1. each nation must decide
Choosing Sides
Central Powers
Allied Powers
VS.
As alliances begin to
call nations to war,
each nation must decide
which side it will
support or declare
neutrality.
Austria-Hungary
Germany
Turkey
Bulgaria
Great Britain
France
Russia
Japan
Italy (1915)
United States (1917)

3. Neutral, But Not Impartial
Wilson called for the US to be “Neutral in facts as well as in name, impartial in thought as well as in action”.
Americans were unable to “be” neutral and in fact did select a side to support. Most Americans favored the Allies over the Central Powers.
Propaganda was used by both sides to influence public opinion.
Allied propaganda was more effective because it convinced Americans that the Allies were fighting to defend more than politics—civilization itself.

4. Supplying the Allies Trading Countries 1914 1917 Allies $500 million
Neutrality stopped when $$$ came into the picture!! Although the US supplied materials to both sides, it supplied MUCH more to the Allies. Overall the increase in trade greatly helped “neutral” America.
Trading Countries
1914
1917
Allies
$500 million
$3.5 billion
Germany
$169 million
$1.1 billion
Neutral
$187 million
$280 million
Total
$856 million
$4.88 billion
SALES
This is a
$4 BILLION
increase
US Steel alone earned $348 in profit in 1916!

5. Why does the US stop being neutral?
Zimmerman Telegram
Lusitania
Ties to Britain

9. Propaganda to Win Support

10. Entry into WWI
January 31, 1917, Germany informed the US that it would end the Sussex pledge and resume unrestricted submarine warfare
February, 1917, Great Britain revealed the contents of an intercepted telegram between Germany and Mexico, the Zimmerman Note.
March, 1917, the Russian czar gave up its throne and handed power over to a republican government AND Germany sank two US ships.
April 6, 1917, the US declared war on Germany.

11. Impact of WWI on Home Front
First six weeks after Congress declared war, only 73,000 men volunteered.
Congress passed the Selective Service Act in May, authorizing a draft of men between 21 and 30.
By November, 1918, more than 24 million men has registered for the draft.
Of these, a lottery picked 3 million draftees to serve in the war

12. GOVERNMNET TOOK OVER THE ECONOMY
WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD COORDINATED THE PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS
THE FOOD ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD IN VICTORY GARDENS
THE FUEL ADMINISTRATION INTRODUCED DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AND SHORTENED WORK WEEKS TO SAVE
THE PAID FOR WAR EFFORT BY RAISING TAXES AND SELLING BONDS

13. MOBILIZED THE WORKFORCE
THE NATIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD TRIED TO AVOID LABOR STRIKES
PUSHED FOR WAGE INCREASES, 8 HR WORKDAY, AND RIGHT TO UNIONIZE
IN RETURN, LABOR LEADERS AGREED NOT TO STRIKE
WOMEN TOOK OVER MANY JOBS AS MEN WENT OFF TO WAR
THE GREAT MIGRATION SUPPLIED MANY FACTORIES IN NORTH W/ AFRICAN AMERICAN LABOR FROM SOUTH

14. SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION HIRED ADVERTIZERS AND ARTISTS TO SWAY PUBLIC OPINION
THE GOV’T LIMITED OPPOSITION TO THE WAR AND via the ESPIONAGE ACT OF 1917

15. The United States and WWI

17. Additional Impact on Women
Suffrage (right to vote)
Convention of chaperones ended
“Ok” for young women to wear knee-length skirts, smoke, and go out without an escort

18. Impact on Blacks Great Migration
Large concentration of blacks in northern cities (Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, New York)
Improved opportunities for migrants (blacks who moved to the North)
Race riots; racial segregation

19. Impact on Socialist Party, Communist Party, Immigrants, and Labor
When war ended, labor organizations became a target of federal and local law enforcement agencies
Why? Many labor organizations included socialists, communists, and anarchists.
When war ended, immigrants became a target of federal and local law enforcement agencies
Why? A disproportionate number of immigrants were socialists, communists, and anarchists.

20. Schenck v. United States
Two months after the Espionage Act is passed, Schenck is arrested for distributing a leaflet claiming that the draft was unconstitutional
Schenck was indicted, tried, and convicted for violating the Espionage Act.
Schenck appealed his conviction all the way to the US Supreme Court.
The US Supreme Court upheld his conviction.