WW I Notes & reveiw

​Imperialism among world powers (rivalries)

Growing nationalism

Militarism

Alliances (Central Powers, Triple Entente)

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​I

•  Balkan nationalism…want independence from Austro-Hungarian Empire

•  “Black Hand” terrorist organization plots to kill the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie (Soferil)

•   Gavrilo Princip successful kills both after a wrong turn down an unprotected street

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​Most Europeans thought the war would be over in 6 to 8 weeks.

The war in France turns into Trench Warfare.

November 1914 – the German military does not effectively execute the Von Schlieffen plan, which simply stated:

•           Attack France through Netherlands & Belgium. Defeat France in six weeks

•           Britain would stay out of the war due to quick defeat of France

•           Hold off the Russians….they lacked quality railroads.

•           Ship soldiers to attack and defeat the Russians using highly developed RR system.

​U.S. Tried to stay neutral

-public opinion divided along cultural & ethnic lines

-seen as a “European” problem…not our business!

-propaganda used by both sides to convince neutrality or involvement (the enemy is evil!)

​-Lusitania sunk by Germans May, 1915...1200 dead, 128 Americans

• Wilson threatens to break off relationship with Germany

• Americans angry….some start to call for us to join the war

• Germany issues Sussex Pledge…would warn ships before attacking

them; this satisfies the U.S. for a while.

​German Return to "unrestricted sub warfare" is one reason we enter WW I.