1. Objective: To examine the causes of America’s involvement in World War I.

2. American Neutrality
· Officially, the U.S. was a neutral country.
· However, we traded food, weapons, oil, steel, and other goods far more with the Allied Powers than with the Central Powers.

3. Freedom of the Seas
· The U.S., as a neutral nation, claimed the right to trade with either side in the war.
· However, Britain and Germany set up blockades around the British and German coasts.

4. · German submarines, called U-boats, torpedoed enemy ships and neutral ships trading with the enemy.

5. A German U-boat Torpedoes a Steamer, circa 1916

7. · In 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, killing approximately 1,200 people, including 128 Americans.

8. · Americans were infuriated with the destruction of the Lusitania.

12. Moving Toward War Zimmermann telegram:
– secret message from Germany to Mexico urging Mexico to attack the U.S. if the U.S. declared war on Germany
– Germany promised to help Mexico regain land it lost to the U.S. in the Mexican War.
* The U.S. declared war on the Central Powers in 1917.

13. (above) Zimmermann Telegram as Received by the German Ambassador to Mexico, 01/19/1917 (right) decoded words

14. Zimmermann Telegram: Decoded Message

15. US declares war on Germany
April, 1917
US declares war on Germany

16. The End of the Fighting A new German offensive
Germany knew America would increase the strength of Allied Powers
A new German offensive
Wanted to deal decisive blow to Allied Powers before U.S. had time to ready for war
Opportunity came with Russia’s withdrawal from war
Russia out by end of 1917
German troops no longer needed on Eastern front
Could launch new offensive in the west
Assault on West
Launched major assault, March 1918
Advanced to within 40 miles of Paris
Germany, lost 800,000 troops
By June, 1918, U.S. troops arrived in Europe
Gave Allies hope, discouraged Germans

18. German Collapse Balance of power shifted Germany a defeated force
Allied forces stopped German assault in Second Battle of the Marne
Allies now on the offensive
Allies used tanks, aircraft; gained huge amounts of territory
Germany a defeated force
Many Germans gave up without a fight
Began to doubt their own power
Great turmoil within German ranks
End of war
Allied forces broke through Hindenburg Line
German leaders sought armistice with Allies
Other Central Powers also admitted defeat, war ended

19. A Difficult Peace
Although peace had come to the battlefield, the leaders of the war’s major countries still had to work out a formal peace agreement. This task would prove difficult.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Over all goal to end this war and prevent future wars
End to secret treaties
Freedom of the seas
Free trade
Reduced armies and navies
Fairness towards colonial peoples
Suggestions for changing borders
Creating new nations
Self Determination
League of Nations
Leaders of four major Allies all had different ideas of peace treaty
French wanted to punish Germany, reparations for cost of war
British wanted to punish Germany, but not weaken it
Italy hoped to gain territory

20. The Treaty of Versailles
 After difficult negotiations, the Allies finally compromised with the Treaty of Versailles.
The treaty was named after the French Palace of Versailles, where the treaty signing took place.

21. BIG FOUR of the PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

26. League of nations Key Points
Aftermath
League of Nations
Organization of world governments proposed by Wilson
Established by Treaty of Versailles
League of nations Key Points
Encourage cooperation, keep peace between nations
Germany excluded
U.S. did not ratify treaty, not member, weakened League
Other treaties
Separate agreements with all defeated Central Powers
Made important changes to Europe
Changes in Europe
Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire lands broken apart
Independent nations created: Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Turkey

31. Military Casualties in World War I: 1914-1918
Germany 1,935,000
Russia 1,700,000
France 1,368,000
Austria-Hungary 1,200,000
British Empire 942,135
Ottoman Empire 725,000
Italy 680,000
United States 116,516
Bulgaria 87,495
Belgium 45,550
Serbia 45,000
Greece 23,098
Portugal 8,145
Montenegro 3,000
Japan 1,344
Romania 300,000