1. World War I “The Great War”
U.S. History & Government

2. Causes of WWI Nationalism – Strong pride/belief in your country
Imperialism – Quest for colonial empires
Militarism – Glorification of military strength
Arms race
Alliances – Promise to aid each other
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria
Triple Entente/Allied Powers: France, Russia, Great Britain

3. The Beginnings in Europe
Balkan feuds
June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke assassinated
Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary
Alliances bring war

4. The European War Stalemate on the Western Front
Trenches
Networks of supply & command trenches
Machine Gun
Poison Gas
(Tanks & Airplanes)
North Atlantic Deadlock
Submarines
Mines
Surrender on the Eastern Front
Russia nearly “unarmed”
Revolution = Russian surrender
Germans sense victory
Trench Warfare

5. Why did the US Enter WWI? Document A
Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1
Discuss with your table partner & record your answer:
1. Did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.

6. US Neutrality in WWI? Not our war But tied to Europe anyway…
Problems with neutrality
Trade
Freedom of the Seas
Lusitania, 1915
Arabic & Sussex Pledges
US Prepares…for war or peace?
Army & Naval buildup
Negotiations…

7. Document B Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #2
Discuss with your table partner & record your answers. Be sure to provide evidence to support your answers:
2. By 1917, did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not?
3. What did Wilson accuse Germany of doing?
4. Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? Explain.
5. Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?

8. The US Goes to War US Declaration of War… Turning the Tide
Make the world safe for democracy
For the rights & liberties of small nations
A war to end all wars
Strengthen GB’s navy (a la Monroe Doctrine )
Turning the Tide
AEF arrives summer 1917
(American Expeditionary Force)
“Over There”

9. Pulling the US into War Why else did the US go to war?
Zimmerman Note
Return to Unrestricted Submarine warfare
GB broke
Chaos in Russia
Discuss with your table partner:
6. What do you think are the TWO biggest reasons why the US entered the war?
7. Based on the reasons in Wilson’s 1917 speech and those given above, do you think the US had good reasons for entering the war? Explain.

10. A Little Bit about Historian Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn was a historian and activist who was best known for his 1980 book, A People’s History of the United States. His book tells American history from the perspective of minorities, women and poor people. He was very critical of the United States government.

11. Document C Read the excerpt from Howard Zinn
Discuss with your table partner
8. Why did Zinn claim that Wilson made a “flimsy
argument?”
9. What did Zinn suggest were the real reasons
the US entered the war?
10. What evidence did Zinn provide to support
his claims that the US was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks of US ships)?
11. Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

12. The Home Front… Wilson’s Preparedness Program Men Money Machines Minds
“Mobilization of men, money, machines & minds”
Men
Selective Service Act, 1917
Money
Liberty Bonds & Victory Loans
Machines
Ships, Guns, Jeeps…
Minds
Opposition to the war
Committee on Public Information
Woodrow Wilson

13. Over There
In 1917, George M. Cohen, wrote the song, Over There. The 1942 movie Yankee Doodle Dandy used the song to help tell its story.
12. How is the song useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWI? Explain.
13. How is this movie clip useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWII? Explain.
14. Which is more useful, the song for WWI or the video clip for WWII? Explain

14. Fighting the War at Home
Conversion to Full Wartime Economy
War Industries Board
Council of Defense
Food Administration
Fuel Administration
The Labor Force
National War Labor Board
Attack on Civil Liberties
Espionage Act, 1917
Trading with the Enemies Act, 1917
Sedition Act, 1918
WWI US Propaganda Poster

15. Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points
Wilson’s Plan for World Peace
9 Points – Self Determination
The right of people to govern themselves
Settles territorial disputes
4 Points – Causes of War
No more secret diplomacy
No more arms race
No more violation of freedom of the seas
No more trade barriers
1 Point – League of Nations
Set up an international body designed to prevent offensive wars

16. Death and Destruction: Before WWI

17. Death and Destruction After

18. Before

19. After

20. Before

21. After

23. WWI Casualties

24. The Surrender German generals decide to surrender
Can’t win with US entry into the war
Hope the treaty will be based on the 14 Points
Kaiser abdicates
The cease fire goes into place at 11 AM on 11/11/1918 (Armistice Day)
Peace Conference set for January 1919 in Paris

25. Paris Peace Conference
Wilson leads US delegation
Wants to “end all wars”
Big Three (from L to R)
David Lloyd George – Great Britain
Couldn’t be trusted
Georges Clemenceau – France
Wanted revenge
Vittorio Orlando – Italy
Demanded new ports
+ Woodrow Wilson – U.S.
Other nations were there too
Six months of debate until decision reached
The “Big Four”

26. Treaty of Versailles “Harsh and Humiliating” Terms
Europeans wanted as much as possible from the treaty
Treaty provisions
Each victor received land as promised in secret treaties
Germany disarmed & colonies parceled out
Meant to weaken communist Russia
New Countries formed
Rejected claims for independence outside of Europe
Germany forced to admit full responsibility for the War
Germany charged billions of dollars in reparations
League of Nations established…

27. League of Nations League covenant embedded in the Treaty Purpose
Article X
Purpose
To resolve disputes peacefully
To “respect and preserve” all other member nations
Established a waiting/cooling off period
Economic pressure to be used
Use of force only if necessary

28. 1914: Before the Great War Great Empires: Russia Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

29. After the Great War: by 1924 New Countries: Finland Estonia Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Czechoslovakia
Yugoslavia
Syria
Trans-Jordan
Iraq

30. Fight Over the Treaty Wilson triumphantly returns to US
Problem: Senate has to approve treaty
US fearful of treaty “alliances”
The U.S. would be forced to go to war in defense of any League member
No compromise: Wilson vs. Congress
League – set up in Geneva, Switzerland without the U.S.

31. Reflection Questions
15. What do you think was the biggest reason why Europe erupted into war?
16. What provisions would you have put in the treaty of Versailles? What would you have excluded?
17. What are two things that were new, interesting, or you know that you will (or should) remember a month from now?