1. The Great War: World War I, 1914-1918
Source: Nash

2. I. The Early War Years

3. Causes of the War
Improved technology and industrialization also fostered a new sense of nationalism among the countries of the world
A growing rivalry over European trade, colonies, and spheres of influence in Africa and Asia

4. Causes, continued…
The large European powers began an industrial arms race followed by a system of national treaties and alliances that would compel most of the world to declare war at the slightest incident
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June of 1914 delivered such an incident

5. New Military Technology
The new industrialism meant new advances in the science of warfare
Rapid-firing rifles, improved explosives, motorized Gatlin guns, and enormous artillery pieces
Airplanes, poison gas and trench warfare strategies

6. Neutrality
Despite President Wilson’s call for American neutrality, nationalism inherent in the numbers of American immigrants tipped the balance in the Allies favor
Ultimately, most Americans believed that France and England were fighting to preserve human culture against barbarians

8. The United States Enters the War

10. Deciding for War
Wilson’s reelection in 1916 seemed to support American neutrality
Wilson outlined a plan for “peace without victory”
The German leaders thought they could win a world war and rejected Wilson’s attempt at negotiation
Interception of the Zimmerman telegram virtually guaranteed the entry of America into the war

11. A Patriotic Crusade For most Americans, the war was a remote ideal
The Committee of Public Information was designed to flood American with nationalistic, anti-German propaganda about the seriousness of the situation
The Espionage, Sedition, and Trading With the Enemy Acts limited the freedoms of Americans

12. The Military Experience

13. Over There
The United States entered the World War in the spring of 1917 after three years of European fighting
The U.S. entered the war late and had lost little compared to Britain and France

14. A Global Pandemic
In the fall of 1919 brought the end of the Great War and the beginning of the Spanish Flu epidemic that claimed the lives of over 43,000 American servicemen, 675,000 Americans overall, and 40 million people worldwide in the space of little more than two years

15. Domestic Impact of the War

17. Finances and the Federal Government
World War I cost the United States over $33 billion in 1918 dollars
The Federal government was organized to fight food shortages, promote scientific advancement, and take over operation of the railroads

19. Suffrage for Women
In the fall of 1918, Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for support to get the women’s right to vote
While many still opposed women suffrage, careful organization and planning by women’s clubs produced demonstrations and arguments that the government could no longer ignore
The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920

20. PLANNING FOR PEACE
Woodrow Wilson turned U.S. participation in the war into a religious crusade to change the nature of international relations
January 8, 1918, Wilson announced his Fourteen Points, a plan to organize the peace
Open covenants of peace
Freedom of the seas
Equality of trade
Self-determination for all peoples
A League of Nations to preserve peace

21. THE VERSAILLES PEACE CONFERENCE
Wilson headed the delegation to the peace conference at Versailles
Delegation did not include any Republicans despite the fact the Republicans controlled Congress
From Austro-Hungarian empire, conference created Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia.
Also created Poland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
France was to occupy the industrial Saar region of Germany for 15 years
Italy gained the port of Trieste
All these decisions made without the input of small European nations or of Soviet Russia
Wilson gave into demand for German reparations, lost much of its oil and coal territory and had to admit war guilt
Wilson also accepted a mandate system to deal with former colonies and refused to support a call for racial equality introduced by Japan

22. THE VERSAILLES PEACE CONFERENCE
German people felt betrayed
Wilson also did not win approval for freedom of the seas or the abolition of trade barriers
Did win approval of the League of Nations
Council of five great powers
Elected delegates from smaller countries
World Court to settle disputes
Article X which pledged all members to help preserve other members against external aggression

23. WILSON’S FAILED DREAM
Most Americans supported the concept of the League of Nations in the summer of 1919 though the Senate refused to endorse the treaty
During a national tour to win support for the treaty, Wilson collapsed, was rushed back to Washington and suffered a massive stroke
Senate killed the league treaty in March 1920