1. Click Here to get started
World War I
Click Here to get started

2. Causes of World War I
Militarism – European countries tried to build large armies and navies to protect their colonies’ European countries tried to use their armies to solve problems between them and other countries instead of talking about the problems. Germany had the biggest and most powerful army.
Alliance System –
Triple Entente (Allies) – Britain, France, Russia
Triple Alliance (Central Powers) – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire
The Russians wanted to protect the Slavic people living in the Balkans – Serbs, Croats, Slavs

3. Causes of World War I
Nationalism – pride in your country; People who lived in the Balkans – Serbs, Croats, Slavs—were ruled by Austria-Hungary, and they wanted to be free
Imperialism – European countries competed for land in Africa an Asia
Assassinated – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

4. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austrian king was assassinated by a Serbian man who wanted Serbia to be independent
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary

5. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Because of the alliance system, the countries in the Triple Entente (Allied Powers) went to war with the countries of the Triple Alliance (Central Powers)
By September 1914 most of Europe is at war
German, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire against Britain, France, and Russia

6. Terms to Know
Neutralilty – not taking sides on an issue, staying out of it
Socialists – people who believe the government should own and control major industries in a country
Pacifists -- people who do not believe in war

7. American Neutrality Many Americans said the U.S. should not go to war
Socialists and Pacifists said the U.S. should not be involved in European wars
Many Americans had families living in Germany. Other Americans had family in Britain

8. American Neutrality
The U.S. and Britain had a lot of trade with each other.
U.S. President Wilson said the U.S. would be neutral

9. Other Terms to Know
Blockade – When one country (Germany)puts its ships around another country’s(Britain) ports, so that country (Britain) cannot get ships with food, weapons, and other supplies
Kaiser Wilhelm – king of Germany during World War I

10. Neutrality and Blockades
Both Germany and Britain were trying to use blockades on each other
Germany had submarines.
The Germans used the submarines on American ships going to Britain
U.S. President Wilson wanted American ships and Americans on British ships to be safe from German submarines

11. Other Problems at Sea
The British ship Arabic was sunk by Germany in March 1915
2 Americans died
President Wilson asked the Kaiser to promise not to sink any more passenger ships
Germany agreed

12. Other Problems at Sea
March 1916French ship Sussex was sunk by German submarines
Some Americans were killed
President Wilson told the Kaiser the U.S. would have no more relations with Germany if Germany didn’t stop sinking passenger ships

13. Other Problems at Sea
British ship Lusitania sunk by Germans on May 1915
128 Americans on the Lusitania died
President Wilson told the German Kaiser (leader) the U.S. would go to war with Germany if Germany sank U.S. ships

14. American Politics
During the war, politicians disagreed over the U.S. and the war.
Former President Teddy Roosevelt said the U.S. should enter the war
Other politicians and leaders said the U.S. should not enter the war

15. American Politics Election of 1916
Wilson’s campaign said “He kept us out of war.” Wilson did not want to go to war
The election was close, but Wilson won

16. Even More Terms Unrestricted – no rules; no limits
Overthrown – removed from being a leader

17. Closer to War
1917 Germany started unrestricted submarine warfare; Germany was sinking ships
Germany knew this would bring the U.S. into the war, but Germany thought Germany could win the war before the U.S. entered.

18. Closer to War Zimmerman letter
March 1917 German Foreign Minister sent a letter to Mexico.
The letter asked Mexico to help Germany in the war. If Mexico helped Germany, then Mexico would get Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, the lands Mexico lost to the U.S. during the Mexican American War.
The U.S. got the letter. Americans were very angry.

19. Closer to War
Russia
The czar (king) of Russia is overthrown in a rebellion.
Russia got out of the war, so Germany did not have to send soldiers east to fight Russia. Now Germany and the Central Powers sent all of their soldiers west to fight against England and France.
President Wilson said now the US would be fighting for democracy and against kings of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

20. WAR! (The US enters World War I)
April 17, 1917 the US declared war on Germany
President Wilson said “the world must be safe for democracy.”

21. The US enters …. Why? The sinking of US merchant ships by Germany
The Zimmerman note (Germany asked Mexico to invade the US)

22. The US enters …. Why? Economics
The US was selling a lot of supplies to Great Britain and France
Loans!
The Great Britain and France had borrowed a lot of money from US banks
If the Allies (Great Britain and France) lost the war, US banks would not get their money back.

23. Preparing for War
The US sent a lot of supplies while American troops trained.
The US government raised money to pay for the war. The government increased taxes and borrowed money.

24. Preparing for War The Army
When the war started, the US army had 200,000 men. Many more men were needed to fight.
Many men volunteered, but it wasn’t enough.
Draft
The Selective Service Act (law) required healthy young men to sign up for the draft
The men were chosen by lottery (lotería, loterie)
2.8 million men are chosen

25. Preparing for War
400,000 Black Americans served in the army. Most did not fight, but worked other jobs.

26. Role of Regular Americans
The government created the War Industry Board to help factories focus on making war supplies
The War Industry Board had a good relationship with Unions because it needed everyone working.
Workers wages increased

27. Role of Regular Americans
Women began working in factories
Immigrants came from Mexico to work in factories and on farms
The Great Migration
Blacks moved North to take jobs in factories.
This was called the Great Migration

28. Role of Regular Americans
Conservation
People tried to conserve food – Meatless Mondays, Wheatless Wednesdays
Save coal

29. American Contributions
Built ships to replace the ships sunk by the German U-boats
Energy & excitement – The British and French troops were tired after 3/12 years of terrible war. American troops are ready to fight.
American troops are led by General John J. Pershing

30. Summer/Fall 1918 Battles at Chateau-Thiery & Belleau Wood
Late summer/early fall
Pushing German forces back to the border of Germany
November 3 Austria-Hungary surrenders
November 9th Kaiser abdicates the throne (gives up his power/stops being the ruler)
November 11 – Armistice signed (Armistice – cease fire

31. Making Peace: The Treaty of Versailles
Wilson developed his Fourteen Points for Peace
No secret treaties
Freedom of the seas (no sub warfare)
Arms reduction (Countries should not build ships for war/create new weapons)
Self-determination – ethnic and national groups should have their own countries and build their own governments

32. Making Peace: The Treaty of Versailles
Fourteenth point called to establish a League of Nations
The League of Nations would have representatives from each country and would try to solve international problems and keep peace

33. Making Peace: The Treaty of Versailles
Big Four meet at Versailles to write the peace treaty
Clemenceau from France
Lloyd-George from Great Britain
Orlando from Italy
Wilson from the US

34. Meeting (Writing the Peace treaty)
Problems with the meeting
Russia was not included
Germany and Austria-Hungary were not included
The Big Four made all the decisions
Great Britain and France want Germany to pay for the war.
The Big Four did not adopt the Fourteen Points except the League of Nations

35. The Treaty
Signed June 1919
New Nations were created: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania
The Ottoman Empire was gone and the land divided up
Great Britain and France controlled the land of the old Ottoman Empire
Example: Palestine was created and controlled by Great Britain

36. The Treaty
Germany
Germany could not have an army
Germany had to return the land of Alsace Lorrain to France
Germany had to pay $33 billion to France and Great Britain
War-guilt clause – The treaty said the war was Germany’s fault

37. Problems with the Treaty of Versailles
War-guilt clause – Germany was angry that they were blamed and punished for the war
Germany lost colonies and other land. German people were angry and resentful about this.
Germany could not pay the $33 billion in reparations
Russia (SU) lost territory.

38. The End