WWI and it’s aftermath

Beginning of WWI Began with assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand The heir to the Austria-Hungary throne

Beginning of WWI On July 28, Austria declared war on Serbia Russia mobilized it’s army on German border On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia Two days later it declared war on France WWI had begun

‘Mericans & the War Wilson declared the country neutral Many choose sides especially the many new immigrants to the country Most did not want to join the war, but supported the allies Series of events will eventually lead U.S. into the war

Moving Toward War Germans announced they would sink any ship around Britain without warning On May 7, 1915, German U-boats (submarines) sunk the British passenger ship, Lusitania 1200 passengers including 128 ‘Mericans were killed March 1916, a German U-boat sank a French passenger ship, the Sussex, killing more ‘Mericans

Moving Toward War Germany promised not to sink any more merchant ships without warning with the Sussex Pledge This pledge helped keep the US out of war a little longer

Moving Toward War Britain intercepted a message sent from Germany to Mexico known as the Zimmerman Telegram It stated that if Mexico entered the war on Germany’s side & attacked U.S., Germany would help Mexico recover lost territory First 3 weeks of March 1917, Germans resumed unrestricted submarine warfare sinking 4 U.S. ships On April 6, Wilson signed a resolution entering U.S. into the Great War

The Home Front Wilson issued the Selective Service Act of 1917 requiring all men 21-30 to register for draft 2.8 million were drafted and another 2 million volunteered

African Americans in the War 400,000 were drafted and about 42,000 served overseas as combat troops Discrimination was encountered and they served in segregated units supervised by white officers Several divisions won distinctive awards for their war efforts

Women in the Military Women served in the war, but only in non-combat positions Nurses, radio operators, electricians, photographers, pharmacists, torpedo assemblers The Army Nursing Corps served overseas including 10,000 women

The Home Front War Industries Board created Oversaw war time productions Raw materials, construction of new factories, manufacturing of goods

Paying For the War Liberty Bonds & Victory Bonds helped raise $ for the war By buying bonds, ‘Mericans were loaning the govt money Taxes were also raised

Federal Agencies Food Administration Fuel Administration Supervised agricultural production, promoted food conservation & rationing Fuel Administration Increased production of coal & oil, daylight savings times, Heatless Mondays

Federal Agencies National War Labor Board Oversaw cooperation between industry and labor unions Committee on Public Information Used propaganda to rally support for war effort

Women Support Industries Increased opportunity for women Took jobs vacated by men in the military Factory & manufacturing jobs, shipping & railraod After the war, many women were replaced by men

The Great Migration Between 300k-500k African Americans left the south to fill factory jobs in the north Changed the racial makeup of northern cities and caused tensions after the war

Supreme Court Limits Free Speech In landmark case Schenck v U.S., court ruled free speech could be altered during times of “clear and present danger” Controlled public opinion and stopped antiwar protests

The Conflict Trench Warfare – “No Man’s Land” New Technology Reliance on machine gun New Technology Poison gas, tank, airplanes

The Conflict soldiers were sent overseas were nicknamed “doughboys” U.S. used convoys to take troops over seas to protect from German U-boat attacks No lives were lost at sea

The Conflict March 1917, Russia leaves the war with the outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution allowing Germany to focus fighting the western front

The War Ends Nov. 11 1918, fighting came to an end when Germany signed an armistice, cease fire, that ended the war Wilson came up with his Fourteen Points, plan to rebuild after the war with the League of Nations being formed to help keep peace Allies thought Wilson’s plan was too lenient

The War Ends Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, in June 1919 Forced to pay $33 billions in reparations, war damages, to the Allies Required Germany to take guilt for the outbreak of the war

The War Ends Russian and Ottoman empire will dissolve Austria-Hungary split into separate countries 9 new countries established including Yugoslavia & Poland

Effects of WWI on Economy The War’s Impact Effects of WWI on Economy Mass demand for goods Rapid Inflation Strikes

Rapid Inflation Rationing ends leading people to start buying these goods With a high demand the prices rise about 15 cents a year Inflation greatly increased the cost of living

Strikes Inflation increased businesses operating costs. They wanted to keep wages low to compensate Strikes occurred because workers wanted higher wages to keep up with inflation

The Red Scare ‘Mericans became anti-German during and after the war & anti-communist when Russia withdrew Communism became associated with being unpatriotic and disloyal

The Red Scare The Red Scare became a nationwide panic that Communists, or “reds”, might seize power Postal Service caught over 30 letters to leading businessmen that exploded when opened suggesting a country wide conspiracy Most believed the bombs were the work of Communists or other revolutionaries

The Red Scare Palmer Raids, led by General Palmer, were raids on headquarters of radical organizations and homes of suspicious people accused of being led by reds Run through the General Intelligence Division, soon to be FBI, led by J Edgar Hoover Palmer loss credibility when he started predicting events that didn’t occur