The U.S. in World War I The War to End All Wars

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The U.S. in World War IThe War to End All Wars

• I. Causes of the War
• A. Nationalism-Patriotic and prideful feelings
  for ones country. Example Germans were proud
  of their heritage and felt like they were the
  dominant European country during the early
  1900s.
• B.Imperialism/Colonialism- European countries
  fought for territory around the world and
  eventually ended up competing with each other for
  the same land. Example Africa

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• C. Alliances- European nations signed alliances
  with each other so that, in the case of war, they
  would come to the others side.
• 1. Triple Entente- France, Great Britain,
  Russia, Serbia and eventually the U.S.
• 2. Triple Alliance- Austria-Hungary, Germany,
  Ottoman Empire, and Italy (which switched sides
  once the going got rough).

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• D. Militarism- The desire to acquire a large
  military. European nations felt like they had to
  be the top dog and spent their resources
  developing navies, armies, etc. to keep up with
  each other.
• E. The Assassination- A Serbian man (Gavrilo
  Princip) shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand of
  Austria-Hungary which put into play all of the
  previously mentioned causes.

Last Picture taken of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
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• II. New Technologies and Military Advances of WWI
• A. Tanks- Originally invented by the British,
  tanks become an important factor in World War I.
• B. Chemical Weapons- Used by both sides during
  WWI, this weapon was banned by most countries
  after WWI. The most common form of chemical
  weapon used was mustard gas.

British Tank
Mustard Gas Attack
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• C. Airplanes- Used at first for surveillance,
  this new technology increased in importance as
  the war came to a close. The most famous air
  combat pilot was the infamous Red Barron from
  Germany.

Plane used for Reconnaissance
The Red Barron
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• D. Big Bertha- a cannon that could fire up to 9
  miles away.
• E. Submarines-Used extensively by the Germans,
  U-boats were important in disrupting shipping
  lines and supplies coming to the Triple Entente.

German U-Boat
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• III. U.S. Involvement in WWI
• A. Events leading up to the U.S. entering WWI.
• 1. Woodrow Wilson wins the election of 1916 on
  the basis that he would keep the U.S. neutral.
• 2. Sussex Pledge- Germany promised not to sink
  passenger ships after several U.S. citizens lost
  their lives in an attack by German U-boats.

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• 3. The Lusitania- A German U-boat sinks the
  ship Lusitania, in which 128 Americans lose their
  lives. The Germans claimed the ship carried
  contraband (military weapons) and that they had a
  right to sink the ship. The incident infuriates
  Americans, but they still do not enter World War
  I.
• 4. The Zimmerman Note- The U.S. enters the war
  after the British uncover a secret note sent from
  Germany to Mexico. In the note, Germany promises
  to help Mexico get back all the territory
  (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada) that it
  lost during the Mexican-American War.

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• 5. The Russian Revolution- Started by Vladimir
  Lenin, Bolsheviks or communists overthrew Czar
  Nicholas II. Russians drop out of the alliance
  with England and France. Importance Russia
  leaving the alliance puts pressure on the U.S. to
  enter the war.

The Poster Reads Beat up the Noble Man!
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• B. Social Impact of the War on the U.S.
• 1. Selective Service Act- This law created a
  lottery system that selected a person for war
• 2. Victory Gardens- The U.S. was in short supply
  of food for troops in Europe, so people began
  planting seeds for food at schools, libraries and
  other public buildings.
• 3. The Great Migration- African-Americans left
  the South for factory jobs in the North.

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• 4. Immigrants, especially Germans, were attacked
  and discriminated against during WWI.
• 5. Influenza Epidemic of 1919- The worldwide flu
  killed an estimated 500,000 people in the U.S.
  and over 40 million worldwide. Doctors were
  desperate for answers and cures. Some even
  recommend taking out teeth and putting sulfur in
  peoples shoes.

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• IV. Effects of WWI
• A. The Treaty of Versailles is signed in which
  Germany is forced to give up territory throughout
  the world and forced to pay reparations (payments
  made for starting the war).
• B. Due to a depression and reparations, Germany
  looks for a strong leader to get them out of
  their troubles and turns to Adolf Hitler.

Can you find Hitler?
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• C. The U.S. replaces Great Britain, France, and
  Germany as the dominant world power.
• D. The U.S. becomes isolationistic (e.g. they
  wanted to separate themselves from the rest of
  the world).
• E. The League of Nations is formed to prevent
  further wars. However, the organization fails
  because
• 1. The U.S. fails to join.
• 2. All members had to agree

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• Sites Used
• http//www.geocities.com/worldwar1/default.html
• http//www.ukans.edu/kansite/ww_one/photos/greatw
  ar.htm
• http//www.ocean-liners.com/ships/lusitania.asp
• http//www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/classroom/aleve
  l/pics/rus1.jpg
• http//www.seorf.ohiou.edu/xx057/
• http//ww2homefront.net/VictoryGarden.jpg
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/peopleevent
  s/pandeAMEX89.html
• http//www.erie.net/iacas/versailles.html