World War 1 began in August of 1914. The long-term cause of war was the growth of Nationalism throughout Europe. Nationalism united Italians in their fight to free themselves from Australian Rule. The war began due to Gavrilo Princip killing the Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophie. Soon after the killing Austia-Hungray declared war on Serbia. The war began with the Allied Powers (Britain, France and Russia) fighting against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria) resulting in brutal death.
Germany evolved an extremely good military strategy. They called for a good "massive strike" against France to defeat it quickly. This strategy forced France and Britain out of the war. Germany's next target would be Russia. Germany developed the "Schlieffen Plan", which called for German forces to invade France through the neutral country of Belgium. That September was the first Battle of the Marne. Come 1915 armies adopted "Trench Warfare". These trenches ran for hundreds of miles from the North Sea to the boarders of Switzerland. Due to all of the fighting and gunfire evolved a territory-" bombed out strewn with barbed wire and land mines" called "no mans land".
When the United States heard about the war, President Woodrow Wilson announced a policy of neutrality. President Wilson hoped to settle this conflict of war, yet he did not find success in pursuing his goal. Regardless of the neutral standings of the United States, we seemed to still be touched by the war especially after a British boat carrying some American passengers was struck and sunk by a German U-Boat. Soon following after was the sinking of the Lusitania, which was carrying Britain passengers, and 128 Americans. It was the sinking of this boat that brought on strong feeling to the Americans about the war. The war involving the Americans did not start promptly after the sinking of the Lusitania.
