1. The First World War Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster
by James Montgomery Flagg

2. The First World War: What? When?
War involving nearly all the nations of the world
When?

3. The First World War: Why?
Long term – had been going on behind the scenes for years
1. Alliance system
2. Imperialist Competition
3. Stockpiling of Weapons
Short term – “spark” Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire  led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914

4. The First World War: Who? Central Powers: Allies: Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Bulgaria
Russia
France
Great Britain
Italy
Japan
United States (1917)

5. The First World War:
Where?

6. Why did all of these countries start fighting anyways?
Just remember, there are 4 MAIN reasons why WWI began:
Militarism: wanting to build up large armies and navies.
Alliances: agreements between countries to help protect one another during attacks.
Imperialism-when one nation tries to take control over other nations.
Nationalism: feeling that your country is better than another country.

7. Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?
America was isolationist – wanted to stay neutral.
“Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems”

8. What did it take to get the US involved?
Blockades – Both Germany and Great Britain blockaded (stopped) ships travelling to America
Germany practicing Unrestricted Submarine warfare – sunk many non- military ships killing innocent people
Zimmerman telegram

9. What did it take to get the US involved?
1. Blockades
Britain blockaded (stopped) all German ships going to America and Germany blockaded all British ships going to America – affected the economy in both Great Britain and the US
Y-53 German Submarine 1916

10. Imperial German Embassy
“Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies: that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles: that in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.”
Imperial German Embassy
Washington, D.C. April 22, 1915

11. What did it take to get the US involved?
2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)
Was eventually found to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunition
President Wilson sent notes to Germany demanding they stop sinking ships or they would risk war with the US
German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking

12. What did it take to get the US involved?
2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
The US sharply criticized Germany for their action
Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future – only lasted a little while…
Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster

13. What did it take to get the US involved?
2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare
1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone – any ship sailing into the Atlantic would be fired on and sunk
Why? Otherwise their blockade would not be successful

14. What did it take to get the US involved?
3. Zimmerman Note
This is the telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister of Mexico, offering U.S. territory to Mexico in return for helping Germany in WWI.
In January 1917 the British intercepted the telegram from Zimmerman and decoded it.
The British waited until February 24 to present the telegram to President Woodrow Wilson. The American press published news of the telegram on March 1.
On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress formally declared WAR on Germany and its Allies.

15. The US Gets Involved
Although the US tried to be neutral in the beginning, America became involved due to many acts.
We were not happy that the Germans were sinking our ships because we could no longer trade (this makes us loose money!)
We were also upset about the Zimmerman Telegram offering Mexico our land if they helped the Germans.
The Wartime Propaganda encouraged Americans to want to join the war.

16. What did it take to get the US involved?
War-time Propaganda
Countries used propaganda to encourage people to fight.

17. Convincing the American People
Use of Propaganda Posters
How do you think this poster helped to convince the American people that the war was a good idea?

18. What did it take to get the US involved?
America’s close ties with Great Britain
Close cultural ties – similar heritage and traditions
Shared transatlantic trade routes
Big business loaned much $ to Allies
US Exports to both sides:

19. Convincing the American People
Idealism: 2 Goals For War:
War to End All Wars – if the US joins then we can help make sure there will never be another war
Making the world safe for democracy – the US can make sure that other countries will be free to decide how to run their own governments and allow personal freedoms for their people

20. Thinking Slide:
Should we tell the story of WWI with Germany as the “bad guy”? Explain.

21. How was the war looking for the Allies?
Not Good...
Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917 made it a “one-front-war” for Germany – all German troops could now concentrate on France and Great Britain
Trench warfare – most countries used trenches for fighting – each side would dig a deep ditch (trench) and get down in it to shoot at the enemy across “No Man’s Land”
Neither side could break the deadlock of trench warfare

22. What did the US do to help?
Supplies:
US provided food, money, and fresh troops needed to win the war. Gave the Allies encouragement and the will to keep fighting.
American Troops March Through London

23. Doughboys
American troops, known as doughboys, broke the cycle of trench warfare. Doughboys would use grenades to bomb German trenches and break past the enemy’s defenses and help lead the Allies to victory.

24. Armistice
An armistice is an agreement between two countries to end fighting – does not actually stop the war.
Central Powers agreed to an armistice with the Allies.

25. Wilson’s Fourteen Points
What? President Wilson’s Plan for after the war to create peace between countries  many of his points were ignored
Fourteen promises, including freedom of the seas & a League of Nations to work for peace – US refused to join the League
Wilson played a significant role in the peace process. He helped redraw state borders in Europe so they better reflected the nations’ groups of people with the same language, religion, and ethnic heritage

26. The Treaty of Versailles
President Wilson and the other Allied leaders met in Versailles, France to draw up a peace treaty. They called it the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles stated 4 important things:
Germany must take full blame for the war.
Germany must pay war reparations/damages.
Germany cannot build a strong army/military.
Germany cannot own any weapons.

27. How did the War Affect the US?
Women
Women filled factory jobs because the men were off fighting in the war.
May have led 19th Ammendment after the war (Gave women the right to vote)
African Americans
Black soldiers still served in Segregated Units
“Great Migration” - thousands of African Americans moved North to work in factories

28. How did the War Affect the US?
Enforcing Loyalty
Hatred of all things German -- Ex. “Liberty Cabbage”
Espionage Act 1917 & Sedition Act of 1918 punished those against the war (many labor leaders)