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World War I
1914 - 1919
Causes of the Great War
1. Imperialism
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Nations in competition for land and
influence can create animosity.
Some nations were left out as
others expanded.
Causes of the Great War
2. Militarism
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Nations had begun to build
bigger armies and navies.
Weapons were more
technologically advanced.
Causes of the Great War
3. Nationalism
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Pride in one’s nation.
Belief that people with same
language, culture, religion, etc…,
should have self-determination.
Causes of the Great War
4. Secret Alliances
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Many of the great powers began
to make alliances with each other.
A small conflict could erupt into
an international war!!
Alliances Prior to War
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Triple Alliance
• Austria-Hungary
• Germany
• Italy
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Triple Entente
• England
• France
• Russia
War in Europe
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War erupted in Europe with
the assassination of Ferdinand
of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. He was next in line for
the throne.
The U.S. decided to not get
drawn in, but Wilson sold arms
and supplies to both.
As the war dragged on, we
sold supplies to the Allies on
credit, but not Central Powers.
When they ran out of money,
the supplies dried up.
Therefore, German U-Boats
began sinking American
merchant ships.
Lusitania and Such
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May 7, 1915, a British ship
the Lusitania was sunk by a
German U-boat. Over 100
Americans were killed.
Muckraking Journalists called
for swift response, but Wilson
continued to sell supplies.
Under the Sussex Pledge,
Germany agreed to stop
sinking unarmed ships,
without warning. It only lasted
a short while.
Wilson wanted to win the
election of 1916 and peace
would help do that.
Election of 1916
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Charles Evans Hughes
was the Republican and
the pro-war candidate
(sometimes).
Wilson was the
Democratic incumbent
and the anti-war
candidate (sometimes).
Wilson won the West
and the South and the
election.
Wilson won, but was not
able to stay out of war.
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Balkan Powder Keg
World War I
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary
declared war on Serbia.
• Within two weeks…
• Russia had declared war on
Austria-Hungary and Germany
• Germany attacked Belgium and
France.
• England declared war on Germany
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The Central Powers
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Austria-Hungary
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Germany
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Bulgaria
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The Ottoman Empire
The Allied Powers
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Serbia
Belgium
France
Russia
England
And so on and so on
America’s Response
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Wilson had made every attempt to keep
the U.S. out of war.
Germany had resumed unrestricted
submarine warfare by 1917.
Finally, British intel. intercepted a
telegram from Germany to Mexico.
The “Zimmerman Note” called for an all
out attack on the United States.
In response, it caused Americans to call
out for war.
Wilson’s Aims
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Wilson asked for and got a
declaration of war in April.
He still had to convince many in our
country that war was necessary.
His stated goal for going to war in
Europe was to “make the world safe
for democracy”
The nation believed it and set out to
go to war.
War Effort
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Government led propaganda was
spread throughout the nation.
George Creel led the Committee on
Public Information.
Movies were made in support of the
war effort and posters were hung.
Creel’s efforts paid off a little too
much. There was an anti-foreigner
backlash.
Anti-German Sentiment
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By Feb. 4, 1918, all German males 14 and older in the
United States who were not naturalized were required to
register as alien enemies with local authorities. President
Woodrow Wilson issued the proclamation in November
1917 as the United States entered World War I against
Germany and its allies.
The German Alien Registration Act required that each
"alien enemy" be issued a registration card, which was to
be carried at all times. At their registration, they were
photographed, fingerprinted and questioned about their
personal habits. The government ordered them to get
permission to travel or change residences.
Ohio later passed a law prohibiting teaching the German
language in public schools. In Cincinnati, where 58 percent
of residents were of German heritage, an ordinance was
passed changing German street names. German-language
books were removed from library shelves, one-third of the
city's German-language newspapers folded and German
The Homefront
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Americans bought war bonds to fund
the war effort.
Americans conserved food and gas
and grew victory gardens for their
own food
Wilson even asked for and got the
Espionage Act and Sedition Act
passed by Congress to silence any
critics of the war.
Eugene V. Debs was a socialist
leader who was snared by the laws
Obstacles to Victory
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2.
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A Rapid Change to Wartime
Economy
Building up the Military
Rallying Labor
Stifling Labor Disputes
The Early Months
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Gen. John J. Pershing led the first
wave of American troops – American
Expeditionary Force.
Initially, we were unsuccessful in our
battles against the Central Powers.
We were green and they were
veterans.
Birthday cake and combat boots
turned the tide to the Allies.
The Fighting
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Germany and the Central Powers
were forced into a costly two-front
war.
The Allies (French, British, and
Americans) were all but beat in the
West.
The Russians were suffering heavy
losses as were the Germans.
Supplies were blocked to Russia.
German Troubles
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Germany was losing soldiers faster
than they could be replaced.
Food and supplies were almost nonexistent on the front lines.
Trench warfare allowed for little land
and heavy casualties.
Young boys were replacing veteran
soldiers on both fronts.
The Fighting
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Most fighting on the Western Front
was done in the trenches.
“Going over the top” was a deadly
form of attack into “no man’s land”
The Germans controlled the seas and
were able to blockade England.
New weapons inflated the number of
deaths and casualties.
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Verdun
American Strategy
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As we got used to the theater we
became more adept at trench war
Shipping was still a major problem.
American ships were being sunk at
an alarming rate with little resistance
The use of caravans or convoys as
well as depth charges helped “turn
the tide” in the Atlantic.
The Germans were on the run by
1918.
Major Problems
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America lacked a huge peace-time
standing army.
When the declaration of war was
made, more soldiers were needed.
Conscription was necessary though
Wilson hated the idea.
Men between the ages of 18 and 45
had to register.
Russia
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By the time American forces had
reached full-scale capability – Russia
pulled out.
The Bolshevik Revolution overthrew
the Tsar and Russia signed a peace
treaty.
German troops were taken from the
Eastern Front and moved to the
Western Front.
Pershing wanted control of all U.S.
forces and to be in charge.
Russia
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Russian Collapse
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Return of Lenin
The End in Sight
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By the Fall of 1918, Germans were
deserting their posts.
The Kaiser had abdicated the throne
and fled to Holland.
Russia had lost 1.7 million; Germany
1.6 million; Austria 800,000
America suffered some 53,000
soldiers.
Peace
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Paris Peace Conference convened
after the armistice was signed Nov.
11, 1918.
Georges Clemenceau wanted the
German army crushed and David
Lloyd George wanted the German
Navy gone.
Wilson wanted his 14 points.
The Big Four
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At the Paris Peace Conference, there
were 4 major nations represented.
England – P.M. David Lloyd George
France – Georges Clemenceau
Italy – Vitorio Orlando
U.S. – Woodrow Wilson
Treaty of Versailles
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First German delegation to Paris
refused to sign the treaty.
They opposed Article 231 – Guilt
Clause
Germany’s new government sent a
2nd delegation – they signed.
The war was officially ended in 1919.
League of Nations
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Wilson’s major plan of a world
organization to avoid war was created.
Most nations who were involved in the
conflict joined the League.
However, it was a failure. Why?
The U.S. didn’t join.
Europe’s problems were Europe’s
problems.