1. Unit 5: Imperialism & WWI
1.3.19

2. Story Time: If WWI Had Been a Bar Fight

3. Japan
United States
Australia

4. What do you notice about this map that is different from Europe today?

5. America in WWI

6. WWI Causes 4 MAIN underlying causes of WWI in Europe Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism

7. The Sides Allied Powers
Serbia
France
Russia
Great Britain
Italy
Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria

8. President Wilson Initially really didn’t want the U.S. to go to war
Campaigned on keeping U.S. out of war
War progressed, American opinions changed

9. Toward Intervention
As the war continued, America began to lean toward Britain and France

10. The Economy During the war, trade with the allies tripled
Allies had to ask the U.S. for credit
Wilson agreed – loaned France and Britain $

11. America’s decision to enter the war: Reason 1
Sinking of the Lusitania
British passenger liner
Sunk by German sub
1,200 died, including 128 Americans

12. Reasons for sinking the Lusitania
The German Embassy had warned passengers:
[Summarize this:]Travelers intended to embark for an Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies.... Vessels flying the flag of Great Britain or any of her allies are liable to destruction.
Recent research: the ship was carrying arms to Britain

13. America’s decision to enter the war: Reason 2
Unrestricted German submarine warfare
Attacks without warning
Germany first promised to give warning, then changed its mind
Violated the Sussex Pledge

14. America’s decision to enter the war: Reason 3
The Zimmerman Note (Jan. 1917)
German plot to provoke Mexico into war against the US
Mexico decided it wouldn’t be a good idea
Significance: changed public opinion in the US

15. Finally, War
German submarine attacks on three more U.S. ships were the final straw
Wilson asks Congress to declare war on April 6, 1917

16. Expectations Germany assumed that the war would be over in 5 months
That would mean the U.S. wouldn’t have time to mobilize
Wilson was particularly interested in crafting the peace agreement at the end of the war
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
President Woodrow Wilson of the US

17. Pre-War America
When America entered the war in 1917, we had just over 100,000 troops
Smaller than 16 other countries
Congress had to institute the draft
Within a year, America had an army of 5 million

18. As America Enters, Russia Exits
Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, took over
Signed a peace treaty with Germany
Significance: Let Germany fight a one-front war