SSUSH15 - Students will analyze the origins and impact of U.S. involvement in World War I. Describe the movement from U.S. neutrality to engagement in World War I, with reference to unrestricted submarine warfare. Explain the domestic impact of World War I, as reflected by the origins of the Great Migration, the Espionage Act, and socialist Eugene Debs. Explain Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the proposed League of Nations.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What were the events that led to WWI? What geographical reasons allowed the U.S. to be neutral during WWI? What were the circumstances that drew the U.S. into WWI? What were the social affects of WWI on America? How did the outcome of WWI become the underlying catalyst to WWII?

Causes of WWI Philosophical Imperialism – European powers claimed the un-colonized world such as Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Japan acquired Korea, Taiwan, and some of China’s territory. Militarism – There was a great military build up to support imperialist country’s ability to acquire other nations. Nationalism - Countries acted to protect their own interests. Countries with diverse ethnic populations often fought to maintain their ethnicity and own republic. Alliances - alliances bound countries to each other therefore having to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack.

EVENTS THAT LED TO WWI Alliances Began to Group Russia was Serbia’s protectorate. It began mobilizing for war. (“CRIPS”) Germany, Austria-Hungary’s chief ally, demanded that Russia stop mobilizing. (“BLOODS”) France, Russia’s ally began mobilizing for war. (“CRIPS”) Germany declared war on Russia. (“BLOODS”)

Alliances Began to Group Germany declared war on Russia. (“BLOODS”) Germany had been planning for this war all along. Germany struck first on France. Germany went through the neutral country of Belgium and caused Great Britain to come into the war. map.htm map.htm

The sides were divided. Germany & Austria-Hungary composed the “Central Powers.” Russia, France, Serbia, and Great Britain were called the “Allies.” The Ottoman empire “Turkey” entered the war on the side of the Central Powers. Italy joined the Allies. Bulgaria joined the Central Powers Romania joined the Allies High human casualties resulted. Americans had mixed sentiments about the war because many immigrants were tied to all of the European nations (majority being Great Britain). Social

America Remains Neutral Trade strongly influenced America’s position on the war. From American commercial investors had increased from $700 million to $3.5 billion dollars. President Wilson proclaimed neutrality to protect the investments. In the meantime America prepared for war.

What were the circumstances that drew the U.S. into WWI? German Submarine Warfare (German U-boats) Sinking of a passenger ship the Lusitania (included were 128 Americans) Sinking of the passenger ship the “Sussex” led to the “Sussex pledge.” Interception of the “Zimmermann Telegraph.” Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign secretary offered Mexico the Southwest territory of the U.S. if it declared war on the U.S. Germany sank two U.S. ships, “City of Memphis” and the “Vigilancia.”

April 6, 1917 U.S. enters the War. Congress passed the Selective Service Act. New American soldiers enter the war and turns the tide of the war from the Central Powers to the Allies. Americans save Paris France Americans push back the Germans America uses airplanes in the fight. The Central Powers collapse.

Explain Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the proposed League of Nations. Wilson Fourteen Points - President Wilson’s program for reaching the goals of seeing the world be made safe for every peace-loving nation which wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice & fair dealings by the other peoples of the world as a force against selfish aggression.

Explain Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the proposed League of Nations. Wilson Fourteen Points - The Allies discarded Wilson’s program. He produced a plan for the League of Nations – The heart of the plan pledged that members of the League would regard an attack on one country as an attack on all. Congress rejected the League of Nations. The League of Nations became the fore runner of our present day United Nations.

Background to the cause of WWII. Redrawing of the map of Europe War Guilt Reparations required Germany to pay $33 billion dollars for the economic injury caused during the war. Treaty of Versailles Germany initially refused to sign the treaty because it humiliated Germany.

Explain the domestic impact of World War I, as reflected by the origins of the Great Migration, the Espionage Act, and socialist Eugene Debs.

America at home The government sold bonds to finance the war. The government started “Daylight Saving Time” to increase the daylight hours available for work Congress passed the “Espionage Act,” similar to the “Alien Sedition Act.” Eugene Debs was socialist and labor union leader who argued that the war was a merely a fight among imperialist capitalists and that workers had no stake in the outcome. This view became a rallying point for ant-war sentiments. African Americans migrated to the north (the Great Migration) & became a larger portion of the work force. Women became a large portion of the work force.

Social changes between WWI The Great Migration of African Americans moving north. Urbanization of America – Rural-Urban Split Growth of suburbs Mass media – newspapers, magazines, radio, movies Jazz Age- Harlem Renaissance Prohibition – passing of the 18 th amendment / prohibition Passing of the 19 th amendment / women’s suffrage