World War I SS5H4- The student will describe U.S. involvement in World War I and post- World War I America. A. Explain how German attacks on U.S. shipping during the war in Europe ultimately led the U.S. to join the fight against Germany; include the sinking of the Lusitania and concerns over safety of U.S. ships, U.S. contributions to the war, and the impact of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Background Information An alliance is when countries agree to help each other if one of them is attacked. In 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated. All of Europe was at war, Germany and Austria- Hungary formed an alliance called Central Powers. Russia, Great Britain, and France became the leaders of an alliance called Triple Entente.

4. This conflict started WWI 4. This conflict started WWI. President Woodrow Wilson vowed to keep the U.S. out of the war, but a number of things happened.

U.S. Gets Involved 5.Germany used U-boats. They stayed hidden beneath the surface of the water and fired torpedoes that sank enemy ships and ships from other nations. 6. German submarines sank a British passenger ship called the Lusitania and over 100 people died. This made the U.S. furious even though the U.S. government was secretly using the Lusitania and other passenger ships to sneak military supplies to Great Britain and its allies.

7. Before the U.S. entered the war they sent weapons to Britain, food and supplies to war torn areas in Europe, and helped block food from getting to Germany. When several American merchant ships we sunk in February and March of 1917, the United States entered the war as an ally of Britain and France in April 1917. After joining the war effort, the United States drafted four million men and was sending thousands of men to France every day. The U.S. Navy sent battle ships to help the British, U.S. Marines to France, and supplies to Europe.

8. The U.S. soldiers reached Europe in 1918. 9. The presence of Americans made it clear that Germany had no hope to win. 10. It signed an armistice, an agreement to stop fighting, in November 1918.

11. President Wilson and the other allied leaders met and drafted a treaty. The treaty is called the Treaty of Versailles. It forced Germany to take total blame for the war. It also made Germany pay for the war and greatly decrease the size of its military. 12. This made many German’s bitter. Many in the U.S. feared that the treaty would lead the U.S. into alliances with foreign countries.

13. The Senate refused to ratify it, claiming it feared the Treaty of Versailles could lead to future wars.

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles Germany must: Accept full responsibility for causing the war. Not be allowed to make or export weapons. Give up many of its territories and reduce the size of their military. Pay countries hurt by the war