The First World War
Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster by James
Montgomery Flagg 1917-18
The First World War:
What?
•War involving nearly all the nations of the world
When?
•1914-1918
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Nation
Nation- a group of people who share a common
language, religion, history, and traditions
A nation does NOT always refer to a country with
land and boundaries. This is the definition of a
state.
Because many states had people of different
ethnic groups, conflicts developed.
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The First World War:
Who?
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Central Powers:
Allies:
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Russia
France
Great Britain
Italy
Japan
United States (1917)
The First World War:
Why?
Long term -
1. Alliance system
2. Imperialist
competition
3. Militarism Stockpiling of
weapons
4. Nationalism
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of
Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914
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Short term Assassination of Franz
Ferdinand of the
Austro-Hungarian
Empire
Nationalism
 Created competition among states both
military and imperialistic.
 Alliances formed for protection
 The two biggest causes were these alliances
and nationalism and are considered long term
causes.
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The First World War:
Where?
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Why did it take so long for America to get
involved in the war?
•America was isolationist and wanted to remain
neutral.
•“Why should I get involved in someone else’s
problems”
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Which side should the US pick?
Central Powers:
Allies:
•11 million GermanAmericans
•Irish-Americans hated
Great Britain
•Close cultural ties
especially with Great
Britain
•Shared transatlantic
cables (so censored
stories)
•Big business loaned
much $ to allies
US Exports to both sides:
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Nations
Britain
France
Germany
1914
1915
1916
$594,271,863 $911,794,954 $1,526,685,102
$159,818,924 $364,397,170 $628,851,988
$344,794,276 $28,863,354
$288,899
What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
•Britain blockaded
(stopped) all
German ships going
to America
•Germany
announced a
submarine war
around Britain
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Y-53 German Submarine 1916
What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
•In May, 1915 Germany told
Americans to stay off of British
ships
•They could/would sink them
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What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
•Lusitania
torpedoed, sinking
with 1200
passengers and
crew (including 128
Americans)
•Was eventually
found to be carrying
4200 cases of
ammunition
German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking
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What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
•The US sharply
criticized Germany
for their action
•Germany agreed
not to sink
passenger ships
without warning in
the future
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Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster
What did it take to get the US involved?
2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
•1917 Germany
announced
“unlimited
submarine warfare”
in the war zone
Why? Otherwise
their blockade would
not be successful
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What did it take to get the US involved?
3. Zimmerman Note
•US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico,
•It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in
return for an alliance
•Intended to keep the US out of the war so the
Germans would only have to worry about European
nations.
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1916 Presidential Election
Woodrow Wilson running for reelection using the
slogan, “He kept us out of war.”
When Germany goes back to sub warfare he
goes to Congress and asks for a declaration of
war to “make the world safe for democracy.”
Puts out his 14 Points Peace Plan including
freedom of the seas, end to secret treaties, arms
reduction, a League of Nations, and the right of
people to determine their own form of
government.
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What did it take to get the US involved?
•Zimmerman Note + the
sinking of 4 unarmed
American ships led to a
declaration of war
•GERMAN
RETURN TO
UNRESTRICTEDS
UBMARINE
WARFARE!
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How was the war looking for the allies?
Not Good...
•Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917
•Made it a one front war for Germany - all its troops could
concentrate on France
•US enters the war in 1917.
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Convincing the American People
Posters - Gee!!
•How do you think this poster helped to
convince the American people that the
war was a good idea?
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Convincing the American People
Idealism: 2 Goals For War:
1. War to End All Wars (AKA The Great War
2. Making the World Safe for Democracy
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Convincing the American People
Idealism: Fourteen Points
What? President Wilson’s Plan for
after the war
•Fourteen promises,
including freedom of
the seas & a League of
Nations to work for
peace
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President Woodrow Wilson
What did the US do to help?
Supplies:
•US provided
the food,
money, and
fresh troops
needed to
win the war
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American Troops March Through London
How did the War Affect the US?
Women
•Women filled factory jobs
•May have led 19th Ammendment after the war (Gave
women the right to vote)
African Americans
•Black soldiers still served in Segregated Units
•“Great Migration” - thousands of African Americans
moved North to work in factories
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How did the War Affect the US?
Enforcing Loyalty
•Hatred of all things German
•Ex. “Liberty Cabbage”, stopped teaching German in
schools, discrimination against German immigrants
or people of German descent.
•Espionage Act 1917 & Sedition Act of 1918 punished
those against the war (many labor leaders)
•Schenck v US court case ruled that in time of war rights,
such as freedom of speech, could be limited for the cause
of keeping the country united and for morale of those
fighting as well as those at home.
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Propaganda in the War
Enlistment Poster
Victory Gardens
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War bonds
End of War
November 11, 1918 (11th day
of 11th month, at the 11th
hour)
Armistice Day
Now Veteran’s Day
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Peace After WWI
I. Wilson’s Peace Plan- the “Fourteen Points”
A. Wilson did not want to punish Gernany but Britain
and France did
B. “Peace without Victory”
1. End of secret alliances
2. Freedom of the seas
3. Self-determination
4. League of Nations
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League of Nations
 Organization to settle world disputes
 Treaty never ratified by US Senate (Feared it
would lead us into future conflicts – would
limit Congresses power to determine when
and if to get involved in future conflicts)
 Wilson travels the US to get support
 Has stroke and spends the last year of his
presidency an invalid.
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Countries had conflicting goals
 France and England got what they wantedGermany was punished
 Forced Gemnany to take full responsibility
(War Guilt Clause)
 Germany had to pay reparations
 Germany lost land to France and lost its
colonies
 Army and navy size severely reduced- just
enough to protect themselves if needed
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