1. The First World War
Chapter 11

2. The War to End all Wars (or is it?)
Causes: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN)
6/28/1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand from Austria assassinated in
Sarajevo
- Killed by Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip (The Black Hand) ;
- Serbia was blamed
- Led Austria-Hungary to declare war on July 28, 1914 with the backing of Germany; this brought many countries into the war
Schlieffen Plan: Germany would have to make a plan to fight a front war (defeat France quickly and then go to Russia)- It failed
Led to a long war characterized by Trench warfare

3. Alliances Triple Alliance/ Central Powers: Triple Entente/ Allies:
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Triple Entente/ Allies:
France
Great Britain
Russia
Japan
Italy
U.S. (eventually)

4. U.S. Proclamation of Neutrality
 Both sides long for U.S. intervention
Most Americans didn’t want to get involved
Many of German descent sympathized with Germany.
Many felt a common ancestry with Britain
Economic ties with Britain were stronger with Allies
Many felt Germany was the “bully” of Europe
British Blockade- block German supplies & goods hurt Germany and angered Americans
 Germans declared submarine warfare in the Atlantic
U-boats would destroy ships in the Atlantic
Might sink “neutral” merchant ships on accident
Kaiser Wilhelm II

5. The Lusitania May 7, 1915 Torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat
1,198 killed, including 128 Americans
Germany agreed not to sink anymore passenger ships
Wilson is able to maintain neutrality
But for how long?????

6. Causes of U.S. involvement in WWI
1) The Lusitania
Americans began to feel a real threat and were outraged
2) German unrestricted submarine warfare resumes- January 31, 1917
U-boats would sink all ships in British waters, including unarmed U.S. merchant ships
Wilson broke diplomatic ties with Germany

7. Causes of U.S. involvement
3) Zimmerman Note
From the German foreign secretary to Mexico
Intercepted by the British in March 1917
Published in U.S.
Promoted a German-Mexican alliance
In hopes of keeping the U.S. preoccupied in a war with Mexico
Mexico would regain lost land
4) Russian Revolution- Monarchy abolished
1917
U.S. now had a reason: fight for democracy without the hypocrisy of Russian despotism

8. U.S. Declares War President Wilson delivers his War resolution
April 2, 1917
Congress declares war and joins Allies
- April 6, 1917
U.S. must now mobilize for the war
Selective Service Act- May 1917
Required men to register- random draft
Units were segregated
Women could be nurses, secretaries etc..

9. The Homefront: What was going on with the United States during WWI?
Changes = problems
Change: Government takes control of the economy
1. War Industries Board
Raise industrialization 20% through “mass-production”
2. Fuel Administration
Ration gasoline & heating oil (gasless Sundays)
3. National War Labor Board
Settled labor disputes
If workers disagreed, could be drafted into the army (Work or Fight)
4. Food Administration (Herbert Hoover)
Increased farm production with higher prices paid to farmers
Rationing
“Meatless Tuesdays! Wheatless Wednesdays! Grow your own garden!”

10. Homefront (continued)
Change: Government Propaganda and Censorship to encourage support for the war
1. Committee on Public Information
George Creel
Creates propaganda
75 million booklets and pamphlets distributed by the Boy Scouts
Espionage & Sedition Acts
Up to 20 years in jail and $10,000 fine for anyone saying anything “disloyal” or “abusive” against the US or interfering with the war effort

12. Problems during WWI 1. higher taxes (income taxes go up)
The war cost about $35 billion
2. higher production
Child labor, longer work hours, “uneven pay” between workers and managers, inflation over 6,000 strikes
3. “Great Migration”
Industrial jobs in the North
Wanted to escape racial discrimination in the south
African-Americans migrate to big cities which increased racial tensions

13. Problems during WWI
4. Propaganda against Germans leads to anti-immigrant “hysteria”
Nativism on the rise
Overall immigration decreases during WWI
Suspicion of immigrants
Many with German last names lost their job or were beaten
5. Espionage and Sedition Acts = violation of civil liberties
People who questioned the war or draft could be persecuted

14. Wilson’s Fourteen Points Speech JanUary 18, 1918
Goal: To strengthen morale, and break the enemy’s governments
#1-5 dealt with preventing future wars (secret treaties, reduce arms, freedom of seas etc…)
#6-13 dealt with boundary changes- self determination
Fourteenth Point: League of Nations
Established an international organization which would serve to provide worldwide protection and peace
Appealing, but not adopted by all
Plays a role in the creation of the Treaty

15. The Impact of WWI on Women
Opportunities for women to work in defense plants
Wilson eventually supports women’s suffrage after a series of protests in front of the White House
19th Amendment, 1920

16. The Treaty of Versailles
Paris Conference: The Big Four
Wilson, Orlando (Italy), Lloyd George (Britain),
Clemenceau (France)
Central Powers and Russia were not there
Most of the Fourteen Points were not included- just League of Nations
Treaty rejected by many in the U.S. and Congress
Too harsh
League of Nations threatened U.S. policy of Isolationism
Wilson embarks on a speaking tour, which was not a great idea
Suffers a stroke in October of 1921

17. The Provisions of the Treaty of Versailles
Established 9 new nations
Shifted the boundaries of other nations
Gave temporary colonies to France and Great Britain
Germany could not maintain an army
Germany had to pay heavy reparations
$33 billion to the Allies
War-guilt clause

18. Why didn’t the U.S. ratify the Treaty of Versailles?
Wilson alienated Republicans and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Did not include them in U.S. delegation to Europe
Wilson was unwilling to compromise on treaty terms
-too harsh & League of Nations went against isolationism
U.S. later signs a separate treaty with Germany in 1921
League of Nations meeting for the first time—Without U.S. participation