Turning Points of
the War
• World War I is a stalemate – Both sides
were in trenches on the French and German
border.(Western front)
• Eastern front with Russia is the same.
FIRST BIG TURNING POINT – RUSSIA LEAVES WAR
• Russia is not as technologically advanced
as the rest of Europe.
• Russia has lots and lots of people. They
keep throwing more and more people at the
war.
Vladimir Illich Lenin
• The marxist leader of Russia – Followed the
teaching of Karl Marx.
• The Czar had kicked him out of Russia for
trying to overthrow the government.
• The Germans sneak him back into Russia.
WHY??
• The Bolsheviks believe that Russia is only
for the rich. They kicked out the Czar in
November of 1917.
• First thing Lenin and the Bolsheviks did was
pull Russia out of the war.
• Germany no longer had a two front war.
• Later, Lenin will change the name of Russia
to the United Soviet Socialist Republics
U.S.S.R.
US: From Neutrality to War
A. US Public Opinion
1. Anti-War?
– At first many
Americans thought of
the war as a European
War
– Popular song at the
time – “I didn’t raise
my boy to be a
Soldier”
2. Allied or Central Powers
– Most Americans supported the British and the
French b/c of long standing ties
– But Millions of Americans had immigrated
from the Central Powers and supported them.
B. Propaganda
1. British Propaganda
– Used to influence U.S.
Opinion
– Depicted the Germans as
cruel and inhumane
2. German Propaganda
– Depicted President
Wilson as a liar when it
came to Neutrality
C. Germans Violate US
Neutrality
1. Sinking the Lusitania
– German U-boats (Submarines) attacked many
ships without warning instead of stopping and
searching them. Unrestricted Submarine
Warfare
– May 1915 a U-Boat sank a British Passenger
Ship, Lusitania
– Killed 1,200 people, included 128 Americans
– Infuriates Americans
2. Sussex Pledge
– After sinking a French Ship, the Sussex,
German govt issues the Sussex Pledge
– Promise not to sink merchant vessels w/o
warning or saving lives
– Does not follow the pledge for very long
3. Zimmerman Note
– German Foreign Minister
Arthur Zimmerman
– Telegram asked Mexico to
ally with Germany against
the US
– They could retake New
Mexico, Texas and Arizona
4. Wilson’s Response to German
aggression
– April 1917 Wilson Asks Congress to declare
war on Germany
– “The world must be made safe for
Democracy”
– April 6, 1917 U.S. Declares War on Germany
World War I
Propaganda
Propaganda Objectives
“What You Want To Do”
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Recruitment of soldiers
Financing the war effort (bonds, loans, or taxes)
Unifying the country
Conservation of resources necessary to the war
(food, oil, steel, etc.)
Participation in home-front organizations
Propaganda Tools
“How You Are Going To Do It”
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Demonization- Portray the enemy as purely evil,
murderous, and aggressive. The enemy is often
committing atrocities against women and
children.
Emotional Appeals- Playing on people’s
emotions to promote the war effort. Fear is the
most common emotion portrayed in these
posters.
Name Calling- Reinforced stereotypes through
loaded labeling (“Commies”, “Japs”, “Huns”,
etc.)
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Patriotic Appeal- Using patriotic language or
symbols to appeal to national pride
Half-Truths or Lies- Embellishing the enemies
downfalls, and victimizing one’s own nation.
Catchy Slogans- Using memorable phrases to
foster support for the war effort. (“Remember the
Alamo!”)
Evocative Visual Symbols- Using symbols that
appeal to people’s emotions. (flags, statues,
enemy uniforms, etc.)
Humor or Caricatures- Using humor by making
the enemy the target of the joke.
Military
Posters
Home
Front
Posters
The Red
Cross
British
Posters
German
Posters
French
Posters
Russian
Poster
Italian
Poster
Irish
Poster