1. Period 7 World War I

2. Neutrality to War
In 1914 war breaks out among European nations after Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
President Woodrow Wilson declares that the U.S. would remain neutral
The U.S. will stay out of foreign wars
Many Americans believed in Isolationism–
That the nation should remain isolated from
Europeans conflicts
“We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.”
~Woodrow Wilson

3. Causes of WWI – M.A.I.N.
Militarism: preparing for war; European nations needed vast military strength to protect their colonial/imperial holdings
Alliances: Public and Secret European Alliances
Imperialism: vast empires in foreign lands which increased competition for more territory and greater economic gain
Nationalism: strong pride in your country; colonies wanted independence from the colonizing countries

4. The Alliances – Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
Japan
The Allies:
Russia
France
Serbia
Great Britain
United States of America

5. American Neutrality President Wilson declared the U.S. to be neutral
However - many average U.S. citizens began to choose sides
Propaganda used to sway opinions
Most supported the Allies (Britain and France)
Wilson's cabinet, and many businesses supported going to war on the side of the Allies
Think on this: Why would business owners support going to war?

6. American Reaction Most people identified with their old countries.
Many opposed the Central Powers particularly Kaiser Wilhelm, the ruler of Germany.
America remained neutral.

7. American Neutrality ?
Germany announced that it would begin using U-boats to attack all vessels, including merchant ships, in British waters
Stopped the Allies from receiving supplies from foreign countries
This unrestricted submarine warfare drew protests from the U.S.

8. American Neutrality ?
a German U-boat sank the British passenger liner Lusitania
Killed almost 1,200 passengers including 120 Americans
the French ship Sussex, was torpedoed by a German U-boat causing several American injuries
Germany and the U.S. signed the Sussex Pledge in which Germany promised not to sink anymore merchant ships without warning
This kept the U.S. out of the war, and helped Wilson win reelection in 1916
February 1, 1917, Germans began unrestricted warfare again.

9. U.S. Declares War
Germany tried to enlist the help of Mexico in fighting the U.S. if the U.S. entered the war
Germany sent a telegram to Mexico urging them to join the fight against the U.S. and in return Germany would ensure that Mexico would receive land that once belonged to them that the U.S. took.
The Zimmerman Note convinced many Americans that they needed go to war against Germany
Early Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare
Sank six U.S. ships
Pres. Wilson was backed into a corner
Declared war on Germany in April 1917
Joined the Allies

10. TO WAR!
April 6, 1917: President Wilson signs the declaration of war after the U-boats sunk the U.S. ships: City of Memphis, Illinois, and the Vigilancia.

11. The War at Home Liberty Bonds were sold to finance the war
People were encouraged to increase efficiency in food production and distribution to reduce waste. (Recycling)
Daylight Savings Time introduced to move clock one hour ahead so the need for artificial light would be reduced thus saving energy.
Women and African Americans found work that had once been filled by white men who had gone to war.

12. Draftees and Volunteers
At the beginning of the war, the US only had 120,000 men in the military.
Congress passed the Selective Service Act in 1917 so that they could draft men for military service.
Because this war was a popular one, people didn’t protest the draft.

13. Great Migration
Northern factories needed workers during the war for two main reasons:
Many white workers joined the war effort or were drafted
Nearly all immigration from Europe stopped
To replace these workers, African Americans left the South and moved into many Northern cities
Looking for factory jobs
The movement became known as the Great Migration
Between 300,000 and 500,000 African-Americans moved North

15. Espionage Act Passed in 1917 the Espionage Act:
Established penalties and prison time for aiding the enemy
Penalized disloyalty, or interference with the war effort
The Espionage Act was expanded in 1918 to make it illegal for any public opposition to the war
The Supreme Court also limited American’s freedom of speech – 1st Amendment Right
Schenck v. U.S.
Upheld Espionage Act of 1917

16. Eugene Debs Leader of the American Railway Union (ARU)
Socialist leader who ran for president in 1912
What is a Socialist?
A person who believes that the government should own industries (railroads, utilities)
A nation’s wealth should be more evenly distributed in order to alleviate suffering

17. Allies Win! The Allies won the war in 1918 The “Big Four”
Leaders from the U.S., Britain, France, and Italy
Held meetings to decide the fate of Post-War Europe

18. Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Wilson presented his plan for peace, called the Fourteen Points to Congress
-In the first 5 points he wanted all countries to have: 1. free trade
2. freedom of the seas
3. disarmament
4. open diplomacy (negotiations)
5. adjustments of colonial claims
These five points were what Wilson felt caused World War

19. Wilson’s Fourteen Points
The next 8 points dealt with self-determination
The final point called for the creation of the League of Nations, an organization which would help settle disagreements between member countries.
Many countries viewed the Fourteen Points as being too lenient on Germany

20. The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty was signed by Germany in 1919, and punished Germany for “starting” the war
Germany would have to:
-dismantle their army and navy
-pay war reparations of $33 billion (which they did not have)
-Admit guilt for causing the war
-Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France.
-The Treaty left Germany in shambles which would ultimately lead to the rise of Adolf Hitler two decades later.
Most of Wilson’s Fourteen Points were dismissed by the other leaders, with the exception of the Fourteenth Point

21. League of Nations
Wilson’s League of Nations was voted down by the U.S. Congress in 1920.
Many Congressmen worried that it made the U.S. too involved in European affairs

22. Prohibition
The 18th Amendment took effect in 1920 banning the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol
Supporters of prohibition
thought that it would
reduce unemployment,
domestic violence, and
poverty.
Women’s Christian Temperance
Union sought to prohibit the
consumption of alcohol.
Unintended effect of prohibition
was organized crime that illegally
supplied people with alcohol.

23. 18th Amendment
The Amendment was extremely difficult to enforce so that by 1933, the 21st Amendment was passed repealing the 18th Amendment

24. 19th Amendment (1920) Women’s Suffrage: The right to vote
Women’s suffrage movement groups originally tied their cause to that of African-American suffrage
The right to vote added to the shifting roles of women in society