World War I
 https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/us
history/worldwari/
Objectives
 Content: Differentiate between the
long term and immediate causes of
World War I.
 Learning: List the 4 MAIN causes of
World War I.
Underlying Causes of WWI
 There were 4 MAIN causes of WWI.
1. Militarism- When a
country aggressively
builds up its military
strength
1.Alliances2.A alliance between two
countries that they will
help each other in case
of war. Many of these
alliances became
entangled
1. Imperialism- When
strong countries take
over smaller, weaker
countries in an effort
to become more
powerful

1.Nationalism
 A strong feeling of pride and dedication to
one’s country
These four things were
happening over a period of time
and caused tensions between
countries
in
Europe.
These
are

known as underlying causes
 http://safeshare.tv/v/ss5696b3e9f375d
What was the immediate cause
of the war?
 The assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
 He was killed by Gavrilo Princip in
Sarajevo
 Why?
 The Archduke was heir to the throne in
Austria-Hungary
 Serbia was a controlled area of AustriaHungary
 Gavrilo Princip was a Serbian Nationalist
 Why would he want to kill the Archduke?
The Alliances
Allied Powers
 France
 United States
 Russia
 Belgium
 British Empire
 Serbia
Central Powers
 Bulgaria
 Austro-Hungarian
Empire
 German Empire
 Ottoman Empire
Trick to Remember Alliances in
WWI
FURBBS BAG of “O”’s
FURBBS = Allies
BAG of “O”s = Central Powers
What is going on here?
Warm Up
Read through Document A:
Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1.
Answer Question #1 on Guiding
Questions.
U.S. Expansionism
 Spanish American
War ended the U.S.
policy of Isolationism
(1898)
• Result of
Spanish
American War =
the U.S. emerges
as a world power
U.S. Expansionism
 WWI ended the U.S. policy of avoiding
European conflicts (1914-1918)
• WWI = the U.S. emerges as a
global superpower
American Neutrality Is Over
 Up to 1917, the US opposed war. Woodrow
Wilson was re-elected as President with the
slogan:
“He kept us out of war!”
• But that was all about to change!
Reasons for America’s
Involvement in WWI
4 REASONS
1. US inability to remain neutralnot pick a side
2. United States economic and
political ties to Great Britain
Reasons for America’s Involvement in WWI
3. German submarine warfare: In 1915
they sank the Lusitania (1000 people
died, 128 were Americans)
4. The Zimmerman Telegram
Mystery reading…
THEY PUBLISHED A
WARNING IN THE
NEWSPAPER
Zimmerman Telegram
 The Zimmerman Telegram – was a secret
message from Germany to Mexico that the
British intercepted (January 1917).
• The message said that if Mexico helped
Germany invade and defeat the US, than
Germany would help them get back all the
land they lost in the Mexican American
War (1848)
• Americans were angry and wanted to go to
war.
• Activity time!
What are we going to do now?
What are these cartoons saying about Woodrow Wilson’s reaction
to the war?
Why do you think the American public was pushing Wilson to go
to war?
U.S. Entry into WWI
Read Document B: Woodrow
Wilson’s Speech #2.
Answer remaining Guiding
Questions.
 I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made
immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.
On the 3d of February last I officially laid before you the
extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government
that on and after the 1st day of February it was its purpose to put
aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to
sink every Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely
bereaved and stricken people of Belgium, though the latter were
provided with safe-conduct through the proscribed areas by the
German Government itself and were distinguished by unmistakable
marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of
compassion or of principle.
How is this different from his
earlier speech?
 Who has the power to formally declare
war?
America Enters the War
 April 6, 1917- President
Wilson and Congress
declare war!
 More than 2 million
Americans entered the
military to fight in
WWI.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/overthere.htm
Homefront
Civilians at home made sacrifices
to help with the war effort
– War Gardens – personal fruit and
vegetable gardens so that more food
could be sent to the troops
 http://safeshare.tv/v/ss569935ac3c751
Homefront
– Bonds – loaning the government
money to help pay for the war.
– Rationing – using less of what you
want so that more materials can be
used for the war or sent to the
troops.
Propaganda helped encourage
support for war effort.
Propaganda
 Who is the soldier in the cartoon?
 Who do the people on the bayonet
represent?
 How does this represent the Germans?
 How is it an example of propaganda?
Homefront continued
 Women work in jobs traditionally
held by men – leads to changing a
role
– Pushes women to get the right to vote
– Most countries grant right to vote before
WWI is over.
– When does the U.S. grant the right to
vote?
Objectives
 Content: Defend why Wilson’s 14 Points
were a good solution to WWI.
 Learning: Describe the changes in warfare
during WWI.
GUM Questions!!
 1. Why did the war start?
 2. How did the US get involved?
 3. How did the US change the role of
women?
 4. Who were the Allied powers?
 5. Who were the Central powers?
WWI Details
 1914-1918
 Actual fighting began in August
when Germany invaded Belgium (a
neutral country)
 Four main fighting fronts:
– Western (Britain, France, and Germany)
– Eastern (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and
Russia)
– Balkan (Serbia, Ottoman Empire, and
Bulgaria)
– Italian (Italy and Austria-Hungary)
New Weapons of WWI
 Improved cannons and improved
guns (machine guns)
 New inventions and destructive
weapons
• German “U-boats”
(submarines)
• Tank
• Poison Gas
• Combat airplanes (end of war)
Machine Guns
WWI Gas Masks
WWI Tanks
WWI Planes
German U-boats
"unterseeboot", or undersea boat
in English
http://safeshare.tv/v/uzaa_RVwYSs
Trench Warfare
 WWI introduces Trench Warfare
because of new weapons
 http://safeshare.tv/v/ss5697d9846467f
 http://safeshare.tv/v/ss569933d9aa9c8

Trench warfare webquest
 Website 1:
 Website 2:
http://safeshare.tv/v/ss569fee8b61a
24
The Allies Were Struggling
 Russian troops were not able to get
the supplies they needed.
– Many were trying to fight with NO
bullets.
– In 1917, the Russian people
overthrew their government with
the Russian Revolution. It caused
Russia to leave the war.
– Now all of Germany’s attention was
on the Western Front.
 http://safeshare.tv/v/ss569935d18ea17
The U.S. Enters the War
 Allied forces desperately needed the
help, they were drained and starving.
 The Allies with U.S. help didn’t just
stop the German advance, but pushed
them back to Germany.
The End of WWI
 November 11, 1918,
Germany’s government
is overthrown and the
new leaders quickly
agree to an armistice (an
agreement to end the
fighting)

http://www.realmilitaryvideos.com/wwi/newsreel-end-of-wwiin-san-francisco/
After the Armistice
 More than 9 Million soldiers lost their lives
 President Woodrow Wilson was seen as a
hero to all of Europe
 Wilsons peace proposal was called
“Fourteen Points”
• Outlined new boundaries and nations in
Europe
• Called for free trade, freedom of the seas
and an end to secret treaties
League of Nations
 Wilson’s final and biggest point was to
create the League of Nations, a
peacekeeping organization.
 Wilson’s peace terms were seen as to
lenient on the losing nations.
Treaty of Versailles:
A true historical dumpster fire
Treaty of
Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
 The Treaty of Versailles
brought an end to the
war between Germany
and the Allied Powers.
The other countries in
the Central Powers were
dealt with in separate
treaties.
 The Treaty was signed
in June 1919.
What did it mean
for Germany?
 The Treaty of Versailles:
– Forced Germany to
accept full blame for
the war
– Took away Germany’s
colonies and armed
forces
– Forced Germany to pay
$33 billion in war
reparations
What did it mean for the world?
The Treaty of Versailles:
 Also divided up the empires of AustriaHungary, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire.
 Established the League of Nations
But not so fast….
 The United States
never ratified
(approved) the treaty
or joined the League
of Nations.
 Many members of
Congress did not
want the US to join
the League of Nations
because they did not
want more foreign
commitments.
Did the Treaty of
Versailles Work?
 The Treaty failed
to make Europe
“safe for
democracy”
 Germany resented
the treaty
 It helped plant the
seeds for WWII