1. The First World War
Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster by James Montgomery Flagg

2. The First World War: What? When? 1914-1918
War involving nearly all the nations of the world
When?

3. The First World War: Why? Long term - Alliance system
Imperialist Competition
3. Militarism
4. Nationalism
Why?
Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914

4. The First World War: Who? Allies: Germany Austria-Hungary
Central Powers:
Allies:
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Russia
France
Great Britain
Italy
Japan
United States (1917)

5. The First World War:
Where?

6. Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?
America was isolationist
“Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems”

7. Which side should the US pick?
Central Powers:
Allies:
11 million German-Americans
Irish-Americans hated Great Britain
Close cultural ties
Shared transatlantic cables
Big business loaned much $ to allies
US Exports to both sides:

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

9. What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
In May, 1915 Germany told Americans to stay off of British ships
They could/would sink them

10. What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)
German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking

11. What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
The US sharply criticized Germany for their action
Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future
Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster

12. What did it take to get the US involved?
2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone
Why? Otherwise their blockade would not be successful

13. What did it take to get the US involved?
3. Zimmerman Note
US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico
It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in return for an alliance

14. What did it take to get the US involved?
Zimmerman Note + the sinking of 4 unarmed American ships led to a declaration of war

15. How was the war looking for the allies?
Not Good...
Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917
Made it a one front war for Germany - all its troops could concentrate on France

16. So…..
The US entered the war on the Allied side

17. The Treaty of Versailles
Paris Peace Conference 1919

18. “THE BIG FOUR”

19. ORLANDO
GEORGE
WILSON
CLEMENCEAU

20. Each leader brought different agendas to the conference table.
According to this cartoon what is England’s goal for the Versailles Conference?

22. One major outcome of the war:
Enormous cost of the war in lives, property, and social disruption
Who is going to pay for all this mess?

24. The Treaty of Versailles:
Forced Germany to accept guilt for war and pay reparations
Limited the German military
Took away German territory
Germany’s financial system was crippled

25. The Treaty of Versailles:
Harsh on Germany and set the stage for World War II
French and English insisted on punishment of Germany
National boundaries were redrawn, establishing new nations

28. President Woodrow Wilson
Effects of the War:
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
What?
President Wilson’s Plan for after the war
President Woodrow Wilson

29. 14 Points Wilson’s plan to eliminate the causes of war.
freedom of the seas
League of Nations to work for peace
Self-determination (allow for countries to govern themselves)
Mandate System (new form of Imperialism where “parent” country “helps” newer country)

31. Outcomes and Global Effects:
Colonies’ participation in the war, which increased demands for independence
End of the Russian Imperial, Ottoman, German, and Austro-Hungarian empires
Enormous cost of the war in lives, property, and social disruption