Causes of World War I Imperialism- Britain and France had colonies all over the world Germany only had small colonies in Africa Militarism- German/France armies doubled between 1870 and 1914 Britain had strongest navy

Causes Nationalism- All countries wanted to promote their own interests and become more powerful World Causes Alliances

Causes of World War I Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary’s Archduke visiting Sarajevo (in Bosnia) which made Serbians mad “Black Hand” Gavrilo Princip Directly led to war in August of 1914 Austro-Hungarian government blames Serbia and declares war Russia aids Serbia Germany aids Austria-Hungary

U.S. Entry into WWI U.S. struggles with neutrality August 4, 1914 Wilson declares neutrality Americans had mixed feelings Remember Washington’s Farewell Address? As neutral nation U.S. continues trading $800 million - $3 billion in trading Beneficial at first but costly as time went on International neutrality law violated by Germans

U-Boat Fever German U-boats Unlimited submarine warfare May 7, 1915- Lusitania sunk by Germans Unlimited submarine warfare Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

Further developments Arabic pledge Sussex pledge Election of 1916 Germany would not sink unarmed ships Sussex pledge Agreed on rules of visit and search Election of 1916 Wilson runs and wins “he kept us out of war”

U.S. in WWI Zimmerman note- German foreign minister sends two German ambassador to Mexico British intercept message and tell U.S. Telegraph states that if Mexico agreed to attack the U.S. then Germany would make sure they would get the Mexican Session back. Wilson publishes note to enrage citizens of U.S.

Zimmerman note

U.S. goes to war March 4, 1917- Wilson asks to preserve “armed neutrality” April 6, 1917- Congress declares war on Germany Americans buy Victory and Liberty Bonds

Technology Wireless communication Tanks Aircraft Machine Guns Artillery U- Boats Flamethrowers Trench warfare Biological warfare Chlorine, mustard gas, and phosgene

Russia Drops out of the War

Impact of American Troops

Treaty of Versailles: Why did the US Senate reject the treaty?

The home front Food is rationed by the government Government control of Industry and Railroads Labor and Agricultural Controls Labor force changed Women and African Americans employed Also first time African- American soldiers were allowed to fight in a foreign war Struggle to put down opposition of U.S. involvement in war Pacifists or COMMUNISTS?!

Attack on Civil Liberties Espionage Act of 1917- Wilson gets powers of censorship Selective Service Act of 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 Sedition Act of 1918 Criticizing the government had become illegal

Attack on Civil Liberties or Giving Priority to National Security? Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 Lincoln Suspends Habeas Corpus Espionage Act of 1917 Patriot Act of 2001 (Obama extended the law) Patriot Act

Schenck v. United States Charles Schenck- Secretary of Socialist Party Sending out leaflets to eligible draftees encouraging them to oppose the draft Supreme Court sides with government “clear and present danger” rule circumstances of wartime permit greater restrictions on free speech than would be allowable during peacetime

Essential Questions Identify causes of the “Great War” Identify new technology created during WWI Describe the initial US position in the war. What was the initial US position based on? What caused the USA to enter the war? How did the war impact the daily life of Americans? Is it reasonable for the government to limit civil liberties during times of war? Be Specific How did the US government limit civil liberties during WWI? Why is the Treaty of Versailles considered a failure?