The “Great War” Begins Trench Warfare Officers would send troops “over the top” out of the trenches to attack the enemy resulting in many deaths with little gained ground.

The “Great War” Begins Trench Warfare The Battle of Verdun in 1916, a great trench battle, lasted 10 months. The Germans lost over 337,000 men trying to overrun the French lines. The French lost more

The “Great War” Begins French losses:337,231 of which 162,308 dead or missing German losses:337,000 of which 100,000 dead or missing Total:714,231of which 262,308 dead or missing

The “Great War” Begins Month: French losses: German losses: February 24,000 25,363 March 65,000 56,244 April 42,000 38,299 May 59,000 54,309 June 67,000 51,567 July 31,000 25,969 August 27,000 30,572 Total 315,000 282,323 (Note: the numbers of September - December are lacking!)

The “Great War” Begins Trench Warfare Stalemates and trench warfare brought mounting death and destruction on the eastern Front.

The “Great War” Begins Trench Warfare Austria- Hungary and Germany were in battle against the Russians and Serbs. The Russians lost over 1,000,000 Neither side could win a decisive victory

American Neutrality In 1914 Americans were determined not to be forced into the war in Europe. Officially the United states was neutral while public opinion was divided. 4 August 1914, as World War I erupted across Europe, President Woodrow Wilson declared that the United States would remain “impartial in thought as well as in action.”

American Neutrality Most Americans favored the Allies because of their connection to Britain

American Neutrality On the other hand there about 8,000,000 Americans of German or Austrian descent who sympathized with the Central Powers

American Neutrality Impacts of the War The American economy boomed The Allies and Central Powers needed food, weapons, oil and steel Farmers and manufacturers rushed to fill these orders

American Neutrality Impacts of the War By 1917 trade with the allies had grown 7 times over while trade with the Central powers was much smaller. This imbalance In trade meant the U.S. was not necessarily neutral

American Neutrality Both the Allied Powers and the Central Powers conducted propaganda wars in the U.S. Propaganda- the spreading of ideas or beliefs that help a particular cause and hurt an opposing cause.

American Neutrality Freedom of the Seas The use of the seas was key for conducting trade The U.S. argued that as a neutral country it had a right to trade with both sides of the conflict.

American Neutrality Freedom of the Seas Britain blockaded German ports Germany set up a blockade all the way around Britain The British were hoping to starve the Germans into submission.

American Neutrality Submarine Warfare A weapon introduced into WWI was the submarine U- Boats or submarines carried out torpedo attacks on ships entering British waters Germany warned the U.S. and other countries to stay out of those waters

American Neutrality Submarine Warfare President warned the Germans that they would be held responsible if American ships were attacked or American lives were lost.

Sinking of the Lusitania American Neutrality Sinking of the Lusitania Ignoring Wilson’s threats, on 7 May 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a British Ocean liner, killing over 1,200 people, 120 of them Americans.

Sinking of the Lusitania American Neutrality Sinking of the Lusitania Wilson threatened to break of diplomatic relations if Germany did not stop sinking passenger ships Germany did not want to antagonize the U.S. and later apologized.

Review Give 3 reasons for the tensions in Europe. What event triggered the outbreak of the war? What was the United states position concerning the war in 1914? Ow did the Central powers and the Allied Powers try to influence American public opinion?