3. Causes of World War I
Nationalism
Led to competitive and antagonistic rivalries among
nations
Feared Germany’s growing power
Russia – protector of Europe’s Slavic peoples
Serbs – Slavic people, under rule of Austria-Hungary
Russia and Austria-Hungary rivals
4. Causes of World
War I
• Imperialism
• Germany competed
with France and Britain
in the contest for
colonies
5. Causes of World War I
Militarism
Germany - strongest nation on the European continent.
Britain – strongest navy in the world
1897 Germany competes to build up largest battleships
and destroyers
France, Italy, Japan, & United States join the naval
arms race.
6. Causes of World War I
Alliance System
Triple Entente (AKA: Allies) – France, Britain, & Russia
Triple Alliance (AKA: Central Powers) – Germany,
Austria-Hungary, & Italy, later Ottoman Empire
7. An
Assassination
Leads to War
• Balkan Peninsula
• Russia wanted for
Mediterranean Sea
access
• Germany wanted for
rail link to Ottoman
Empire
• Austria-Hungary taken
control of Bosnia
8. An
Assassination
Leads to War
• Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
• Heir to Austrian throne, shot
while driving through the
Bosnian capital Sarajevo by
Serbian nationalist Gavrilo
Princip (member of Black
Hand)
• One nation after another
pulled into the conflict
9. The Fighting Starts
• Three kinds of trenches – front line, support, & reserve
• First Battle of the Somme – 1.2 million casualties, only
7 miles of ground changed hands
10. Americans Question Neutrality
Divided Loyalties
Socialists – war as capitalist
Imperialist – struggle between Germany and Britain to control
markets and colonies in China, Africa & Middle East
Pacifists – war was evil and the US should set an example of
peace to the world.
Parents – didn’t want sons to experience horrors of war
Naturalized US Citizens – ties to nations from which the
emigrated
11. The War Hits Home
• The British Blockade
• Blockade the German coast to prevent weapons,
other military supplies & food getting through
12. The War Hits Home
German U-Boat
Response
U-boat = submarine –
sunk any ship in British
waters
Lusitania - May 7, 1915 -
128 Americans killed
Arabic – July 1915 – 2
Americans killed
Sussex – March 1916 –
80 passengers killed
13. The War Hits Home
• The 1916 Election
• Democrat – Wilson, “He Kept Us Out of War”
• Republic – Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans
Hughes, believed he won
14. The United States Declares
War
German Provocation
Zimmermann note – Germany ally with Mexico
America Acts
April 2, 1917 – President Wilson deliver war resolution
Neutrally finally shattered – pave way for future order of
peace and freedom
15. World War I Begins
Foldable
Title: World War I Begins
Helped to ignite the war in Europe
Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, Alliances, Assassination
of Archduke Ferdinand (pages 373-374)
Opposed U.S. participation in the war
Naturalized Citizens, Socialists, Pacifists, Parents (page 377)
Encouraged U.S. participation in the war
Britain (page 377), Germany (page 378-379) , Russia (page
379-380)
Back cover: Alliances during World War I (page 379)
Allies, Central Powers
17. Section 1: Primary Source
The Zimmerman note
According to this telegram, what did the German
government decide to begin on February 1, 1917?
Unlimited submarine warfare
What did Zimmerman propose if the United States went to
war with Germany during World War I?
He proposed that if Mexico formed a military alliance with
Germany, then Germany would help Mexico recover New
Mexico, Texas, and Arizona from the United States.
If this telegram had not been intercepted by British agents,
what do you think might have happened? Cite evidence from
your textbook to support your opinion.
23. America Mobilizes
Raising an Army
Selective Service Act – required men to register with the
government in order to be randomly selected for military
service
24 million registered – 3 million called up
Most did not attend high school; 1 in 5 foreign born
400,000 African-Americans,
Segregated units, excluded from navy & marines, non-
combat duties.
Henry Johnson & Needham Roberts – first Americans to
receive France’s highest military honor – the “cross of war”
24. America Mobilizes
Mass Production
Exempted many shipyard workers from the draft
US Chamber of Commerce joined in a public
relations campaign to emphasize the importance of
shipyard work
Used prefabrication techniques – 95 ships
Government took over commercial and private
ships, converted for war use.
25. America Turns the Tide
Convoy system, barrier of mines
Fighting in Europe
Allied forces tired, Americans fresh &
enthusiastic
26. American Expeditionary Force –
General John J. Pershing
New Weapons
machine gun, tank, airplane,
observation balloons
28. American
Troops Go on
the Offensive
American War Hero
Alvin York -
Conscientious
objector – Medal of
Honor
29. American Troops Go on the
Offensive
The Collapse of Germany
November 3, 1918 – Austria-Hungary surrender to
the Allies
11th hour, 11th day, 11th month of 1918 – Germany
signed armistice
30. American Troops Go on the
Offensive
The Final Toll
22 million deaths, 20 million wounded, 10
million refugees, cost $338 billion
United States – 48,000 lost in battle,
62,000 died of disease, 200,000 wounded
31. Section 2: Primary Source
Patriotic Song
Why do you think this song was used as a
marching song?
Why did it spur people to give money for the
war effort?
Over There
34. Oppy Wood
Imagine for a moment that you are a soldier fighting in this place.
On an index card, write a journal entry about your feelings and experiences.
36. Congress Gives Power to
Wilson
War Industries Board
Allocates scarce materials, establishes
production priorities, and sets prices
37. Congress Gives Power to
Wilson
War Economy
Wages increased
Company stock increased
Uneven pay between labor and management,
increasing work hours, child labor, dangerous
conditions, unions boomed.
National War Labor Board – 1918 – established to settle
disputes between management and labor.
Refusing meant losing draft exemptions
Improved factory conditions, 8-hour work day, safety
inspections, and child labor ban
38. Congress Gives Power to
Wilson
Food Administration
Help produce and conserve
food; “gospel of the clean
plate”; one day a week
“meatless”, “sweetless”,
two days “wheatless”, two
days “porkless”.
Victory Gardens
39. Selling the War
War Financing
US spent $35.5 billion on the war effort
1/3 raised through taxes; progressive income tax,
war-profits tax, excise tax on tobacco, liquor, and
luxury goods.
2/3 raised by selling “Liberty Loan” and “Victory
Loan” bonds
40. Selling the War
Committee on Public Information
Propaganda agency, designed to influence people’s thoughts and
actions.
George Creel
Persuaded artists and advertising agencies to create
thousands of painting, posters, cartoons, and sculptures to
promote the war.
“Four-Minute Men” – spoke about everything relating to the war
Printed 25 million copies of “How the War Came to America” –
which included Wilson’s war message
Promoted patriotism, but inflamed hatred and violations of the
civil liberties of certain ethnic groups and opponents of the war
41. Attacks on Civil Liberties
Increase
Anti-Immigrant Hysteria
Main targets: Americans who had
emigrated from other nations, especially
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Lost jobs, orchestras refused to play
German music, towns changed names,
schools stopped teaching German, library
books by German authors removed
42. Attacks on Civil Liberties
Increase
Espionage and Sedition
Acts
Violated the spirit of the
First Amendment
Targeted socialists and
labor leaders
Video
43. The War Encourages Social
Change
African Americans
and the War
WEB DuBois
believed African-
Americans should
support the war to
strengthen racial
justice
44. Encourages The Great Migration
Social After turn of the
Change century trickle of
Southern Blacks to
Northern cities
became a tidal wave
Contributing factors:
escape racial
discrimination, boll
weevil infestation, job
opportunities
Video
45. The War Encourages Social
Change
Women in the War
Moved into job
typically held by men
Bolstered support for
woman suffrage
46. The War Encourages Social
Change
The Flu Epidemic
Fall of 1918,
affected about ¼ of
the US population
Possibly spread by
soldiers, killed
500,000 Americans,
30 million worldwide
47. Methods that the
government used to
persuade Americans to
buy bonds…
Promotions by such movie
Speeches by &
Newspaper the
Sales talks
asrallies
parades
starsBond drives Fairbanks,
Douglas
between theater
Four-Minute Men
billboard ads
Mary Pickford, and Charlie
48. Section 3: Primary Source
Liberty Bond Poster
How much money was raised for the war
through sales of Liberty Bonds?
Bonds raised about $21 million for the war
effort.
49. Section 3: Primary Source
Liberty Bond Poster
On average how much did every American
spend on Liberty Bonds?
Every American spent an average of $400 on
bonds
50. Section 3: Primary Source
Liberty Bond Poster
How did the sale of Liberty Bonds affect the
national debt?
Heavy borrowing caused the national debt to
soar from $1 billion in 1914 to $27 billion in
1919.
51. Section 3: Primary Source
Returning Soldiers
According to DuBois, what positive
principles did African Americans fight for
during World War I?
For the liberations of France, for freedom, for
America’s ideals.
52. Section 3: Primary Source
Returning Soldiers
Why does he characterize the United States
as “a shameful land”?
Because the United States does not treat all of
its citizens fairly and subjects African Americans
to lynching, disenfranchisement, discrimination
in education, cheating, and insults.
53. Section 3: Primary Source
Returning Soldiers
What fight does he believe should be fought
now that African-American soldiers have
returned home?
The fight for democracy, equality, and justice in
the United States.
54. Section 3: Primary Source
Returning Soldiers
Members of Congress accused DuBois of
inciting race riots. What evidence, if any, do
you find in this excerpt to support their
accusations?
Some may say that DuBois uses inflammatory
language and urges his readers to fight for
democracy. Others may say that this excerpt
contains no evidence that DuBois incited race
riots.
57. Wilson Presents His Plan
Fourteen Points
Plan for world peace; points 1-5 = to prevent
another war, 6-13 = boundary changes, 14 =
creation of League of Nations
The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan
Allied leaders angry, wanted to punish Central
Powers
Central Powers had no say
Wilson conceded on most of Fourteen Points in
return for League of Nations
58. Debating the Treaty of
Versailles
Provisions of the Treaty
9 new nations
France & Britain temporarily gain 4 areas of
the Ottoman Empire
Germany has no army & forced to pay
reparations of $33 billion to Allies
59. Debating the Treaty of
Versailles
The Treaty’s Weaknesses
The severe treatment of Germany fails to
provide a lasting peace; problems eventually
led to WWII
Germany – Humiliated; war-guilt clause; no way
to pay reparations due to lost territories
Russia excluded – lost territory, wanted it back
Ignored claims of colonized people for self-
determination
60. Debating the Treaty of
Versailles
Opposition to the Treaty
Too harsh with dire economic
consequences
Did not end colonialism
Treaty did not satisfy self-determination
demands of ethnic groups
61. Debating the Treaty of
Versailles
Debate Over the League of Nations
A few thought it threatened the US foreign
policy of isolationism
Conservative senators were suspicious of the
provision for joint economic and military action
against aggression. Wanted the constitutional
right of Congress to declare war.
62. Debating the Treaty of
Versailles Video
Wilson Refuses to Compromise
Wilson set out on 8,000 mile tour giving 34 speeches
explaining why the US should join the League of
Nations; suffered a stroke, partially paralyzed for more
than 2 months
Senate added amendments which qualified the terms
under which the US would enter the League of Nations;
Senate rejected the amendments, failed to ratify the
treaty
Wilson refused to compromise; Senate again failed to
ratify
US signed a separate treaty with Germany in 1921 with
63. The Legacy of War
America – strengthened US military and power of
government; accelerated social change; fears and
antagonisms left unchanneled
Europe – destruction and massive loss of life
severely damaged social and political systems
Called “the war to end all wars”, however,
unresolved issues would create another war;
Treaty of Versailles solved nothing
64. Interrupting
the Ceremony
This 1918 cartoon shows
Senate opposition to U.S.
membership in the League of
Nations. At President Wilson’s
insistence, the covenant to
establish the League had
been written into the
Versailles Treaty, which
ended World War I. The
United States never signed
the Treaty, largely because of
disagreement over America’s
involvement in the League of
Nations.
Editor's Notes
Critical Thinking Transparencies – CT19 World War IWith the whole class discuss the questions on page 10. In table groups, have students answer question #4.
Geography Transparencies – G19 Europe Goes to WarWith the whole class discuss the questions on page 10. In table groups, have students answer question #4. Provide them with the declaration of war timeline found on the next slide.
Critical Thinking Transparencies – CT53 The Human and Financial Costs of World War IWith the whole class discuss the questions on page 27. In table groups, have students answer question #6.
This stark painting of a front-line stronghold near Arras in northern France conveys the unearthly desolation of trench warfare after three years of often stalemate fighting. Trench warfare, in which armies fought and died to gain mere yards of territory, was a nightmare to the combatants who often stood in wet trenches for hours at a time. They were surrounded by filth, rats, and the stench of poison gas and decaying bodies. Sleep was almost impossible as bombardments continued for hours at a time.John Nash (1893-1977), born in London, had no formal training as a painter, but was persuaded by his brother, Paul, to take up the career of an artist. He was an official War Artist in 1918 and 1940. Nash is best know for landscape and illustrations for botanical works.
Critical Thinking Transparencies – CT19 World War IWith the whole class discuss the questions on page 10. In table groups, have students answer question #4.