WWI
Nationalism
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Feeling of pride and affection for one’s country, even to the
detriment of the others
Pre-war Europe was made up of several empires: Russian,
Austria-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires
These Empires were multinational-meaning they included
many different nationalities and ethnic groups.
Often led to competition with other countries
Competition became deadly as countries began to view each
other as enemies.
Economic competition was heightened by the Industrial
revolution as nation's became more industrialized they began
to rely more on the manufacturing and trading of goods.
This led to an increased need for more materials and markets
Nations began to compete with one another for natural
resources and markets.
Imperialism
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European countries start to colonize
other parts of the world to gain control
of natural resources and new markets.
Countries often disputed overland,
which intensified rivalries
As territories to colonize became more
scarce, rivalries heated up and
countries began to increase their
military to protect their interests.
Militarism
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The glorification of military power
Nations increased the size of their armies and
navies
Increased stock piles of weapons
Advancement in technology allowed them to
create weapons of war that were far more
deadly.
This lead to an arms race. Countries quickly
developed their militaries to be the biggest and
best in order to protect themselves and their
interests.
Fear of war and rivalries intensified
Alliances
War seemed inevitable
European nations looked for friends and
allies for support.
 Two alliances were formed:
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◦ Triple Alliance (the Central Powers):
 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
◦ Triple Entente (the Allies):
 fearing Germany, France allied with Russia. G.B later
joined
 Bilateral (two-nation) agreements were signed by
smaller less powerful nations
 members agreed that an attack on one member was an
attack on all and that they would defend each other.
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These alliances added to an already volatile
mix and raised tensions.
U.S. Role
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At outbreak of war in Europe, Americans opposed involvement
◦ U.S declared neutrality
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As the war raged on Americans started to side with their nations of ancestry
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both Allied and Central Powers used propaganda to influence public opinion in the
U.S
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Business made huge profits trading in Europe and wanted the U.S to remain
neutral so they could trade with both sides
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British Naval blockade eventually prevented U.S trade with Germany and the
Central Powers
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Trade with the Allies grew rapidly, nearly $8.25 million in business was conducted
in 1914
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This increased to $3 billion by 1916
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Allied govts. borrowed money from U.S. Banks. This business and trade persuaded
businesses to side now with the Allied Powers
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The Germans resented the US trade with the Allied Powers.
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Germany was desperate to cut the supply line to the allies and threatened to
attack ships entering or leaving English ports with their U-boats (submarines)
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U.S warned to hold Germany accountable for any American Deaths
War gets bogged down in
trench warfare
U.S. Enters
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Russian revolution helped sway America into the war. A democratic
govt. had seized control and the U.S believed it should support this
new govt.
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Germany sank 4 American merchant ships around this time as well,
violating the Sussex Pledge
◦ The U.S. breaks off relations with Germany
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Zimmerman Note
◦ a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to
the German Minister to Mexico (deciphered in Jan.; we get it in
Feb.)
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President Wilson went to congress to ask for declaration of war.
◦ Four days later Congress passed Declaration or war
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Selective service Act (draft) was passed to draft men into the Armed
Forces
◦ Within a few months the army increased from 200,000 to
4,000,000
◦ Women joined the army for the first time in non combat roles
◦ 300,000 to 400,000 African Americans joined
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Selective Service Act of 1917
◦ Two categories of objectors
 Religious pacifists – includes member of
established, recognized pacifist sects (Quakers,
Mennonites, Brethren)
 Exempted from active military service; most worked in
aid service or on a farm
 Conscientious objectors - Religious
objectors unaffiliated with pacifist religious
denominations or people opposing for political
or ethical reasons
 Only 3,989 of 2.8 million men inducted claimed this
status; most accepted non-combat duty
 However, 1,400 absolutely NO!
 They are court-martialed and imprisoned in solitary
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case the government
ever reinstitutes the
draft, who should
receive exemptions
from active military
service? From service
all together?
U.S. Mobilization for War
War Revenue Act of 1917 – 77%
of income (fed. Revenue increases
400%)
 U.S. borrows - $20 billion in
bonds
 The government takes over
control of the economy.
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War Industries Board
Had the power to regulate all
materials need in the war effort
 “no steel, copper, cement, rubber,
or other basic materials could be
used without our approval”
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◦ Bernard Baruch
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Industrial production increases 20%
Lever Food and Fuel
Control Act
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Food Administration
◦ “Food Can Win the War”
◦ Victory Gardens; Meatless Mondays;
Wheatless Wednesdays; Prohibition
(Volstead Act)
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Fuel Administration
◦ Daylight Savings time to extend daylight
hours
◦ Gasless Sundays; heatless Mondays
National War Labor Board
To keep labor disruptions to a
minimum
 This board judged disputes
between labor and management
 Set policies that improved
worker conditions
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◦ 8-hr. workday
◦ Recognition of unions
◦ Equal pay for women
Committee on Public Information
Headed by George
Creel
 Massive poster
campaign
 Hired popular figures
 Main goals
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◦ Support the war effort
◦ Demonize the enemy
What is propaganda?
The spreading of ideas or
information to further or damage a
cause
WWI Propaganda: Objectives
Recruitment of soldiers
 Financing the war
 Eliminating dissent and
unifying the country
 Conservation of resources
 Participating in homefront organizations
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WWI Propaganda: Tools
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Demonization
Emotional appeals
Name calling
Patriotic appeals
Half-truths or lies
Catchy slogans
Evocative visual
symbols
Humor or caricatures
 Another
way to eliminate dissent
◦ In 1917, Congress passed the
Espionage Act
 Punished people for aiding the
enemy or refusing military duty
What would you define as “aiding
the enemy?”
What would you make the
punishment?
◦ In 1918, Congress passed the
Sedition Act
 This law made it illegal for Americans to
“utter, print, write, or publish any
disloyal. . . or abusive language”
criticizing the government, the flag, or
the military.
 What defines “criticizing?”
 More than 1,000 opponents of the war
were jailed
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Schenck v. United States
◦ Unanimous opinion
◦ Many things that can be said in
peacetime can cause problems for
the government and danger for
soldiers in wartime
◦ Some limits needed to be place on
individual free speech during
wartime to ensure the country’s
overall safety
Get a Blue U.S. History Book and turn to
page 254 (YOU HAVE 20 MINS.TOPS)
 On a separate sheet of paper write down or
answer the following:
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◦ All of the yellow terms (pgs. 255-259)
◦ Copy down the MAJOR PROVISIONS OF
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES on pg. 256
◦ Answer Reading Check on pg. 257
◦ Answer Skills Focus on pg. 257
◦ Answer Geography Skills on pg. 258
◦ Outline the Impact of WWI pgs. 258-59
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Political
Economic
Social
Impact on Europe
You need one sheet of paper
 As you are numbering, after numbers 5,
10, 15, 20, and 25 leave a blank space
 Be clear in your responses; if I cannot tell
what you are trying to say (either because
it is confusing or it is poorly written) it is
incorrect
 You have until the end of the period
 You either know it or you don’t; delaying
to get extended time will not work
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