1. What’s on television Today you will have the opportunity to collaborate with a team to create your own television show covering the events of WWI

2. World War I Background WWI began in Europe in 1914 and lasted 4 years. It was one of the biggest wars in history. World War I started because nations in Eurpe competed for power. They had secret agreements. These agreements meant that if one of them got in war, they all would help in the fight.

3. The Alliance System Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Italy (Triple Alliance) Allied Powers Britain France Russia (Triple Entente)

4. Fighting the War New weapons made fighting in WWI brutal and bloody. For the first time, airplanes were used in battle. Poison gas and powerful machine guns were used on the ground. At sea, submarines were used to sink ships. In all, 13 million people died.

5. America Enters the War At first, the U.S. stayed neutral and out of the fighting. In time, however, it was pulled into the war. Why? – Many Americans felt close to the British – In 1915, Germany sank British liner Lusitania, which had 1200 people on board including 128 Americans. – In 1917 Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare and carried it out by sinking 5 U.S. ships – In 1917, the English discovered a message from Alfred Zimmerman stating if war broke out between the Central Powers and the U.S., Mexico should attack the U.S.

6. Propaganda President Wilson told Americans that by entering the war, they could “make the world safe for democracy.” Many Americans were still not ready to enter war So, the U.S. government used propaganda to help make fighting the war a more popular idea.

7. Propaganda

8. What’s on t.v? Today you will have the opportunity to create a short drama, comedy, commercial, news cast, infomercial, or some type of t.v. advertisement

9. Presentation Your team presentation should detail any FOUR of the following: Causes of U.S. entry into WWI Significance of Zimmerman note Efforts made by women to help U.S. policy to remain neutral Why WWI happened Alliance System Where WWI took place Who won the war