Chapter 6

The U.S. and World War I

6.1 Beginnings of The

Great War

World War I (WWI)

Broke out in Europe in 1914 Involved U.S. and other countries Four long term causes

Nationalism Militarism Alliance System Imperialism

The Roots of War

Nationalism – pride in ones country or

nationality European counties became more interested in

their own interest Militarism – process which a nation builds up

its military for purpose of intimidating and deterring other countries In order to protect self interest in their countries

Alliance System – agreements between nations

to help each other in the event of war Further protection If country is attacked allies would consider

themselves at war as well Could drag several nations into war

Imperialism – strong counties taking over weaker countries making them protectorates. These nations had interest in either the economic, militaristic, or social domination of weaker nations.

Archduke Francis Ferdinand’s Assassination

Heir to the Austria-Hungary throne was visiting Bosnia A Serbian nationalist assassinated Ferdinand and

threatened to go to war This brought Russia and Germany to the verge of war

Europe was divided and at war Triple Entente – Great Britain, Russia, and France Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and

Ottoman Empire

The War Begins

August 4, 1914

Wilson declared U.S. neutral Followed a policy of isolationism

Philosophy that the U.S. should stay out of international conflict

The U.S. Remains Neutral

Number of factors would contribute to the U.S.

getting involved in the war Immigrants wanted to side with the Central

Powers Business men and others wanted to side with

the Triple Entente Had money invested in European countries

The U.S. eventually received all of there news from Great Britain – showed Germany as ruthless aggressor

The U.S. Enters the War

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

U-Boats – German submarines; one of there fiercest weapons

Wreaked havoc in the Atlantic during the war Germany gave warning to sink any ship entering

or leaving British ports Wilson argued no one should be allowed to

disrupt natural shipping on the high seas

U.S. had begun shipping military supplies to

Great Britain aboard cruse liners The Lusitania

Torpedoed by German U-boat 1200 people died included Americas Angered many Americans Germany agreed to not sink any more passenger

ships; went back on there agreement

The Zimmermann Telegram

Arthur Zimmermann, German Foreign Minister sent a telegram to the German embassy in Mexico

Telegram asked Mexico to attack the U.S. if the U.S. declared war on Germany

Germany promised to help Mexico gain back land it lost during Mexican-American War

U.S. intercepted the telegram and cut democratic ties to Germany

The sinking of ships and the telegram meant

the U.S. could no longer stay neutral Wilson said “the world must be made safe for

democracy” Argument for the U.S. to go to war Tried making citizens see it as good v. evil

April 1917 the U.S. entered the WWI

You will complete a SPAWN writing assignment

on the information you learned about WWI

SPAWN Assignment

6.2 U.S. Involvement in World War I

When the U.S. entered war, Europe had been at war for three years

New Technology: Machine guns – mechanical gun

that could fire many rounds very rapidly

Hand grenade – hand-held explosives the could be thrown at the enemy

Mustard gas – poisonous gas first used by the Germans

Due to the new technologies the two sides

came to a stalemate Trench warfare – long ditches in which

solders would take cover while they fired on the enemy Forced to live for long period in wet, dirty, rat-

infested trenches Area between the trenches called “no mans

land” covered with barbed wire and land mines

Trenches

The “Doughboys” Arrive

General John J. Pershing commander of the U.S. forces

U.S. not ready to send that many troops to Europe Selective Service Act – draft of young men for

military service 3 million drafted as well as National Guardsmen and

Volunteers trained in a mater of months

American Expeditionary Force Sent to fight in Europe; know as the “doughboys”

The Bolshevik Revolution

The Russians lost almost 2 million lives The revolution forced Czar Nicholas II from

power and replaced him with a new republic – did not last long

Bolsheviks Leader Vladimir Lenin Took over country and established a communist

regime Pulled Russia out of the war

Turing Points of the War

U.S. Troops Save Paris and Help Turn the

War Russia was no longer a concern of Germany Germany turned it sights on Paris, France

Just outside of Paris U.S. Marines stopped Germany advancement

Allies used tanks to push through German lines Germany since the war had turned against them

November 1918 the warring nations signed an armistice – cease fire or agreement to stop fighting

Big Four (Britain, France, Italy, and U.S.)

Met for peace conference in Paris Wilson had no desire to punish Germany; goal

was peace and stability in Europe “Fourteen Points”- Wilson’s peace proposal

Reduction in arms Right of self-determination – power to govern

oneself League of Nations – provide a place where

countries could talk about differences rather than go to war

After the War

Peace without victory – peace imposed by a

victor upon a loser would give birth to resentment and leads to conflict

The U.S. did not join the League of Nations Isolation grew strong again after war

The Treaty of Versailles Allies forced Germany to sign Germany had to take total responsibility for the

war Imposed harsh conditions

Pay reparations – lead to economic depression and bitterness

WWI had a huge effect on life in the U.S. War Industries Board

Placed controls on nation's economy; obtain supplies for the military and allies

Committee on Public Information Encourage public support for U.S. war effort Propaganda, rationing, conserve fuel (daylight

saving time)

Government Increases Its Role

Espionage and Sedition Acts

Made it illegal to interfere with the draft, sale of Liberty Bonds, make statements considered disloyal or critical of the government, the Constitution, or the U.S. military

Limited civil liberties to protect national security

Mind Map Assingment

Using the information that you gathered you will create a mind map of the causes and effects of WWI.

You must include both written information and pictures/symbols/drawings that will explain the information

The following is an example of a mind map:

The following topics must be included in your poster:

New technology of WWI (Trench warfare, mechanized warfare and chemical warfare)

The home front in America including ways the govt got civilians to back the war effort

Central Powers of WWI (reasons for involvement) Allied Powers of WWI (reasons for involvement Results of the end of the war (ex. Treaties and

alliance groups between the US and other nations

Section 3

The Home Front

Building up the Military

Many volunteered but others thought that more men needed to be drafted

Many Progressives thought that conscription, forced military service, was a violation of democratic and republican principles

Selective Service Act: created by congress with the support of Wilson; required all men 21-30 register for the draft

African Americans in the War

400,000 AA were drafted Racially segregated units

were always under the supervision of white officers

Fought bitter battles; were often awarded war medals

Women in the Military

1st war that women officially served in; nurses were not given ranks

Jobs performed: Clerical Radio operators Chemists Photographers Torpedo assemblers

Organizing Industry

War Industries Board: coordinated the production of war materials

Was later reorganized and Bernard Baruch was appointed to run it

Controlled the flow of raw materials, ordered the construction of new factories, and set prices

Food and Fuel

The Food Administration, run by Herbert Hoover, encouraged Americans to save and ration food

Victory Gardens: gardens planted by citizens in order to save food for the troops

The Fuel Administration, run

by Harry Garfield, tried to manage the nations use of coal and oil

Introduced daylight savings time which shortened the workweek for factories that did not make war materials

Paying for the War

To fund the war effort (44 million a day) Congress increased income taxes

Liberty and Victory Bonds: Americans would buy bonds, and the government agreed to repay with interest

Selling the War

Committee on Public Information: Headed by George Creel who recruited artists, advertisers, public speakers, authors, and motion picture co. to help sway the public in favor of the war.

Civil Liberties Curtailed

Espionage: spying to acquire secret government information (Espionage Act of 1917)

The fear of spies caused Americans to persecute German Americans

Sauerkraut: Liberty Cabbage Hamburger: Salisbury Steak Dropped German language classes

from schools

Supreme Court Limits Free Speech

Schenck vs. The US: individuals freedom of speech could be curbed when words spoken constitute “clear and present danger”

Examples of Propaganda

Posters

Propaganda Poster Activity

Use a white sheet of paper Use the following rubric as a

guide to help you create your propaganda poster

____/50 picture/image relates to WWI

____/25 wording relates to WWI ____/25 Creativity