Why did japan get into this mess? what would they gain?
Japan, honoring a preexisting military agreement with Britain, declared war on Germany on August 23rd, 1914. Japan seized Germany's Micronesian colonies and, after the Battle of Tsingtao, the German coaling port of Qingdao in the Chinese Shandong peninsula.They joined to have a stake at the winners table. They knew the Allies would win and they figured they would get something out of it.
EVENTS OF GALLIPOLI
The landings on the Gallipoli peninsula represented the second stage of a British attempt to shorten the war by both knocking out Turkey and assisting munition-starved Russia by sending supplies through the Dardanelles and Black Sea route. The first stage had been the naval bombardment of the Dardanelles forts by an Anglo-French fleet.
The main consequence: it was impossible to supply Russia with sufficient munitions to enable it to fight. In 1915, this resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of men, much territory and considerable morale. Although Russia recovered under its new war minister, Polivanov, in 1916, even he could not overcome the basic deficiencies, and despite the success of the 'Brusilov Offensive' in 1916, Russian morale slumped further in the face of soaring prices, food shortages and massively increasing casualties.
Gallipoli prolonged the course of the First World War, and gave the Central Powers a new lease of life. It doomed Russia. It brought in Bulgaria as a German ally, allowing the Central Powers to conquer Serbia in 1915 and Romania in 1916. It left the Turks in being as a significant drain on British and Russian resources for the rest of the war.
The main consequence: it was impossible to supply Russia with sufficient munitions to enable it to fight. In 1915, this resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of men, much territory and considerable morale. Although Russia recovered under its new war minister, Polivanov, in 1916, even he could not overcome the basic deficiencies, and despite the success of the 'Brusilov Offensive' in 1916, Russian morale slumped further in the face of soaring prices, food shortages and massively increasing casualties.
Gallipoli prolonged the course of the First World War, and gave the Central Powers a new lease of life. It doomed Russia. It brought in Bulgaria as a German ally, allowing the Central Powers to conquer Serbia in 1915 and Romania in 1916. It left the Turks in being as a significant drain on British and Russian resources for the rest of the war.
the u.s is hopping in the wAR TRAIN. WHY?
Newspaper article with news of the sinking of Lusitania. Explanation on the side.
The sinking of the Lusitania, an British cruise/transport ship, bound for Britain from New York. The German U-boat ring sought to sink all supply ships headed for Britain in order to starve the island. It sank the Lusitania as part of its efforts. 1,195 people died, including 128 Americans. The Lusitania's sinking was the biggest influence on the American decision to enter the war. German submarine warfare sunk many ships over several years. Had it not been for the Lusitania, the U.S would have stayed out of the War.
The U.S. had huge economic investments with the British and French. If they were to lose, then they would not be able to pay the U.S. debt back.
If Allies could not pay back all the loans made to them by the American bankers, the U.S' s economy could collapse. France and England were financing their war with U.S loans. In addition, they were buying massive amounts of arms from the U.S on credit. The U.S wanted to make sure that it got paid back. Germany also purchased arms, but in a much more limited fashion.
Propaganda from both sides influenced the American decision.
Woodrow Wilson did not want to go to war but when Teddy Roosevelt decided to run for another term, Wilson felt threatened and announced that there would be a preparedness program and possibly that the country would go to war. By entering the war, the U.S got to show what it was made of on the world stage and establish itself as a world power, POWER TO 'MERICA!
Germany declared unrestricted warfare on all Atlantic shipping. Allegedly, the Germans were trying to cut a deal with Mexico to join them in a war against the U.S. (AKA The Zimmerman Telegram). This has been highly disputed with just cause.
The U.S. had huge economic investments with the British and French. If they were to lose, then they would not be able to pay the U.S. debt back.
If Allies could not pay back all the loans made to them by the American bankers, the U.S' s economy could collapse. France and England were financing their war with U.S loans. In addition, they were buying massive amounts of arms from the U.S on credit. The U.S wanted to make sure that it got paid back. Germany also purchased arms, but in a much more limited fashion.
Propaganda from both sides influenced the American decision.
Woodrow Wilson did not want to go to war but when Teddy Roosevelt decided to run for another term, Wilson felt threatened and announced that there would be a preparedness program and possibly that the country would go to war. By entering the war, the U.S got to show what it was made of on the world stage and establish itself as a world power, POWER TO 'MERICA!
Germany declared unrestricted warfare on all Atlantic shipping. Allegedly, the Germans were trying to cut a deal with Mexico to join them in a war against the U.S. (AKA The Zimmerman Telegram). This has been highly disputed with just cause.