Download The Road to War • Main Idea 1: Many factors contributed to the

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The Road to War
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Main Idea 1:
Many factors contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
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The Spark
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Feelings of fear and distrust grew among European powers in the early
1900s.
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In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Slavic nationalists resisted violently; wanted to be a part of
Serbia
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June 28, 1914: Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was
assassinated in Sarajevo.
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Killed by a Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip
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Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
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Nations began to mobilize, or prepare their militaries, for war.
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Pulled into the Fighting
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Main Idea 2:
European nations suffered massive casualties in the war’s early
battles.
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The French army blocked the German advance at the Marne River, east of
Paris, in September 1914.
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The First Battle of Marne marked the first major battle of the
war.
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French and German forces faced each other along a long battle
line known as the western front.
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Russian and German armies struggled back and forth on the eastern
front.
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The war became a stalemate– a situation in which neither side can win a
decisive victory.
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Clear that this war would be longer than expected.
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Technology of War
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Trench warfare, defending a position by fighting from the protection of
deep ditches, helped make the war long and deadly.
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Cold, wet, and muddy
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Disease ran rampant
New technologies made land warfare even more deadly
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Machine guns
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Poison gases
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Tanks
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Americans Prepare for War
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Main Idea 1:
The United States entered the war after repeated crises with Germany.
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The United States was initially a neutral country.
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Americans viewed World War I as a European conflict.
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America continued to trade with European nations during the war.
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Carried supplies and war materials to the Allies.
Germany used U-boats to try and stop supply lines.
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Often attacked ships without warning
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Sometimes shot civilian targets, such as the British passenger
liner, Lusitania
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Congress Declares War
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Main Idea 2:
The United States mobilized for war by training troops and stepping up
production of supplies.
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Committee on Public Information formed by President Wilson to help
persuade the public to support the war effort.
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Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 limited freedoms in
the United States.
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Selective Service Act was enacted in 1917 to prepare the U.S. military
for war.
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Required men between ages 21-30 to register for draft.
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Almost 3 million Americans were drafted into service in World War
I.
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Liberty bonds were issued by the government to help finance Allied war
efforts.
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War Industries Board and Food Administration worked to supply the
troops with materials and food supplies.
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Main Idea 3:
Labor shortages created new wartime opportunities for women and other
Americans.
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Women’s War Efforts
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Many American women took on new roles to help the war effort.
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1 million women joined the workforce.
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About 25,000 women volunteered to serve in non-combat positions
in Europe.
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Other women protested America’s participation in the war.
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Labor and the War
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New job opportunities encouraged Mexican Americans and African
Americans to move to northern industrial cities.
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Union membership increased.
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Workers in a better position to demand higher wages
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More than 4 million unionized workers went on strike during the
war.
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National War Labor Board was established to help management and workers
reach agreements.
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Settled more than 1,000 labor disputes
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Worked to prevent strikes
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Americans in World War I
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Main Idea 1:
American soldiers started to arrive in Europe in 1917.
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Americans joined the fight in Europe in 1917 as a force separate from
the other Allied units.
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U.S. troops were known as the American Expeditionary Force
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Led by General John J. Pershing
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Thoroughly trained for combat before reaching front lines
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Included regular army and National Guard troops, volunteers, and
draftees
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Russia Leaves the War
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Main Idea 2:
The Americans helped the Allies win the war.
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With Russia gone, Germany planned to smash the stalemate.
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American soldiers arrived on the front.
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Germans made an advance, but were unprepared for the fresh, welltrained American forces and were driven back.
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July 1918– German forces launch final offensive
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Attempted to cross the Marne River
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Terrible losses forced them to stop.
American troops helped force a major turning point in the war.
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Main Idea 3:
Germany agreed to an armistice after suffering heavy losses.
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Allies drove toward victory after the failed German advance.
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More than 1 million U.S. troops in France
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Began winning victories against German forces
By November 1918, American soldiers were making rapid advance toward
Germany.
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Germany Defeated
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At home and on the battlefield, Germans were tired of war.
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Food shortages
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Riots and strikes
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Shortage of soldiers
Main Idea 1:
The costs of war included millions of human lives as well as financial
burdens.
Casualties
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Allied: 5 million soldiers dead
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American: 116,000 soldiers dead; 200,000 soldiers wounded
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Central Powers: 3.5 million soldiers dead
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Russia and Germany had the highest death tolls.
Financial Losses
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$30 billion in property destroyed
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Factories and farms throughout Europe in ruins
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Allies: $145 billion spent
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Central Powers: $63 billion spent
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European nations deeply in debt
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Influenza Epidemic
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In 1918, a worldwide epidemic of influenza, or flu, broke out.
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Extremely contagious
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Deadly
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Spread by air
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No known cure
Spread by American soldiers to civilians and then to Europe and beyond.
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30 million people died from the virus worldwide.
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800,000 Americans died
Changed life in the United States
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In Chicago, the flu more than doubled the death rate.
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Quarantines were implemented in some states.
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Many cities banned public gatherings, including school classes.
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Main Idea 2:
President Woodrow Wilson and European leaders met to work out a peace
agreement.
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Key Goals of the Fourteen Points
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End secret alliances
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Encourage free shipping
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Remove barriers to trade
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Reduce armies and navies
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Resolve colonial claims
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Support the right of people to choose their own government
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Settle border disputes
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Establish the League of Nations
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Paris Peace Conference
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The Treaty of Versailles
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Main Idea 3:
The U.S. Senate rejected the
Treaty of Versailles.
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U.S. Constitution states that treaties must be ratified by at least
two-thirds of the Senate.
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Wilson presented the treaty to the Senate.
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Senator Henry Cabot Lodge wanted the winners to set the terms of
the peace and demanded changes.
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Republicans were worried about the League of Nations’ power to
use military force.
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On November 19, 1919, the Senate voted and the Treaty of Versailles was
defeated.
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The United States signed separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria,
and Hungary.