1. What was the impact on the home front?
World War I
What caused it?
How was it fought?
What were the results?
What was the impact on the home front?

2. I. European Origins
Hopes for a world order of peace and progress by 1914
Competitive Nationalism
Entangling Alliances
A Growing Arms Race
General Mobilization Theory
--The German “Schlieffen Plan”

3. I. European Origins (cont.)
A series of International Crises ( )
Pan-Slavic nationalism and the Assassination in Sarajevo
Europe tumbles into war

4. II. American Response to the Outbreak of WWI
Traditional policy of isolationism
Most Americans did not believe this was our fight
Split loyalties among the American people
Factors pushing US toward involvement

5. III. Possible Explanations for US Involvement in WWI
“Tricky” British propaganda sucked us into the war
Desire to protect American investments in Britain and France
US economy tied in a significant way to the economies of Britain and France
The significance of International Law and American neutrality rights
American desire to shape the future peace of Europe

6. IV. The Issue of International Law and American Neutrality Rights
What is international law?
Wilson’s advocacy of international law
Both British and Germans violated US neutrality rights
Difference between British and German violations
Inherent violations of International law with German submarines

7. V. Steps Toward US Entrance into World War I
Falaba torpedoed (March, 1915)
Conflict between Wilson and William Jennings Bryan
Lusitania sunk (May, 1915)
Wilson’s response

8. V. Steps Toward US Entrance into WWI (cont.)
British ship Arabic sunk (August, 1915)
German “Arabic Pledge”
No response to US offer to negotiate a peace
French ship Sussex torpedoed (March, 1916)
Wilson’s “Sussex Pledge”
Growing US preparedness movement
Wilson wins the presidential election of 1916
-- “He kept us out of the war”

9. VI. A Desire to Shape the Peace
Wilson calls for “peace without victory”
The horror of WWI made a negotiated peace an impossibility
In order to “make the world safe for democracy”, Wilson wanted to be included in the peace talks after the war

10. VII. American Entry into the War
Germans pursue unlimited submarine warfare (February, 1917)
Zimmerman telegram (February 25, 1917)
Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war (April 2, 1917)

11. VIII. A Fundamentally Different War
Early fighting
The development of trench warfare
Deadly frontal assaults
-- “Going over the top”
-- “The Race with death”
-- “No Man’s Land”
--cavalry officers killed first
--the role of the machine gun

12. VIII. A Fundamentally Different War (cont.)
Daily Life of the WWI soldier
“Industrial Death”
Use of poison gas
--Chlorine, phosgene and mustard gases
Battles of attrition
The changing atmosphere of war

13. IX. The Role of American Troops in WWI
By 1917, the Allied cause was desperate
US contribution to Allied naval strategy
Few expected US soldiers to make much difference in the war
American troops prevented an Allied defeat
AEF kept separate from European troops
Fight in Russia after the war

14. X. The Treaty of Versailles
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Wilson decided to go to Paris himself
Wilson’s mixed reception in Europe
Wilson alienated Republicans back home
Specific terms of the Versailles Treaty
--League of Nations
--War Guilt Clause

15. X. Treaty of Versailles (cont.)
Republican opposition to the Treaty
-- “irreconciliables”
-- “reservationists”
Other opposition to the Treaty
Wilson’s speaking tour to defend the Treaty
Failure to ratify the Treaty
Failure to join the League of Nations

16. XI. The Impact of the War at Home

17. A. Economic Mobilization
Food as a weapon of war
60% of costs funded through liberty bonds
Stock prices and GNP rose dramatically
Partnership between business and government
US Railroad Administration
National War Labor Board
Food and Fuel administrations
War Industries Board

18. B. Emotional Mobilization
Perceived “need” for emotional mobilization
Creation of the Committee on Public Information (CPI)
--George Creel
Dual goals: inspire patriotism and hate for the enemy
Evolution of a culture of hatred

19. B. Emotional Mobilization
The Espionage Act (1917)
The Sedition Act (1917)
--U.S. v. “The Spirit of 1776”
--Schenck v. U.S.
Why these acts if there was little opposition to the war?
Hard to turn off the hate when the war ended

20. C. Impact of the War on American Culture
Fashions and novelties coming out the War
--Chanel #5
--wrist watches
--cigarettes
New Slang Phrases
-- “Germs”
-- “Dud”
-- “Rats”
-- “Gas Attack”

21. XII. The Immediate Aftermath of the War
International Flu Epidemic ( )
Unusually high death toll among young adults
Economic transition from war to peace
General labor unrest
Racial Friction