1. Unit 5: Imperialism & WWI

2. The state of the war
Germany initially doing well against British and French troops
By May of 1918 they were just 50 miles from Paris

3. America to the rescue American troops jumped in and saved Paris
Turned the tide of war
250,000 American troops arriving in France each month

4. America’s Contribution
In total, 1.5 million American troops arrived in Europe in the last 6 months of the war

5. Surrender Begins
Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire surrendered in the fall of 1918
Finally Germany surrendered on Nov. 11, 1918

6. Influenza Epidemic Last months of the war
Killed more people worldwide than all battles of the war

7. Progression of the Great Influenza
First detected in Kansas
Then carried to Europe by American soldiers
The influenza killed within a few days
30 million people died

8. Consequences of War Deaths: Killed 14 million Politically
Killed 9 million combatants and 5 million civilians
Politically
Downfall of 4 empires, led to Bolshevik rise to power in Russia, triumph of fascism in Italy
Other consequences
Mass murder of Armenians in Turkey
Influenza epidemic that killed 25 million people

9. Consequences for America
Europe’s leading creditor
Most industrialized nation
Comparatively few deaths
Leads to America becoming a major world power

10. The Peace
European Allies wanted to make Germany pay for the damage of war
President Wilson, instead, thought the treaty should lay the groundwork to “end all wars”
Wilson brought his “Fourteen Points” to Paris

11. League of Nations
Wilson’s 14 Points called for a League of Nations, an international governing body
This became part of the Treaty of Versailles
But Congress refused to ratify the treaty
Disliked the idea of “internationalism” wanted to stay out of the conflicts of Europe
Instead wanted to focus on America & its interests