Chapter 12: The World War I Era

1. Chapter 12: The World War I Era I. The Road to War

2. Bell Ringer • Define neutral • What impact might the presence of many first-generation European immigrants have had on the position of the United States toward entering the war?

3. Objectives • Identify the main causes of world War I. • Understand how the conflict expanded to draw in much of Europe. • Analyze how the Us responded to the war in Europe.

4. A) Setting the Scene • June 28th, 1914 – Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. • Wanted Bosnia to be part of Serbia, not the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

5. B) Causes of World War I a) Imperialism: All the good land had been taken – If Germany wanted land – have to take it from England and France • Militarism: build up military and allow the military to have great say in government and foreign policy b) Nationalism – what was good for one country might cause a war • Alsace-Lorraine: border region between Germany and France – speak French but controlled by Germany • Diverse ethnic pollution in countries that were controlled by other “people” c) Alliances: Germany and Austria-Hungary; Russia and France; Great Britain and France

6. C) The Conflict Expands • Austria-Hungary blamed Bosnia for the assassination of their heir • Declares war • Russia began mobilizing to defend Serbia • mobilization: readying of troops for war • Germany began mobilizing to defend Austria-Hungary • France gets ready to defend against Germany • Germany attacks France and goes through neutral Belgium – Britain declares war on Germany • One week – the continent at war • movie

7. Stalemate • Central Powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary • Allies: France, Serbia, and Great Britain • Stalemate: situation in which neither side is able to gain the advantage • Germany and the Schlieffen Plan got 30 miles from Paris – lines stabilized • Trench warfare – no man’s land • Germany fighting a war on both sides • Ottoman Empire (Turkey) join the Central Powers – Italy joins Allies

8. Modern Warfare • Machine guns • Rapid fire artillery • Poison gases • Generals thought superiority of numbers would win – ordered soldiers to go “over the top” • Battle of the Somme – British 60,000 casualties in one day – 20,000 dead • Poisoned wells, killed livestock, Britain blockaded Germany, submarines sunk everything

9. D) The American Response • 1/3 of US immigrants or children of immigrants and felt involved • Irish and German Americans wanted to join the Central Powers • Most Americans favored UK • Germany – monarchy • propaganda: information intended to sway public opinion (lies) • British lied to US about German occupation

10. American Neutrality: German submarines try to blockade Britain – US big trade partner with Britain – we declare neutrality • Preparedness Movement - US slowly begins to prepare for war – build up and train armed forces • Peace Movement – peace marches, taxed guns to pay for preparedness

11. Review • What were the main causes of WWI? • How did conflict expand to draw in much of Europe? • In what ways did the US respond to the war in Europe?