1. As you come in, take out a sheet of paper
As you come in, take out a sheet of paper. Write whatever you know about World War I.

3. Causes of WWI – M.A.I.N.

4. M – Militarism Glorification of the military
Increase size of armies so not fall behind other countries and be prepared for war
Leads to an “arms race”
Germany increases the most but Britain has larger navy

5. A - Alliances Emergence of two major alliances
Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Triple Entente – Great Britain, France, Russia
How is this a problem
Attack on one is an attack on all

7. I - Imperialism/Industrialization
Competing for territories/colonies
Industrialization helps fuel war machine
Sooner or later competition will lead to conflict

8. N - Nationalism Countries begin thinking as one ethnic group
Not care for minorities (weakens a country)
Want to glorify their county – patriotism
Idea of Social Darwinism
Destabilized multinational countries such as Austria-Hungary
Country of Serbia wants area in A-H that is ethnically Serbian

9. The Trigger
June 28, 1914
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of A-H in Sarajevo
By a Bosnian/Serb nationalist

10. A Domino Effect Germany has A-H’s back A-H makes demands on Serbia
Serbia says no
A-H declares war on Serbia
Russia has Serbia’s back – so mobilizes for war
Germany declares war on Russia and attacks Belgium
France and Britain declare war

11. Stalemate
On Western Front, Germany attacked into France but stopped 30 miles from Paris by Britain and France.
Thanks to new technology (machine guns, better artillery, planes, gas, etc…), use trenches
If attacking trenches/defenders then suffer high casualties
Germans, French, British suffer 2 million in two battles

15. Trench Foot

16. Mustard Gas
Causes blisters, burns, respiratory problems, internal bleeding

17. What is America to do? Wilson wants neutrality 3 Groups
Stay out of conflict
Issue about who people in America would support
Most Americans did favor Britain and France because of historical roots and Governments
3 Groups
Isolationists – stay out
Interventionists – join
Internationalists – peace (Wilson)

18. Testing America’s Neutrality
Britain used superior navy to blockade Germany so Germany attempts to use U-boats to sink their ships/supplies
German U-boat sinks Lusitania (May 1915)
128 Americans die
Was an unarmed passenger ship carrying ammunition/weapons
US warns Germany who does Sussex Pledge
Promise not to sink unarmed ships

21. US makes Preparations National Defense Act Naval Construction Act
Expand size of the army
Naval Construction Act
Build more warships

22. America Joins Two Triggers
(1)Germany starts unrestricted sinking in Feb 1917
(2) Zimmerman Note – Germany tells Mexico to join them and invade US
US declares war on April 6, 1917

23. On the sheet of paper you took out at the start of class, write down what the four causes of WWI are and something interesting you learned. Be sure I get it before you leave.

24. The Home Front

25. American Mobilization
Congress passes Selective Service Act
Draft – 24 million, only 2.8 million drafted
Government’s Role
Regulation of food, coal, steel, what crops are produced, railway use
Turn away from free enterprise/laissez-faire policies
Attempt to shape public opinion with Committee on Public Information – Propaganda

26. Government’s Role
With CPI and propaganda, most Americans get behind the war effort
Govt not like it if you are against the war
Espionage Act – can ban “treasonable” or “seditious” newspapers, magazines, etc…
Sedition Act – unlawful to speak negatively about America’s govt
Schenck v. US - Supreme Court says 1st Amendment can be limited when need for public order is pressing

27. Helping the Allies
To address German U-boat problem, use convoy system – great success

28. Allies are Struggling
Russia has a democratic revolution in March 1917 with overthrow of Tsar Nicholas
Then radical Bolsheviks overthrow the provisional government in November 1917
Bolsheviks under Lenin sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany ending the war between the two
Now, Germany can focus on the Western Front

29. American Troops Arrive
US helps to replace Russia
Troops arrive in summer of 1917 – 1918 under command of General Pershing
In spring of 1918, Germany launched a massive offensive
Fresh American troops help defend
Germany suffers heavy casualties

30. Victory Germany surrenders on Nov 11, 1918
10 million dead (40 million casualties)
6.5 civilians dead
Wilson wants a lasting peace
Introduces Fourteen Points to Congress
“peace without victory”
Not about spoils of war but ideas

31. Goals of Wilson and Fourteen Points
Self determination, open diplomacy, ending colonialism, free trade, and….
Formation of a League of Nations
International government organization with goal of maintaining peace
Paris Peace Conference
Most of the Allies did agree with Wilson’s idealism. They want reparations and restrictions

32. Problems? New countries are formed in Europe
Break up of Ottoman Empire
Ethnic groups were clustered into various states
Many powers like Britain simply took control of these Middle Eastern areas
Wilson brings treaty back to US for approval of Senate
Issue of League of Nations
Fails b/c cannot agree on degree of participation
US does not join which leads to its eventual failure