WOODROW WILSON
AND WWI
1914-1918
President Woodrow Wilson, 19081913-1921
Foreign Affairs, 1901-1917
Latin America
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Venezuela
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Mexico
Panama
Colombia
Cuba
Haiti
Nicaragua
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The U.S. became more and more involved in foreign
affairs. All three Progressive presidents faced
challenges abroad.
T. Roosevelt believed in there was difference
between “civilized” nations and “uncivilized”
nations. Many people agreed with this philosophy
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace prize for his work in
ending the war between Japan and Russia in 1906
The Great White Fleet and “Open Door Policy”
Panama Canal
By 1914, the was U.S. taking a more
active role in foreign affairs:
1. Spanish American War
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines
2. Philippines –atrocities committed on both sides
3. Intervened in revolution in Panama
4. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson sent American
forces to Mexico to take the port of Vera
Cruz and chase Pancho Villa into Mexico
Woodrow Wilson, Pancho Villa
The Mexican Revolution
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The Mexican Revolution left the country in chaos and
W. Wilson sent troops to take control of the Port of
Veracruz during the conflict
Pancho Villa killed 16 Americans and then crossed
the U.S. border and killed 17 more. Wilson sent
General John J. Pershing to capture Poncho Villa.
Wilson sent General Pershing to
Capture Pancho Villa
http://www.history.com/videos/the-mostpancho-villa
Trouble in Europe: 4 Primary Factors that
Led to WWI in Europe in 1914
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1. The Rise of Nationalism
2. The Growth of Imperialism
3. The formation of (sometimes) secret alliances
4. Increased Militarism
Germany and Great Britain
SPARK the started WWI: Assassination of Francis
Ferdinand, heir to Austro-Hungarian throne by Serb
Nationalist
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife
just minutes before being shot in Bosnia
http://www.history.com/videos/causes-ofworld-war-i
Europe at War, 1914-1918
Allies
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British Empire
France
Russia *** (until 1917)
Central Powers
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U. S., 1917
Germany
Austro-Hungarian
Empire
Turkey (Ottoman
Empire)
Map of Participants WWI
President Woodrow Wilson
1916:“He Kept us Out of War”
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Neutrality
US divided in support for
Britain and Germany
Isolationists wanted to stay
out of war
Interventionists wanted to join
the war
Trade with Europe (Britain
and France) during WWI led
to one of the greatest
economic booms in the
nation’s history
WWI and Submarine Warfare
Shipping routes
http://www.history.com/videos/u-boats-sinkthe-lusitania-in-1915
Election of 1916: Wilson Wins
“He Kept Us Out of War”
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Wilson ran again for president and knew that
many Americans wanted to stay out of the war,
called pacifists or isolationists.
Theodore Roosevelt and many others felt the U.S.
should go to war=interventionists.
Wilson tried to remain neutral—not taking sides
in the war
There was a heated debate over preparedness,
and Wilson finally agreed to expand the armed
forces.
Wilson’s Explanation for war:
“WAR FOR DEMOCRACY”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Wilson knew he needed a REASON for going to
war—he had to convince the American people
that war was necessary.
War as a moral issue—to avoid future conflicts—
”the war to end all wars”
U.S. would take the role of international leader
help create a new world order
Wilson wanted “peace without victory” where all
nations were treated fairly
Wilson wanted to form a “League of Nations”
The Zimmerman Telegram
Arthur Zimmerman, German foreign
minister
The Telegram to Mexico
1917---PIVOTAL YEAR IN U.S. AND
WORLD HISTORY
1. US joined the war in Europe
•2. Russian Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) impacted
global alignments for rest of the 20th century
The Russian Revolution, 1917
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Also known as the BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION or
RED REVOLUTION
V.I. Lenin took power in Russia withdrew from WWI
The Russian Revolution completely transformed
the global military and political world for the rest
of the 20th century—from 1917---to 1989—to the
present day.
Led to the rise of Communism, WWII, Korean War,
Vietnam War, Nuclear Arms race, the Cold War,
fall of the Berlin Wall, and break up of Soviet
Union
Reasons why the U.S. Joined the War in
1917
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1. U.S. was becoming more active in international affairs
2. Americans identified with Britain and France and
TRADED with them =$$$$
3. Wilson believed the U.S. should take the lead to
create new world order, a lasting peace
4. The Zimmerman telegram to Mexico was a direct
threat to the US
5. Germany resumed use of submarines to attack U.S.
ships
6. It looked as if the Allies would lose the war against
Germany if the U.S. did not step in
U.S. declared war in April, 1917
The U.S. at War…..the Battle for the Seas
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U.S. Navy helped turn the war around
Convoys of ships escorted supplies and troops
Mines were used against German U Boats
U.S. destroyers attacked German U-Boats (submarines)
NO AMERICAN TROOP SHIP WAS LOST DURING WWI
African American Soldiers in WWI
General John J. Pershing
New Technology of Warfare
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1. Trench warfare
2. Chemical weapons, mustard gas
3. Submarines
4. ***Modern navy and battleships
5. First war to use airplanes
6. Machine guns
7. Mobile weapons=tanks, trucks
8. Flame throwers
9. Wireless telegraphy
American Cemetery in the Argonne
Forest, France
2005 Scientists recover flu virus from victims
in a mass grave in Alaska….
1918 Armistice Ended Hostilities,
Germany Had Been Defeated
11th hour, 11th day, 11th month
 9-10 million killed in war, 20 million died of
flu
 U.S. lost 112,000 in the war (half died of flu)
 U.S. lost 675,000 to the flu epidemic
 WWI led to profound changes in Europe, the
nature of warfare, the rise of communism
(Russian Revolution) and the international
position of the U.S.
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WWI Transforms American Society
8 Ways WWI Transformed American
Society (T)
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1. Selective Service Act (Draft)
2. American Expeditionary Force—men serving abroad
3. The federal government and the business community worked closely to
coordinate and control the wartime economy.
*WWI led to economic boom in the U.S.
*War Industries Board and Bernard Baruch
*Rationing and price setting
* Manufacturing and shipping war supplies
*Funding the war—taxes, Liberty Bonds, national debt $2 billion to 20
4. Labor/ workers made some gains
* Wages, equal pay for women, 8 hour day, unions had right
to bargain
Bernard Baruch, Chairman of WIB
WWI Transforms the nation….
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5. Women, African Americans, Hispanics and
Asians went to work in jobs they had never held
before.
6. American farmers and agriculture—economic
boom as farm prices were higher than had been
in ten years
Women at work in tannery, WWI
WWI Transforms the Nation….
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7. “Great Migration” from the South to the North
8. Society is divided
THE PEACE MOVEMENT
LAWS TO SUPRESS DISSENT
Espionage Act
Sabotage and Sedition Acts
Anti-German sentiment
The Great Migration
Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles
The Fight for the League of Nations
Paris Peace Conference
Treaty of Versailles
Debate Over the Treaty and League of Nations
Paris Peace Conference
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1. Woodrow Wilson
2. David Lloyd George, Great Britain (England)
3. Georges Clemenceau, France
4. Vittorio Orlando, Italy
***Wilson arrived in Paris to an overwhelming
welcome—was treated like a hero. This changed
very quickly.
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points
for Peace
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The Fourteen Points—Wilson’s plan for a new
world order to insure peace in the future
Several points addressed boundaries for European
countries and right to national self determination
Other points addressed how to settle international
disputes in the future
FINALLY—There was a proposal for a League of
Nations – an international peacekeeping
organization, which all countries should belong
to.
Wilson’s 14 Points in a nutshell…
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1. No more secret treaties
2. Countries should reduce their stockpiles of armies
and reduce the size of their armies
3. National self determination should allow people
of the same nationality to govern themselves and
one nationality should not have the power to govern
another.
4. All countries should belong to the League of
Nations
Palace of Versailles where treaty was
signed….officially ending WWI
Signing the Treaty of Versailles
Fight for the League of Nations
The League of Nations
After WWI: America in Turmoil
U.S. in turmoil after the war….
Postwar economic depression
 Strikes and labor unrest
 Racial unrest
 Anarchist bombs, Palmer Raids
 The Red Scare: Fear of Communism
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Steel Strike of 1919
Marcus Garvey
W.E.B. Dubois
Anarchists march in NY City
Anarchists bomb Wall Street, 1920
Sacco and Vanzenette
THE BIG PICTURE:
WWI and Woodrow Wilson
U.S. as World
Leader
Social
changes
Economic
changes
After WWI, the U.S. was
poised to become the
most important political
and economic force in the
world.
 The US retreated into
isolationism again
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