1. The Great War

2. Causes of the Great War Ongoing Causes Immediate Cause
System of Alliances
Militarism
Economic and Imperial Economic situations
Growing Nationalism
Immediate Cause
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria- Hungry
Nations with alliances with Austria-Hungry and Serbia mobilize armies in preparation for war

3. Alliances Central Powers: Allied Powers: Germany Austria-Hungry
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Allied Powers:
Britain
France
Russia

4. Russian Revolution February 1915 Abdication and Execution of the Czar
Vital resources go to troops rather than the people
War brings suffering to the Russian people
Socialist Party - Bolsheviks emerge as leading political faction
Led by Vladimir Lenin
Promises end of the war and landownership for farmers and collective ownership of factories for urban workers
Had the support of the peasants and workers

5. Russian Revolution
Seizes power in November 1917 and quickly signed an armistice with Germany
Civil War between Lenin’s supporters and former Russian government
U.S. send a small contingent of troops to aid those who oppose the Bolsheviks
Shows the hostility of many Americans toward socialism and leads to strained relationship between the two countries.

6. Wilson Tries to Negotiate Peace
January 1917 Wilson tries to negotiate a peace between the two sides
A return to the status quo before the war
Negotiations a failure for two reasons
leaders of Europe still hoped and believed that they would ultimately prevail
Hostility and fear about the growing power of the socialist parties throughout Europe made those in power even more hesitant to end the war
Socialists had grown largely because of their opposition to the war as a Capitalistic plot

7. From Neutrality to War
At start of war U.S. is neutral and tries to promote peace
America’s immigrant population was made up of people who held allegiances to one side or the other
Effectiveness of British naval blockade led American businesses to trade with France and Britain
U.S. Farmers provided food for British and French troops and civilians
U.S. provides billions of dollars in loans to Western Europe
Americans claim neutrality but their economy is thriving off the war.

8. American Entry into the War
Germany recognized Western Allies dependency on American food and credit
May 15, 1915 a German U-boat sunk the British freightliner Lusitania
1,200 lives lost, 128 were American
Also carrying a billion dollars in war materials including 4 to 6 million rounds of ammunition
Most Americans see it as a act of unprovoked aggression

9. American Entry into the War
Congress reacts to Lusitania
National Defense Act of 1916
A peacetime measure approved by Congress authorizing troop increases and construction of new ships for the US Navy.
175,000 soldiers in army and $600 million in new ship construction
Although most members of Congress still opposed US entry into World War I at this time, the law demonstrated that government officials believed it was prudent to increase the nation’s military preparedness in response to world events.

10. Lusitania

11. American Entry into the War
German leaders believed that the French and British could not continue the war for long if they were denied access to U.S. supplies
Germans believed that even if U.S. entered the war it would take a year to get their army ready.
The Germans had observed the impotence of the US military in protecting its own border from the ragtag forces of Pancho Villa.
Zimmerman Telegram
January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause.

12. American Entry into the War
February 1, 1917 Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare.
Immediate end to diplomatic relations between Germany and U.S.
Next two weeks half dozen U.S. ships sunk
American enraged by destruction of ships and Zimmerman telegram being made public on March 1st
Sentiment that the U.S. is honor bound to respond with military force
Wilson issues declaration of war on March 20th

13. U.S. Declares War

14. Reasons for Going to war
Injured honor from sinking of ships and Zimmerman Telegram
Economic ramifications if Germany won the war
If U.S. joined hopefully it could boost the morale of France and Britain
If U.S. joined it might bolster those in Russia who opposed the Bolsheviks and Lenin

15. Reasons Against Going to War
Neutrality was popular
Americans watched the transformation of the war and the hellish trench warfare and were thankful they were not involved
Progressive Reformers
Participation on war would distract the nation from domestic reform and result in a conservative shift.
Progressive era ends.

16. Immediate Effects of U.S. Entry
Bolstered Western Allies morale
Greater security for U.S. products from German U-boats
Declaring war did not mean immediate mobilization American army or a draft
Congress approves dramatic increases in military spending and the construction of dozens of training camps

17. Creating an Army
Independent control of U.S. Army in Europe under General John J. Pershing
Wilson hoped to maintain an all volunteer army
Two main concerns lead to a draft
Congress was afraid that volunteer enlistment would be insufficient to increase the size of army
Volunteer army would be haphazard, enlisted men with skills would be better used on the home front not at war
Comes from belief that Americas biggest contribution was still going to be Naval protection and goods

18. Creating an Army Selective Service System Skilled workers stayed home
A system created by the US government requiring mandatory registration for possible conscription into the armed forces for all young men between the ages of twenty- one and thirty.
In the present day, all male citizens between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five are required to register.
Skilled workers stayed home
Southerners often granted every possible exemption to black draftees due to concerns that military service would lead to racial equality
Others took to opposite stance sending blacks to war with good jobs and families

19. American Participation
Joined Allied Powers
War was at a stalemate when U.S. entered
U.S. provides much needed moral boost, protection for supply vessels traveling across the Atlantic and troops.

20. How did the War End?

21. Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Thought causes of war should be identified, addressed and alleviated.
Internal cooperation
Freedom of seas
Removal of barriers of trade
Self-determination for European people
League of Nations

23. Treaty of Versailles
Rejected by the Senate because of the League of Nations
Isolationists senators wanted the U.S. to go back to a policy of isolationism
Middle senators wanted to negotiate conditions of American participation
Wilson unwilling to compromise
Senate rejects treaty – American goes back to policy of isolation.

24. Affect of WWI on the Home front

25. Impact on American Society
Increased role of women
19th Amendment, 1920
Prohibition of alcohol,
18th Amendment
African American migration northward
Race riots
Nativism
Infringement on civil liberties
Red Scare, 1919
Millions men in uniform: 112,000 dead
Volunteerism and patriotism
Return to isolationism after the war
Economic growth (especially farming)
End to Democratic party rule and the progressive era

26. During the Great War, Americans at home experienced a transformation economically, socially, and demographically.
Main Idea

27. Social Impacts Creel Committee
Committee on Public Information (CPI) created to sell America on war
Created by George Creel and Woodrow Wilson
Voluntary censorship of press
Established voluntary liberty leagues in every community (urged members to spy on neighbors)
Aroused passion and voluntary compliance
On April 13, 1917, Wilson created the Committee on Public Information (CPI) to promote the war domestically while publicizing American war aims abroad.
Under the leadership of a muckraking journalist named George Creel, the CPI recruited heavily from business, media, academia, and the art world.

28. Social Impacts Restrictions on Civil Liberties
Most serious infringement since Civil War.
Anti-German hysteria (fueled largely by Creel Committee)
Espionage Act 1917
Fines and imprisonment for:
Making false statements aiding the enemy
Inciting rebellion in the military
Obstructing draft recruitment
Wilson was denied broad censorship powers by congress
The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law passed on June 15, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entry into World War I.
It has been amended numerous times over the years. It was originally found in Title 50 of the U.S. Code (War) but is now found under Title 18, Crime.

29. Social Impacts Restrictions on Civil Liberties Sedition Act of 1918
Forbade any criticism of the government, flag or uniform
Expanded mail exclusion
Socialists and IWW (Industrial Workers of the World “Wobblies”) were targeted
Eugene Debs convicted under Espionage Act
About 100 IWW members convicted
The Sedition Act of 1918 (Pub.L. 65–150, 40 Stat. 553, enacted May 16, 1918) was an Act of the United States Congress that extended the Espionage Act of 1917 to cover a broader range of offenses, notably speech and the expression of opinion that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light or interfered with the sale of government bonds.

30. Social Impacts WWI constituted an ugly chapter in
Restrictions on Civil Liberties
Schenck v U.S. (1919)
Ruling Upheld Espionage Act
Defined freedom of speech
“clear and present danger clause”
Mild censorship or denial of mail privileges continued
WWI constituted an ugly chapter in
U.S. History of U.S. civil liberties
This measure was quickly challenged in the courts.
In a controversial Supreme Court decision, Schenck v. United States (1919), the law was upheld.
Congress had the power to enact legislation that under ordinary circumstances might not be acceptable, when faced by “a clear and present danger.”
The terms of the Espionage Act were strengthened by the enactment of amending legislation, the Sedition Act of 1918.

31. Economic Impacts U.S. economy was not geared for war in 1917
Bernard Baruch: Leader of War Industries Board
Response to lack of centralized government control of the economy
Sought to control raw materials, production, prices and labor relations
WIB never had much power and was dismantled soon after the war ended
Set a precedent for future government industry cooperation in the 1920s and New Deal agencies of the 1930s
The War Industries Board (WIB) was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies.
The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products.

32. Economic Impacts Government encouraged workers to help war effort
“Labor will win the war”
Women were encouraged to enter industry and agriculture
Women's contributions prompted Wilson to endorse female suffrage
Over 1 million women shifted from the home to the factory
After the was, fewer women worked in 1920 than in 1910
Helps lead to 19th Amendment

34. Economic Impacts The “Great Migration”
Both social and economic impacts
Thousands of African Americans migrated to the North to work in war- related factories (far more southern whites migrated northward)
Migration result of
decrease in immigration
immigrants returning home
jobs opening up from workers fighting in war
Mexican workers also replaced American workers who were now on the front lines
Race Riots occurred in 26 cities
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million African Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West that occurred between 1910 and 1970.

36. Economic Impacts Grievances of Labor Inflation during war eroded wages
6,000 strikes occurred during the war
Many by IWW – “Wobblies”
Taft’s National War Labor Board was created to oversee labor disputes
Prohibited strikes but encourages progressive reforms
Government formally recognized workers’ rights to unionize
Left-wing IWW used labor sabotage to undermine the war effort
The National War Labor Board (NWLB) was a United States federal agency created in two different incarnations, the first by President Woodrow Wilson from 1918–19 during World War I and the second by President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1942–45 during World War II.
It was composed of twelve representatives from business and labor, and co-chaired by former President William Howard Taft.
The decisions of the NWLB generally supported and strengthened the position of labor. Although it opposed the disruption of war production by strikes, it supported an eight-hour day for workers, equal pay for women, and the right to organize unions and bargain collectively.
Although the NWLB did not have any coercive enforcement power, Wilson generally ensured compliance with its decisions.

37. Economic Impacts Herbert Hoover and the Food Administration
Hoover considered a hero who helped feed the starving people of Belgium
Voluntary compliance with policies
Rejected rationing
Used Propaganda to gain support
Examples
“Meatless Tuesdays”
“Wheatless Wednesday”
Congress severely restricted the use of food stuffs for alcohol
18th amendment ratifies in 1919
Results:
Farm Production up 25%
Food exports to Allies triples
Hoovers methods imitated by other agencies

41. Economic Impacts Bond Drives, Liberty Bonds
Parades and slogans were used to promote four great Liberty Loan drives and one Victory Loan campaign
Each drive was oversubscribed leading to inflation due to increased money supply
Coercion was used on German Immigrants

42. Library of Congress http://www.the-forum.com/posters/warpost1.htm

43. Library of Congress http://www.the-forum.com/posters/warpost1.htm

45. Economic Impact Combining efforts netted 2/3 of war cost
Remaining revenue was raised by expanded income taxes
(made legal un 16th Amendment)
Government enforcement
Took over the nation’s railroads after traffic problems in late 1917
Seized enemy merchant vessels in U.S. harbors
Major U.S. contribution to war effort:
Food
Money
men

46. International Consequences of WWI
U.S. became the world’s leading economic and political leader
The Russian Revolution created the world’s first communist society
Britain, France Austria and Turkey went into various states of decline
Germany was devastated by the Versailles Treaty
Led to the eventual rise of Adolf Hitler and World War II

47. Political Aftermath of WWI
Represented the end of progressivism
Governments returned the railroads to their owners
Esch-Cummings Transportation Act
Race Riots (“Red Summer”)