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Alfred T. Mahan (Militarism)
*(no exact dates) Alfred T. Mahan was a military historian and U.S. Navy officer. In The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, Mahan asserted his opinion of the nation needing to increase it's naval pressence. Through his influence the U.S. had started to build a more modern naval fleet and expanded it's international sea port contacts/locations for fueling and such. Later into the 1890's militarism became a popular building of arms, often causing suspision between nations. -
Commodore Matthew Perry and Japan (Imperialism)
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry lead a U.S. fleet to Tokyo-Bay, Japan. Previously, Japan had closed off its ports from any foreign arrivals. However; the arrival of the American steam ships fascinated them, allowing the Americans to come in. Along with a generous amount of lavish gifts for the emperor, Perry was able to negotiate a treaty that opened Japan to trade with America; allowing us new access to foreign ports and a new ally. -
Nationalism
In the late 1800"s the U.S. started to expand it's territory past the West Coast and become more prevelent in international affairs. Despite having an enormous abundance of natural resources, most of those living in the U.S. belived that we should reach and refrain from being isolated. Later on people started rejecting the idea of a nation with different ethnic groups. It also caused territorial disputes and economic competition. -
Alliances
After the assissnation of the Archduke, Austria-Hungary declares war against Belgium; Germany coming in as an ally to Austria-Hungary. Soon after, they declare war against the Allied powers of France, Russia, Serbia, and Britian. This declaration against such a large amount of nations deffinitely expanded the territorial dispute. And of course, the U.S. later joined the war (joined the Allied side); now most all of the prominent world powers were disputing with one another. -
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife Sophie
The Archduke, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife were headed to Sarajevo until a group of ethnic Serbs who saw the Archduke as a tyrant shot the both of them. The event was quite unexpected, but further differences between the ethnic groups grew stronger along with their nationalism. -
Germany's Blank Check to Austria-Hungary
Kaiser Wilhelm the second pledges Germany's alliance to Austria-Hungary; stating that they would help if any conflict were to arise. With its new-found confidence, a week after the assassination of the archduke, Austria-Hungary delcares war against Serbia; trusting Germany to aid them in any and every which way needed. -
WW1 Begins
After war was declared between Austria-Hungary (with Germany) and Serbia, Russia began to mobilize in an effort to aid its ally Serbia. Soon after, Germany delcares war against Belgium in order to invade and get closer to France. Once France was included in the war, its ally Great Britain (also allies with Russia and Belgium) joined in the fight. Most of the war was then fought on the Western Front in France. U.S. troops joining in after the sinking of Lusitania. -
Sinking of Lusitania
With the cautious passing of contraband articles, most all ships going near Germany were suspected of unlawfully carrying such items. The passenger ship Lusitania off the coast of Ireland was soon suspected by the Germans and sunk by their U-Boats. The death of many innocent passengers aboard the ship caused quite the uproar in the states and in Britain. -
Germany's Submarine Warfare
*(exact dates unknown). In order to keep the U.S. out of the war, Germany complied to signing the Sussex Pledge, promising to no longer sink unarmed ships. This 'promise' did not last long as Germany continued to relentlessly sink unarmed ships. Their doing so further ignited angry passion in Americans, making them eager to join in the war because of the senseless deaths and unkept promises. -
Zimmerman Telegram
*(exact date in January unknown). As the U.S. was teetering towards entering the war and starting preparations to do so, they receive news from Great Britian about an intercept they had made. The British had intercepted a telegram sent from Germany to Mexico (Zimmerman Telegram), asking for Mexico's alliance and a promise to return land lost to America back to Mexico. This attempt at an alliance was what tipped the iceburg, causing the U.S. to become fully adamant about entering the war. -
U.S. Entry of War and Her Impact
The U.S. quickly shifted its economy to a war-time economy; drafting young men for military service, heightening the production of ammunition, and rationing food for civilians in order to provide for the troops. American impact on the battle front included the creation of convoys to protect supply ships for Allies, sending large amounts of troops to help Allies gain back the advantage, and providing excess ammunition and such. -
Effects of WW1
At the end of the war 5 million Allied, 8 million Central Power troops, and 6.5 million civilians were killed. President Wilson's Fourteen Points encouraged countries to seek self-determination instead of heavily relying on one another. The League of NAtions was formed to watch over the wellbeing of other countries and keep other world wars from happening. New countries that were forcibly formed had differing ethnic ties and did not get along well. Germany was now held responsible for reparation -
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty stated to hold Germany responsible for starting such a large scale war, and was to pay reparations for such. The War Guilt clause disarmed Germany and territorial land concessions. Some thought the effects of the treaty were too harsh, others thought it not harsh enough. Those in Germany had very negative feelings towards the terms of the treaty; hey felt humiliated. -
Dawes Plan and Young Plan
The Dawes Plan was an attempt to solve the reparations problem from WW1, since Germany was starting to pull away from taking responsibility; it provided a short-term economic benefit for the Germans and softened the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The Young Plan (1930) settled official terms of reparation for Germany; included even softer terms and did not force immediate payments from Germany. -
Great Depression
With the end of the war-time economy boom, prices for produce were affected, causing those on farms to be hit by the depression first and worst (produce demand lowered). Uneven distribution of wealth and overproduction of commodities caused economic trouble, especially since the many of the working class could not afford most goods, but the few of the wealthy would not spend their money on an abundance of goods. The stock market crash caused many to pull their money out of stock and banks. -
Rise of Hitler
*(exact date unknown). German tension about the humiliation from the end of World War 1 was still high and a very sore subject. With this anger still in the countrymens' hearts, Adolf Hitler was a bright new source of national confidence. He promised a better life for his countrymen, and to make Germany a glorious world power once more. Hitler easily gained public popularity for his socialist party.
