1. World War I
The Americans, Chapter 11

2. 1. CAUSES OF WWI
NATIONALISM- devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation
IMPERIALISM- extending economic and political control over weaker territories
MILITARISM- development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy
ALLIANCE SYSTEM- countries backed each other in case of attack

3. 2. Alliance System 2 Major Alliances:
The Allies. France, Britain, Russia, Serbia, Belgium
The Central Powers: Germany, Austria Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire.

4. 3. An Assassination Leads To War
a. In 1914, while traveling through Sarajevo, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria-Hungary)& his wife were assassinated by Serbian Gavrilo Princip.
Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip

5. 4. I KNEW THESE ALLIANCES WERE A BAD IDEA!!!
a. The alliance system pulled one nations after another into the conflict

6. 5. Problems with Neutrality
Germany invaded Belgium.
Germany thought the Lusitania was carrying armaments from America to Britain.
The sinking of the Lusitania (British) by German U-Boats also killed some Americans.

7. The Sinking of the Lusitania
Lusitania (right click- "open hyperlink“)

8. 6. Reasons for U.S. Involvement in WWI
German U-boats continued to sink ships with Americans on board.
Zimmerman Telegram- Germany was hoping to persuade our friend, Mexico to attack us.
Then German announced that they were launching “unrestricted submarine warfare” that forced Wilson to take us to war.

9. 7. Convoy
a. To combat the problem the U.S. grouped its merchant ships traveling together with warships for safety.

10. 8. America Mobilizes for War in 1917
U.S. mobilizes for WWI by:
Congress passed a draft law (the Selective Service Act).
The War Industries Board helped convert factories to wartime production.

11. 9. On the Homefront . . . The “Great Migration”:
Many Americans migrated to cities during World War I to work in defense factories.
African Americans moved from the South to the North and Midwest for jobs.

12. 10. Espionage and Sedition Acts
a. a person could be fined and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government (Doesn’t that violate the first amendment?)

13. 11. WWI Weaponry Machine guns Long-range artillery Flame throwers
Poison gas
Airplanes for surveillance
Tanks

14. 12. TRENCH WARFARE
Troops are significantly protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery.
Outcome: Slow wearing down of opposing forces

16. 13. Armistice
Germany was so worn down by the length of the war and the strength of the Allies that they surrendered on November 11th (now Veteran’s Day).

17. 14. Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Fourteen Points: goals for the peace treaty written when the war ended.
Wilson wanted The League of Nations
Goal: address future international problems and maintain world peace.

18. 15. The Treaty of Versailles
The European Allies:
sought to gain territory for themselves
punish Germany and make them pay for the war.
Wilson was pleased that it called for a League of Nations to be set up.

19. Beginning of WWI
After WWI

20. 16. WWI Map Skills: 1. Name five new nations that appeared after WWI.
2. Name two nations that disappeared after WWI.
3. Where was the Allied Occupied Zone located after WWI?

21. 17. The Senate Fight over the Treaty
The Senate would have to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in order for the U.S. to sign it.
Many thought that U.S. membership in the League of Nations would drag us into future wars.
The Senate never ratified the treaty. We never joined the League of Nations.

22. 18. Other Issues Raised by WWI
Internationally: the U.S. wanted to return to a policy of isolationism.
Domestically: job shortages led to economic pressures.
The Great Migration increased racial tension in mid-western cities.
19th Amendment: women gain the right to vote.