European nation have seized land in many parts of the world. Most of Africa for instance, had been occupied during the previous half century.
British colonies provided raw material for English industry, and the market plan was good.
But French keeping pace with the British had moved into North Africa to ensure their food supply.
Germany, alleged cover, was fighting for its share of world trait and demanding fuller recognition as a world power.
Bitterness grew as the great powers of Europe built up huge armies and form into two hostile camps. Each nation pledged to fight. If any of its allies will attack.
One ally, included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy called the triple alliance. Opposing them was the triple untons of France, Russia and England.
These complex tensions finally exploded into war.
The crisis begun in June, 1914 when Serbian patriots on Bosnia shot and killed the air to the Austria-Hungarian throne. Then, deleting the capital, Sarajevo.
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By August, 1914, the great powers of Europe were at war, the central power against the allied.
The German plan was to overwhelm France, then turn its full force on Russia. To reach France, Germany decided to march through Belgium. When Belgium resisted, Germany let loose its gun from that small nation.
The allied powers were trying to blockade Germany, both on land and at sea to deny their necessary war supply. Germany was trying to starve England by destroying their shipping with a new weapon, the submarine.
Early in the war, the British Navy cut off Germany from their colonies and swept German ships off the surface of the sea.
Britain empowered the cargo of neutral ships including those of the United States, if they were bound for German ports. In spite of heavy looses, neither side have been able to make decisive gains.
Italy had deserted its former alliance and was now at war against Germany, while Turkey had entered in on the side of Germany.
On the vast Russian front, the German were winning. But on the Western front, across Northeast France, the gigantic armies were deadlocked. Their trenches teased each other across the bleakness called “No man’s land”.
Britain still hopes that their blockade will defeat Germany. Their battleship controls the open seas.
German submarine on the other hand, had some follows on the British ships. More than 5,000 British ships were sunk during the entire war. There were Germans that access on lands, too.
The British efforts to complete the encirclement of Germany by occupying the Middle East, while defeated by the Turks at Gallipoli.
The Germans conquered Romania in a fewer weeks. They were smashing victory down the Eastern France. Russia was beginning to collapse from the internal strike that later lead to revolution.
Italy too was beginning to weaken, but the British blockade where proven effective. Germany, desperately working against time, decided to risk renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare.
In violation of traditional-international law, the step was taken with full knowledge and it must cost a break and possible war with the United States.
March 1917, five American ships were sunk.
On April 2, 1917, Wilson appeared before the Congress. Congress declared war on April 6.
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