The Assassination-
When the Archduke of Austria- Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by Serbian men, and turmoil was created in Europe. Before his assassination, Franz held a close relationship with Kaiser William II , the German emperor, and when Germany heard of his assassination, they declared war on Serbia. But, Russia was allies with Serbia, and Russia was soon pulled into the war along with France, England, and Italy who were allies with each other. On the other hand, Germany,Turkey, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary were now at war against Russia, France, England, Serbia, and Italy. World War 1 ,had begun.
Imperialism-
England and France were an already highly established country. The sun never set on their colonies. They had established their own empire and continued to grow as they grabbed more land.They had room to grow their military and naval power unlike, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. They wanted to get in on being established imperialists but in order to gain an empire,the had to work for it. It started an Imperial Race as countries worked away at parts of China, and Africa. Countries wanted to grow, and the more land you had, the more room you had to have more military expansion and naval expansion.
Militarism-
The size of your military played a large role in the war.It was a constant back and forth between countries on who had the bigger military. Germany had approximately 1,900,00 men, Austria-Hungary had around 500,00 troops, Russia had around 1,400,000 troops, France had around 1,300,000 troops, Britain had around 150,000 troops, and the U.S. had around 100,000 troops. As the spark of the war started, the country growing and bigger military will be able to come out on top.
Alliances-
*refer to map at top of page
The Triple Entente(The Allies) consisted of Russia, France, Italy, England and Serbia. These countries had power over much of the land in Europe and surrounded the Triple Alliance(Central Powers). The Allied powers had much more land to work with to control the Central powers. The alliances also worked together and held many treaties with each other so that if one went to war, the other ha to go to war as well because of their agreement.
Nationalism-
Nationalism was the idea that if you lived in one country, you must be one ethnicity. This led to the rising of countries expressing a single ethnic group. Internationally, rivalries were started.
Lusitania-
Shortly after the war began, Britain blockaded Germany so that their contraband goods were cut off(weapons, bombs, ammunition) as well as non contraband goods(food, medicine, aid, passengers) so that Germany would receive nothing for their troops. In response, German submarines sunk the Allies ships in response to Britain blockading them. The Lusitania was a ship that had only passengers on it and was sunk by a German submarine. Even though America wasn't involved in the war yet, Americans were angered and protested because it had passengers only. Eventually, Germany and America created a treaty that said Germany wouldn't sink any more passenger only ships, but they broke their promise. They sunk the Sussex, which had passengers only, and America was forced out of neutrality and into war.
Zimmermann Note-
Shortly after the Lusitania sinking, America entered the war. The Zimmermann note was a proposed alliance with Mexico and Germany that said if the U.S. declares war on Germany then Mexico declares war on the U.S. Germany thought that if we were busy fighting Mexico in the U.S. we would not be able to send supplies to The Allies. The note was intercepted though and the plan fell through. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6th, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany.
When the Archduke of Austria- Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by Serbian men, and turmoil was created in Europe. Before his assassination, Franz held a close relationship with Kaiser William II , the German emperor, and when Germany heard of his assassination, they declared war on Serbia. But, Russia was allies with Serbia, and Russia was soon pulled into the war along with France, England, and Italy who were allies with each other. On the other hand, Germany,Turkey, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary were now at war against Russia, France, England, Serbia, and Italy. World War 1 ,had begun.
Imperialism-
England and France were an already highly established country. The sun never set on their colonies. They had established their own empire and continued to grow as they grabbed more land.They had room to grow their military and naval power unlike, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. They wanted to get in on being established imperialists but in order to gain an empire,the had to work for it. It started an Imperial Race as countries worked away at parts of China, and Africa. Countries wanted to grow, and the more land you had, the more room you had to have more military expansion and naval expansion.
Militarism-
The size of your military played a large role in the war.It was a constant back and forth between countries on who had the bigger military. Germany had approximately 1,900,00 men, Austria-Hungary had around 500,00 troops, Russia had around 1,400,000 troops, France had around 1,300,000 troops, Britain had around 150,000 troops, and the U.S. had around 100,000 troops. As the spark of the war started, the country growing and bigger military will be able to come out on top.
Alliances-
*refer to map at top of page
The Triple Entente(The Allies) consisted of Russia, France, Italy, England and Serbia. These countries had power over much of the land in Europe and surrounded the Triple Alliance(Central Powers). The Allied powers had much more land to work with to control the Central powers. The alliances also worked together and held many treaties with each other so that if one went to war, the other ha to go to war as well because of their agreement.
Nationalism-
Nationalism was the idea that if you lived in one country, you must be one ethnicity. This led to the rising of countries expressing a single ethnic group. Internationally, rivalries were started.
Lusitania-
Shortly after the war began, Britain blockaded Germany so that their contraband goods were cut off(weapons, bombs, ammunition) as well as non contraband goods(food, medicine, aid, passengers) so that Germany would receive nothing for their troops. In response, German submarines sunk the Allies ships in response to Britain blockading them. The Lusitania was a ship that had only passengers on it and was sunk by a German submarine. Even though America wasn't involved in the war yet, Americans were angered and protested because it had passengers only. Eventually, Germany and America created a treaty that said Germany wouldn't sink any more passenger only ships, but they broke their promise. They sunk the Sussex, which had passengers only, and America was forced out of neutrality and into war.
Zimmermann Note-
Shortly after the Lusitania sinking, America entered the war. The Zimmermann note was a proposed alliance with Mexico and Germany that said if the U.S. declares war on Germany then Mexico declares war on the U.S. Germany thought that if we were busy fighting Mexico in the U.S. we would not be able to send supplies to The Allies. The note was intercepted though and the plan fell through. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6th, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany.