The First World War

Causes of WWI

The AlliesNeutralThe Central Powers

I. American Neutrality A. Divided Public Opinion 1. Some Americans favored the Allies 2. Some Americans Favored the Central Powers 3. Others were anti-war B. U.S adopts isolationism

A. Support for the Allies emerge 1. British Propaganda about German atrocities shift U.S support in favor of the Allies a. Germany invades Belgium 2. America has strong economic ties with the Allies A. Trade double that of Central Powers B. Loans owed by the Allies to U.S. 3. British Blockade vs German U- Boats 4. Sinking of the Lusitania Election ”He kept us out of the war” II. U.S Support the Allies

A. Neutrality Collapses 1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare 2. Zimmerman Note 3. Resumption of Submarine warfare 4. Russian Revolution makes WWI a war for democracy B. April U.S declares war against the Central Powers III. U.S moves towards War

V. The War at Home A. Organizing a wartime economy 1. War Industries Board a. Encouraged companies to mass produce products b. WIB Reallocated materials to support the war 1. Ex) Steel should be used building ships c. Production increased 20%

2. War Economy A. National War Labor Board 1. “Work or fight” B. Food Administration 1. Ration and conserve food 3. Paying for the war A. Taxes & Bonds V. The War at Home Cont’d

VI. Attacks on Civil Liberties A. Anti-Immigration Hysteria 1. German born immigrants are targeted 2. Americans try to remove German culture from American society 3. Americans questioned immigrant loyalty to the US B. Espionage and Sedition Acts 1. outlaws public criticism of the U.S government (fined and jailed at will) 2. Violates Freedom of Speech 3. Targeted socialists and labor leaders

VII. Social change in the U.S A. The Great Migration 1. Africans wanted to escape Jim Crow Laws 2. Industrial Job Opportunity in the North 3. Black migrants faced discrimination in the North B. Women in the War C. The Flu Epidemic

IV. Wilson’s 14 Points A. Wilson wants to avoid another world war Wilson supports Self Determination 2. End to secret treaties 3. League of Nations 4. Freedom of the sea

13 V. Treaty of Versailles As a result of WWI, Germany was forced to give up... L and- Give land to France A rmy- Get rid of their military M oney- Pay reparation (you break it you buy it) B lame- Germany must take blame for causing the war (war-guilt clause)

VI. Weaknesses of ToV A. Germany was humiliated 1. L.A.M.B B. Russia felt ignored 2. Russia received nothing for fighting for 3 years C. Failed to recognize Self- Determination 3. Colonies fight for independence

VII. Opposition to the Treaty A. Opposition centered around the League of Nations B. Republicans opposed the idea of entanglement in foreign affairs C. He could have got the treaty ratified if he would have compromised D. Instead he travelled the country trying to convince Americans that he was right E. As a result he had a stroke and was incapacitated for the rest of his presidency and the treaty never passed