1914-1918
“The War to End All Wars”
Main Causes of World War I
Militarism -
The building up of armed forces
and military. Making preparations for war.
Alliances - Agreements or promises made with
other countries in order to defend and help each other
in case of an attack.
Imperialism - The policy of a country to extend their
authority over other countries using economic, political,
and military means.
Nationalism - Having pride in your own country or
ethnic origin, and willing to defend it to the death.
The United States and WWI
•Up until 1917, the U.S. remained neutral in the war.
•Woodrow Wilson was the President of the U.S. during WWI.
•Wilson was re-elected and would serve until 1920.
The U.S. Enters World War I!
5 Reasons why the U.S. entered WWI?
1. Neutrality Rights Violations - President Wilson warned
Germany to respect our neutrality rights on the open seas,
but they continued to attack and sink our ships.
• Sussex Pledge (1916)- After a German U-Boat sank a French
passenger ship, the Sussex, in the English Channel injuring
several Americans, Wilson threatened to break Neutrality.
• Germany pledged not to attack merchant vessels without
warning, but they would not honor this pledge.
2. Sinking of the Lusitania - A British passenger ship
was sunk by a German U-Boat killing 1,200 people,
including 128 Americans.
3. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 - Czar Nicholas II of
Russia is overthrown by the Bolshevik (Communist) Party led
by Vladimir Lenin. Lenin will soon make peace with Germany
and pull out of the war.
4. Allies Plea - for help from the U.S., because Britain and
France need assistance.
5. Zimmerman Telegram - A secret telegram sent by the
German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico in
1917 urging Mexico to attack the U.S. if they got involved
in WWI. The telegram was intercepted by the British and
given to President Woodrow Wilson.
The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917!
President Wilson issues a Conscription (draft) for all men
ages 21-30. He later changes it to 18-45.
John “Black Jack” Pershing is chosen as commander of
the American infantry nicknamed the “doughboys.”
In June, 1917, about 200,000 doughboys are sent to France,
but they were not ready for combat.
Effects of U.S. Involvement
in the War
• America’s military resources of SOLDIERS and
WAR MATERIALS tipped the balance of the war
and led to GERMANY’S defeat in 1918
Argonne Forest
Soissons
Meuse-Argonne
Chateau-Thierry
St.-Mihiel
1917 – Selective Service
Act
Authorized a draft of young men
into military service
By end of 1918 – 24,000,000
men registered for the draft.
4,800,000 men served in WW1
(2,000,000 saw active combat).
African-Americans - 400,000
served in segregated units.
Managing the Economy
War Industries Board –
In charge of the many government
administrations that regulated different
parts of the economy
Controlled prices, production, and
materials
Food Administration –
Herbert Hoover
Regulated food consumption, agricultural
output, reduce waste
Fuel Administration –
Gasless days, daylight savings time
Managing the Economy
(cont’d)
National War Labor Board –
Mediated labor disputes to
prevent work stoppages
War Trade Board –
Licensed foreign trade and
punished those suspected of
trading w/ the enemy
Financing the War
Increased Taxes
Liberty Bonds –
Bonds purchased could be
redeemed later for the money paid
plus interest
Related to Propaganda effort
Opportunities for African
Americans during WWI
“Great
Migration.”
1916 – 1919 
70,000
War industries work
Enlistment in
segregated
units
·
Labor
The War Industries Board told factories
what to produce and the War Labor Board
settled labor disputes
From the biography of a 'Munitionette', Miss Joan Williams
'Women working
in larger munitions
factories were
known as Canaries
because they dealt
with TNT which
caused their skin to
turn yellow.
Around 400
women died from
overexposure to
TNT during World
War One. Other
hazards were more
obvious and minor
problems were
common.'
The Role of Women in WWI
Women in the military
– Army Nursing Corps 10,000 overseas
– Navy clerical duties, radio operators
Organize Notebook/Binder
3 sections
• 1. Table of Contents – First 2 page
• 2. Journal – Next 15 pages
• 3. Notes/Assignments – Rest of
notebook
Table of Contents
#
Assignment
Date
Page
1. Journal
2. US Entry into WW1 Notes 1/7 1
3. US Homefront Notes
1/9 2
For journals my expectations:
• Write out the question/prompt
• Minimum 2 sentence response!
Journal 1/10
• Should the government have more
power in times of war?
Treatment of foreigners
• How would you treat a German immigrant
during WWI? Why?
• After 9/11, how was any Middle Eastern
US citizen treated? Why?
Civil Liberties
• Civil liberties are basic rights given to all
citizens by the Constitution (speech, due
process, etc).
• During WWI Americans suppressed German
culture
–
–
–
–
–
German newspapers closed
Public schools stopped teaching German
Musicians no longer played Bach and Beethoven
Sauerkraut was renamed “liberty cabbage”
Vigilante groups attacked anyone suspected of
supporting Germany
AntiGerman
Cartoon
AntiGerman
Cartoon
Wilson and Repression of GermanAmerican Civil Liberties
“There are millions of
men and women of
German birth and
native sympathy who
live amongst us. If
there should be
disloyalty, it will be
dealt with a firm hand
of repression."
Government Excess & Threats
to the Civil Liberties of
Americans
1. Espionage Act – 1917
–
Forbade actions that obstructed
recruitment or efforts to promote
insubordination in the military.
–
Ordered the Postmaster General to
remove Leftist materials from the mail.
–
Fines of up to $10,000 and/or
up to 20 years in prison.
Government Excess & Threats
to the Civil Liberties of
Americans
2. Sedition Act – 1918
- it was a crime to speak against the
purchase of war bonds or willfully
utter, print, write or publish any
disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or
abusive language about this form of US
Govt., the US Constitution, or the US
armed forces or to willfully urge, incite,
or advocate any curtailment of
production of things necessary or
essential to the prosecution of the
war…with intent of such curtailment to
cripple or hinder, the US in the
prosecution of the war.
Homefront Documents
• Read Document 5 –
• Write out and answer the question
• Read Document 7 –
• Write out and answer the questions
Committee of Public
Information (George Creel)
Purposes –
Unite public behind war effort
Attract men to enlist in army
Influence citizens to actively
support war effort (buy bonds,
conserve, etc) and put pressure on
others to refrain from anything
considered anti-war
WWI Propaganda
Propaganda
• Advertising attempts to sell products
• Propaganda attempts to sell ideas
Who created WWI propaganda?
• President Wilson created the
Committee on Public Information
to mobilize public support for the
war
• The CPI was headed by
muckraking journalist George
Creel
• The CPI launched a massive
poster campaign
• They also urged filmmakers to
make movies that played up
German war crimes
Propaganda posters
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enlistment and recruitment
financing the war
the role of women
Food Administration
Fuel Administration
War Industries Board
Committee on Public Information
aiding our allies
Wilson’s 14 Points
A plan drawn up by W.Wilson that included 14 specific strategies for
ending the war and making peace.
• Was very lenient on conquered countries.
• Wanted to establish a League of Nations to oversee and
enforce the terms of surrender.
1. It would be an international organization with the purpose of preserving
peace throughout the world.
2. Every nation would have an equal vote.
3. Every nation in the world would be a member, and each nation would
have an equal vote.
4. Any controversy within the League would be turned over to the Central
Council: France, Britain, Italy, Japan, the U.S., and five small nations.
Treaty of Versailles
• Wilson would negotiate the treaty in Paris without much input from the
new majority Republican Congress.
• France and Britain would not approve most of Wilson’s 14 Points. They
felt that they were too lenient.
• The League of Nations was approved to enforce the terms of the
surrender.
• It was signed in Paris, France on June 28, 1919 officially ending WWI.
• The U.S. Congress did not approve of the treaty or the League of
Nations, so they refused to sign it. Why? Because they felt that it did not
benefit the U.S.
1. A group of thirty-nine Republican senators led by Henry Cabot Lodge
opposed the League of Nations, citing several flaws in its structure.
- Reservationists (Lodge) - willing to pass the treaty if changes are made.
- Irreconcilables - no treaty, no way!
2. The Senators believed that the U.S. should remain “isolationist” after the war.
3. In March of 1920, the Senate defeated the vote for approval of the Treaty
of Versailles and the League of Nations.
Reasons Why?
- Upset with Wilson for not including them in making the treaty.
- Fear of involvement on war without Congressional declaration of war.
- Fear of foreign control of military decision-making.
- Questioned using “War to prevent War.”
- The refusal of Wilson to compromise on Article X (ten) - it made
members promise to protect each other’s territorial integrity against
aggressors. Congressmen did not want to be pulled into foreign conflicts.
Results of the Treaty of Versailles
A. Kaiser Wilhelm II (German leader) was forced to give up his throne and
he fled to Holland for the next 23 years.
B. Germany had to pay back $30 Billion in war reparations.
C. Germany had to break up all Alliances with other countries.
D. Germany had to admit to a “Guilt Clause.”
E. Created a League of Nations.
F. Italy gained very little, refused to sign a treaty.
G. Germany establishes a Republican form of government.
Map Changes In Europe
9 New Nations Created:
Nations formed out of Russian Lands
1. Finland
2. Estonia 3. Latvia 4. Lithuania 5. Poland
Nations formed from Austria-Hungary
1. Czechoslovakia 2. Yugoslavia 3. Austria-Hungary split
From Germany
1. Lost all conquered territories
2. Gave Alsace-Lorraine back to France.
* The United States gained nothing!
Alsace and Lorraine
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War Deaths by Country