Who's Who of World War I (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

Timeline

June 28, 1914 — Assassination of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand, triggering World War I

May 7, 1915 — Lusitania incident

January 17 1917 — Zimmermann Telegram sent

April 6, 1917 — The United States declares war on Germany, joining the Allied Powers

January 8, 1918 — President Woodrow Wilson delivers his Fourteen Points speech

June 28, 1919 — The Treaty of Versailles is signed, formally ending the war

January 10, 1920 — The League of Nations is officially established

March 19, 1920 — The US Senate rejects membership of the League of Nations

The rise of imperialism created several opportunities for tension throughout the world. Many nations across the globe developed intense national pride and a spirit of nationalism. Other nations, fearing aggressive behaviors from others, formed political ties and treaties with sympathetic nations, creating strong alliances. The world was on edge. 

In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina triggered a chain reaction of escalations among European powers. This led to one of history’s most devastating conflicts. For three years the United States remained neutral, but a series of provocations eventually brought the USA into the war, significantly influencing the outcome.

The Beginning of World War I & American Expeditionary Forces

Causes and Alliances at the Beginning of World War I

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 

• The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

  • Princip was a member of a Serbian nationalist group

• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the attack, leading to demands that dragged their allies into the resultant conflict

European alliances

• Prior to World War I European alliances had formed 

  • Triple Entente (Allied Powers)

    • An alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia 

    • Created to stop the German army from entering or seizing members’ territories

  • Triple Alliance (Central Powers)

    • An alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy 

    • Sought to expand their territories in Europe

Involvement of the U.S.

• Three years into the war the U.S. became involved as a result of several events including:

  • Lusitania incident (May 7, 1915)

    • A German U-boat sank the British passenger ship, Lusitania, killing 200 civilians on board

    • 128 Americans died

    • Public outrage in the United States grew, changing American neutrality to opposition to Germany’s war efforts

    • The United States demanded an apology from the German government and compensation for American lives lost as well as the discontinuation of bombing civilian vessels 

    • Germany continued to sink noncombatant ships in war zones

  • Zimmermann Telegram

    • A secret communication sent by the German ambassador to the United States, Arthur Zimmerman, to Mexican officials in January 1917

    • Suggested an alliance with the Central Powers in exchange for German support in regaining territories lost to the United States (including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona)

    • The message was intercepted by the British and shared with the United States

    • This further fueled anti-German sentiment

• US declaration of war

  • On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against the Central Powers

    • Wilson’s policy for war was to “make the world safe for democracy”

American Expeditionary Forces 

• The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) marked the United States’ entry into direct combat during World War I

• General John Pershing 

  • Pershing was appointed commander of the AEF and played a critical role in shaping the US military’s strategy and effectiveness

  • He insisted on rigorous training and wanted American troops to remain as an independent force, rather than integrating into European units

  • His focus on preparedness and modern tactics laid the groundwork for tactics that would be used in World War II

• Impact on the war:

  • The fresh manpower, resources, and morale boost provided by the US forces turned the tide in favor of the Allies

  • American troops joined key battles, including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive

    • One of the largest and deadliest operations of the war

  • The AEF’s contribution helped end the war in 20 months

    • This led to the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918

The End of World War I

• World War I ended with significant changes to the global landscape, marked by complex negotiations and treaties aimed at:

  • punishing the aggressors

  • establishing long-term peace

Treaty of Versailles 

• The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, officially ending World War I

  • Negotiated primarily by the Allied Powers

• Key provisions of the treaty:

  • Germany was required to pay reparations to the Allied nations to compensate for war damages

    • These payments strained Germany’s economy, contributing to widespread economic hardship

  • Germany’s borders were redrawn, decreasing its size

    • Including Alsace-Lorraine (returned to France) and parts of East Prussia

  • Loss of German overseas colonies

  • Germany was prohibited from maintaining a large military force 

    • It also limited its ability to produce or import weapons

  • The war guilt clause (article 213) placed full responsibility for the war on Germany

    • This fueled resentment among Germans as it placed all the responsibility for war on Germany

President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points

• President Wilson proposed a plan for peace and to the root causes of the war

  • The policy terms did not seek vengeance on Germany

  • They aimed to create world peace and stable international relationships

• His Fourteen Points became a guiding vision for post-war diplomacy

• Fourteen Points key principles:

  • Self-determination: promoted the right of nations to govern themselves, leading to the creation of new nations in Eastern Europe like Poland

  • Freedom of the seas: advocated for free navigation of international waters to prevent future naval conflicts

  • International free trade: encouraged open trade to reduce economic rivalries between nations

  • League of Nations: proposed the creation of an international organization to mediate disputes and prevent future wars

• Wilson’s vision was idealistic, and many of his points were compromised during the Treaty of Versailles negotiations

  • European powers prioritized punishing Germany

• The US Senate refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles and rejected US membership of the League of Nations

  • It was believed it would lead to US involvement in future European wars

Legacy of the End of World War I

• The Treaty of Versailles and Wilson’s Fourteen Points aimed to reshape the postwar world, but their impact was mixed

  • The harsh terms of the treaty left Germany economically devastated and politically unstable

    • It contributed to the rise of extremism and the outbreak of World War II

  • Wilson’s vision for a more cooperative international order laid the groundwork for future global institutions like the United Nations