World War I
Get out a ½ sheet of paper and answer the following
questions. When you are done, turn in to the stool.
1. List the MAIN causes of WWI.
2. Define each of the MAIN causes of WWI.
3. What is the “SPARK” that set off WWI?
Europe in Turmoil
Long Term (MAIN) Causes of the War
1- Militarism
2- Alliance System
3- Imperialism
4- Nationalism
• These were all forces pushing Europe into war
• Tension due to alliances and the build-up of military
strength
To fight or not to fight…
TO FIGHT!
Not to fight…
To fight or not to fight…..
• What does neutral mean?
• What is isolationism?
• Americans oppose joining the Allies
» Ethnic ties of German Americans
» Wilson’s slogan for 1916 campaign
» Pacifists believe the war was evil
• Americans support joining the Allies
» Cultural ties with Great Britain
» Economic ties with the Allies
» Anger at the U-Boat attacks: “Remember the
Lusitania!”
» Zimmerman Note
• Ethnic ties
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Strong cultural ties to the homeland
Fight for the Homeland!
What does homeland mean?
Where were many American immigrants from?
• Wilson’s 1916 Presidential Slogan
• “He kept us out of War”
• Pacifists believe war was evil
– What does pacifism mean?
The Lusitania
• Ocean liner under British registration
• Sunk off the Irish Coast by German U-Boat
• 1198 die; 128 U.S. citizen
– How do Americans react?
• Unarmed, but Germans allege it did carry
munitions for Allies
The Zimmerman Note
19 January, 1917:
The Zimmerman Note
to the German Minister to Mexico
Berlin, January 19, 1917
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of
this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with
Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give
general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New
Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement....
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon
as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the
President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at
once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.
Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine
warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmerman
(Secretary of State)
The Zimmerman Note
• How did Americans react to this?
• Who was Arthur Zimmerman?
» German Foreign Secretary starting November 1916.
On 16 January 1917, sent the fateful "Zimmerman
Telegram" to the German ambassador to Mexico,
suggesting an alliance in return for lost territories
taken by America in the 19th century. The telegram,
intercepted by British intelligence, became
instrumental in the United States decision to enter
into the fray of WWI.
The U.S Enters WWI
• Why?
• The sinking of the Lusitania
• Zimmerman Note
• To protect democracy
– What kind of government did the central powers have?
The U.S. Mobilizes for War
• The United States moved the following
areas towards the war effort. The following
areas describe how the U.S. mobilized our
efforts at home to support the war
Conscientious Objectors
• What is a conscientious objector?
• A conscientious objector is an individual
following the religious, moral or ethical
dictates of his or her conscience that are
incompatible with being a combatant in
military service, or being part of the armed
forces as a combatant organization
• What happens in times of war?
Conscientious Objectors in World
War I
John T. Neufeld was a WWI conscientious
objector sentenced to 15 years hard labor in the
military prison at Leavenworth. He was paroled to
do dairy work and released after serving five
months of his sentence.
“We were cursed, beaten, kicked, and compelled to go through exercises to
the extent that a few were unconscious for some minutes. They kept it
up for the greater part of the afternoon, and then those who could
possibly stand on their feet were compelled to take cold shower baths.
One of the boys was scrubbed with a scrubbing brush using lye on him.
They drew blood in several places.”
- Mennonite from Camp Lee, Virginia, United States
16 July 1918
• Conscientious Objectors vs. Absolute
Conscientious Objectors
– Imprisoned in military facilities such as Fort
Lewis (Washington), Alcatraz Island
(California) and Fort Leavenworth (Kansas).
– The government failed to take into account
that some conscientious objectors viewed any
cooperation with the military as contributing to
the war effort.
– The mistreatment received by these absolute
COs included short rations, solitary
confinement and physical abuse so severe as
to cause the deaths of two Hutterite draftees
Raising an Army to Prepare for
War
• Congress passes the Selective Service
Act
• Also known as the Draft
• Drafted all men between the ages of 21 and 30
• Used Propaganda
• What is propaganda?
» Propaganda is a kind of biased communication
designed to influence people’s thoughts and actions
• What are some examples of propaganda?
Wartime Industry
• Industries changed from making consumer
goods to making military weapons and supplies
• Congress created the War Industries Board to
oversee the production and distribution of goods
manufactured by the nation’s wartime industries
• Government issued military contracts to
industries
• WIB helped to boost industrial production by
20%
• Other federal agencies regulated the economy
– The Fuel Administration watched over the use of coal,
gasoline and heating oil
– The Food Administration was established to help
produce and conserve food supplies
» Encouraged “Victory” gardens, “Meatless” Mondays,
“Wheatless” Wednesdays
» Americans were able to send more food to the Allies
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
• The War Economy: How did the
government raise money to pay for the
war?
– Congress raised taxes and authorized the
sale of war bonds
• Bonds became known as Liberty Bonds
– Raised more than $20 million dollars
Workers and Wages During the
War
• Wilson created the National War Labor
Board to settle labor disputes- NWLB
• NWLB supported
– Collective bargaining
– Outlined minimum wages and maximum
hours
– Equal pay for women
• Unions went on strike for better wages and
working conditions
– Owners had to give in to their demands
because they were faced with having to meet
the military quota
• What is a quota?
» Wages increased
» Set an 8 hour workday
• Laborers were in short supply
– Why?
– Turned to non-traditional workers
» African Americans
» Women
Gaining Support and Promoting the
War
• What is isolationism?
• How do you gain the support of the people?
– The U.S. Government created the Committee on
Public Information
• Nation’s First Propaganda Agency
• Artists, Advertisers, Posters, Cartoons, Parades, 4 Minute
Men gave speeches anywhere, anytime to promote the war