World War I Wrap Up

World War I Started – 1914

Ended – 1918

US troops entered the war – spring of 1918

Central Powers

Allied Powers

1.Germany2.Bulgaria3.Ottoman Empire4.Austria –Hungary5.Bosnia

1.France2.Italy3.Britain4.Russia5.Japan

The United States practiced a policy of Neutrality, favoring neither side.

Freedom of the Seas

1.Germany declared the seas around the British Isles to be a War Zone and attacked any ships on sight.

2.The British Navy stopped U S merchant ships bound for the Central Powers and even for neutral countries.

Lusitania

British passenger ship attacked by a German submarine (U-Boat).

1,198 were killed

128 were Americans

American Neutrality Begins to Weaken

1. Lusitania attacked – Germany caused American deaths.

2. US ties to Allies get stronger – US bankers made large loans to Britain and France. US arms makers sold them munitions.

3. Germany attacks American ships (U-boat attacks)

4. Germany tries to persuade Mexico to go to war against the US.

April 6, 1917, in response to a request from President Wilson, Congress declares war.

Selective Service Act

Set up a military draft and in June 1917, more than 9 million men registered. By the end of the war in 1918, more than 24 million had registered and 3 million had been inducted into the army.

Casualties of War

1.100,000 Americans died

2.5 million Allied Powers personnel died

3.3 million Central Powers personnel died

America Chips in on the Home Front

1.Food Administration – Provide food for soldiers

2.War Industries Board – Regulated production of war necessities, provided standards for production, set prices, regulated raw materials.

3.National War Labor Board – Settle labor disputes that might disrupt the war effort.

4. Committee on Public Information – Press releases and posters declared that America was fighting to “Make America safe for Democracy.” Germans were evil, work stoppages (strikes) were treason, criticism of the war or Wilson were showing a lack of patriotism.

Anti-German Feelings Develop

1. Americans could not listen to German music.

2. Americans could not speak the German language.

3. Sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage.”

4. German Shepherd dogs became “police dogs.”