America And World War I

1. America And World War I Chapter 19 in The Americans

2. Essential Questions: • What were the causes of WWI? • Why did America become involved in WWI? • What were the consequences of WWI for America and the world?

3. Four Main Causes of WWI • Militarism: The development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy • An arms race developed between world powers when countries all tried to get better and stronger weapons than the others • Imperialism: The process of becoming a more powerful nation by getting control over weaker nations • Led to competition for colonies between European nations and eventually America • Nationalism: A devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation. • Led to competitive rivalries between nations in Europe • Alliances: a formal agreement of union between nations

4. System of Alliances • Triple Entente: The Allies • France • Britain • Russia • Triple Alliance: Central Powers • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Italy • Ottoman Empire • These alliances grouped together and when the war started they all supported each other

6. WWI Leaders – The Big Four Wilson: American President George Clemenceau: French leader David Lloyd George: British Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando: Italian Prime Minister

7. German Leader: Kaiser Wilhelm II • Wilhelm II Bio at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wilhelm_kaiser_ii.shtml

8. Assassination Sparks War • The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTIaiiGB4o • This caused Austria Hungary and it’s allies to declare war Serbia and it’s Allies • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCbNE3ToePA Assassin GavriloPrincip Archduke Franz Ferdninand

9. Lead Up to American Involvement • Lusitania: A British liner that was sunk by the Germans in which 1,198 people died (128 Americans) • Zimmerman Note: a note from Germany revealing German support for Mexico against the US if the US entered the war • Convoy System: a system in which merchant ships would cross the Atlantic in large groups to prevent enemy attack

10. American Troops • Selective Service Act: required men to register with the government for a random draft (24 million men registered, 3 million were called up) • American Expeditionary Force (AEF): The American forces led by General John J. Pershing • Conscientious Objector: a person who opposes a war on moral grounds • Pacifist: a person who objects to all wars • Mobilization: When a country prepares for war

11. Fighting WWI • No man’s land: A space between the two sides trenches that was extremely dangerous for a person to be in • Trench warfare: when soldiers dug into the field and fought for yards of land at a time (extremely deadly way to fight) • U-Boat: German submarines; often used against merchant ships

13. WarTechnology German TriPlane French BiPane Tanks Machine Guns Grenades

14. Cost of War • 22 million dead (1/2 civilians) • 20 million wounded • 10 million refugees • $338 billion spent on war • 48,000 Americans killed in battle • 62,000 Americans killed by disease • 200,000 Americans wounded

15. American Homefront • War Industries Board: committees set up to efficiently make supplies for the war effort led by Bernard Baruch • War Bonds: sold to raise money for the war effort • Committee on Public Information: sent out biased messages called propaganda to the American people in an effort to get them to support the war; led by George Creel • Propaganda: information spread to gain support for the war • Espionage and Sedition Act: a person could be punished for saying anything disloyal or for interfering with the war effort • Food Administration: led by Herbert Hoover, promoted rationing • National War Labor Board: created to limit labor disputes and maximize production • Great Migration: when hundreds of thousands of black Americans moved from the South to cities in the North during the war

16. Russian Revolution • Vladmir Lenin: Led a coup of the Russian government by the Bolsheviks. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knjUx7A-G3w&feature=relmfu • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofWYQh0dFWA&feature=relmfu • This event took Russia out of World War I

17. Armistice • At 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918, (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month), a ceasefire came into effect. • This is the date Americans celebrate Veterans Day.

21. Fourteen Points: • A speech given by Wilson to Congress about how the war should end • First 5 points about how to avoid a war like this in the future • No secret treaties among nations • Freedom of the seas for all • Tariffs and other economic barriers should be removed between countries to promote free trade • Arms should be reduced to the lowest amount possible while still maintaining domestic safety • Colonials powers should consider the interests of colonists as well as their own interests • Next 8 points dealt with boundary changes that called for self-determination (the right for people to make their own countries) • The 14th Point was a call to create a League of Nations (a group of reps for all countries that could meet and discuss problems to prevent them from escalating to war)

22. Treaty of Versailles • Agreement after WWI • Established 9 new nations (including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia) • Carved 5 areas out of the Ottoman Empire and gave them the France and England as temporary colonies until they were ready for self-rule • Barred Germany from maintaining an army • Made Germany return Alsace and Lorraine to France • Made Germany pay 33 billion dollars to the allies as reparations (war damages) • Included a war-guilt clause: forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting WWI