The First World War Mc Intyre Boys and
The First World War Mc. Intyre Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster by James Montgomery Flagg 1917 -18
The First World War: What? • War involving nearly all the nations of the world When? • 1914 -1918 2
1 st World War in history • Great War or War to End all War • Not called WWI until after WWII • Total war • Involved 60 nations and 6 continents
The First World War: Why? Long term - 1. Alliance system- European nations began forming military alliances with one another to maintain a balance of power ……. . 2. Imperialism – competition for colonies 3. Militarism Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914 Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 4 stockpiling of weapons 4. Nationalism- to act in the country’s own national interest.
The First World War: Who? 5 Central Powers: Allies: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Russia (leaves 1917) France Great Britain Italy Japan United States (1917)
The First World War: Where? 6
• Panama Canal was completed in August of 1914 just a week before WWI began in Europe. • Woodrow Wilson became President in 1912. • Americans were shocked by the outbreak of war but…………. . it was in Europe. • US was officially NEUTRAL
Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war? • America was isolationist • “Why should I get involved in someone else’s problems” 8
American Opinions 3 groups Isolationists- Stay out of war Interventionists- U. S. should intervene on side of Allies Internationalists- Get involved only to solve the problem and promote peace.
Which side should the US pick? Central Powers: Allies: • 11 million German. Americans • Irish-Americans hated Great Britain • Close cultural ties • Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories) • Big business loaned much $ to allies US Exports to both sides: 10
What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades • Britain blockaded (stopped) all German ships going to America • Germany announced a submarine war around Britain 11 Y-53 German Submarine 1916
What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades • In May, 1915 Germany told Americans to stay off of British ships • They could/would sink them 12
What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades • Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans) 13 German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking • Was eventually found to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunition
What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades • The US sharply criticized Germany for their action 14 Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster • Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future
What did it take to get the US involved? 2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare • 1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone 15 Why? Otherwise their blockade would not be successful
What did it take to get the US involved? 3. Zimmerman Note • US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico, • It promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back in return for an alliance • Wanted Mexico to attack U. S. to keep us busy and out of the war. 16
What did it take to get the US involved? • Zimmerman Note + the sinking of 4 unarmed American ships led to a declaration of war 17
Convincing the American People Posters - Gee!! • Propaganda like this poster helped to convince the American people that the war was a good idea? 18
What did the US do to help? Supplies: • US provided the food, money, and fresh toops needed to win the war 19 American Troops March Through London
Convincing the American People Idealism: Fourteen Points What? President Wilson’s Plan for after the war • Fourteen promises, including freedom of the seas & a League of Nations to work for peace 20 President Woodrow Wilson
How did the War Affect the US? Women • Women filled factory jobs • May have led 19 th Ammendment after the war (Gave women the right to vote) African Americans • Black soldiers still served in Segregated Units • “Great Migration” - thousands of African Americans moved North to work in factories 21
How did the War Affect the US? Enforcing Loyalty • Hatred of all things German Ex. “Liberty Cabbage” What "patriotic" Americans called sauerkraut during the World War I years during the height of anti. German hysteria here in the United States. Sauerkraut was renamed liberty cabbage to remove the German connotation, • Espionage Act 1917 Espionage Act essentially made it a crime for any person to convey information intended to interfere with the U. S. armed forces prosecution of the war effort or to promote the success of the country's enemies. • Sedition Act of 1918 punished those against the war (many labor leaders) 22
Cost of War • $400 billion • $10 million dollars an hour 16 million deaths • First war of the Industrial Revolution…… New Weapons vs old tactics of fighting
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