1. World War I
10.1

2. Europe in 1914

3. Numbers

4. Trench Warfare

5. Deadly Technology

6. Wilson & Neutrality
Americans have divided loyalties; Due to diverse population
3 main opinions on America’s involvement form:
1) Isolationist
2) Interventionist
3) Internationalist= Wilson’s position; Wanted to create peace between European nations, but did not want to participate in the War
German invasion of Belgium influenced Americans to support the Allied powers

7. Shift from Neutrality to War
British blockade of Germany
Confiscated contraband from German merchant/trade ships
German military reaction: Use of U-Boats & unrestricted warfare
May 1915= Sunk the Lusitania, British passenger liner; 1,200 deaths (128 Americans)
1916= French passenger liner Sussex sunk

8. Shift from Neutrality to War
1916= Wilson & Congress showed “preparedness” with 2 pieces of legislation:
1) National Defense Act= Expanded the size of the army
2) Naval Construction Act= Ordered the building of more warships
1916 was an election year, Wilson reelected for 2nd term

9. U.S. Enters WWI 1917, 2 events led America to declare war:
1) Zimmerman Note= German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sent telegram to Mexico.
2) Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain
April 6, 1917= Congress officially declares war on Germany; Enters WWI

10. World War I= The Home Front
10.2

11. Mobilizing for War Selective Service Act War Industries Board
Headed by Bernard Baruch; Determined what products were made, where they would go, etc.
Food Administration
Headed by future president Herbert Hoover
Set high prices for wheat; Encouraged increased production
Committee on Public Info (CPI)
Educated the public about causes/nature of War; Propaganda tool
Headed by George Creel

12. Opposition to the War Resistance to the draft
12% of men ignored draft notices
Conscientious objectors= People whose moral/religious beliefs forbid them to fight
Espionage Act (June 1917)
Severe penalties for anyone engaged in disloyal/treasonable activities
$10,000 fine, 20 years of imprisonment
Sedition Act (1918)
Unlawful to use “disloyal, profane, or abusive language” about the government, Constitution, & military
Schenck v. United States (1919) upheld constitutionality of Sedition Act

13. Prejudice Against German Americans

14. War= Opportunities Women= Over 500,000 joined the workforce during WWI
Factories, railroads, telegraph operators, farmers, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers
Women supporting the war led to the 19th Amendment (1920)
Mexican-Americans= Increased demands for food & decrease in farmworkers created jobs that migrants filled
Formation of barrios (Hispanic neighborhoods) in California

15. War= Opportunities The Great Migration
Mass movement of African-Americans from the South to the Northern USA
Why?= 1) Escape racism 2) Economic advancement= Better jobs & pay