The key causes of World War 1 included alliances between countries, nationalism in various European nations, imperialism and competition for land and resources, and militarism as countries built up their armed forces. Major powers on opposing sides included the Allied forces of Great Britain, France, Russia, and later the U.S. against the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The U.S. initially entered the war in 1917 due to German attacks on passenger ships carrying Americans and its resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. The war was largely fought in trenches and involved new industrialized weapons and tactics. It ended in 1918 with Allied victories on the Western Front and the surrender of Germany.

1. WWI Museum This way to the next room

2. Causes of World War 1 Exit

3. Alliances The central powers consisted of Germany, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire. The Allies consisted of Great Britain, Russia. (and the U.S. in 1917)

4. Nationalism The Pan-German movement: Is the hope to unite all German speaking people. The Pan-Slavic movement: Is the hope to unite all Slavic (Russian) speaking people. Bosnia: 95% of people in Bosnia speak Slavic language. Yet it is controlled by German speaking Austria.

5. Imperialism European nations were competing for land The believed that “Bigger is better”

6. Why the U.S. entered WWI

7. Why we Entered the War The first reason why we entered the war was because of the Lusitania was hit with a torpedo and was sunk. -The Lusitania was a passenger ship that was secretly carrying ammunition. -Nearly 2,000 passengers on board died. (128 of them were Americans) - President Wilson demanded that the Germans must apologize and pay for the damages

8. Why we Entered the War The second reason why the U.S. entered the war is because of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. -Germany promised not to sink merchant ships without first warning them and rescuing passengers first. -They were sinking all ships that were heading towards allied nations

9. Militarism

10. Militarism The military was built for two main reasons 1: To protect colonies 2: Peer pressure for neighboring countries

11. Russia, Germany, and Britain During WWI Russia had the biggest army out of every country that was fighting. Also Germany had the best trained army of them all. So they had the best strategies out of all the countries. But Britain had the biggest navy which caused some problems for countries that didn’t have a navy.

12. Trench Warfare

13. Why trenches were made To protect their positions & to cut down on losses both sides dug trenches At night supplies were brought in & scouts were set out

14. No man’s land At dawn/ dusk attacks came. Hit them with artillery & then go over the top Had to go through Barbwire, machine gun fire, craters, etc.

15. Problems in the trenches The problems in the trenches included: mud, rats, smell, dead bodies, rot, cold, staying dry, maggots, lice and disease

16. U.S. in WWI Back to Causes of WW1

17. U.S in the war By October, 1918 German lines are crumbling In November the Allies have captured the high ground & Germany surrenders The 11 th hour, the 11 th day of the 11 th month in 1918 the war ends

18. U.S in the war General Pershing led the U.S. troops in WWI By 1917 Germany controlled: Belgium, Italy, & N. France By 1918 Russia has a revolution & they drop out of the war. -Now Germany can concentrate on the western front By July, 1918 the U.S. have 1 million troops in the war We cut off the German rail lines which supply their troops -We attack through the Argonne Forest. It takes us 47 days & 1.2 million soldiers but we cut off their supply

19. Exit Click here to exit