1. FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR:
WORLD WAR I
Was it in the national interest of the United States to stay neutral or declare war in 1917?
Get into groups/countries according to similar interests from index cards.

2. The Alliances Britain France Russia Germany Austria-Hungary
Allies
Central Powers
Britain
France
Russia
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire

3. July Crisis, 1914
This cartoon - 'A Chain of Friendship' - appeared in the American newspaper the Brooklyn Eagle in July 1914.   The caption read: “If Austria attacks Serbia, Russia will fall upon Austria, Germany upon Russia, and France and England upon Germany.”
July Crisis Activity
Do not write on papers in folder. Each student should have a copy of the questions, background information, and research documents. Please return all papers to folder at the end of the activity.
Suggestion: divided up the questions and search/skim documents for answers. Fill in the chart for your country.

4. Timeline of European Alliances Prior to World War I
1879: Dual Alliance
(Germany and Austria-Hungary to protect themselves from Russia)
1881: Austro-Serbian Alliance
(Austria-Hungary with Serbia to prevent Russia gaining control of Serbia)
1882: Triple Alliance
(Germany and Austria-Hungary with Italy to prevent Italy siding with Russia)
1907: Triple Entente
(Alliance between Britain, France, and Russia)
Country Reports about Alliances and Reasons for war.

5. The Schlieffen Plan Avoids a two front
Black Hand – Serbian nationalist secret society, responsible for assasinating Archduke Ferdinand
Blank Check – unconditional guarentee of support for Austria Hungary no matter what it decided.
Schlieffen Plan – plan to deal with two front war scenario. Conquer France on Western Front by attacking through Belgium, before the Russians could mobilize for war on the Eastern Front.
Plan XVII – vengeful war upon Germany to restore Alsace and Lorraine.

6. *spark - assassination
Militarism
Alliance System
Imperialism
Nationalism
*spark - assassination
SG #2
Militarism – policy of glorifying military power and practice
Nationalism – feeling of pride, loyalty to a nation or ethnic group
Imperialism – foreign policy of empire building
Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Allied Powers – France, Britain, Russia, later the United States and Italy.

7. Military Alliances in 1914

8. Neutral or Declare?
“The effect of war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned…The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that are to try men’s souls.”
- President Woodrow Wilson, August 19, 1914
Should we stay neutral or declare war? Make a tally on the board under your selection.

9. R.M.S. Lusitania at Waterloo
Stalemate – by end of 1914 deadlock, senseless slaughter, German troops 30 miles from Paris, Russia had advanced into Germany
Lusitania – May 7, 1915, 128 Americans killed, merchant ship attacked by Germany, suspected of carrying weapons and munitions. TR called it “murder on the high seas”

10. German U-Boat…
U-Boats – undersea boat or submarine utilized by Germany for surprise attacks of British and French merchant ships
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare – attacks without proper notification including Lusitania
Sussex Pledge – Germany will spare all lives in future U-boat attacks but US must force Britain to end its illegal supply blockade.

11. Zimmerman Telegram, 1917 To the German Ambassador:
We intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall try to keep the United States neutral. If we do not succeed we make Mexico a proposal of alliance. Mexico is to reconquer Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Signed,
Zimmerman
Intercepted message from German Foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico. If US enters war, side with Germany and they will help Mexico regain lost territory of TX, NM & AZ.

12. Wilson’s War Message to Congress……
“To fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included: for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose there way of life ….
The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation s of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall free make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. “
Criticisms (see Entry quotes worksheet) – going to war for economic reasons, favortism of European powers
US Enters War – right for democracy is worth fighting for, will result in peace
*Russia Revolution: overthrow Czar Nicholas II, Wilson felt reassured that his ally Russia was working toward Democracy.
Reflection Essay

13. “The power and duty rest upon both Congress and the President to act just as vigorously to prevent a threat as to defend an actual attack. It is within their judgment and discretion as to whether the Army shall serve at home or abroad, and now in Europe to join with the Allies and help to root out imperialism …”
A.E. Anderson
Pittsburgh, PA
SG #3 – Selective Service
Loyalty parades, children saved tin cans, women knitted socks for soldiers, Red Cross volunteers rolled bandages. *Anti-German sentiment, no German music, etc.
Schenck v. United States – Charles Schenck (a socialist) distributed leaflets urging recent draftees to resist the draft, his lawyer said Schenks right to free speech had been denied. Court ruled “Clear and Present danger”
*Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes – Schecks publications created a “clear and present danger” to a nation engaged in war. “When a nation is at war,” things that maight be said in a time of peace will not be endured so long as men fight”

14. “The only democracy I have ever seen in Germany was in the Hofbrauhouse in Munich, where the artisan, professional, commercial, and military men drink the same kind of beer under the same roof…..”
Casimir Gonski,
Apollo Theater, Milwaukee, WI
War Industries Board – government agency that coordinated efforts to make sure supplies and equipment were produced and delivered to the military. “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays”
National War Labor Board – to ensure cooperation of unions, set standards for wages, hours and working conditions in war industries.
Set up Food Administration to oversee production and distribution of food and fuel – headed by Herbert Hoover. Hoover called on Americasn to increase the food supply by planting “victory gardens” in schoolyards, vacant lots and public parks – President Wilson planted a victory garden on the White House Lawn.

15. Liberty Loans/Liberty bonds: lend money to government and you get money in interest. Financial support of government by the people.
Cost of war for US was 35.5 billion, ¼ of that came from taxes, War Revenue Act to raise income taxes. Sale of bonds: a bond is a certificate issued by a government or company that promises to pay back the money borrowed at a fixed rate of interest on a specific date. “A bond slacker is a Kaiser backer.” Many foreign born citizens felt they had to buy bonds even if they were poor – risk being though of as “un-American”
“The predominating strain in our blood is of the bulldog breed. We have never let go when we once have taken hold, and we are going to see this thing through, come what may and cost what it will.” A. White, North Carolina

16. “When Germany ordered the destruction of American passenger and merchant vessels to punish that country for permitting her citizens to supply the allies, she ignored the fact that England, France, Italy, and Russia did not destroy Americans for supplying the Deutschland on the occasions of her two trips to America.”
Raoul W. D’Arche
Hartford, CT
Anti-Immigrant – rumors of enemy agents. Immigrants became targets of self-appointed patriot groups like the American Protective League, tried to enforce what they called “100 percent Americanism” Walked around looking for signs of disloyalty. Sent the FBI names of people they suspected of disloyalty. Attacks on German Americans!

17. “The American Republic is now engaged in the most separate and serious war of its life. The fight is not a new one. From the earliest history, the story of mankind has been a struggle for liberty – for freedom of conscience’s speech and action. ‘The power of tyranny that enslaves men’s minds has desperately fought every advancement of human rights and has stubbornly contested every inch of the ground.”
Clyde B. Johnson
Charleston, WV
SG#4
African Americans and WWI: WEB DuBois advocated to fight – “Let us while this war lasts, forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our won white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy.” William Monroe Trotter (black newspaper editor)– work on segregation in American, then spread democracy in other countries, did not believe serving in armed forces would lead to better treatment for African Americans.
The Great Migration – slow of immigration, more jobs in North, African Americans moved/migrated
1919 “Red Summer” riots b/c blacks and whites competing for jobs (worst rioting in Illonios)

18. ‘Wot you gonna do wit’ all dat money?
“I say: ‘Taka back to Italee, w’ere I live.”
“No sir; no, you don’ do dat!”
“I say: ‘wot you ‘ave me to wit’ dat money? I gonna take dat money back ‘ome to my countree, Italee.”
“You gonna give dat money to your Uncle.”
“I say: ‘I ain’t got no uncle.’
“By goll, ‘e say, you ‘ave. You got a Uncle Sam.”
SG#5
Anti-Immigrant Sentiment – fear of disloyalty, forced immigrants to Americanize, prove loyalty, enlist
Espionage Act – 1917, crime in “obstruction of war effort” gave postmaster general power to refuse mail delivery of items that encourage disloyalty. Banned papers and magazines
Sedition Act – 1918, saying anything disloyal, profane about government (tattling on neighbors, fear)
Schenck v. United States – Charles Schenck (a socialist) distributed leaflets urging recent draftees to resist the draft, his lawyer said Schenks right to free speech had been denied. Court ruled “Clear and Present danger”
*Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes – Schecks publications created a “clear and present danger” to a nation engaged in war. “When a nation is at war,” things that maight be said in a time of peace will not be endured so long as men fight”

19. Four Minute Men Bulletin 1, May 22, 1917
General Suggestions to Speakers:
The speech must not be longer than four minutes.
Speakers should go over their speech time and time again until the ideas are firmly fixed in their mind and cannot be forgotten.
Divide your speech carefully into certain divisions, say 15 seconds for final appeal; 45 seconds to describe the bond; 15 seconds for opening words.
Don’t yield to the inspiration of the moment, or to applause to depart from your speech outline. Remember that one can speak only 130, 140, or 150 words a minute and if you speech has been carefully prepared to fill four minutes, you can not add anything to your speech without taking away something of serious importance.
Using a sentence or two from the Prussian Speech, practice saying a few lines with a partner, be enthusiastic, convincing, and persuasive in your tone of voice.

20. When Speaking Out Was A Crime…..
Hank Williams, Jr.
Commented on golf outing between Obama and John Boehner (Current Speaker of the House of Representatives)
“It would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu” (Primister of Israel b. 1949)
*Extreme examples of enemies
ESPN pulls “Monday Night Football” musical introduction
Was this punishment too harsh or did it fit the “crime”?

21. TRIVIA!!!!!!!!!!
Poland shares borders with seven countries and one body of water…..
List two countries.
What is the significance of November 11th?
Poland: Czech Republic, Germany, Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia, and the Baltic Sea
Armistice Day – November 11, 1918 “Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”
Veterans day as a National Holiday in 1954 by Dwight D. Eisnehower to honor ALL return vets – specifically WWII and Korean War. Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in Europe.

22. Wilson’s 14 Points: protect peace-loving nations from force and selfish aggressions
No more secret treaties
No more imperialistic goals
Redrawing borders based on self-determination
Reduce armament
League of Nations
Peace: make Germany weak, cut military, take away coal rich region of Saar, reparation to Allies
Punishment – countries lost many lives and resources, needed repartions to recooperate, America would benefit because it loaned $ to Allies.

23. Cost of War…

24. Field Service Postcard From: Alfred Galbraith July 12, 1916
Field service postcard showing an early form of censorship sent by troops from the Front during World War I. The message is compiled by crossing out pre-printed lines that are not relevant. The postcard is from Alfred Galbraith to Mrs J. Breare, 54 Rosebery Ave, South Shields [in South Tyneside], England and is dated 12 July He was killed three days later in France.

25. The Big Four
Woodrow Wilson received a hero's welcome in France. Though much of the World War I peace treaty fell far short of his idealist goals, he did gain acceptance for his League of Nations and the concept of international peacekeeping. *Germany and defeated countries did not attend. Neither did Russia because of Revolution.
Treaty of Versailles – Wilson had to win 2/3 vote in Senate to ratify treaty
Prime Ministers David Lloyd George of Great Britain, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, and President Woodrow Wilson

26. League of Nations: built into the Treaty of Versailles.
Aims: stop war, disarmament, improve working global working conditions, eradicate disease
Organization: assembly meets once a year, deal with crises
Strengths: to enforce aims, could offer arbitration through Court of International Justice, apply trade sanctions against countries that went to war.
Weaknesses: too ambitious. US, Russia, and Germany not members. It had no army, decisions had to be unanimous

27. Woodrow Wilson
Gilbert Hitchcock
William Borah
Treaty of Versailles – June 18, 1919, Wilson had to win 2/3 vote in Senate to ratify treaty.
Irreconcilables – REJECT: disliked automatic war by association
Reservationists – RELUCTANT: voted yes, but conditions
Internationalists – SUPPORT: greater cooperation between nations would benefit all countries.
Although Germany was not happy with the Treaty they had little choice but to sign. This cartoon clearly shows the situation Germany was in. There were a total of 440 clauses in the final treaty. The first 26 clauses dealt with the establishment of the League of Nations. The remaining 414 clauses spelled out Germany's punishment.
William Taft
Henry Cabot Lodge

28. At home, however, isolationism had reasserted itself and Wilson failed to get Congress to ratify the treaty. His last efforts as president were spent in an unsuccessful attempt to build public and political support for the League. Exhausted from a cross-country tour, he suffered a stroke in September of 1919 and never fully recovered.

29. Pershing’s Last Patriot - Primary Source:)
Frank Buckles:
Pershing’s Last Patriot - Primary Source:)
America's Last WWI Veteran on the day before his 109th birthday.