World War I: Causes/Course Standard Major Events Affecting the Course of World War I Standard Objective – Explain how the Russian Revolution and the entry of the United States affected the course and outcome of the war

Question of the Day Evaluation What was the most important reason for the United States entering the war or what was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war? Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Include a topic sentence and statements of fact and opinion that supports your topic sentence. What was the most important reason for the United States entering the war or what was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war? Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Include a topic sentence and statements of fact and opinion that supports your topic sentence.

Extra Credit Question Analysis (IV) What were two ways the United States was able to help the Allies win World War I? Explain why you believe each one would have been important to the war effort. What were two ways the United States was able to help the Allies win World War I? Explain why you believe each one would have been important to the war effort.

The Turning Points of the War The war dragged on. Hundreds of thousands of people had died or were homeless. Every country was short of food and weapons Turning Points

The Turning Points of the War In 1917, a series of events brought the war to an end. The first event took place in Russia Turning Points

The Russian Revolution Background to Revolution Due to a lack of experienced military leaders & technology, Russia was unprepared for WWI. The Russian army was poorly trained & equipped & suffered terrible losses. Turning Points Battle of Tannenberg – September 1914

Background to Revolution The Russian people had become increasingly upset with Czar Nicholas II due to military & economic disasters. By 1917, the Russian will to continue fighting in the war had disappeared. Turning Points

Revolution Begins In February, 1917, the women of St. Petersburg (Petrograd) went out to buy food. When they discovered that shops were empty, they gathered in the streets Turning Points

Revolution Begins Other protesters joined the women and a riot broke out. The czar sent in troops, but the soldiers joined the rioters Turning Points

Revolution Begins The riots & protests spread and the czar loses support of the army & government. By March, the czar will abdicate & the Russian monarchy will come to an end

Temporary Government With the czar gone, a temporary government, led by Alexander Kerensky, took over to fight the war. Kerensky made the mistake of keeping Russia in the war Turning Points Alexander Kerensky

Temporary Government In several cities, soldiers and workers formed soviets, or councils Turning Points Petrograd Soviet

Temporary Government These soviets challenged the new government, especially its desire to keep fighting in WWI Turning Points Petrograd Soviet

Lenin In October 1917, a radical Communist group known as the Bolsheviks were ready to take over, led by Vladimir Lenin Turning Points

Lenin The Bolsheviks would gain control of the soviets and use these groups to overthrow the provisional government Turning Points

Lenin “Bread, Peace, & Land” was a popular slogan used by Lenin to gain the support of the Russian people. Lenin’s immediate goal was to get Russia out of the war.

You Must Remember This! Question – What was the first thing Lenin & the Bolsheviks wanted to do once they took over the Russian government? Question – What was the first thing Lenin & the Bolsheviks wanted to do once they took over the Russian government? Question – What three things did Lenin promise the Russian people? Question – What three things did Lenin promise the Russian people?

Surrender In November 1917, the Bolsheviks seized control of the Russian government Turning Points

Surrender By March 1918, Russia and Germany had signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending the war between the two nations Turning Points

You Must Remember This! Question – What happened after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed? Question – What happened after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed?

Surrender Germany was able to shift most of its forces to the Western Front after Russia’s exit from the war Turning Points

You Must Remember This! Question – Where will most of the fighting take place once Russia drops out of the war? Question – Where will most of the fighting take place once Russia drops out of the war?

The United States Enters WWI U.S. Neutrality In 1914, the United States declared itself a neutral nation but did trade heavily with Allied nations. Turning Points

U.S. Neutrality However, in 1917, the Germans announced unrestricted submarine warfare. Turning Points

U.S. Neutrality Their submarines would sink, without warning, any ship in the waters around Britain. Turning Points

U.S. Neutrality Germany was trying to keep supplies from reaching Britain Turning Points

U.S. Neutrality American lives and trade would be lost. Americans believed freedom of the seas was a right for all nations Turning Points

Other Reasons for War In February 1917 the British intercepted a German message to Mexico, the Zimmerman Telegram, promising Mexico land in return for going to war against the United States Turning Points

The Zimmerman Telegram

You Must Remember This! Question - What was the Zimmermann Telegram? Question - What was the Zimmermann Telegram?

Other Reasons for War Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium (1914) & the sinking of the civilian passenger ship Lusitania (1915) had caused anti-German feelings in America. Turning Points

You Must Remember This! Question – What would be the result of the sinking of the Lusitania in the United States? Question – What would be the result of the sinking of the Lusitania in the United States?

Other Reasons for War Anti-German propaganda portrayed Germans as murderers & barbarians in America. The belief that the U.S. should promote & protect democracy from dictators & monarchies ( “make the world safe for democracy”) Strong pro British & French feelings in America because of the historical & cultural ties to Britain & France.

You Must Remember This! Question – What is the poster an example of? Question – What is the poster an example of? Answer – The poster is an example of anti- German propaganda. Answer – The poster is an example of anti- German propaganda. Question – What event does the poster refer to? Question – What event does the poster refer to? Answer – The event in the poster refers to the sinking of the Lusitania. Answer – The event in the poster refers to the sinking of the Lusitania.

You Must Remember This! Question – What was this poster trying to motivate Americans to do? Question – What was this poster trying to motivate Americans to do? Answer – This poster was trying to motivate Americans to join the war effort. Answer – This poster was trying to motivate Americans to join the war effort.

A New War German U-boats sank three U.S. ships bound for Great Britain. The Germans didn’t think the U.S. would enter the war before the British starved & surrendered Turning Points

A New War However, on April 2, 1917, the U.S. entered the war on the side of the Allies Turning Points

You Must Remember This! Question – What was the most important reason for the United States entering World War I? Question – What were the other reasons why the United States entered the war?

To The Rescue By June 1918, U.S. troops were arriving in France at the rate of 250,000 per month Turning Points

To The Rescue The U.S. also provided tons of food and about $10 billion in loans to the Allied governments Turning Points

To The Rescue The United States was also able to raise the morale of the Allied troops. They provided a “shot in the arm” to the troops on the Western Front.

You Must Remember This! Question – How was the United States able to help the Allies win the war? Question – How was the United States able to help the Allies win the war?

Second Battle of the Marne By 1918, German troops were exhausted Turning Points

Second Battle of the Marne The Americans were numerous and eager to fight Turning Points

Second Battle of the Marne In August, the decisive battle of the war took place near the Marne River, France. About 350 Allied tanks broke the German lines on the Western Front Turning Points

The End of the War The Central Powers were crumbling because they lacked the resources & soldiers to fight the Americans. The Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and Austria- Hungary all surrender. On November 9, the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, gave up his throne Turning Points

You Must Remember This! Question - What was the main reason the Central Powers surrendered to end World War I? Question - What was the main reason the Central Powers surrendered to end World War I?

The End of the War On November 11, a new German republic signed an agreement ending the war.

Critical Thinking Time Analysis (IV) What were two ways the United States was able to help the Allies win World War I? Explain why you believe each one would have been important to the war effort. What were two ways the United States was able to help the Allies win World War I? Explain why you believe each one would have been important to the war effort.

Standard Summary 1. The immediate goal of Vladimir Lenin & the Bolsheviks was to end Russia’s involvement in World War I. 2. Historical & cultural ties to France and Great Britain was one of the many reasons why the United States entered World War I. Required reading:

Question of the Day Evaluation What was the most important reason for the United States entering the war or what was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war? Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Include a topic sentence and statements of fact and opinion that supports your topic sentence. What was the most important reason for the United States entering the war or what was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war? Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Include a topic sentence and statements of fact and opinion that supports your topic sentence.

Topic Sentence _______________ was the most important reason for the United States to enter World War I. _______________ was the most important reason for the United States to enter World War I. _______________ was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war. _______________ was the most important way the United States helped the Allies win the war.