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British Imperialism
Imperialism is when one powerful country controls or conquers another, less powerful country. During WWI, the British Regime was known for claiming a quarter of the globe. This affected the U.S. and rest of the world due to Britain's powerful influence. An example of this is when Britain colonized South Africa in 1806 and continued to do so at the time of WWI. -
Nationalism
Nationalism is strong commitment to one's country. Germany demonstrated nationalism when they invaded Belgium during WWI to strengthen their power. This proved a level of German patriotism since they invaded another country as a united group, putting Germany first. These actions affected the rest of Europe and the U.S. by showing that Germany cared the most about themselves. This was made known early in the war, making other countries leery of their communications with the Germans. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British boat that was attacked and sunk in Ireland by a German U-boat. People living in the British Isles were infuriated at the mass casualties, and because there were some Americans that also died in the attack, it is one of the major reasons that the U.S. joined the war. Out of 139 Americans, 128 died on the ship. -
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sofie, are assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. The event took place in Bosnia when the couple were riding in an open car and were shot. Austria blamed Serbia for the murder and declared war; this caused a domino-like affect. Austria needed Germany as an Ally, leading other European countries to see this move as a threat. This is one of the major beginnings of WWI. -
The Blank Check
The blank check given to Austria-Hungry from Germany was a form of alliance. After the assassination of Austria's leader, Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungry asked for Germany's help in the case of a war with Russia. This partnership greatly affected the start of WWI since Germany used it as an opportunity to fight with Serbia, who they had a disliking for. This is another trigger that led to the war, affecting Europe and the U.S. -
Alliances: France & Quebec
WWI was split into two sides. Notable allied countries were Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States. On the other hand, the central countries were Germany, Austria, Ottoman empire, and Bulgaria. The war functioned through communication between these alliances. An example of this would be the partnership of France and its daughter, Quebec. The Quebecois soldier leaning on another soldier is my great-grandfather. -
The Beginning of WWI
Austria-Hungry and Russia started the European argument. Then, that led to an argument between Germany and Serbia. Next, Russia wanted to take control of an area in the Mediterranean; this angered Britain. India was an important part of the British Regime and blocking off the Mediterranean started off a dispute between Russia and Britain. When Britain joined the war, many other countries followed suit. -
Militarism of WWI Russia
Militarism is when a country's government builds up its arms and soldiers in order to have a strong national defense. Russia during WWI demonstrated strong militarism by attacking the Austrians in the city of Lutsk. The Russians military power was felt by not only the Austrians, but by the Allies throughout the course of the war. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
Germany sent Mexico leaders a telegram that offered an alliance. Mexico was still struggling with the United States over lost provinces. Germany used this as an incentive to form the alliance: become a German friend and receive the land of Texas. The U.S. intercepted this telegram and saw Germany as a major threat, which is one of the main reasons the U.S. joined WWI. -
Germany Resuming Submarine Warfare
After the sinking of the Lusitania, Britain and the United States were greatly angered. Both countries forced Germany to stop all submarine attacks immediately, but after two years the Germans changed their minds. They needed to gain more military strength and the best way to do that was through naval operations. -
The U.S. Joins the War
Because of mainly German influences, the United States decided to join WWI. The sinking of the Lusitania that caused the death of 128 Americans and the Zimmerman telegram that attempted to form a sneaky alliance are the two big reasons for the U.S. joining the Allies. The U.S. impacted the war through its great military strength and financial power, with Britain and France borrowing money for war costs. -
The Effects
The end of the war marked the deaths of 17 million people, 7 million being civilians. New countries were formed from the fall of Austria-Hungry as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungry, and Austria. The Ottoman Empire lost most of its land except for in Turkey. This caused end-of-war disillusionment for those involved with the war. People started looking towards more peaceful resolutions and tried their best to solve issues with other countries. -
The Treaty of Versailles
After the war, a peace conference was held in France to force an agreement on Germany. Britain and France forced them sign a treaty that said they were at fault for the war and that they had to pay the countries that they hurt $132 billion dollars. This was detrimental to Germany since they had to pay for their own war costs, which ultimately put the country into financial ruins. Because of this, the treaty was a controversial punishment and a motive for Germany to rise into WWII. -
The Dawes Plan
After WWI, European countries such as Germany, France, and Britain were in debt. Charles Dawes, a Chicago banker, made a plan to solve the debt problem among the lands. Because Germany had to pay Britain and France under the Treaty of Versailles, U.S. banks loaned them the money to do it. Then, because Britain and France owed the U.S. for war loans, all of the money flowed back into the U.S. -
The Great Depression
Due to the fast change in technology, the economy was changing shape. The stock market was volatile and struck a "panic sell-off" within buyers. Many left the stock market, causing businesses and jobs to collapse. This affected the livelihoods of most people in America and many around the world. The left man in the photo is my other great-grandfather: a southern farmer who struggled to maintain a career in the agriculture business of the Great Depression. -
The Rise of Hitler
The Treaty of Versailles set Germany up for a terrible economy. The government had lost power and had to send all of their money to Britain and France, as it said in the treaty that they were forced to sign. Germany printed more money, but this caused inflation; this made money worthless. Hitler rose from the National Socialist Party and promised a new Germany; one that was more powerful and successful. His charisma led people to love his ideas, making him the fuhrer.
