United States Involvement in World War I and the Paris Peace Conference

1. SOL Review Materials for Unit Five: United States Involvement in World War I and the Paris Peace Conference

2. American Neutrality, 1914 - 1917 Wilson’s campaign bragged that the President had kept us out of war. How does this sign show that he supported unions, as well? • From 1914 to 1917, the United States tried very hard to maintain neutrality in the conflict. President Wilson advised Americans to maintain neutrality in mind as well as in action. He even ran to be re-elected President in 1916 with the campaign motto, “He Kept Us Out of War!” By early 1917, however, it was impossible for the United States to stay out of the conflict.

3. Reasons for United States involvement in World War I On May 7, 1915, a German U-Boat sank the passenger liner HMS Lusitania off the Southern Coast of Ireland. Over 1200 people died, including 128 Americans. Citizens of the United States were outraged and clamored for war.

4. The United States and England share so much in common that we tend to be on the same side in conflicts: during World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and even the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan today we have been allies. Reasons for US Involvement in World War I The United States had historical ties to Great Britain. The nations shared a common heritage. They spoke the same language. They were both believers in capitalism, and both nations practiced democracy. They also shared a belief in individual rights and – for most people – the Christian faith.

5. The Zimmermann Telegram Germany hoped to recruit Mexico into the war, and occupy the US with a North American War in 1917. Instead, Mexico rejected their offer, and outraged American were one step closer to declaring war on Germany. Reasons for US involvement In World War I When the United States discovered the Zimmermann Telegram in the early part of 1917 – inviting Mexico to attack the United States, Americans were outraged. The Germans had hoped that by occupying the US with a war in North America, they would keep us out of World War I in Europe. They were wrong!

6. British Empire France Russia Serbia Belgium United States NOTE: Russia quit the war in 1917, after the Russian Revolution. The United States did not enter the war until 1917. The Major Allied Powers

7. The Central Powers were the enemy of the United States during World War II. The nations of the Central Powers are below. The Central Powers: Germany The Austro-Hungarian Empire Bulgaria The Ottoman Empire ThE Central Powers during World War I

8. At the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson wrote and presented a Fourteen Point Plan for peace in Europe. In the plan, he addressed all of the main reasons war had started in the first place. The plan called for the formation of the League of Nations, a peacekeeping organization. Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Point Plan for peace in Europe

9. The plan forbid secret treaties – like the one between Serbia and Russia which helped to cause the war. The plan called for reduced military sizes. Freedom of the seas was required. Free trade was encouraged. Nine new nations were created in Europe. The League of Nations was created in order to allow nations to resolve their disputes without resorting to war – it was a peacekeeping organization! Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Point Plan

10. The Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations The United States never joined the League of Nations, for fear that our sovereignty would be taken away. The Treaty of Versailles failed to keep peace in Europe for long. THE US never joins the League of Nations or signs the Treaty of Versailles. Many Historians argue that the lack of an american presence in europe made it very difficult to maintain the peace.