1. Inquiry Lesson
For each primary source, answer the following questions.
1. What is the source? Is it reliable? Why/why not?
2. According to the source, why did the US go to war?
After examining each source, write 1 paragraph explaining what you think was the primary motivation for the US joining the war in Give evidence to support your claim.

2. World War 1 Overview

4. World War 1 Begins The war begins in 1914,
but the US doesn’t join until 1917.
Why do we join?
Americans favored the Allies (Britain and France esp.)
Allied propaganda
Germany violated neutral rights at sea
Germans sank the Lusitania: A British ship with Americans onboard
Germans told the Mexicans they would be rewarded if they joined the war to fight against the Americans. Zimmerman Telegram.

7. The United States at War
For the first time since the Civil War, the United States instituted a draft
About 4 million Americans went into service
The War industries board organized the industrial production and conservation needed to support a war
Ex. Railroads, fuel, food, work force, volunteer groups, bonds.

8. The United States at War
President Woodrow Wilson wanted to unite Americans behind the war effort, so he formed the Committee on Public Information: giant propaganda campaign to “advertise America”
This lead to sympathy for the war and hatred toward the Germans
The cost of the war was enormous. The US spent about 24 billion dollars
Corporate taxes, bank loans, and bond sales

11. American Forces “Over There”
The American Expeditionary Force sent to Europe were nick named “doughboys”
Commanded by General John Pershing
When Americans entered the war Russia was out of the fight. Vladamir Lenin took power and began the Communist Revolution
This meant that the Central Powers had one less enemy to fight.
The Central Powers launched an all-out offensive on the western front in 1918, but American and French forces held them back

12. Trench Warfare Technology played a pivotal role in WW1
Guns were now more accurate, so soldiers could kill from far distances
To take advantage of this technology, soldiers dug trenches to protect themselves and rely on accurate shooting.
Trench warfare prevented large casualties at one time, but allowed war to continue for years and years
Later technology such as military planes and tanks made trench warfare obsolete

15. American Forces ”Over There”
Morale was up for Allied Forces with 250,000 American troops arriving monthly.
American forces launched an offensive into the Argonne Forest: became known as the ”meat grinder offensive” because of the heavy losses.
Although there was significant loss, the American and British troops broke through the German line

16. Armistice Day November 11, 1918 the slaughter stopped.
Germany signed an armistice agreement: an agreement to stop fighting.
The war had taken over 8 million lives, left more than 20 million wounded, and left most of Europe in shambles.
Became known as “The War to End All Wars”

17. Peace Comes to Europe
Wilson’s Fourteen Points: Wilson’s plan to rebuild European peace.
League of Nations: an organization of cooperating nations could talk over problems and settle them peacefully, preventing future wars
President Wilson wanted “peace without victory”: to be generous to the nation of Germany

19. Peace Comes to Europe The Paris Peace Conference
The Allied leaders met at the Palace of Versailles on Jan 18,1919
The losers were not included in the conference which led to a “victors peace” and resentment
Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919
It blamed Germany for the entire War.
Had to give up its overseas empire
Had to give up land and resources
Had to allow foreign troops to stay there
Had to pay huge reparations to Britain and France
The US Senate never approved the treaty

22. Lasting Effects of WW1
1. Treaty of Versailles German retaliation (ww2)
2. League of Nations The United Nations
3. Industry in America boomed The Roaring 20s
4. New military technology
5. Beginning of Communism in Russia
6. Improvement in society/new freedoms
African American troops found new freedom in Europe
Women joining the work force