APUSH WWI

what were the long-term causes of WWI?

militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism

militarism

growing size of european militaries led to competition

kaiser pushes for aggressive expansion

in britain, fears of falling behind led to public pressure - popular campaign for more dreadnoughts in the early 1900s

naval race between germany and britain

alliances

nations promised to defend each other; small conflicts grew fast

european nations formed alliances to secure common interests

made for a balance of power in europe

triple alliance (GIA)

germany, austria-hungary, italy

triple entente (BFR)

britain, france, russia

central power

germany, ottoman empire, austria-hungry, bulgaria

allied (SF BRUGGJ)

serbia, france, belgium, russia, united states, great britain, greece, and japan

imperialism

extending a nation’s power by gaining territories

european countries competed for colonies esp. in asia and africa

increased tension between BGF

nationalism

strong national pride; fueled by desire for power, prestige, and independence

made compromise difficult in europe

high tensions in the early 1900s

why was austria hungary interested in serbia?

wanted to expand territory and influence

what did serbian nationalists want?

bosnia to join serbia instead of austria-hungary

why was franz ferdinand’s visit seen as a threat?

serbian nationalists wanted to join with bosnia

did not want austria-hungary in bosnia

the spark (immediate cause)

assassination of archduke franz ferdinand of austria-hungry in 1914

details of franz ferdinand’s assassination

he was visiting bosnia

killed by bosnian serb nationalist

what happens after his assassination?

austria-hungary blames serbia and declares war

russia goes to defend serbia; germany supports AH

germany declares war on france

britain enters after germany invades belgium

timeline after assassination

austria vs serbia, russia enter, germany enters, france enters, britain enters

US tradition of isolationism 1914-1916

avoiding political alliances/wars in europe and focused on its own growth

examples of isolationism

washington’s farewell address, monroe doctrine, beginning the war as neutral

monroe doctrine

western-hemisphere off limits

isolated the american continents

why was the spanish american war

us intervened in cuba to protect economic interests and support their independence

showed that the US would abandon isolationism when it would benefit them

how were some americans tied to britain?

ancestry, language, democracy/legal system

divided loyalties

socialists, pacifists, and ordinary people against war

naturalized citizens concerned about effect on country of birth

us had stronger economic ties w the allies

why did the us trade more with britain and france?

they would have to defy british blockade to trade with germany

pulled US towards the allies; led to economic growth

what does wilson call for american to do?

remain neutral

what did wilson first denounce?

idea of america building up the military

changed mind as tensions with germany grew

what does wilson do in 1915?

endorse military expansion which angers pacifists in congress

how does wilson win reelection in 1916?

platforms with “he kept us out of war”

how was wilson’s peace without victory speech a mediation effort?

proposed a negotiated end to war

what did wilson demand germany to do?

stop attacking neutral ships; goes against this in 1916

german unrestricted submarine warfare

german u-boats sinking ships without warning (enemies, passengers, and neutral)

1915: used submarines to stop supplies to england

sinking of the lusitania

british passenger ship sunk in 1915

killed over 100 americans and shocked the country

US public outrage and wilson demanded germany to stop (they listen only temporarily)

sussex pledge

germany’s 1916 promise to the US to stop unrestricted submarine warfare

only merchants ships with contraband but allowing passenger safety

named after sinking of the French Sussex

resumption of submarine warfare in 1917

broke the sussex pledge

germany wanted to defeat british

threatened american lives, trade, and is one of the main triggers for entering war

zimmermann telegram

secret 1917 german telegram proposing a military alliance with mexico against the US

what happened to the zimmermann telegram?

intercepted and decoded by british

said that germany would start sub warfare and the alliance

promised mexico would get its land back

significance of zimmermann telegram

helped justify wilson asking congress for declaration of war

threats to us soverignthy

sub warfare, lusitania sinking, black tom explosion, telegram

us economic loans/trade with allies

traded supplies with british and french

loaned billions of dollars to the allies

what was “make the world safe for democracy”

wilson’s argument in his speech before congress in 1917

what does wilson present to congress?

postwar plan that would keep peace through a permanent league of nations (global organization)

also says that US was fighting to defend democratic governments

democracy vs autocracy argument

allies = democratic nations

central powers (esp germany) = autocratic and militaristic; depicted as unpredictable and aggressive

protection of neutral rights

us believed it had the right to trade freely and travel as a neutral nation

defending neutral rights becomes a key justification

american exceptionalism

many americans thought the us had a special responsibility to lead the world

US seen as a model of democracy and liberty; war justified because it promoted freedom globally

woodrow wilson

potus during wwi

asks congress to declare war in 1917

why did wilson propose in the fourteen points (speech) ?

self determination, league of nations, new world order based on justice

kaiser wilhelm II

emperor of germany

approved sub warfare, militarism, and expansion

aggressive foreign policy pre-war

arthur zimmermann

germany’s foreign secretary that send the telegram

proposed alliance with mexico against the US

archduke franz ferdinand

heir to the austro-hungarian throne

assassinated in 1914, which triggers a chain reactions of alliances and declarations of war

death is the immediate cause of wwi