What event is this poster based on?

Is this an effective

propaganda poster? Why?

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By 1917 the conflict we call The First World War had been raging for over two years, drawing in troops from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and

Australia, although the main battles were in Europe.

Breaking the Stalemate!

In 1917, the focus of the war shifted to the high seas. That year, the Germans intensified the submarine warfare that had raged in the Atlantic

Ocean. Germany decided that a naval blockade of Great Britain would cause severe food shortages and give them an advantage. In January 1917, the

Germans announced that their submarines would sink without warning any ship in the waters around Britain. This policy was called

___________________________.Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

The Sinking of the Lusitania

One result of this German policy was that a British passenger ship, the Lusitania, was sunk by a German

submarine on May 7, 1915, with a loss of more than 1,100 passengers and crew, including 124 Americans.

How do you think U.S. citizens felt about this? What should be done?

Department of State, Washington, May 13, 1915 To Ambassador Gerard: In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable that the Government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted.

The Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of the Imperial German Government … the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies … in the destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity.... The Government and the people of the United States look to the Imperial German Government for just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital matter…..Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan

The United States Government Responds

Do you think this letter was a sufficient response to the sinking of

the Lusitania?

Sussex Pledge

The Sussex Pledge was a promise given by the

German Government to the United States of America

on May 4th 1916 in response to US demands relating to the conduct of

the First World War.

Germany promised to alter their naval and submarine policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and stop the indiscriminate sinking of non-military ships. Instead, Merchant Ships would be searched

and sunk only if they contained contraband, and then only after safe passage had been provided for the crew and passengers.

The 'Zimmerman Telegram' – often called the Zimmerman Note - was a memo sent from the German

Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Ambassador to Mexico through a supposedly

secure channel devoted to peace negotiations. It informed the

ambassador that Germany would be resuming its policy of Unrestricted

Submarine Warfare (USW) and proposed an alliance. If Mexico would join in a war against the US, they would be rewarded with financial support and re-conquered land in New Mexico, Texas, and

Arizona.

The Zimmerman Note

Why do you think this was such a threat to the U.S.

Why would the Germans propose such an

alliance?

Why would the telegram be published in U.S.

newspapers?

How would the U.S. public react?

The Germans knew renewed USW would

probably cause the US to declare war on them. Gambled on shutting

Britain down before an American army could

arrive in force. Alliance with Mexico and Japan, as proposed in the

Zimmerman Telegram, was intended to create a new Pacific and Central

American Front.

British intelligence intercepted the telegram and,

recognizing the effect it would have on US

public opinion, released it to America

on February 24th 1917.

It was released to the world press on March

1st.

The U.S. generally felt kinship with Great Britain

(common language, culture, history)

US public - felt need to end isolationism.

A vast majority reacted to the Note and

renewed USW by backing war against Germany. When the American Congress approved Wilson's decision to

declare war on April 6th, there was just 1 vote

against.

The United StatesUnited States – Maintained a policy of noninvolvement, yet economically were benefiting by selling goods.

Sinking of the Lusitania – German submarine warfare affected Americans.

Germany breaks the Sussex Pledge

Zimmerman Letter – Germany sent a letter to Mexico encouraging them to fight the U.S. The letter was intercepted.

The United States entered the war against Germany in 1917.

Create a title for

this Political Cartoon

Russia Leaves The War1918 – Russia gets out of the war. They sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. This gives the Germans

territories in western Russia in exchange for peace.

FRANCE

St. Mihiel

Argonne Forest

PARIS

The American Presence

Battle of the Argonne Forest

Last Night of the War, 10-11 Nov 1918

An Armistice is DeclaredGermany put their all into an

attack on March 21st 1918. For several months the offensive

pushed the Allies back, but in July the Germans were stopped at the Second Battle of the Marne. The Allied counter-offensive began in

August and in what became known as the Last Hundred Days,

they pushed the Germans back. Germany sought an armistice

which came into effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

The Treaty of Versailles

Objective:

• To understand the events and process of the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles.

• What impact did American politics have on the treaty process?

World War I EndsOn January 18, 1919 representatives of 32 nations attended a conference at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France to establish terms of peace.

This was called the _________________________________Paris Peace Conference

The four personalties who dominated the conference were known as the ______________________Big Four

There were heated debates among these nations as they all

wanted different things. Woodrow Wilson wanted

lasting peace and wanted the ________________ to be the

basis for peace. This was a list of terms for resolving this and all future wars. It called for

the end of secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade and the large scale reduction

of arms.

What did Wilson believe to be the answer to the

world’s problems? Would it work?

Wilson’s Idealism

Fourteen Points

Wilson also felt that self-determination was

important.

The right of a people to determine how their own

nation should be governed.

The Goals of France

1. According to this cartoon, what was Clemenceau’s main concern? Why?

2. Why do you think Clemenceau was nicknamed “The Tiger?”

The British and French were more interested in demanding

harsh treatment for the Germans. The French leader had bore the nickname “The

Tiger” for his fierce war policy. His goal was to weaken Germany

so that it could never threaten France again.

The Treaty of VersaillesLasting-Peace Peace-Revenge

War-Guilt clause, Germany pays reparations, Arms limitation, Germany lost territory, Alsace-Lorraine to France, Poland is

created, Creation of the League of Nations, Germany forbidden to join League, France controls Rhineland, Polish corridor established,

no secret alliances

Arms LimitationCreation of the League of Nations

Polish Corridor established

France controls Rhineland

Poland is createdWar-Guilt clause- Blame

Germany pays Reparations

Germany lost Territory

Germany forbidden to join League

No secret alliances Alsace-Lorraine to France

The Treaty of Versailles

New Map of Europe!

1. Which major empires lost the most land? Why?

2. What problems could occur due to the structure of the European landscape?

Costs of War New Nations Treaty of Versailles

•Millions of lives lost

•$338 Billion spent

•Land, towns, cities were destroyed

•Led to worldwide depression

•Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman

Empire, Russia were broken up

•Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland•Baltic states – Lithuania,

Estonia, Latvia•Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Trans

Jordan•Europe continues

imperialism, rejects self-determination for

colonies

•Germany accepts war guilt

•Germany pays reparations

•Germany loses colonies•Germany limits size of

military•League of nations is created but U.S. and

U.S.S.R. are not members

Results of WWI