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Competing Alliances:
Triple Alliance
- Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy
- Began in 1882
Triple Entente
- France, Great Britain, Russia (1907)
- The system of alliances played an important part in turning the assassination into war
Nationalism in Europe was strong
Imperialist rivalries threatened peace in Europe
Assassination
June 28, 1914- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was
assassinated in Sarajevo
Killer:
- Gavrilo Princip; A Sebran Nationalist
Mobilization and Invasion of Belgium
Central Powers:
Austria-Hungary, Germany
- Anticipated a quick and easy victory
- Marched through Belgium to France; August 3rd invasion
200,000 Belgium troops could not stop Germany, but did slow as the other allies mobilized
Eastern and Western battlefronts- Opposing armies dug trenches from which to fire the
enemy lines
Proclamation of Neutrality
Wilson- Thought the Allies could win without U.S. involvement
The U.S. adopted a Neutral position
Americans had a tough time remaining uninvolved.
Propaganda
British set up a naval blockade to keep military contraband from reaching Germany
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
1914-1915
German Submarines began attacking allied ships
International Law
Required ships to warn that it was about to sink an enemy vessel
- Subs could not do this
1915 - Germans - Ships risked attack in war zone around Britain.
May 1915- Lusitania
British Passenger ship torpedoed and sunk
1200 dead128 Americans
Pressures for Preparedness
Sussex Pledge
Germany Promised, with certain conditions, to sink no more ships without warning
Roosevelt criticized Wilson for not preparing for war
Resisted building up military (Wilson)
1916- Could not ignore the possibility of war
Doubled army
Built larger navy
Election of 1916
1917 - Germany unleashed its submarines to sink ALL ships in the war zone
Wilson then broke off relations with Germany
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany was trying to lure Mexico and Japan to its side
- Mexico may gain land back from the U.S.
April 6, 1917 - U.S. declared war on Germany
American Participation
By June 5, 1917, almost 10 million men between the ages of 21-31 had registered for the war
American Mobilization
America was caught short on supplies
Needed to make adjustments to prepare
Wartime Agencies
1. War Industries Board (WIB)
Open treaties
Freedom of the sees
Free trade
Arms reduction
Important adjustment to colonial claims
Points six-thirteen:
National self-determination and realignment of Borders
Point Fourteen
An establishment of an international organization to settle disputes between nations and
prevent future wars
Peace Making
Big Four
Leaders of United States, Great Britain, France, Italy
Dominated the peace negotiations at Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
European leaders
Wanted the treaty to be more selfish and vengeful
Wilson wanted the treaty to be more just and noble
Victors- Received land in secret treaties
The U.S Senate and the Treaty
The U.S. Senate most strongly opposed setting up the League of Nations
U.S. Never joined the League of Nations