1. World War One

4. Start of World War One Causes of WWI Imperialism Nationalism
Alliance System
Militarism

5. Start of World War One
The southeastern region of Europe was known as a “powder keg”
Many national groups in the region tried to break free from Austria-Hungary

6. Start of World War One War Begins
June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austro-Hungarian throne) is assassinated by Gavrilo Princip

7. Start of World War One
Austria Hungary accused Serbia of the assassination and declared war
The alliance system quickly drew more countries into the war

9. Start of World War One Britain France Russia Germany Austria-Hungary
Allied Powers (Triple Entente)
Central Powers
Britain
France
Russia
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire

10. The Deadliest War
Both sides thought it would be a quick victory, but reality quickly set in
A stalemate started on the Western Front and the battle would drag on for 3 years without either side gaining a clear victory
The Western Front saw the use of trench warfare

17. The Deadliest War New Technology made the war more lethal Airplanes
Armored tanks
Machine Guns
Poison Gas

18. American Neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson wanted to keep the U.S. out of the war.
Americans were split on who to side with

19. American Neutrality
American businesses sold supplies to both sides, but a majority of trading was to the Allies and Britain

20. American Neutrality The Lusitania
German U-boats practiced unrestricted warfare
May 7, 1915 a U-boat sank A British passenger ship the Lusitania
1,200 people died (128 were Americans)

23. U.S. Enters The War
Wilson won reelection in 1916 and promised to keep the U.S. out of the war
However, Germany kept using its unrestricted warfare

24. U.S. Enters The War Zimmermann Telegram
Britain intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico
Arthur Zimmermann (German Foreign Minister) proposed that Mexico enter the war on Germany’s side and attack the U.S.
In return Germany would help Mexico get back New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona
Soon after the U.S. entered the war (April 6, 1917)

28. Building the Military
The U.S. had a very large navy, but a small army (only 125,000 men)
The U.S. had to mobilize quickly in order to be able to contribute to the war effort

29. Building the Military
The U.S. did have men volunteer for service, but not enough and they had to institute a draft
Selective Service Act was passed and it required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military draft
By war’s end almost four million Americans had served

30. Building the Military Women in the Military
Women were not subject to the draft
More than 30,000 women volunteered for service and were nurses or performed clerical work

31. Building the Military A diverse force
About one in five recruits had been born in foreign lands
About 380,000 African Americans also served during the war
Served in all black units
African Americans were mainly held out of combat roles and instead were forced to unload ships, work in kitchens, or construction