World War IWorld War I

1860-19201860-1920

Causes of WW I - nationalism Causes of WW I - nationalism

In Europe, countries competed for military In Europe, countries competed for military power and ownership of European lands. power and ownership of European lands.

People had strong feelings of nationalism. People had strong feelings of nationalism. Nationalism is a love of one’s country and Nationalism is a love of one’s country and

the desire to have that country free from the desire to have that country free from the control of others. the control of others.

Nationalism made it difficult for countries Nationalism made it difficult for countries to cooperate. to cooperate.

Causes of WW I- imperialismCauses of WW I- imperialism When one country takes over another, When one country takes over another,

it is called imperialism.it is called imperialism. In the 19In the 19thth and early 20 and early 20thth centuries, centuries,

Britain, France, and other European Britain, France, and other European nations were seizing territory in Africa nations were seizing territory in Africa and Asia.and Asia.

Many smaller countries sought out Many smaller countries sought out alliances to protect themselves from alliances to protect themselves from being taken over by an imperialist being taken over by an imperialist nation.nation.

Causes of WWI - alliancesCauses of WWI - alliances

Afraid of attacks, several European Afraid of attacks, several European countries formed alliances.countries formed alliances.

An alliance is an agreement among An alliance is an agreement among nations to defend one another.nations to defend one another.

If one ally is attacked, the other If one ally is attacked, the other members promise to come to help.members promise to come to help.

The two alliances were the Allied The two alliances were the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. Powers and the Central Powers.

Two Great AlliancesTwo Great Alliances

In 1914, two great alliances In 1914, two great alliances (partnerships between countries) had (partnerships between countries) had developed:developed:

The Allied Powers were: Britain, The Allied Powers were: Britain, France and Russia.France and Russia.

The Central Powers were: Austria-The Central Powers were: Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and the Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and the Ottoman Empire, also known as Ottoman Empire, also known as Turkey.Turkey.

Fighting Begins in EuropeFighting Begins in Europe

In 1914, Austria-Hungary was in control of land that In 1914, Austria-Hungary was in control of land that Serbia believed it owned. On June 28, 1914, a Serbia believed it owned. On June 28, 1914, a Serbian assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir Serbian assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. declared war on Serbia.

Every major European country was soon involved in Every major European country was soon involved in the war. the war.

Originally it was called The Great War. Later the Originally it was called The Great War. Later the war became known as World War I (WWI).war became known as World War I (WWI).

Most of the fighting in WW I was on two fronts: the Most of the fighting in WW I was on two fronts: the Eastern Front (in Central and Eastern Europe) and Eastern Front (in Central and Eastern Europe) and the Western Front (in Belgium and France).the Western Front (in Belgium and France).

New Kind of WarfareNew Kind of Warfare

Soldiers on each side dug a system of Soldiers on each side dug a system of trenches.trenches.

A “no-man’s land” – the land between A “no-man’s land” – the land between trenches that neither side controlled – trenches that neither side controlled – spread out between the opposing armies. spread out between the opposing armies. Soldiers ate and slept in the trenches, Soldiers ate and slept in the trenches, which were often flooded or filled with which were often flooded or filled with rats. Some trench systems were as long as rats. Some trench systems were as long as 400 miles.400 miles.

Each side shot at the other’s trenches or Each side shot at the other’s trenches or sent poison gases into them. sent poison gases into them.

IsolationismIsolationism

At first, the United States stayed out of the At first, the United States stayed out of the war and did not join an alliance.war and did not join an alliance.

The U.S. had a policy of isolationism. This The U.S. had a policy of isolationism. This meant that the U.S. preferred to remain meant that the U.S. preferred to remain neutral and let the European countries neutral and let the European countries handle their own problems.handle their own problems.

President Woodrow Wilson and many President Woodrow Wilson and many Americans did not want the U.S. to choose Americans did not want the U.S. to choose sides. sides.

President Woodrow WilsonPresident Woodrow Wilson

In 1916, President Wilson was In 1916, President Wilson was elected again as President of the elected again as President of the United States. United States.

His campaign slogan was “He kept us His campaign slogan was “He kept us out of the war.”out of the war.”

The United StatesThe United Statesenters the warenters the war

In early 1917, German leaders said that U-boats would attack In early 1917, German leaders said that U-boats would attack all ships in British waters.all ships in British waters.

U-boats sank three American merchant (cargo) ships killing U-boats sank three American merchant (cargo) ships killing many Americans.many Americans.

When a German submarine sank a passenger ship called the When a German submarine sank a passenger ship called the Lusitania, killing 1200 people including 128 Americans, people Lusitania, killing 1200 people including 128 Americans, people cried out for the U.S. to get involved.cried out for the U.S. to get involved.

It wasn’t until a German telegram was intercepted and printed It wasn’t until a German telegram was intercepted and printed in papers suggesting an alliance between Germany and in papers suggesting an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the U.S. that Wilson was ready for war. The Mexico against the U.S. that Wilson was ready for war. The telegram was called the “Zimmerman Note.”telegram was called the “Zimmerman Note.”

On April 2, 1917 President Wilson asked Congress to declare On April 2, 1917 President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, saying, “The world must be made safe for war on Germany, saying, “The world must be made safe for democracy.”democracy.”

On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and the On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and the United States entered WWI.United States entered WWI.

America at WarAmerica at War

American forces began landing in France in American forces began landing in France in June 1917.June 1917.

The arrival of American troops in Europe The arrival of American troops in Europe dramatically increased the fighting strength dramatically increased the fighting strength of the Allied Powers, who had already been of the Allied Powers, who had already been fighting for three years.fighting for three years.

More than 4 million American soldiers, More than 4 million American soldiers, sailors, and marines fought in World War I. sailors, and marines fought in World War I.

New TechnologiesNew Technologies

When Americans first arrived in France to When Americans first arrived in France to fight the war, they lived in trenches or fight the war, they lived in trenches or ditches dug in the ground.ditches dug in the ground.

Airplanes were used in WWI. When fighter Airplanes were used in WWI. When fighter planes fought each other in the air, it was planes fought each other in the air, it was called a “dog fight.”called a “dog fight.”

Soldiers faced new weapons including: Soldiers faced new weapons including: submarines, machine guns, bombs, tanks, submarines, machine guns, bombs, tanks, and mustard gas.and mustard gas.

War’s Impact at HomeWar’s Impact at Home In 1917, a poster of “Uncle Sam” was In 1917, a poster of “Uncle Sam” was

used to encourage people to join the used to encourage people to join the United States Army.United States Army.

There were fewer hands to work the There were fewer hands to work the farms with the men off at war. Because farms with the men off at war. Because of this, less food was being produced.of this, less food was being produced.

People started raising vegetables in People started raising vegetables in “victory gardens”. Town squares and “victory gardens”. Town squares and parks across the U.S. were dug up and parks across the U.S. were dug up and planted with food crops to help feed planted with food crops to help feed people at home and overseas. people at home and overseas.

WomenWomen The U.S. government did not allow women to fight The U.S. government did not allow women to fight

in the war.in the war. Many women took over factory jobs left by men Many women took over factory jobs left by men

who had gone to fight in the war. Women helped who had gone to fight in the war. Women helped to produce weapons, tanks, and ammunition. to produce weapons, tanks, and ammunition.

Some women became mechanics or farm workers. Some women became mechanics or farm workers. Others became police officers. Some went to Others became police officers. Some went to Europe as nurses or ambulance drivers. Europe as nurses or ambulance drivers.

Thousands of women joined the Army Thousands of women joined the Army

or Navy as clerks and telegraphor Navy as clerks and telegraph

operators.operators.

War BondsWar Bonds

To pay the cost of fighting the war, the To pay the cost of fighting the war, the government increased taxes.government increased taxes.

The U.S. government also borrowed money The U.S. government also borrowed money by selling war bonds to Americans. The by selling war bonds to Americans. The government promised to pay back the cost government promised to pay back the cost of each bond plus interest.of each bond plus interest.

About one in every five Americans bought About one in every five Americans bought war bonds.war bonds.

The War EndsThe War Ends On November 11, 1918, the Germans gave up and On November 11, 1918, the Germans gave up and

the Central Powers surrendered. They signed an the Central Powers surrendered. They signed an agreement to end fighting called an armistice.agreement to end fighting called an armistice.

Today, November 11Today, November 11thth is celebrated as Veteran’s Day is celebrated as Veteran’s Day to remember the Americans who fought in World War to remember the Americans who fought in World War I and our nations other wars. I and our nations other wars.

The Central powers lost more than 3 million soldiers The Central powers lost more than 3 million soldiers and nearly 3.5 million civilians. and nearly 3.5 million civilians.

The Allied Powers lost nearly 5 million soldiers and The Allied Powers lost nearly 5 million soldiers and more than 3 million civilians. more than 3 million civilians.

Civilians are people who are not soldiers.Civilians are people who are not soldiers. More than 20 million soldiers were wounded.More than 20 million soldiers were wounded. Everyone hoped there would never be another war Everyone hoped there would never be another war

like that again. They called it “The War to End All like that again. They called it “The War to End All Wars,” because no one could imagine it happening Wars,” because no one could imagine it happening again. again.

The United States The United States and the Peace Processand the Peace Process

In January 1919, President Wilson and the other In January 1919, President Wilson and the other Allied leaders met in Versailles, France, to draw Allied leaders met in Versailles, France, to draw up a peace treaty. up a peace treaty.

President Wilson hoped that the treaty would not President Wilson hoped that the treaty would not punish the Central Powers and would make sure punish the Central Powers and would make sure there would be a lasting peace. there would be a lasting peace.

The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. Against Wilson’s wishes, the treaty did War I. Against Wilson’s wishes, the treaty did punish the Central Powers. It demanded that punish the Central Powers. It demanded that Germany pay heavy fines and Germany could not Germany pay heavy fines and Germany could not rebuild their army.rebuild their army.

The U.S. Senate did not approve the treaty. They The U.S. Senate did not approve the treaty. They disagreed with the harsh treatment of Germany, disagreed with the harsh treatment of Germany, and many Americans did not want the U.S. to join and many Americans did not want the U.S. to join the League of Nations. the League of Nations.

League of NationsLeague of Nations President Wilson suggested an international President Wilson suggested an international

organization be formed to prevent wars. The organization be formed to prevent wars. The Treaty of Versailles created the League of Treaty of Versailles created the League of Nations. Nations.

The League of Nations was an organization that The League of Nations was an organization that would include all the countries of the world and would include all the countries of the world and would help nations to find peaceful ways to solve would help nations to find peaceful ways to solve problems.problems.

The United States The United States did not joindid not join the League of the League of Nations.Nations.

Many people felt that the U.S. should return to a Many people felt that the U.S. should return to a policy of policy of isolationisolation or remaining separate from or remaining separate from other countries.other countries.

Peace and isolation only lasted about 20 years.Peace and isolation only lasted about 20 years.