World War I

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World War I
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Get out a ½ sheet of paper and answer the
following questions. When you are done, turn in
to the stool.

1. List the MAIN causes of WWI.
2. Define each of the MAIN causes of WWI.
3. What is the SPARK that set off WWI?

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Europe in Turmoil

• Long Term (MAIN) Causes of the War
• 1- Militarism
• 2- Alliance System
• 3- Imperialism
• 4- Nationalism
• These were all forces pushing Europe into war
• Tension due to alliances and the build-up of
  military strength

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To fight or not to fight

• TO FIGHT!

• Not to fight

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To fight or not to fight..

• What does neutral mean?
• What is isolationism?
• Americans oppose joining the Allies
• Ethnic ties of German Americans
• Wilsons slogan for 1916 campaign
• Pacifists believe the war was evil
• Americans support joining the Allies
• Cultural ties with Great Britain
• Economic ties with the Allies
• Anger at the U-Boat attacks Remember the
  Lusitania!
• Zimmerman Note

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• Ethnic ties
• Strong cultural ties to the homeland
• Fight for the Homeland!
• What does homeland mean?
• Where were many American immigrants from?
• Wilsons 1916 Presidential Slogan
• He kept us out of War
• Pacifists believe war was evil
• What does pacifism mean?

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The Lusitania

• Ocean liner under British registration
• Sunk off the Irish Coast by German U-Boat
• 1198 die 128 U.S. citizen
• How do Americans react?
• Unarmed, but Germans allege it did carry
  munitions for Allies

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The Zimmerman Note

• 19 January, 1917
• The Zimmerman Note
• to the German Minister to Mexico
• Berlin, January 19, 1917
• On the first of February we intend to begin
  submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of
• this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep
  neutral the United States of America.
• If this attempt is not successful, we propose an
  alliance on the following basis with
• Mexico That we shall make war together and
  together make peace. We shall give
• general financial support, and it is understood
  that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in
  New
• Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left
  to you for settlement....
• You are instructed to inform the President of
  Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as
  soon
• as it is certain that there will be an outbreak
  of war with the United States and suggest that
  the
• President of Mexico, on his own initiative,
  should communicate with Japan suggesting
  adherence at
• once to this plan at the same time, offer to
  mediate between Germany and Japan.
• Please call to the attention of the President of
  Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine
• warfare now promises to compel England to make
  peace in a few months.
• Zimmerman
• (Secretary of State)

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The Zimmerman Note

• How did Americans react to this?
• Who was Arthur Zimmerman?
• German Foreign Secretary starting November 1916.
  On 16 January 1917, sent the fateful "Zimmerman
  Telegram" to the German ambassador to Mexico,
  suggesting an alliance in return for lost
  territories taken by America in the 19th century.
  The telegram, intercepted by British
  intelligence, became instrumental in the United
  States decision to enter into the fray of WWI.

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The U.S Enters WWI

• Why?
• The sinking of the Lusitania
• Zimmerman Note
• To protect democracy
• What kind of government did the central powers
  have?

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The U.S. Mobilizes for War

• The United States moved the following areas
  towards the war effort. The following areas
  describe how the U.S. mobilized our efforts at
  home to support the war

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Conscientious Objectors

• What is a conscientious objector?
• A conscientious objector is an individual
  following the religious, moral or ethical
  dictates of his or her conscience that are
  incompatible with being a combatant in military
  service, or being part of the armed forces as a
  combatant organization
• What happens in times of war?

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Conscientious Objectors in World War I
John T. Neufeld was a WWI conscientious objector
sentenced to 15 years hard labor in the military
prison at Leavenworth. He was paroled to do dairy
work and released after serving five months of
his sentence.

• We were cursed, beaten, kicked, and compelled to
  go through exercises to the extent that a few
  were unconscious for some minutes. They kept it
  up for the greater part of the afternoon, and
  then those who could possibly stand on their feet
  were compelled to take cold shower baths. One of
  the boys was scrubbed with a scrubbing brush
  using lye on him. They drew blood in several
  places.
• - Mennonite from Camp Lee, Virginia, United
  States
• 16 July 1918

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• Conscientious Objectors vs. Absolute
  Conscientious Objectors
• Imprisoned in military facilities such as Fort
  Lewis (Washington), Alcatraz Island (California)
  and Fort Leavenworth (Kansas).
• The government failed to take into account that
  some conscientious objectors viewed any
  cooperation with the military as contributing to
  the war effort.
• The mistreatment received by these absolute COs
  included short rations, solitary confinement and
  physical abuse so severe as to cause the deaths
  of two Hutterite draftees

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Raising an Army to Prepare for War

• Congress passes the Selective Service Act
• Also known as the Draft
• Drafted all men between the ages of 21 and 30
• Used Propaganda
• What is propaganda?
• Propaganda is a kind of biased communication
  designed to influence peoples thoughts and
  actions
• What are some examples of propaganda?

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Wartime Industry

• Industries changed from making consumer goods to
  making military weapons and supplies
• Congress created the War Industries Board to
  oversee the production and distribution of goods
  manufactured by the nations wartime industries
• Government issued military contracts to
  industries
• WIB helped to boost industrial production by 20

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• Other federal agencies regulated the economy
• The Fuel Administration watched over the use of
  coal, gasoline and heating oil
• The Food Administration was established to help
  produce and conserve food supplies
• Encouraged Victory gardens, Meatless Mondays,
  Wheatless Wednesdays
• Americans were able to send more food to the
  Allies

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• The War Economy How did the government raise
  money to pay for the war?
• Congress raised taxes and authorized the sale of
  war bonds
• Bonds became known as Liberty Bonds
• Raised more than 20 million dollars

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Workers and Wages During the War

• Wilson created the National War Labor Board to
  settle labor disputes- NWLB
• NWLB supported
• Collective bargaining
• Outlined minimum wages and maximum hours
• Equal pay for women

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• Unions went on strike for better wages and
  working conditions
• Owners had to give in to their demands because
  they were faced with having to meet the military
  quota
• What is a quota?
• Wages increased
• Set an 8 hour workday
• Laborers were in short supply
• Why?
• Turned to non-traditional workers
• African Americans
• Women

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Gaining Support and Promoting the War

• What is isolationism?
• How do you gain the support of the people?
• The U.S. Government created the Committee on
  Public Information
• Nations First Propaganda Agency
• Artists, Advertisers, Posters, Cartoons, Parades,
  4 Minute Men gave speeches anywhere, anytime to
  promote the war