World War One

1. World War One

2. During WW1, which nations comprised the "Central Powers"? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) Germany, Austria-Hungary & the Ottoman Empire. B.) the US, Great Britain & Canada. C.) Sweden, Norway and Belgium. D.) Russia, France & Germany. E.)

3. The American Response • The US is a nation of immigrants… • And although Great Britain was our natural ally— • With a common language and a similar system of government… • Our enormous German population was strongly against providing ANY support to the British… • And our large Irish population—many of whom fled to America because of Britain’s brutal domination of Ireland… • Were also strongly against the idea of allying with Britain. • Faced with these opposing factions, President Wilson declared the US to be a NEUTRAL country.

4. What was the official stance of the US at the outbreak of WW1? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) pro-German B.) pro-British C.) neutral D.) pro-French E.)

5. The U-Boat • Great Britain, an island, depended on supply by SEA. • Part of Germany’s strategy was to surround Britain and strangle it off from supplies. • To do so, the Germans declared UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE, sending hundreds of U-Boats into the Atlantic • Any American vessel bound for Europe was target for a German attack… • And when the Germans openly threatened American shipping, pressure began to grow for the US to enter the war on the side of the allies.

6. The Lusitania • The German government had posted large warnings at every American port on the East Coast… • “Every ship in the Atlantic Ocean is a POTENTIAL TARGET FOR ATTACK. Sail at your OWN RISK”. • On May 17, 1915, the British passenger liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. • It exploded in a tremendous fireball and sank in 18 minutes. • The intensity of the explosion has led many to believe that it was secretly smuggling high-explosives to Great Britain. • 1,198 people died, including 118 Americans, and American public opinion began to turn in favor of WAR with Germany.

7. Why did Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare begin to turn US opinions in favor of war with Germany? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) the German government was threatening to fire upon US cities from underseas locations. B.) German submarines were threatening American shipping in the Atlantic. C.) Germany's use of submarines was causing mass-starvation in Britain. D.) the use of submarines violated international law. E.)

8. The Zimmerman Note • As US-German tensions rose, a secret TELEGRAM was intercepted… • Between Germany’s foreign minister and the President of Mexico… • It became known as the Zimmerman Note… • And it promised Mexico the return of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona… • If Mexico supported Germany in the War. • The note might have been a FAKE… • But it drove the American people INSANE. • And Congress began drafting an official declaration of war.

9. The War Resolution • As Congress was drafting the War Resolution… • Germany sank three US ships… • The City of Memphis… • The Illinois… • And the Vigilancia… • Making it impossible for anti-war Congressmen to block its passage. • And On April 6, 1917, Congress officially voted to declare war on the Central Powers.

10. The USS Illinois, shortly after being torpedoed.

11. Organizing an Army • In 1917, the US was far from ready to send an army to Europe. • America’s supreme commander, John (Black Jack) Pershing, recommended that that the US army… • Should number 1 million men by 1918…And 3 million by 1919. • In 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act… • Which authorized a draft of young men for military service. • By 1918, 24 million men had volunteered; Only 3 million were picked in a lottery.

12. What was the purpose of the congress' passage of the 1917 selective service act? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) to raise an Army. B.) to grow crops. C.) to increase the money supply. D.) to educate the public about the "German Menace" E.)

13. Financing the War • To raise money for the war effort, Congress started offering Liberty Bonds… • Which, when purchased, can be redeemed for their original value plus interest. • The sale of war bonds raised more than $20 billion. • The government paid for commercials, posters, and famous spokespersons to sell the bonds.

14. What was the purpose of the US' sale of liberty bonds? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) to fund the expansion of public schools B.) to raise money for the Red Cross. C.) to gain political support for the war. D.) to help fund the war. E.)

15. Economic and Social Management • Lever Food and Fuel ControlAct—gave the government power to regulate the production and distribution of foods… • Price controls—government mandated food prices… • Rationing—distributing goods to consumers in a fixed amount… • Daylight SavingsTime—clocks turned ahead one hour during summer to increase productivity. • The 18th Amendment--Prohibition—made it illegal to sell, transport or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

16. The Great Migration • During the years of WW1, there was a great movement of African Americans from the South to the North… • Called the Great Migration. • Some left to escape racism… • And to take advantage of the hundreds of thousands of new factory jobs created by the war. • Between 1910 and 1920, 1.2 million African Americans moved to the North.

17. What was the reason behind the so-called "Great Migration" during WW1? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) a desire by black Americans for better educational opportunities. B.) a desire by black Americans to join the army. C.) a desire by black Americans to prevent racism. D.) a desire by black Americans to seek better employment. E.)

18. Enforcing Loyalty • The war caused a violent backlash against German-Americans… • German music was forbidden… • As well German-language instruction in public schools. • The Sedition Act—made it illegal to criticize the war effort or to verbally disrespect the USA. • EugeneDebs—formers presidential candidate got a 10-year prison term for giving a speech in defense of anti-war protestors. • The Supreme Court upheld the conviction… • Marking the first time that freedom of speech had been successfully limited in the United States.

19. What was the purpose of the Sedition Act? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) to prevent anti-war demonstrators from speaking out. B.) to use the power of government to collect taxes. C.) to deport German-Americans. D.) to increase the nation's food supply. E.)

21. The American Military on the way… • The volunteers and National Guardsmen made up the “American Expeditionary Force”, the AEF. • The first problem: how to get American soldiers safely across the U-Boat-infested Atlantic ocean. • The solution was to use the Convoy System… • Surrounding troop-transport vessels with heavily-armed Destroyers—ships specially built to destroy submarines. • The system was a success—99% of American vessels made a safe journey between the US and Europe.

22. The Americans are coming!!!

23. The Allied Counterattack • Beating the Germans back from Paris was an enormous lift for Allied forces… • The tank, perfected by the end of the war, was now able to roll over barbed wire and through the German lines. • After losing the Battle of Chateau Thierry, the Germans gave up all hope of capturing Paris… • And on August 11, the German High Command began to seek a peace settlement. • The Allies, however, insisted on an unconditional surrender—refusing to allow the Germans ANY negotiating power. • To force such a surrender, the Allies began dropping bombs on the retreating German army, as well as on German towns and cities.

24. The Nearing of the End • As Allied forces continued to advance, the German commanders begged for peace… • But still hoped to be given some room to negotiate terms. • The Allies again refused anything but an unconditional surrender. • Finally, on November 11, 1918, the Germans surrendered… • ArmisticeDay—the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th month…

25. The Death Toll • America—50,000 died in battle; many more from influenza. • Germany—2.1 million • France-1.4 million • Russia—1.7 million • Britain—900,000 • Austria-Hungary—1.2 million • Italy—650,000 • Ottoman Empire—325,000 • Total combatdeaths—10 million… • Additional civiliancasualties—25 million. • Horses—8 million from all sides. • Millions on both sides also suffered from horrible wounds and shellshock.

26. The 14 Points • After the war, President Wilson arrived in Europe for a plan that he hoped would guarantee “world peace”. • His proposal called for “self-determination” for the different nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire… • “Leniency” towards the defeated German Empire… • And, finally, for the formation of a world-peacekeeping organization called “The League of Nations”.

27. The League of Nations • The League of Nations was an attempt to achieve peace through “collective security”… • Every country on Earth would be invited to join… • And if any member nation were attacked, all other member nations would band together in its defense. • The US Congress immediately objected: • According to the US Constitution, only Congress has the right to declare war… • Would the League of Nations take away this power? • Would the US be FORCED to declare war by some outside authority? • Based on these objections, the US refused to join… • Even though it had been President Wilson’s idea.

28. Why did Woodrow Wilson propose the formation of a "League of Nations"? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) in order to help rebuild Germany. B.) in order to ensure world peace. C.) in order to increase American economic power. D.) in order to increase American military power. E.)

29. The Treaty of Versailles • The German Empire was smashed, stripped of all overseas colonies… • Britain and France demanded “reparations”— • To be reimbursed by Germany for the money they spent in defeating Germany… • In the amount of $33 billion… • The treaty contained a “war guilt” clause… • Which blamed the war on “German Aggression”… • Germany, not even invited to the negotiations, was forced to sign the treaty… • And the bitter humiliation felt by the German people led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

30. What was the psychological impact of the Treaty of Versailles upon the German people? iRespond Question Multiple Choice F A.) it made them supportive of human rights. B.) it made them furious and desirous of revenge. C.) it made them feel guilty for starting the war. D.) it made them realized that the American system of government was superior. E.)