1. Causes of World War I
Imperialism- Britain and France had colonies all over the world
Germany only had small colonies in Africa
Militarism- German/France armies doubled between 1870 and 1914
Britain had strongest navy

2. Causes
Nationalism- All countries wanted to promote their own interests and become more powerful
World Causes
Alliances

3. Causes of World War I Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Austria-Hungary’s Archduke visiting Sarajevo (in Bosnia) which made Serbians mad
“Black Hand”
Gavrilo Princip
Directly led to war in August of 1914
Austro-Hungarian government blames Serbia and declares war
Russia aids Serbia
Germany aids Austria-Hungary

4. U.S. Entry into WWI U.S. struggles with neutrality
August 4, 1914 Wilson declares neutrality
Americans had mixed feelings
Remember Washington’s Farewell Address?
As neutral nation U.S. continues trading
$800 million - $3 billion in trading
Beneficial at first but costly as time went on
International neutrality law
violated by Germans

5. U-Boat Fever German U-boats Unlimited submarine warfare
May 7, Lusitania sunk by Germans
Unlimited submarine warfare
Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

6. Further developments Arabic pledge Sussex pledge Election of 1916
Germany would not sink unarmed ships
Sussex pledge
Agreed on rules of visit and search
Election of 1916
Wilson runs and wins “he kept us out of war”

7. U.S. in WWI Zimmerman note- German foreign minister sends
two German ambassador to Mexico
British intercept message and tell U.S.
Telegraph states that if Mexico agreed to attack the U.S. then Germany would make sure they would get the Mexican Session back.
Wilson publishes note to enrage citizens of U.S.

8. Zimmerman note

9. U.S. goes to war
March 4, Wilson asks to preserve “armed neutrality”
April 6, Congress declares war on Germany
Americans buy Victory and Liberty Bonds

10. Technology Wireless communication Tanks Aircraft Machine Guns
Artillery
U- Boats
Flamethrowers
Trench warfare
Biological warfare
Chlorine, mustard gas, and phosgene

11. Russia Drops out of the War

12. Impact of American Troops

13. Treaty of Versailles: Why did the US Senate reject the treaty?

14. The home front Food is rationed by the government
Government control of
Industry and Railroads
Labor and Agricultural Controls
Labor force changed
Women and African Americans employed
Also first time African- American soldiers were allowed to fight in a foreign war
Struggle to put down opposition of U.S. involvement in war
Pacifists or COMMUNISTS?!

15. Attack on Civil Liberties
Espionage Act of 1917-
Wilson gets powers of censorship
Selective Service Act of 1917
Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917
Sedition Act of 1918
Criticizing the government had become illegal

16. Attack on Civil Liberties or Giving Priority to National Security?
Alien and Sedition Acts 1798
Lincoln Suspends Habeas Corpus
Espionage Act of 1917
Patriot Act of 2001 (Obama extended the law)
Patriot Act

17. Schenck v. United States
Charles Schenck- Secretary of Socialist Party
Sending out leaflets to eligible draftees encouraging them to oppose the draft
Supreme Court sides with government
“clear and present danger” rule
circumstances of wartime permit greater restrictions on free speech than would be allowable during peacetime

18. Essential Questions Identify causes of the “Great War”
Identify new technology created during WWI
Describe the initial US position in the war.
What was the initial US position based on?
What caused the USA to enter the war?
How did the war impact the daily life of Americans?
Is it reasonable for the government to limit civil liberties during times of war? Be Specific
How did the US government limit civil liberties during WWI?
Why is the Treaty of Versailles considered a failure?