WWI begins

1. What are the four main causes of World War I? Give an example for each as to why it was a cause.

Nationalism: Russia thought it was the protector of all Serbs and had to intervene if Serbia was attacked.

Imperialism: for many years europe had been building over-seas empires and aquiring colonies all over the world.

Militerism: Germany was the most militarized nation in europe, and wanted to compete with Brittan maritimely.

Allies: England, France and Russia were allied. Russia was allied with serbia. When Serbia was attacked, England and France had to intervene.

2. How did the June 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand become the spark for WWI?

Franz Ferdinand was heir to the Austrian throne. he was shot by a Serbian nationalist. This caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, etc.

3. What happened within the first few months of fighting?

Germany conquered Belgium

4. Generally, why did the United States want to stay out of the war?

The war was 3000 miles away and did not threaten America.

5. Specifically, Why did the following groups of Americans tend to oppose U.S. participation in the war? Naturalized citizens; socialists; pacifists; parents.

naturalized citizens: Proabably from Europe and did not want America to fight their old country.
socialists: saw war as Captitalist ploy to get more colonies.
Pacifists: beleived war was evil
Parents: did not want sons to die


6. How did Germany respond to the British naval blockade of Germany’s ports? What was the U.S. response?

Germany set up a counter-blockade of U-boats and sunk Lusitania (a ship carrying Americans). Americans just accepted the blockade.

7. What forced the United States into the war?
The sinking of the Lusitania and numerous other unarmed ships carrying Americans. Also, a proposed alliance between Mexico and Germany.