2. Section 1 – The Road to War
4 Main Causes
Militarism – policy of aggressive military preparedness
Alliances – organization of countries involved in pacts or treaties
Imperialism – stronger nations taking control of weaker nations
Nationalism – pride or devotion to one’s country
Mobilization – getting forces ready for war
3. Central Powers – alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary,
the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria
They were referred to as the Central Powers because
geographically the rested between the Russian Empire in
the east and France and the United Kingdom in the west.
Allied Forces (Triple Entente)– alliance of France,
Russian Empire (including Serbia), British Empire, the
United States and Italy
4. The Schlieffen Plan
German plan of attack against France – It was
Schlieffen’s belief that Russia could not mobilize
troops before France was taken over and a battle
would not have to be fought on two fronts
This plan failed as Russian forces were mobilized in
a few weeks – forcing war on two fronts
5.
6.
7.
8. Stalemate – when neither side has an advantage - this was due
to the increased use of Trench warfare
Trench Warfare - a type of armed combat in which the
opposing troops fight from trenches that face each other
No-Man’s Land - The area between the allied and enemy
trenches. So called because nobody was supposed to be able to
survive in this territory because it was swept constantly by machine
gun and sniper fire.
9.
10.
11.
12. Autocrat – a ruler with unlimited power – Most Americans
believed Kaiser Wilhelm II was an autocrat.
Propaganda – information intended to influence public
opinion - In America much of the propaganda used was negative
representation of Germany/Germans
Neutral - not supporting or favoring either side in a war,
dispute, or contest – at the beginning of the war President Wilson
declared the USA neutral and worked toward a peace settlement
13. Section 2 – The United States
Declares War
Tensions between USA and German increase
U-Boat – German submarine that changed the rules of naval
warfare. U-Boats were used by Germany to hide under water and
fire on ships without warning
Lusitania - British passenger ship that Germany believed was
transporting weapons to the allied forces – German U-Boat fired
upon this ship – killing majority of passengers including the 128
Americans
14.
15. Sussex Pledge – a promise not to attack ships without
warning – President Wilson demanded that Germany agree to this -
in 1917 Germany withdrew it’s agreement and began unrestricted
warfare again.
Zimmerman Telegram – telegram sent to Mexico by
German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman – telegram promised
Mexico the American southwest if it would declare war on the
United States – the telegram was intercepted by British intelligence.
Bolshevik Revolution – in Russia,1917, led by Vladimir
Lenin and Joseph Stalin, revolutionaries overthrew the non-
democratic Czar of Russia – with him out of the way – USA was
more willing to join the allies in war.
16.
17.
18. WWI Timeline
July 1914 – WWI begins in Europe
May 1915 – German sub sinks Lusitania
March 1916 – German sub sinks the Sussex – French
passenger ship
February 1917 – Zimmerman note intercepted
March 1917 – Russian Revolution brings republican
government to Russia & German sub sinks 3 U.S. ships
April 1917 – United states declares war against Germany
19. Section 3 – Americans on the
European Front
Selective Service Act – the selective service act instituted the draft
system to increase size of America’s active military services.
Because this was believed to be the “war to end all wars”, American
people supported the draft in hopes of ending the war swiftly. 24
million men registered and from that pool 3 million were chosen to
go to war on behalf of America and the allies. Volunteers and
National Guardsmen made up the remainder of what was to become
the AEF
American Expeditionary Force (AEF) – name of the troops the 3
million men served in during WWI – thousands of women
volunteered as nurses, clerks, and drivers – 400,000 African
Americans served in segregated units, but few saw combat
20.
21. Harlem Hell Fighters – Despite the racial tension still
existing in America, over 300,000 African Americans either
volunteered or were drafted to serve in segregated units.
The 369th Regiment consisted of men eager to fight in the
war, so eager in fact that they convinced their white officers
to lend them out to the French to fight. The French were
quick to integrate the regiment into their army. Their
performance was so admirable that the entire regiment was
awarded the highest combat medal the French had – the
Croix de Guerre.
22. Convoy – Due to the unrestricted warfare tactics of German
submarines; in May 1917, all merchant and troop ships traveled in a
convoy. A convoy consists of destroyers, torpedo boats, and other
naval vessels that were equipped with hydrophones used to track and
destroy submarines. It was necessary to travel in this fashion in order
to get the American troops overseas as quickly as possible so they may
come to the aid of the allies and defeat the Germans.
John J. Pershing – In June of 1917, President Wilson had agreed
to send a small force of American troops to Europe. Not properly
trained, Wilson gave command of this force to General John J.
Pershing. Gen. Pershing was a veteran of the Spanish-American and a
former teacher at West Point Military Academy. His experiences and
skills were needed to lead the troops successfully against the strong
German forces.
23. Commander-in-Chief –
John Joseph (blackjack) Pershing
He got his nickname serving with a black regiment in the Russo-Japanese War
24. Vladimir Lenin signed a truce with Germany on December
15, 1917 – This leads to an armistice between Russia and
Germany – allowing for the Germans to rally all troops to
the western front before American troops could arrive
Upon arrival the AEF fought German forces along the
western front deep into allied territory – turning the
Germans back near Paris
The allies counter attacked German troops and in July of
1918, the Germans were pushed back off the western front
25.
26. The War Ends
Armistice – ceasefire
On November 11, 1918 – both sides agreed to an
armistice – at 11am (11-11-11)
This war also witnessed the 1st genocide when the
Turkish (Ottoman) government wiped out the
Armenians
27. Section 4 &5 - Americans on the
Home Front
To maintain support of the people and raise funds for
war efforts - the US government enforced many
new programs. (Propaganda)
Liberty Bonds – special war bonds sold to Americans to raise
money
28.
29. Price Control – government managed the production and
distribution of food through setting food prices.
Rationing –Government controlled the distribution of foods to
consumers in fixed amounts. People would also agree to NOT eat
certain foods on different days of the week in order to conserve
rations.
Daylight Savings – turning the clocks ahead one hour in the
summer to increase the number of daylight hours for work.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36. The Committee on Public Information (CPI)
To enforce loyalty to the Allied cause, the government
regulated news and information by censoring the press.
They also rallied support through films, pamphlets, and
posters.
Muckraking journalist George Creel was put in charge of
leading this committee – The committee was responsible
for issuing pro- war propaganda; however, Creel merely
succeeded in spreading an already growing anti-German
hysteria
37.
38.
39.
40. Fear of Foreigners
Espionage Act of 1917 - June 15, 1917, which made it a crime for
a person to convey information with intent to interfere with the
operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to
promote the success of its enemies
Sedition Act of 1918- The passing of this act forbade Americans to
use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the
United States government, flag, or armed forces during war. The act
also allowed the Postmaster General to deny mail delivery to
dissenters of government policy during wartime.
It was an attempt by the United States government to limit freedom
of speech during a time of war
41. Eugene V. Debs
Socialist Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years
in prison under this law. U.S. citizens including
members of the Industrial Workers of the World
union were also imprisoned during World War I for
their anti-war dissent under the provisions of the
Sedition Act. Anti-war protesters were arrested by
the hundreds as speaking out against the draft and
the war became illegal under this law.
42. Immigration Act of 1917 - The most controversial aspect to the act was
the proposal to exclude all "aliens over sixteen years of age,
physically capable of reading, who cannot read the English language,
or some other language or dialect, including Hebrew or Yiddish."
Literacy tests for immigrants –forcing immigrants to prove they
can read before entering country. Law leads to nativism and
increased anti-German feelings. It also excludes Asian immigrants
from entering country.
Vigilantes – groups of people who took the law into their own
hands to harass and even murder radicals and German immigrants.
43. Foreign fears effect Military
Joseph Wehner – resident of Everett, MA. promptly enlisted in
the U.S. Army Corps in June 1917 and developed an interest in
flying. While undergoing training Wehner was briefly arrested by
the Secret Service on suspicion of treason on account of his German
background. He was a successful American 'balloon buster' of World
War One, with six victories to his credit prior to his death in action
on 18 September 1918.
44. President Wilson as a Global
Peacemaker
14 Points – program presented by the President as a means to
make the world safe from war. It included:
an end to alliances
Removal of trade barriers among nations
Reduction of military forces
Right of ethnic groups to Self-determination – make
decisions about their own futures.
45. Paris Peace Conference 1919
Spoils of War – rewards of war such as land, riches, personal
belongings – France, Italy, and Britain wanted these – Wilson did
not.
League of Nations – organization of all the nations to work for
worldwide security and peace
Allies would not agree to this
Congress also did not agree – especially because Wilson did
not invite republican representation to the conference.
Reparations – payment to allies for economic sufferings due to war
– B, I, and F want Germany to pay
46. As a result of the conference – 9 new nations of
the territory of Austria-Hungary, Russia,
and Germany
several of these nations formed to serve as a buffer
between Europe and Bolshevik Russia. Millions of
Germans and Hungarians became residents of
Poland, Czechoslovakia, or Romania, thus creating
more ethnic tensions.
47.
48. The Versailles Treaty
on May 7, 1919 Germany was given the treaty to sign – at first they
refused to sign it arguing that it violated the 14 points presented at
the peace conference. France threatened Germany with an invasion if
they would not sign and on June 28, 1919 all the great powers signed
the treaty in the former home of King Louis XIV – the palace of
Versailles – hence the name Treaty of Versailles
War Guilt Clause – France and Britain wanted to cripple Germany
– they insisted that Germany provide reparations – payment for
economic injury suffered during a war. In 1921, a Reparations
Committee ruled that Germany owed the allies $33 billion dollars.
49. Economy slows as war comes to end
Death and destruction Troops have difficulty
Bring feelings of Adjusting to civilian
Gloom to many life
Americans United States after the War
Many women and minorities
Returning African Americans continue Face loss of jobs as men return
To face discrimination and To work
segregation
