1. World War I
War to End All Wars

2. Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism
The Causes
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

3. Militarism
European Countries were building up their militaries to compete with each other
Germany 1.3m 5.0m
France 0.73m 4.0m
Russia 0.40m 1.2m

4. Causes of WWI - Alliances
Triple Entente:
Triple Alliance:
Great Britain
Germany
Austria-Hungary
France
Russia
Italy

5. Imperialism
All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.
Colonization in Asia
“Race” to Colonize Africa

6. Alliances The alliance system in Europe started with Prussia
Prussia wanted to unite the German states into a German nation
Germany united (allied) with Austria-Hungary and Italy
France and Germany were enemies and so France allied with Russia

7. Alliances
Great Britain remained neutral until Germany started to build up its navy
Great Britain loosely allied with France and Russia forming the Triple Entente
Nationalism – intense pride for one’s homeland was a powerful idea in Europe
Self-determination – the idea that people who belong to a nation should have their own country and government, was a basic idea of nationalism

8. Alliances

9. Pride in one’s country or culture
Self Determination- government run by its own people
Serbia’s national flag

10. Alliances
A small country called Serbia, allied with Russia, wanted a unified Balkan nation
A Serb national assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand
This assassination forced Austria-Hungary to declare war with Germany siding with them
Russia, allied with Serbia, declared war with France siding with them (France wanted Germany defeated)

11. “Balkan Powder Keg” Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
In the Balkans, many ethnic groups fought to gain political unity and self-rule
This led to conflicts between Austria-Hungry and neighboring groups in the Balkan regions
Russia supports “Serbs/Slavs”
This will end up being the “straw that breaks the camel back”
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

13. Spark: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary

15. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Chain Reaction:
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Germany declares war on Russia.
France pledges their support for Russia.
Germany declares war on France.
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France.
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.

16. Allied Powers:
Central Powers:
Germany
Great Britain
World War I
France
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Russia
Italy

17. Militarism / Alliances / Imperialism / Nationalism
MAIN causes of WW I
Militarism / Alliances / Imperialism / Nationalism
Spark: Archduke Ferdinand (Austria) assassinated

18. Alliances
Great Britain then joined Russia and France and these three countries made up the Allies.
Germany and Austria-Hungary (with smaller nations) made up the Central Powers.
Germany and France were locked in a stalemate for 3 years
More land was gained on the Eastern front

19. Germany and Austria-Hungary
World War I
The war began in Europe in 1914:
Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Allies
Britain, France, and Russia.

20. Moving Toward War Wilson declared the U.S. neutral
Wilson’s slogan in 1916, “He kept us out of war”
Americans, however, began showing their support for one side or the other with immigrants supporting their homeland
Wilson’s cabinet was pro-British
The British used propaganda – information used to influence opinion, to gain U.S. support

21. US & the War 1914-1917: America remained neutral Why?
George Washington!!!

22. Moving Toward War U.S. companies had strong ties to Allied countries.
Many U.S. banks gave loans to the Allies
American prosperity was tied to the war
The money would only be paid back if the Allies won.
While most Americans supported the Allies, they did not want to enter the war.

24. Moving Toward War
British ships blockaded Germany to keep it from getting supplies
To get around the blockade, Germany used submarines, U-boats
They threatened to sink all ships, including civilian ships, that entered waters around Britain.
They sank the Lusitania, a British passenger liner.

25. German “unrestricted submarine warfare”
Lusitania: 1100 people dead / 120 Americans

26. U-Boat

27. Moving Toward War America warned Germany to stop the U-boat attacks .
Germany did not want America in the war so they signed a pledge to stop sinking merchant ships, Sussex Pledge
Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future
A German official, Arthur Zimmerman, sent a message to his ambassador in Mexico proposing that Mexico ally itself with Germany

29. Moving Toward War
The Zimmerman telegram was intercepted by British intelligence and leaked to American newspapers.
Germany went back to unrestricted submarine warfare and sunk four American merchant ships
On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war against Germany

30. Zimmerman Telegram
Germany to ask Mexico to attack the U.S.

31. What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
Britain blockaded (stopped) all ships headed to or from Germany
Germany announced a submarine war around Britain
Y-53 German Submarine 1916

32. What did it take to get the US involved?
2- Sinking of the Lusitania
In May, 1915 Germany told Americans to stay off of British ships
Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)

33. What did it take to get the US involved?
3. Sussex Pledge
Sussex Pledge
Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future
Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster

34. What did it take to get the US involved?
4. Zimmerman Note
US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico
German plot to draw Mexico into war against US
It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in return for an alliance

35. What did it take to get the US involved?
5. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone
6 ships sunk

36. America enters the war
The decision to enter the war was the result of continuing German submarine warfare (violating freedom of the seas) and American ties to Great Britain.
Americans wanted to “make the world safe for democracy.” (Woodrow Wilson)
America’s military resources of soldiers and war materials tipped the balance of the war and led to Germany’s defeat.

37. What is the main idea of this cartoon?

39. Building Up The Military
As the U.S. entered the war, it was necessary to recruit more soldiers.
Many progressives thought conscription, or forced military service, violated both democratic and republican principles
A new system, selective service, resulted in about 2.8 million Americans being drafted.
It required all men ages to register to be drafted for war. A lottery randomly decide the order in which they were called to service.

40. 1917 – Selective Service Act
24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918.
2.8 million drafted
4,800,000 men served in WW1
400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units.
15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers

41. Building Up The Military
African Americans faced discrimination and prejudice
They served in segregated units with white officers.
Many won praise from their commanders and received war medals
World War I was the first war in which women officially served. Army nurses were the only women in the military to go overseas

42. Organizing Industry
The War Industries Board(WIB) was created to coordinate the production of war materials
The Food Administration was responsible for increasing food production while reducing consumption
The director, Herbert Hoover, asked people to plant victory gardens to raise their own vegetables in order to leave more food for the troops.

43. Managing the Economy War Industries Board National War Labor Board
attempted to control business so to help in the war effort
Set prices, decided what factories would produce
Business prosper
National War Labor Board
established to stop strikes to keep factories running
Labor shortage
decisions usually favored workers
Unions grew and working conditions improved

44. Victory Gardens
Civilians should raise their own food, so the troops could have more

45. Supporting the War
Food Administration- organization responsible for regulating production and supply of food.
farmers should increase production
citizens should conserve
Limits placed on sugar, wheat, fuel
Victory gardens
wheatless and meatless days

46. Organizing Industry
The Fuel Administration encouraged people to conserve coal and oil.
Daylight savings time was introduced to conserve energy.
To raise money to pay for the war, the government began selling Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds.
This was loaning the government money that would be paid back with interest in a specified number of years.

47. Financing the War
Liberty Bonds & Victory Bonds: Sold to the public to raise $$$ for the war

48. Committee on Public Information
Created to spread propaganda to support war
News was censored to stop opposition to war
Immigrants especially Germans discriminated against

49. The Committee of Public Information (George Creel)
America’s “Propaganda Minister?”
Anti-Germanism.
Selling American Culture.

50. “Remember Belgium”

51. The “Mad Brute”

52. The “Menace of the Seas”

53. U. S. Food Administration

54. U. S. Food Administration

55. U. S. Food Administration

56. National War Garden Commission

57. Mobilizing the Workforce
To prevent strikes, the government made deals with labor leaders
The war increased the need for women in the workforce
They took factory and manufacturing jobs
The war stopped the flow of immigrants to the United States, which allowed African Americans wartime jobs.

58. Minorities during the War
Labor Shortages leads to increase in Mexican immigration
Great Migration- close to a million African Americans leave south and move to Northern cities for factory work
African Americans in military face segregation, racism, and limited opportunities

59. Ensuring Public Support
Espionage, or spying to acquire secret government information, was addressed in the Espionage Act of 1917
The Sedition Act of 1918 went a step further by making it illegal to criticize the president or the government
Suspicions of disloyalty led to the mistreatment of German Americans.

60. Espionage and Sedition Act
Illegal to criticize, oppose, interfere, in the war effort
Limited free speech
1500 people arrested during the war

61. American Dissent Espionage & Sedition Act
Speaking Out was a “clear & present danger”
Freedom of Speech limited

62. Ensuring Public Support
In the case of Schenck v. the United States, the Supreme Court ruling limited an individual’s freedom of speech if the words spoken constituted a “clear and present danger.”

63. Was the Espionage and Sedition Acts Constitutional?
Supreme Court Case
Schenck v. US
Background
Charles Schenck
Socialist
Arrested for mailing thousands of leaflets urging people to resist the draft

64. What did the Supreme Court decide?
Schenck’s actions were creating a “clear and present danger”
Speech that create a “clear and present danger” are not protected by the 1st Amendment
You can’t yell fire in a crowed movie theatre

65. Combat in World War I
Soldiers dug trenches as a means of protection from modern weapons
“No man’s land” was the space between the opposing trenches
Soldiers charge the enemy which made them easy targets
Both sides lost several hundred thousand men
To break enemy lines and reduce casualties, new technologies were created

66. Trench Warfare

68. Trench Warfare
“No Man’s Land”

69. Trenches

70. Trenches on the Western Front

71. Combat in World War I
Poison gas, first used by the Germans, caused vomiting, blindness, and suffocation.
Tanks were unsuccessfully used
Airplanes dropped small bombs on the enemy and engaged in air battles (dog fights)
Flame throwers were also used for the first time

72. Devastating New Weapons and Methods of War
Machine Gun (1st big and then mobile)
Reason the trenches were dug
Long Range Artillery
Airplane (1st observers then fighters)
“Dog Fights”
German Pilot “Red Baron” – had 80 KO’s when fighting the British
Tank (introduced by Britain in 1916)
Not too effective until WWII, still helped at the end of war
Flame throwers (used by Germans to battle tanks)

73. Technology continued…
Submarines (Made by Germans – “U-Boats”)
Made to counter superior British Navy
Poison Gases
1st used by Germans (mustard gas, chlorine)
Eventually is outlawed after WWI (chemical warfare)
Propaganda
Used by government to rally support on home front
WWI is the first war to be “industrialized”
This leads to the types of weapons that can not only be produced in high quantities but also produces deaths at a rate never seen before…

74. Advanced Weapons
Airplane
Gas
Tanks

75. Machine Guns

76. Gas Attack!!!

77. Poison Gas

78. Tanks

79. Examples of New War Tools

80. Airplanes most famous pilot is the “Red Baron”

81. The Americans and Victory
“Doughboys” was a nickname for American soldiers.
Although inexperienced, they boosted the morale of the Allied forces
Although Russians supported the war effort, their government could not handle major problems.
In 1917 Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Party, overthrew the govt. and replaced it with a Communist one.

82. Drop out of war in 1917 after Bolshevik Revolution
Eastern Front: Russia
Drop out of war in 1917 after Bolshevik Revolution

83. “To Make The World Safe For Democracy”
The Yanks Are Coming!
“To Make The World Safe For Democracy”

84. The Americans and Victory
Lenin pulled Russia out of the war allowing the Germans to leave and concentrate on France.
American and French forces kept Germany from gaining Paris
In September 1918, Pershing put together the most massive attack in American history
On November 11, 1918, Germany finally signed an armistice, or cease-fire, that ended the war

85. 11 a.m., November 11, 1918
End of WW I

86. A Flawed Peace
Wilson’s peace plan was known as the Fourteen Points, and it addressed “the principle of justice to all people and nationalities.”
The points included eliminating the general causes of the war through free trade and disarmament
Open diplomacy instead of secret agreements

87. Wilson’s 14 Points Wilson’s goals for the world after the war
“War to end all wars!”

88. A Flawed Peace The right to self-determination
The fourteenth point, known as the League of Nations, called for member nations to help preserve peace and prevent future wars
The other Allied governments felt it was too lenient toward Germany
The Treaty of Versailles weakened Wilson’s proposal

89. Principles of 14 Points Self determination Freedom of the seas
Non punishment
Mandate system
No secret treaties
Free trade

90. Wilson’s 14 Points No more secret alliances
2. Free navigation of all seas.
3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.
4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers.
5. Interests of colonists must be taken into account
6-13. Boundary changes

91. 14. League Of Nations
International body to prevent wars and keep world peace
Solve problems first with diplomacy and economic sanctions
Relied on militaries of member countries
Most controversial

92. 14th Point League of Nations
Settle conflicts before they turn into war
Wilson’s most important point
Most controversial

93. Treaty of Versailles Germany League of Nations created
Full blame for war
Demilitarized
$30 Billion bill (reparations)
League of Nations created
No Germany
No U.S.

94. A Flawed Peace
The Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its armed forces
It forced Germany to pay reparations, or war damages to the Allies.
The Treaty and the League of Nations were opposed by US lawmakers because they did not want US foreign policy decisions being made by an international organization
Wilson, exhausted by trying to sell his plan, suffered a stroke
The Senate refused to ratify the treaty

95. Treaty of Versailles 1- Germany was forced to -Reduce size of military
-Hand over all of its colonies
-Agree to pay Reparations
-Accept all of the blame
2- New countries were created
3- Creation of a League of Nations
“Big Four”: David Lloyd George of Britain, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles.

96. The President makes Treaties
The Senate ratifies Treaties
An example of Checks and Balances

97. Why did the Senate reject the Treaty?
US would have to join the League of Nations
What happens if the League needs to use military force?
Could be dragged into a war without Congressional approval.
This weakens the power of Congress

98. THE LEGACY OF THE WAR Never ratifies treaty or joins League of Nations
Return to Normalcy= Isolationism
World War I had many changes in the U.S.
Strengthened military
Social change for African Americans and Women

100. Please Note: The images included in this presentation, some of which may be copyrighted, are being used under the “fair use” provision (for educational purposes) of the U.S. law governing usage of copyrighted material.