The U.S. History
Review
By Miguel A. Rivera
Section 10
World War I
What are some characteristics
of the era of
World War I?
Activity – World War I

Gather as much information as you possibly
can about the World War I in your group

½ picked to rotate will change seats every 2 ½
minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 ½ minutes after
having brainstormed what you know

We will come together as a class and figure
out what you’ve put down.
World War I

Nationalism (Intense pride in one’s homeland, and
self-determination – the idea that nations should have
their own country and government) was growing in
Europe

The U.S. tries to stay out of the issues in Europe
(neutrality) but is eventually made to get into the war

Allies include France, Britain, Russia, and eventually,
the U.S.

Central Powers include Germany, the Ottoman
Empire and Austria Hungary
World War I

New methods of fighting in war include trench
warfare and unrestricted submarine warfare

The U.S. uses a draft for the first time after having
created the Selective Service Act, which forces young
men to register with selective service by law

U.S. and allies win and force Germany to take
responsibility for everything in the Treaty of
Versailles 6 months after the armistice (or cease-fire)
is called.
World War I
1914
World War I starts as a result of
rising tensions in Europe and the
shooting of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
World War I
1917
U.S. enters World War I by
declaring war on Germany
World War I
1918
World War I ends
World War I
1919
Treaty of Versailles puts Germany
in to major debt
Lusitania

German U-boats, or
submarines start to be used
in an effort to go around
British Navy blockades.

Germany threatens to sink
any ship that enters water
around Britain.

Attacking civilian ships was
in direct violation of
international treaty.

Germans hit the Lusitania, a
British passenger ship and
kills 1200 passengers, 128 of
which were Americans.
Zimmerman Telegram

German official Arthur
Zimmerman, cabled the German
ambassador to Mexico and
proposed that Mexico ally itself
with Germany

Mexico would regain the
territory previously lost to the
U.S.

Intercepted by British
intelligence

Leaked to U.S. newspapers.
Feb. 1917- Germany goes to
unrestricted warfare and sinks 4
U.S. merchant ships. U.S.
declares war on Germany on
April 6, 1917.
Trench Warfare

Both sides build elaborate holes
where the fighting is pretty much
static

No movement forward unless
you’re going to “no man’s land”
between trenches where no man
stays alive

Used when style of fighting
(because of weapons changed)
but there was nothing (in terms
of machines) to keep moving
forward
Great Migration

African Americans
gained wartime
employment – 300,000
to 500,000 went North

Mexicans moved north
and provide labor for
farmers and ranchers
as well as
manufacturing jobs in
cities, still facing
discrimination and
hostility because of
race
League of Nations

International organization
meant to improve
relationships between
countries based on
disarming, prevention of
war, diplomacy,
negotiation, and settling
disputes between countries

Resulted from the Treaty
of Versailles, which ended
World War I
Treaty of Versailles

Treaty that ended World War I based on the
concept that Germany had to accept full
responsibility for the war and pay reparations
to the Allies. This put Germany into great
financial debt.
Wilson’s 14 Points

Speech given by Woodrow Wilson at end of
WWI which dealt with diplomacy and the
development of the League of Nations

Aimed to create a less harsh punishment for
Germany, but only 4 of the 14 points were ever
actually implemented
Selective Service Act

Federal law that authorized the president to
create a volunteer infantry division

All men between the ages of 21 and 30 (later
18 and 45) had to register with Selective
Service and might be drafted to participate in
the war
Espionage and Sedition Act

Federal law that made it illegal for any person
to interfere with military plans of a the U.S. or
provide any information to another country
that might be the U.S.’s enemy
WWI – Who’s this guy?
WWI – Who’s this guy? –
Woodrow Wilson

President of the U.S.
during World War I
who wanted to remain
neutral but was
essentially forced to
enter the war as a
result of Germany’s
acts of aggression.

Developed the 14
Points which
eventually led to the
League of Nations
WWI – Who’s this guy?
WWI – Who’s this guy? –
Archduke Franz Ferdinand

June 1914 – Heir
to AustroHungarian throne
was killed by a
Bosnian
revolutionary, set
off World War I
WWI – Who’s this guy?
WWI – Who’s this guy? –
General John J. Pershing

Highest ranking general
ever (alive, because
George Washington was
dead when he received the
rank) – General of the
Armies

General during World
War I

Mentor to great generals
such as George Marshall,
Dwight D. Eisenhower,
Omar Bradley, and
George S. Patton, all
generals during World
War II.