AGENDA  Do Now  “US and World War I” Notes  Wilson/Zinn Speech  Homework:  Read Chapter 11 Section 2 and take notes Reading quiz next class

DO NOW:  Is it possible for a country like the United States to hold a position of neutrality? Why or why not?

U.S. AND WORLD WAR I MARCH 19, 2015

MAIN CAUSES OF WWI  M ilitarism – the aggressive build up of a nations armed forces  A lliances – nations formed partnerships to help protect and defend themselves  I mperialism – stronger nations began to take over weaker nations  N ationalism – everybody thought their nation was the best

THE FIRST WORLD WAR  What?  War involving nearly all of the powerful nations of the world  When?  1914 – 1918  Why?  Long term: Alliance system Imperialist Competition Stockpiling of weapons  Short term: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

THE FIRST WORLD WAR CENTRAL POWERS:  Germany  Austria-Hungary  Ottoman Empire  Bulgaria ALLIED POWERS  Russia  France  Great Britain  Italy  Japan  United States (1917)

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR AMERICA TO GET INVOLVED?  Isolationist policy  “Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems?”  Read Wilson’s First Speech to Congress – Answer question #1 on the corresponding sheet

WHICH SIDE SHOULD THE US PICK? CENTRAL POWERS  11 million German- Americans  Irish-Americans hated Great Britain ALLIED POWERS  Close cultural ties  Shared transatlantic cables (censored stories)  Big business loaned much money to allies US EXPORTS TO BOTH SIDES: Nations Britain$594,271,863$911,794,954$1,526,685,102 France$159,818,924$364,397,170$628,851,988 Germany$344,794,276$28,863,354$288,899

 British blockade of German warships to America  Germany announced a submarine war around Britain  May 1915 – Germany told US to stay off British ships  They would could/would sink them 1. Blockades WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET THE US INVOLVED?

 Lusitania torpedoed  Sinks 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)  Found carrying 4200 cases of ammunition  US criticizes Germany  Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future 1. Blockades WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET THE US INVOLVED?

 1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone  Why?  Otherwise their blockade would not be successful 2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET THE US INVOLVED?

 U.S. intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico  It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in return for an alliance 3. Zimmerman Note WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET THE US INVOLVED?

 Zimmerman Note and the sinking of 4 unarmed American ships led to a declaration of war  Read Wilson’s Second Speech to Congress  Answer questions 2-4 on the corresponding sheet WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET THE US INVOLVED?

TO GO TO WAR?  Read Historian Howard Zinn’s response to Wilson’s declaration of war (Doc C)  Answer Guided Questions for Howard Zinn #1-5 on corresponding sheet  When you finish…  Answer Guiding Questions for Textbook #1-2

EXAMINE THE ISSUE:  Should we tell the story of WWI with Germany as the “bad guy”? Explain.

PROPAGANDA IN WWI  Now that the U.S. has declared war – it is essential to get America on board  Examine the different propaganda posters located around the room  Examine each propaganda piece and post observations on the chart paper attached You can make comments on other people’s observations  When you finish answer the following question:  Do you think propaganda works when garnering support for a war? What kinds of propaganda would be used today? What would need to be done to make it effective?