1. WWI was supposed to be “The War to End All Wars”
WWI aka The Great War:
Bellwork: Since a war is filled with violence, intimidation, loss of life….How could it possibly be considered a war to end future wars?
WWI was supposed to be “The War to End All Wars”

2. Raising an Army and a Navy
May 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act required all males ages to sign up for military service
A draft is a system used to for choosing people for forced military service (1st used during the Civil War)
By 1918, almost 3 million men had been drafted

3. Women
Many women volunteered for duty oversees with the American Red Cross
Jobs for women:
Majority: nurses
Interpreters
Switchboard operators
Entertainment

4. African Americans
Approximately 400,000 African Americans served in the armed forces
Many still faced discrimination from white American soldiers
About 500,000 African Americans participated in the Great Migration. A shift from rural to urban because of the high demand for factory work

5. Germany stops fighting
On November 9, 1918 the Kaiser stepped down
Two days later November 11, Germany agreed to a Armistice: an end to fighting!
11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour all fighting had ceased (stopped)

6. Life on the Home Front: America during WWI
The War Industries Board: ran the nations factories; made decisions: such as making guns, ammo, uniforms.
National War Labor Board: Set policies affecting wages and working conditions; outlawed strikes and acted as a referee in labor and management disputes

7. Role of Individual Citizens
Victory gardens: raise your own veggies at home instead of depending on the market ex: high school students made victory gardens
Liberty/War Bonds: public buys bonds from the government, this means that the people are actually lending $ to the government in return for interest

8. Encouraging Public Support
Committee on Public Information: “sell” the public on the war
Purpose? To get the public to want the war and be motivated about winning the war
Propaganda: One sided information; tried to get people to think a certain way (opinions)
Methods used: Actors, writers, advertisements, and musicians
Emotional Involvement

9. Intolerance and Suspicion
Espionage and Sedition Act: silenced any and all opposition to the war
It became a crime to speak out against war or the government or armed forces
Took away 1st amendment rights (freedom of speech)
A 1919 U.S. Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States upheld the Espionage Act (Schenck had distributed anti-draft pamphlets)
Pacifist: People opposed to all war (ex. Janette Rankin)

10. Legacy of WWI Wilson’s Fourteen Points
10 months before the war had ended, Wilson spoke out to Congress regarding his goals for peace; this became known as the Fourteen Points
Smaller military forces
No secret treaties (alliances)
Freedom of the seas
Free trade
The 14th point became known as The League of Nations (United Nations): an association of nations to peacefully settle disputes
Wilson believed that the Fourteen Points would bring “Peace without Victory”

11. Legacy of the War Treaty of Versailles
The peace conference in France consisted of “The Big Four” (all allied powers)
United States: Woodrow Wilson
Great Britain- David Lloyd George
France- George Clemenceau
Italy- Vittorio Orlando

12. Legacy of the War Treaty of Versailles
Germany was forced to accept harsh consequences in the Treaty of Versailles (excluded from society “Nazi’s”)
Germany forced to :
Accept total blame for the war
Germany must disarm
Pay huge reparations (all allied costs)
Give up colonies
*Treaty of Versailles became a future cause of WWII…. Why?

13. Ratification Debate The debate created a 3 part division in the senate
There were the Reservationists--- wouldn’t accept the treaty without changes
Irreconcilables--- rejected the treaty completely
Internationalists--- supported the treaty and the League
Although the League of Nations was proposed by President Wilson…THE U.S. DID NOT JOIN THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS!!!

14. Post War Fear of foreigners! Many foreign families were denied visas
to come to the U.S. because of fear.
Fears of a communist revolution (communists were called
“Reds”)
The hysteria was called the Red Scare
January 1920, Palmer Raids: raided the homes of suspected
radicals and anarchists: no search warrants, dragged people off to
jail!
By the 1920’s many Americans were feeling drained from the war,
race riots, labor strikes, Red Scare, the fight over the Treaty of Versailles
and League of Nations; People wanted things to go back to normal!

15. Video- The Great War Note Summary of Video
Start at 29:46