American History: US Adopts Neutrality as World War One Begins
06 October 2010
British forces in action during World War One
BOB DOUGHTY: Welcome to THE MAKING OF A hNATION – American history in VOA Special English.
In nineteen fourteen, Europe exploded into the First World War. It was a war no nation really wanted. But no nation seemed able to stop it.
The assassination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the city of Sarajevo was the spark that set off the explosion.
This week in our series, Harry Monroe and Kay Gallant tell about the war and how it affected the United States under President Woodrow Wilson.
HARRY MONROE: The Austrian Archduke was murdered by Serbian nationalists. They opposed Austrian control of their homeland. After the assassination, Austria declared war on Serbia. One of Serbia's allies was Russia. Russia agreed to help Serbia in any war against Austria.
Austria had allies, too. The most important was Germany. Germany wanted Russia to stay out of the war. When Russia refused, Germany declared war on Russia. Then Germany declared war on Russia's close ally, France. Britain entered the war a few days later when Germany violated the neutrality of Belgium.
An abandoned British trench captured by the Germans. German soldiers are on horseback in the background.
KAY GALLANT: One nation after another entered the conflict to protect its friends or to honor its treaties. Within a week, most of Europe was at war.
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