US Entering World War I

Okay Students!!!!

I am starting a blog with the hope you will take a few minutes while you are online chatting with friends on My Space, AIM, etc. and glance over what we are learning in US History. For those of you that have started to class seriously your grade has reflected that improvement.

Remember, our test over Imperialism and WWI will be on Thursday, November 1 except third period will have their test on Wednesday, October 31. I know this is a holiday for most of you so that's why I want you to start studying on Monday night. I am aware this is new concept (to start studying more in advance than the period before the test), but consider this an exciting challenge.

Please review all vocabulary worksheets you have completed over the past few weeks. Make sure to understand key names and words on your Imperialism Vocabulary sheet. It is the one that is front and back and is mounted as your first notebook sheet. The main thing to remember is that the US entered the Spanish American War to help Cuba become independent from Spain; however, the first fighting was in the Phillipines. Remember, I showed you the key countries on a globe and the next day you did your own world map by coloring in countries and drawing lines toward what countries were gained as US territories. There are three reasons to gaining additional territories: economical, political and ideological. The result was the US became known as a world power at this time.

Moving on to World War I. This is where we did all of the fun acronyms that will help you remember the reasons why WWI started and the reasons America became involved in it. The first acronym is MAIN (militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism). Remember the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Great Britain and Russia). Once the war started (Archduke Fernidad was asassinated) the Triple Alliance became the Central Powers known as AHOG (Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Germany). Italy switched sides!!!! The Triple Entente became the Allied Powers known as BFAIR (Britain, France, America, Italy, Russia). The acronym to why the US entered WWI is SLUTZ (Sussex Pledge, Lithutania, Unrestricted Sub Warfare, Ties with Great Britain and the Zimmerman Note).

So it's time to start studying (highlighting your notes and doing your review sheet). You may also start on your notebook cover page - draw five things that represent Imperialism or WWI.

Good Luck and please ask me any questions on this blog or in class.