1. America and the Great War: From Neutrality to Conflict

2. The war begins in Europe July, 1914 President Wilson’s message to the American people: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/usn eutrality.htm http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/usn eutrality.htm Most popular song: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/4942/

3. The difficulty of neutrality

4. Wilson the idealist: his vision for the world Democracy, civil rights, capitalism, and free trade for all Is Wilson really being neutral?

5. Trouble on the high seas 1914 and 1915: February, 1915:

6. The Lusitania May 7, 1915:

8. Election of 1916 Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) reelected “We didn’t go to war!” Charles Evans Hughes-Republican

9. The final steps Jan 31, 1917: Feb 24, 1917: British spies inform Wilson of the “Zimmermann Telegram:”

10. Zimmermann Telegram

11. Declaration of War on Germany April 2, 1917: Wilson’s war message The world must be “made safe for democracy” “A war to end all wars.” http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/4943/

12. Getting ready for war Selective Service Act of 1917: War Industries Board (1917): Fuel Administration: Food Administration: 5,000 other government boards regulated American life during the war

13. Wartime propaganda Propaganda: one-sided, persuasive communication designed to influence the opinions and behavior of people.

14. Goals of propaganda Inspire unity among Americans (the U.S. was 1/3 immigrant at the time) Crush opposition to the war Vilify the enemy Inspire people to enlist in the military Contribute to the war effort at home in other ways

15. On the following slide, cut and paste your four favorite WWI propaganda images. Use these sites: http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/usa.htm http://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/amposter.htm http://web.uccs.edu/history/student%20presentations/heidi/world_war_one. htm http://web.uccs.edu/history/student%20presentations/heidi/world_war_one. htm http://www.archives.state.al.us/teacher/ww1/lesson5/ (scroll to the bottom) http://www.archives.state.al.us/teacher/ww1/lesson5/