WORLD WAR I

CAUSES OF WWI The early 20th century was a time of great change in America… but not for everyone depending on whether you lived in the city or the countryside. As the 20th century unfolded, events across the Atlantic, rumors of war in Europe and the development of alliances amongst European countries, drew the attention of Georgians.

CAUSES OF WWI In 1914, a Serbian assassinated the archduke and archduchess of Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia-Germany joined with Austria-Hungary and Russia stepped in to defend Serbia. They helped each other because of alliances established between countries.

WWI and the United States America maintained a position of neutrality- in fact in 1916 Woodrow Wilson was re-elected as President of the United States on the promise to keep America out of the war.

WWI and the United States However, two events made it impossible for America to remain neutral: 1. Zimmerman Telegraph-In 1917, Arthur Zimmerman, a German official, had telegraphed the Mexican government suggesting that Mexico go to war against the United States to take back lands that had been ceded to the U.S. in 1847

WWI and the United States 2. In March 1917, German U-boats (submarines) sank several American merchant ships These events led President Wilson to ask Congress to pass a declaration of war-which they did in April 1917. The U.S. officially entered WWI

Georgia’s Contribution to WWI 100,000 men from Georgia fought in WWI Ft. McPherson in Atlanta became the training center for recruits and draftees-it also served as a German POW camp Camp Gordon-another training facility was built in Georgia and trained over 230,000 soldiers before the end of the war Camp Benning was built in Columbus and became the permanent home of the U.S. Army’s Infantry School

Armistice Day What Woodrow Wilson called “the war to end all wars” ended on November 11, 1918. This day was originally called Armistice Day and then later called Veterans Day.

Changes In Georgia because of WWI Women took over all types of jobs Women gained full admission to the University of Georgia Cotton was once again “king” The need for food products brought prosperity to farmers

Death Toll In the United States, 116,516 died in WWI 15 million in all died in WWI The Spanish Flu also killed 675,000 Americans and 25 million died worldwide.