THE WAR AFFECTS THE WORLD

SETTING THE STAGE By 1915, the war on both European

fronts promised to be a long, grim affair. All of the Great Powers looked for new allies to tip the balance of power and win.

A TRULY GLOBAL CONFLICT Italy joined the Allies Bulgaria joined the Central Powers In various parts of Africa and Asia,

Germany’s colonial possessions came under assault

Troops as well as laborers came from India, South Africa, Egypt, and Indochina to fights

Japan overran Germany’s colonies in China and the Pacific islands

THE U.S. ENTERS THE WAR By 1917 the war had shifted to the seas In 1917, Germany tried to counter

Britain’s blockade with one of their own The Germans announced they would

sink any ship in the waters around Britain without warning

Unrestricted submarine warfare

On May 7th, 1915, a German submarine (U-boat) sank a British passenger ship, the Lusitania 1198 people killed

The American people were outraged and President Woodrow Wilson demanded Germany stop the unrestricted submarine warfare Germany sank 3 American ships

America also intercepted a telegram saying that Germany promised to help Mexico reconquer America if Mexico helped Germany win the war Zimmerman Telegram

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war

WHAT TWO THINGS

BROUGHT THE U.S. INTO THE

WAR???

THE WAR AFFECTS THE HOMEFRONT WWI was a total war: all resources were

dedicated to winning Millions dead Factories turned into war plants Rationing of goods (shoes, butter…)

Unemployment rate fell Anti-war activity was stopped Propaganda was used to encourage war

support Women went to work to make up for the

loss of men

WOMEN AT WORK

PROPAGANDA

THE ALLIES WIN THE WAR America entering the war tips the scale

towards the allies

EASTERN FRONT Russia withdraws from the war

By march 1917, there was civil unrest No food or fuel

5.5 million soldiers dead or wounded Government was collapsing November 1917, Communist leader Vladimir

Ilyich Lenin seized power Signed a treaty with Germany—Treaty of

Brest-Litovsk Russia had to give up Finland, Poland,

Ukraine, and Lithuania

RUSSIANS RUNNING FROM GERMAN TROOPS

WESTERN FRONT Germany made one last push for

victory and came within 40 miles of capturing Paris The Allies with 140,000 (later 2 million

more) fresh American troops counterattacked

Allies push towards Germany and the Central Powers collapsed

THE ALLIES WIN THE WAR November 9, 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm II

was forced to step down An Armistice (an agreement to stop

fighting) was signed in Paris WWI ended on November 11, 1918

ACTIVITY – CLASSWORK – PROPAGANDA AD

The year is 1917. The Lusitania has been sunk, and the Americans have discovered the Zimmerman Telegram. It is your responsibility to design a propaganda ad to encourage Americans to go to war. Must be neat, colorful,

detailed, and creative!