negotiations for
Peace
1. November 1918- U.S., British, and
French forced Germany to end the
war.
2. Peace conference was held at
Versailles.
i. U.S. wanted to end Imperialism
throughout the world.
ii. European countries had other plans.
iii. They carved up territories that
belonged to the losers.
17. D. Treaty of Versailles
1. German colonies in Africa and Asia
were handed over.
2. Poland gained its independence.
3. Russia signed its own peace treaty
with Germany.
i. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania were
established.
18. 4. Austria-Hungary was divided into
smaller parts.
i. Austria and Hungary, Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia.
4. Ottoman Empire was broken up.
5. Germany had to pay reparations and
was forced to disarm and prohibited
from rebuilding its military.
19. E. Wilson’s League of
Nations
1. League of Nations would handle
international disputes.
2. Americans believed the League would
entangle the U.S. in world conflicts.
3. Without the U.S. the League would not
be a success.
