1. Introduction to World War I
United States History

2. Why did the United States enter the War?
1. Freedom of the Seas
2. Preservation of Democracy
Zimmerman, Torpedoes, and trade

3. Real reasons
1. Powerful forces in industry, banking, and commerce thought war was healthy for the economy.
2. America wanted a piece of the world after it was divvied up.

4. American Imperialism
Did the United States become an Imperial Power in the later part of the 19th century? If so, in what ways did Americans attempt to justify their overseas expansion?
What attitudinal, political and military adjustments were forced on the nation in its new role as a major world power?
Why did America embrace a much more assertive and interventionist foreign policy, late 19th and early 20th century?

5. American Imperialism?
Americans never fought for empire, for territory, for dominance – but many, many Americans gave their lives for freedom. As we stand at the dawn of a new century they never saw, but did so much to guarantee for us, far from fading into the past, their sacrifice is paving the way to our future. Thirty, forty, fifty years after our fallen veterans have gone, we can say, glory hallelujah, your truth is marching on.

6. World War I

7. When?

8. Who?
Allied Powers
Central Powers
WWI

9. Who?

10. Who? “The Triple Entente” or “Allies” (England, France, Russia, Italy)
“Triple Alliance” or “Central Powers” (Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Italy)
President Woodrow Wilson
+ 60 Nations (Why?)
Woodrow Wilson

11. Where?

12. Why?
Militarism = Policy of glorifying the military and staying prepared for war.
Nationalism = Dedication and loyalty to one’s country
Imperialism = The race for new markets, spheres of influence, and raw materials
Alliance System
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 (“The Spark”)
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
The Zimmerman Telegram

13. How? “Industrialization of War” New Weapons =
Trench Warfare = a “war of attrition” on the Western Front
Propaganda = Information, usually biased or misleading used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view
“Total War” = a war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, esp. one in which the laws of war are disregarded.
Result? Massive Casualties and Social Upheaval

14. New Weapons

15. Trench Warfare

16. Trench Warfare

17. Trench Warfare

18. Propaganda

19. Propaganda

20. “Total War”

21. “Total War”

22. “Total War”

23. Casualties

24. Casualties

25. 10,000,000 Dead

26. Johnny Got His Gun
Dalton Trumbo

27. The Versailles Peace Treaty
The terms of the peace treaty were set by the:
US (Woodrow Wilson)
Great Britain (David Lloyd George)
France (George Clemenceau)
Italy (Vittorio Orlando)

28. The Treaty of Versailles
Two approaches the hard line advocated by the French and the soft line advocated by the US. France wanted to punish and weaken Germany. Wilson wanted to reform the world’s diplomatic system (in contrast to Lenin who wanted to change the entire system). Wilson saw himself as the mediator between radical socialism and old-fashioned imperialism.

29. The rejection of the treaty
President Wilson made several major political mistakes:
He excluded the Republicans from the peace negotiations and campaigned against them in 1918 (Republicans controlled the Senate - treaties)
Henry Cabot Lodge was a political and personal enemy of Wilson.
Wilson had a stroke in October of 1919 and he refused to compromise with Lodge.

30. Consequences of War
1. 10 million dead and 20 million wounded (115,000 – US)
2. The economy of Europe was seriously damaged
3. Concept of ‘total war” was accepted.
4. Europe was deprived of world hegemony. The US became the most powerful nation in the world.
5. Western civilization was demoralized. Life was cheap.