1. Causes of the War Underlying Causes: Immediate Causes: Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Immediate Causes:
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

3. Causes of the War Underlying Causes: Immediate Causes: M ilitarism
A lliances
I mperialism
N ationalism
Immediate Causes:
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

5. War in Europe Most of Europe is at war
Allied Powers vs. Central Powers
Allied: England, France, Russia, Italy
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
New technology makes war deadlier
Machine gun
Poison gas
Tanks
Planes
Artillery
Both sides resort to trench warfare to survive

9. British Mark V Tank

10. French Renault FT

11. The US and the War The US declares neutrality
Is the US REALLY neutral?!?
American heritage is tied to England…
France helped America in the Revolutionary War…
Lots of German immigrants in the country…
Lots of Irish immigrants in the country…
US tries to trade with both sides
Sends food, weapons, and money to Europe
Allied Powers get ~$2 Billion dollars in aid/trade
Central Powers get ~$27 Million dollars in aid/trade

12. US Enters the War
Germany using unrestricted submarine warfare to try to beat England and France
Germany sinks the Lusitania, a passenger ship, killing over 1,200, including 128 Americans in 1915
Germany torpedoes the Sussex, which kills ~100 in 1916
Germany signs the Sussex Pledge, promising to NOT use unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany sends the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico in 1917
Asks Mexico to attack the US to keep us out of Europe
Germany resumes using unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany sinks four US ships in March 1917
Finally, the US declares war in April 1917

13. Painting of U-Boat Sinking

14. SS Sussex

17. The War at Home War is GREAT for the American economy!
American factories building tanks, planes, guns, bombs
American banks lending money to England and France
Labor shortage leads to rising worker wages
War cuts off almost all immigration from Europe
Two million American men drafted into the Army
Workers salaries go from ~$15/week to ~$100/week
Americans asked to ration (conserve) food, fuel, and resources for the war effort

18. Women in Factories

19. Shifting Demographics
Labor shortage means lots of NEW workers
Women start working in factories making real $$$ for the first time
African-Americans move from south to north to work in factories
Hispanics (mainly Mexicans) move to southwest US to work in agricultural jobs
We’ll come back to these changing demographics and gender roles next time!

20. New Workers

21. New Workers

23. The US in Europe
US builds army through the Selective Service (the Draft)
American Expeditionary Force led by General John J. Pershing
American soldiers (called “doughboys”) break the stalemate in Europe
Alvin York wins the Congressional Medal of Honor for fighting in France
Germany asks for a cease-fire on November 11, 1918

24. The Peace Plan After the War
Who goes to peace conference?
England, France, Italy, the US
What do they want?
England: revenge
France: revenge
Italy: revenge
The US: peace, and to make sure this never happened again

25. The Big Four

26. The Peace Plan After the War
President Wilson proposes his Fourteen Points
14 big ideas for ending war, like smaller armies and navies, or letting people vote for their government
Wilson’s biggest idea is a “League of Nations”
England, France, and Italy disagree with Wilson
Wilson agrees to give up all his other points if they accept the League of Nations

27. Treaty of Versailles Germany has to accept blame for the war
Germany has to pay reparations in the amount of $33 billion dollars
Germany has to give up its army and some if its colonies
This is HUMILIATING for Germany!
Germans are desperate for leadership following the war
Helps start World War II just 20 years later

28. Europe Before the War

29. Europe After the War

30. Wilson Brings the Treaty Home
Treaties have to be approved by the Senate
It’s a rule in the Constitution
The Senate, led by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge reject the treaty
Lodge says the treaty will get the US involved in European affairs (and maybe wars…)
The US NEVER joins the League of Nations

31. US Rejects the Treaty