World War I was the war that started the century. Fought from 1915-1918. This war was the first war to have the use of machines and changed the way the world fought. This war was the first war to use airplanes, cars, tanks, the flame thrower, submarines, blimps, mustard gas, and trenches. Before the war the car was hardly used anywere. The car was used because it could get men from one place to another in less time than a horse could. With the technology from this war you could kill a lot more people alot faster. Which is good during a war. The death tolls were high. United States lost 125,000 people, France lost 1.7 million people, Great Britian lost 3 thousand people, Germany lost 1.8 million people, Russia lost 1.3 million people, Austria-Hungry lost 1.2 million people and the Ottaman Empire lost 9 thousand people. Russia had to get out of the war early because of financial problems at home. These problems Russia had, caused Russia to fall and the communist Solviet Union to rise.

How did it Start?

World War I started because the archduke of Austria-Hungry was assassanated in Serbia. How did the rest of the world become involved? It was because of the alliances between countries in Europe. Serbia was allied with Russia. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungry. Austria-Hungry was allied with Germany; and Germany declared war with Russia. Russia was allied with France and Great Britian. They declared war with Germany. Germany was allied with the Ottaman Empire, which was Turkey area. The Ottaman Empire declared war with France and Great Britian. This is the same as a big guy picking on a little guy so the little guy gets a bigger guy and so on.
The Central Powers
Austria-Hungry
Germany
Ottaman Empire

The Alliance
Serbia
Italy
Russia
France
United States

These countries were the countries mainly involved in the war

Why did Russia get out of the war?

Russia got out because of financial problems at home. The people were starving and the Russians could not finance the war anymore. This war did in the Russians. The czar was overthrown and the idea of communism was brought in to effect. Under this plan everyone would make the same amount of money. After Russia fell out the United States entered the war.

How did the United States become involved?

The United States did not become involve untill 1917. There was no reason why united States become involved. The politicans thought it would help the economy. The people of the united states did not want to become involve. So it was the politicans job to convince the people of the united states to become involve. How? The use of propaganda, this was a way to make someone look bad by using half truths or lies. The propaganda was against the Germans. The point at which the united states became involved was when the Lusitana, a British passanger ship, was sunk by the Germans. Some of the passangers on the Lusitana were American civilans. On this ship was also some ammunition and guns that the United states were sending to Great Britian. The United States was suppose to be neutral. The guns and ammunition were kept secret. This was called contraband or illegal supplies. The Americans got involved because of the Germans sinking the Lusitana. Before the U.S. got involved the Germans were wining the war. Now that the U.S. came the Central Powers started to loose. How were the Germans going to fight back? The plan was to bring in Mexico to join the Central Powers. The Zimmerman Note was sent to the Mexican government. This was a note that asked Mexico to get involved and if the Central Powers won Mexico will get the land it lost during the Mexican-American war. Airzona, Texas and New Mexico would be returned to Mexico if the Central Powers would win. Why would this help the central powers? It would bring back the U.S. to fight on their own grounds with Mexico and Germany could go on fighting without the U.S. The Mexican government refused.