1. Winning The War

2. Total War
The nations involved in World War I needed to commit to a strategy of total war: channeling all of a nation’s resources into a war effort to support a modern mechanized war. Governments responded by:
Imposing universal military conscription: the “draft,” which required all young men to be ready for military or other service
Raising taxes and borrowing money
Rationing food and other products

3. Propaganda
Both sides were waged in a propaganda war. Propaganda: spreading ideas to promote or damage a cause
They urged civilians to enlist or to loan money to the government.
They played up atrocities: horrible acts committed against innocent people committed by the enemy.
They censored the press and the arts to keep bad war news from the public.

5. Women
Total war meant that women had to take over the jobs of men who left to serve in the military. Women were involved by working:
War industries
Manufacturing
Nursing
Farming
Armed forces

6. Morale
In 1917, as morale fell, soldiers from many countries began to mutiny or revolt, and civilians called for peace.
The Russian Revolution:
Low morale from WWI is one of the factors that spurred the Russian Revolution. In 1918 Russia’s new leader signed a treaty with Germany ending Russia’s involvement in WWI.

7. Lusitania
A German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British passenger ship Lusitania: a British liner torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in May 1915.
The effects of this event:
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany.
Germany agreed to warn passenger ships, ending submarine warfare for the moment.

9. The U.S. joins the war
In April 1917, President Wilson asked the United States Congress to declare war on Germany.
Why did the U.S. decide to enter WWI ?
Cultural ties between the United States and the Allies were strong.
Germany resumed U-boat attacks in early 1917.
In 1917, the Zimmerman note proved Germany was trying to rally Mexico against the United States.

10. Ships sunk by U-boats, May 1917–Jan. 1918

11. The Fourteen Points
Even before the war ended, Wilson had outlined a plan for a lasting peace. He created the fourteen points in attempt resolve WWI, future wars and keep peace.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points included
Freedom of the seas
Free trade
Arms reductions
An end to secret treaties
Self-determination: the right of people to choose their own form of government, for Eastern Europe
An association of nations to keep the peace

12. Nearing the End
American involvement was a turning point for the Allies.
Although relatively few American troops fought, their arrival boosted Allied morale.
The new German government sought an armistice: an agreement to end fighting and the Great War officially ended on November 11, 1918