1. The Decisive Year of the War
1917:
The Decisive Year of the War

2. How the World Went to War

3. A Longstanding Tradition of Isolation
“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to domestic nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns.”
- George Washington

4. However…
Bravo Belgium!

5. And then…

6. The Last Straw

7. Or in short…

9. Wilson Leads the U.S. to War
“It is a war against all nations.  American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way.” 
“Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its people”
“It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance.”

10. Germany realized they would have to act quickly to end the war before American troops arrived.
In 1917, they got their break.

11. Russian Frustration

13. Tsar Nicholas and his Family

15. “ [Lenin] believed that we shouldn’t leave the Whites a live banner to rally around… The execution of the Tsar’s family was needed not only to frighten, horrify and dishearten the enemy, but also in order to shake up their own ranks to show that there was no turning back.”
- Leon Trotsky

16. The “War to End All Wars” was Over.
The German troops were moved to the Western Front (France) and were initially successful. However, American soldiers poured into Europe. By November 1918, it was evident that the Germans would be overwhelmed. The Germans signed an cease-fire on November 11, 1918.
The “War to End All Wars” was Over.

17. THE END