How/Why did the USA get in WW1?

Standard 15

Militarism•European nations began an

arms race as they competed for colonies around the world……

Alliances•European nations began forming military alliances with one another to maintain a

balance of power ……..

Triple Alliance Triple EntenteCentral Powers Allied PowersGermany Great Britain Austria-Hungary Empire FranceBulgaria Russia

alliances1

• Austrian-Hungarian Empire controlled

several ethnic groups.• Serbian nationalists wanted to unite Serbs

who lived in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire with Serbia.• This led to the

assassination of the Archduke Franz

Ferdinand.

Saravejo

Imperialism •France, Great Britain, Germany and Russia

were establishing colonies in Africa and Asia

•economic and political control over other countries……

•these countries were in competition for colonies

Cartoon-European grab bag

European nations competing for colonies around the world…..Imperialism

Nationalism•Countries proud of their

heritage and culture•Similar to patriotism

•Ethnic groups of similar heritage wanted to free their oppressed brethren and unite their people into one country

•Germany wanted to expand its culture and political influence

throughout Europe.

Outbreak of World War IOn June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by members of

a Serbian terrorist group; this led to the outbreak of WWI

•The Germans could not match Great Britain's superior navy.

•Germans introduced unrestricted submarine warfare with U-Boats•Germans warned the world they

would sink any ship they believed was carrying contraband to Great Britain.

U-Boats

• By 1918, Germans had sunk 6,500 allied ships.

Two types• small subs

with a crew of 24

• larger subs with a crew of

60• 44 by 1918

•May 7, 1915, the Germans sunk the Lusitania which was British passenger liner.

•Germans believed it was carrying contraband (weapons) to the British.

•Killed 1,198 civilians including 128 Americans. •U.S. and other countries outraged towards

Germany because of “unrestricted submarine warfare”.

•US believed the Germans had violated international law of targeting civilians

zimmerman cartoon

zimmerman code

Overview of the USA entering WWI• When war was declared in Europe in 1914,

President Wilson declared American neutrality; But the USA joined the war in 1917 due to:–German unrestricted submarine warfare

& violation of free trade –Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico–Wilson hoped to “make the world safe

for democracy” • The USA provided badly needed troops &

supplies to the Allies

When German submarines sank three American

merchant ships in March 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war.

A Bureaucratic War• To coordinate the war effort, 5,000 new gov’t

agencies were created– War Industries Board (WIB) oversaw all factories,

decided priorities, & fixed prices– Food Admin supplied food to soldiers by appealing

to civilians – Fuel Admin rationed coal & oil– RR Admin, War Shipping Board, & War Trade Board

helped move resources to troops

Imposed “gasless” days & shut down factories for days to divert or conserve fuel

Asked for a spirit of self-sacrifice, imposed “meatless” & “wheatless” days & encouraged

Americans to plant “victory gardens”

New bureaucracies were created to mobilize America for participation in World War 1

Propaganda

“The Flag of Liberty represents us all”Which groups are these posters targeting? “Emotional” Wartime Propaganda

New, industrial weapons made this an unexpectedly deadly war which neither side seemed able to win

Both the Allies & Central Powers used total war by converting industrial factories to make war supplies, drafted men to fight, used propaganda, & rationed

necessary goods in order to win

NEW WEAPONS

• Machine guns, repeating rifles, tanks, bi-planes (2 wings), heavy artillery, poison gas, submarines (U-Boats), battleships all used in WWI, many for the first time in war

How did the War Affect the US?

23

Women •Women filled factory jobs

•May have led 19th Amendment after the war (Gave women the right to vote)

•Black soldiers still served in Segregated Units

African Americans

•“Great Migration” - thousands of African Americans moved North to work in factories

Passage of Amendments

• Due to rationing of food, the call for prohibition grew stronger. – 18th Amendment- Prohibition

• Women also gained the right to vote during this time.– 19th Amendment- Women’s suffrage

Black soldiers

The Great Migration• Because America needed more workers,

women were able to better-paying jobs & many Southern blacks moved north for industrial jobs.

How was the war looking for the allies?

•Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917

•Made it a one front war for Germany - all its troops could concentrate on France

Not Good...

Convincing the American People• Posters - Gee!!

•How do you think this poster helped to convince the American people that the war was a good idea?

What did the US do to help?

• The U.S. provided the food, money, and fresh troops needed to win the war

American Troops March Through London

Supplies:

Battles and Heroes

• Battle of Argonne Forest- Last major offensive attack by Germany, USA and France able to hold

• Alvin York- received Medal of Honor for his fighting at Argonne Forest

• Eddie Rickenbacker- Air Force Pilot- shot down 26 German aircraft

How did the War Affect the US?

31

Enforcing Loyalty

•Hatred of all things German•Ex. “Liberty Cabbage”

•Espionage Act 1917 & Sedition Act of 1918 punished those against the war (many labor leaders)

Armistice Day

• A cease fire was called to stop fighting on November 11, 1918 at 11am

• This is why we celebrate Veterans’ Day on 11.11

Treaty of Versailles & League of Nations• When WWI ended, U.S. president Wilson

presented Fourteen Points– Wanted freedom of the seas & weaker militaries– Wanted new nations formed out of Germany &

Austria-Hungary (self determination) – Wanted a League of Nations to solve

future problems

• President Wilson compromised many of his Fourteen Points to get a treaty as long as a League of Nations was created

• The treaty was harsh on Germany & led to the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939

The Treaty of Versailles

The USA never signed the treaty or joined the League of Nations because “strong reservationists” &

“irreconcilables” in the Senate were afraid joining the League would pull the USA into future European wars

1st World War in history•Great War or War to End

all War•Not called WWI until

after WWII•Total war

•Involved 60 nations and 6 continents

Cost of War•$400 billion

•$10 million dollars an hour16 million deaths

•First war of the Industrial Revolution……

New Weapons vs old tactics of fighting