2. Spark
Franz Ferdinand:
Assassinated by a Bosnian student in June, 1914
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia
Declared war on July 28
3. This led to…
Russia had a secret alliance with Serbia, they
were ready to fight
Germany declared war on Russia
Germany declared war on France by invading
neutral Belgium
Britain declared war on Germany on Aug. 4, due
to invasion of Germany on Belgium
4. Taking Sides
Allied Powers:
Britain, France, Japan, Russia, later Italy
Central Powers:
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, later Bulgaria
5. War in Other Areas
Spread to other areas in the world such as the
Middle East, China, Africa
Due to imperial competition for land
This worldwide scope was the reason the war
was called the “Great War” &“The War to End All
Wars”
Additionally, the devastation that was caused to
civilian populations
7. Why Not There?
Americans saw no reason to involve themselves
in the struggle among Europe’s imperialistic
powers
No vital US interests were at stake
US had positive relationships on both sides
US was able to provide war materials for both
sides (weaponry and transportation)
Good for our economy!
8. Neutrality: Would it last?
Wilson called for it to continue: …“neutral in fact
as well as in name, impartial in thought as well as
action”
Difficult to do though; most favored one side or the
other
Wilson wanted to be the chief negotiator after
the end of the war
9. Immigrants: What Did They
Think?
Divided among their loyalties
Most Americans believed that we should side with
Britain or France
Some Irish resented the British
10 million German immigrants sided with the
Central Powers to some extent
Other Americans took no side at all
It was NOT a partisan issue
10. Biggest Issue: Trade
US wanted to trade with both sides
August 1914: Britain imposed a naval blockade
on Central Powers
Intent was to cut off supplies and starve
Germany into submission
US thus did not trade with Germany either
Didn’t affect economy, as trade with Allied Powers
was up due to war production needs
11. U-Boats
Germany warned that Allied Powers or anyone
who would side with them could be subject to
being fired upon
May 7, 1915: U-Boat fired on Lusitania
1,198 killed; included128 Americans
Munitions on board
Fueled anger of Americans
Sept. 1915: Germany said they would no longer fire
on unarmed ships without warning
12. Wilson’s War Feelings
Wanted to negotiate the end of the war
Nobody was serious about it
Wilson felt that war was inevitable
He began to strengthen army and navy
National Defense Act of 1916 passed
Created Council of Defense
Planned industrial mobilization in event of war
Still was elected in 1916 for 2nd term on neutrality
stance…but it looks like he was far from neutral!
13. Entry of US Into War
January 1917: Germany started unrestricted
submarine warfare
US broke off diplomatic relations with Germany
Germany tried to get Mexico to join Central
Powers
Promised Mexico would get back TX, NM, and AZ
from US
14. Entry of US Into War
March 18, 1917: U-Boats attacked 3 American
ships with no warning
By April 2, Wilson asked Congress to declare war
Stated that it was the role of the US to be
“champions of the rights of mankind”
15. War Mobilization
US did not have a large peacetime army
Conscription into effect
Selective Service Act of 1917 passed to get
civilians registered to enter the military
4.4 million troops called to duty
16. American Expeditionary Forces
(AEF)
American troops nicknamed “Doughboys”
Boosted Allies’ morale
John J. Pershing led forces into war
First task was to secure safety of the seas
American troops arrived on Western Front by mid-1918
They were fresh and outnumbered German troops
Battle of Chateau-Thierry—American/French force stopped
Germans from taking Paris
WWI ended on November 11, 1918
This allows US to emerge as THE world power
17. Facts about WWI:
48,000 servicemen died in action or being wounded
27,000 died from influenza alone
8 million Allied and Central Powers died
25% of all Native Americans served in military (12,000)
20% of those who served were born elsewhere
400,000 African Americans served (13% of force)
Early post-war feelings were positive, romantic?
