Agenda ► Bellwork: Explain how war is both humane and inhumane. ► Notes ► US History Short ► Journal entry

How United States Enters the Great War

Isolationism ► During the first 3 years of WWI, the U.S. followed a policy of ISOLATIONISM  alone

Sinking of the Lusitania  Germany and Britain were using ships and u-boats to block supplies from arriving to the enemy by sea (blockade)  Feb 1915 – Germany declared the waters surrounding Britain to be a ‘war zone’ and enemy ships would be sunk  U.S. warned Germany that if a U.S. vessel was sunk there would be consequences

Sinking of the Lusitania ► May 17, 1915  British liner, Lusitania, was traveling from NY to England.  sunk by a German torpedo  1200 people died, 128 were Americans  Woodrow Wilson (U.S. President) was about to declare war but Germany promised it would no longer attack neutral or passenger ships ► Germany kept the promise for 2 years, but in March 1917 Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare ► Germany sunk 2 U.S. cargo ships

Lusitania

1. What does the sinking ship represent? 2. How is the u-boat represented in this cartoon? 3. What does the artist think is going to happen in the future?

Zimmerman Telegram January 1917  British intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico  The note wanted Mexico to attack the U.S.  In return, Germany promised to give the land to Mexico when they won the war

4. What country does the man whispering represent? 5. What country does the man listening represent? 6. What event does this cartoon represent?

America Enters WWI  Americans were outraged  After remaining neutral for 3 years, the U.S. joined WWI in April 6, 1917

Doughboy ► US entered WWI in spring of 1917 ► US army had only 110,000 soldiers ► Infantry men of the AEF who went to France were called doughboys ► US passed Selective Service Act  forced young men to register for draft  24,000,000 registered for the draft  3,300,000 were enlisted ► 1,000,000 went to the western front in Europe

On the Homefront ► When the US entered WWI, it changed to a wartime economy. ► President Wilson created the War Industries Board to control factories that produced war materials  Steel plants used to build weapons  Automobile plants built airplanes  Products changed to conserve materials ► Hi top sneakers were no longer made to save leather ► Dresses were shorter so there was cloth for uniforms

► American farmers were asked to conserve food for the war effort  “Meatless Mondays”  “Wheatless Wednesdays” ► Citizens encouraged to grow “victory gardens” to eat more homegrown food On the Homefront

Paying for the War ► Government was running out of money  Increased income taxes  Sold war bonds ► Citizens lend money to the government ► When the war was over, the government would repay the war bond plus interest

Anti-War Citizens ► The was a small number of Americans who did not support war ► Government wanted to make sure no one damaged the war effort. ► 1917: Espionage Act  Anyone found guilty of aiding the enemy could go to jail for 20 years ► 1918: Sedition Act  Anyone who spoke out against the government, the Constitution, the American flag, or the military could be punished ► During WWI, over 1500 people were arrested for violating the Espionage Act or Sedition Act.

Support for the War ► Propaganda  Attempt to spread an idea or belief  Posters, music, literature

Class work time. ► History Short (provides additional information about WWI homefront) ► Journal prompt #3  It is 1917 and your unit is going to be sent to Europe to help fight the German Empire. The US has been tremendously affected by its entrance into the war.  In your journal entry, describe what has been happening on the homefront. Explain at least 2 key events that brought the US into the war, and what life was like on the homefront.