THE GREAT WAR:
America’s Role in World War I
Causes of World War I
• Imperialism-European
powers rushed to claim
the remaining
uncolonized areas of the
world.
• Militarism-development of
armed forces and their
use as a tool of
diplomacy.
• U.S. Remains Neutral
under President Wilson
• Nationalism-a devotion to
the interests and culture
of one’s nation. Various
ethnic groups wanted
independence
• Alliances: Triple Entente
(Allies)-France, Britain, &
Russia. Triple AllianceGermany, AustriaHungary & Italy
Europe before WWI
World War I Begins
• June 28, 1914-Archduke Francis
Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated
by a Serbian Nationalist, Gavrilo Princip
• July 28, 1914- Backed by Germany,
Austria-Hungry declares war on Serbia
• Because of the Alliance System within a
week all of Europe was plunged into war
U.S. Neutrality
• President Woodrow
Wilson carried on the
American tradition of
Neutrality towards
conflict in Europe.
Trade also influenced
America’s decision to
remain neutral.
• Public Opinion was
strong but divided.
A Bloody Stalemate in Europe
• Modern Weaponry
quickly leads to a bloody
stalemate in Europe
• Trench Warfare
• Modern Weaponry
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Machine Guns
Hand grenades
Poison gas
Tanks
Barbed wire
Americans on the Front
Lines 1914-1917
• American Red Cross
• American Ambulance
Corps
• French Foreign Legion
• Reporters and
Photographers
The War Hits Home
• British Blockade of Germany ports-affects U.S.
trade with Germany
• German U-Boats-declared they would sink ANY
boat in British waters
• The Sinking of the Lusitania-sunk in 18 minutes,
1,200 people die 128 of them Americans
• Sussex Pledge-German U-Boats would warn
ships before attacking-did not last long.
• The Zimmerman Note-German Provocation
• The Russian Revolution
• U.S declares War April 2, 1917
Getting the Troops Ready
Mobilization
• Selective Service Act
• AEF-American
Expeditionary Force
under General John
“Black Jack” Pershing
• The Convoy System
• Increase in Agricultural
and Industrial production
• Rationing and price
controls
Propaganda
• Launched to unite public
opinion in favor of war
• Committee on Public
Information & the FourMinute Men
• Espionage Act of 1917
• Sedition Act of 1918
• Encouraged widespread
rejection of anything
German
Video
African Americans and Women in
WWI
• 400,000 African
Americans served in WWI
• Served in Segregated
units excluded from Navy
and Marines
• Most served in
Noncombat duties
• 369th Regiment saw more
duty at front than any
other American
Regiment. 2 Soldiers
from this regiment
awarded French “cross of
war”
• Army did not allow
women to enlist but did
allow them into the Army
Corps of Nurses. They
were denied rank, pay &
benefits, though.
• 13,000 women accepted
noncombat positions in
Navy & Marines with full
rank where they served
as nurses, secretaries
and telephone operators.
• Hello Girls
Americans in Europe
Troops in Europe
• Corporal Alvin York
• “Doughboys”
• Battle of Chateau-ThierryAm. Save Paris
• August 8 1918-Battle of
Amiens stopped German
advance once and for all.
The Eleventh Hour
• The Armistice came at
11 am on November 11,
1918.
• 10 Million soldiers had
died, 20 Millions
wounded, 10 Million
civilian deaths,
• This war was thought to
be the “War to End All
War”
Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Take it on the run,
On the run, on the run.
Hear them calling, you and me,
Every son of liberty.
Hurry right away,
No delay, go today,
Make your daddy glad
To have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy's in line.
(chorus sung twice)
Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun
Who's a son of a gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly,
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit,
Show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks,
From the towns and the tanks.
Make your mother proud of you,
And the old Red, White and Blue.
(chorus sung twice)
Over There
• Chorus
Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the
word over there That the Yanks are
coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev'rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray'r,
Send the word, send the
word to beware.
We'll be over, we're
coming over,
And we won't come back
till it's over
Over there.
OVER HERE
War Economy
• Liberty Bonds
• New Agencies
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War Trade Board
War Industries Board
National Labor Board
Food Administration
• Enforcing Loyalty
Changing Lives
• Scouting programs for
boys & girls
• Prohibition
The War Encourages Social
Change
• The Great Migration-large
scale movement of
hundreds of thousands of
Southern African
Americans to Northern
cities.
– Sought escape of racial
discrimination in South
– Job opportunities
– Propaganda
• Race Riots in North
• Women began taking
jobs traditionally held by
men.
• 19th Amendment
– “the services of women
during the (war) have been
of the most signal
usefulness and distinction”
• FLU PANDEMIC
– ¼ of population affected
– Poss. 30 Million died
worldwide
American Stances toward WWI
The Preparedness
Movement
• Business Leaders
• Wanted the country to
be ready to aid Allies
if necessary
• Formed National
Security League to
promote patriotism
and readiness
The Peace Movement
• Women, Populists,
Midwesterners, &
social reformers
• Founded American
Union Against
Militarism.
• Insisted on paying for
preparedness with
higher taxes
The Eleventh Hour
The Eleventh Hour
• The Armistice came
at 11 am on
November 11, 1918.
• 10 Million soldiers
had died, 20 Millions
wounded, 10 Million
civilian deaths,
• This war was thought
to be the “War to End
All War”
The Paris Peace Conference
and the Treaty of Versialles
• Jan. to June 1918
– President Wilson and the
European powers met at
the palace of Versialles
to decide the peace
terms for the treaty with
Germany to end WWI.
• Representatives
– President Georges
Clemenceau- France
– Prime Minister David
Lloyd George-Great
Britain
– President Vittorio
Orlando-Italy
– President Woodrow
Wilson-United States
The Fourteen Points