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At the end of this lesson you will be able to: Identify several new weapons and technological improvements developed during World War I Predict the actions of the United States in response to the war in Europe Compare and contrast weapons that are used today with those from WWI Hypothesize an outcome for the war based on the new technology used by each side
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World War I A new kind of warfare for a global conflict
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Review A World Wide Struggle Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Serbia Italy Japan (32 in total)
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Technological Developments Changed the Nature of Modern Warfare Due to industrialization weapons were mass produced New weapons never tried before were used for the first time
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Machine Guns In 1914 machine guns were required to rest on a tripod and needed 4-6 men to operate it but it could fire 400- 600 rounds a minute.
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Machine Guns By the end of the war a machine gun could fire twice as much and could be used by 1-2 men.
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Submarines German U-boats - attack 1) allied warships and 2) allied shipping boats. May 7, 1915 Sinking of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland killing 1,109 people (124 were Americans). The Lusitania was a passenger liner but on the day it was sunk it had ammunitions and 12 six inch guns. Did the Germans have the right to attack?
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British Blockades in North Sea Mission – to prevent ships from reaching Germany in an attempt to ruin their economy and starve the people. German Reaction – Use U-boats to sink ships carrying food and guns to Britain. Battle of Jutland – Fought in North Sea on 5/31/1916 – Germans wanted to destroy portion of Britain’s navy & blockade, Britain wanted to keep German navy away from their shipping lanes.
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WWI Propaganda
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The Zeppelin These airships were used as bombers in WWI by the Germans. At first they were successful because they could outrun airplanes. Their great weakness was their vulnerability to gunfire.
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Chemical Weapons Germans were the first to use poisonous gas made up of chlorine which would cause choking and even death. The French used tear gas in grenades (riot control) Mustard gas was first used during WWI and was responsible for about 70% of the million-plus gas casualties. Effects - burn any body-tissue which it touches. Effects - burn any body-tissue which it touches.
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By the end of the war devices were invented to protect the soldiers However, more than a million died as a result of chemical weapons
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Airplanes Were used for the first time in WWI Mostly used for observing troop movements b/c they were slow Eventually machine guns were added to them so they could join in the fighting
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Tanks Britain created the first tank – an armored vehicle with machine guns and cannons on it. Made it safer to advance and kill enemy. Travel was easier through rough terrain
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1916 1917
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Trench Warfare Trenches were used by both sides as a way to fight the enemy advancing into unwanted territory
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What do you see?
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Two Fronts of WWI Western Front –A series of trenches that ran from the North Sea to the Swiss border (map 517) Germany was to the East and the Allies to the West. Eastern Front – fighting that occurred from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea (map 515) Much longer than the Western Front so trenches were not as developed
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Average Year for British Soldier 15% - on the front line (where the fighting occurs) 10% - on the support line (ready to support the front line) 30% - on reserve line 20% - rest 25% - other (hospital, traveling, leave, training courses, etc.)
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New & Modern Weapons Machine Guns Navy Battleships Battleships U-boats U-boats Zeppelin Tanks Airplane Mustard Gas Trench War – strategy was to defend position while attacking enemy No Man’s Land – Attrition – wear down enemy’s resources so they can no longer fight war
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The U.S. Enters WWI
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Policy of Neutrality Woodrow Wilson President at beginning of WWI He and most Americans believed WWI was a European issue – no reason to get involved. America is a country of immigrants – many have relatives living in Europe. What does this mean? U.S. business traded with both sides – very good for U.S. economy
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Use of Propaganda Great Britain used propaganda to make the Germans look bad (i.e. U- boats attacking defenseless civilians) U.S. also had government agency that controlled the news of the War.
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Zimmerman Note Zimmerman was a German official who sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico This proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico If Mexico joins WWI on the side of Germany they would help Mexico regain Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Predict American response?
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April 6, 1917 Congress votes to declare war on Germany. President Wilson declares, “The world must be made safe for democracy.”
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