IMPERIALISM ◦ Stronger country taking over a weaker country NATIONALISM ◦ Pride in your...

United States & WWI

IMPERIALISM◦ Stronger country taking over a weaker country

NATIONALISM◦ Pride in your country/nationality

MILITARISM◦ Glorification of the military

SECRET ALLIANCE SYSTEM◦ Secret friendships that countries have saying they

will help them in times of war/crisis

Long-term Causes (for Europe)

Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophia by the a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand.

Immediate Cause of WWI

England France Russia Italy U.S.

Triple Entente/Alliance

Central Powers

Germany Austria -

Hungary Ottoman

Empire Bulgaria

Lusitania◦ British passenger ship; 1,198 killed, 128

Americans Sussex Pledge

◦ Germany promises to change its tactics, if the U.S. persuaded England to lift its blockade against food & fertilizer

Resumptions of Submarine Warfare

Reasons for US entry into WWI

1. Kinship with Britain due to common language, culture, & history

2. Friendship with France dating back to revolutionary war support

Allied Propaganda

1. Dislike of Germany’s militarism

2. Attempted sabotage in the U.S.

3. Zimmerman Note Plot to draw Mexico into war against the U.S.

Hostility toward Germany

America, due to British blockade of Germany, sold goods to Allies

Lent money to Allies & would only get it back if Allies won the war

American Economic Interests

Wilson’s proclamation to “make the world safe for democracy,” and a “war to end all wars.”

American Idealism

If Germany were victorious, it would have replaced democratic Britain as dominant power in Europe. It would leave U.S. without allies on the European continent

American Security

America at War

Always in times of war & crisis, the President’s power increases

Presidential Powers Increase

Improve production by encouraging mass production

War Industries Board

Settled disputes between management & labor; agreed not to strike in exchange for the right to collectively bargain

War Labor Board

Operated nation’s RR’s as a single system

Railroad Administration

Regulated supplies of coal & oil

Fuel Administration

Encouraged Americans to eat corn & send their wheat abroad

Farmers produced more

Food Administration

Raised taxes, both income & excise Borrow money through bonds called

Liberty & Victory

Financing the War

Selective Service Act Draft lottery; men 18 - 45

American Contributions America comes to the

rescue with fresh troops and supplies

Military

Schenck vs. US

Wilson’s 14 Points

1. Like popular sovereignty; people choose what gov’t they want

2. Freedom of the seas3. Right of nations to free trade4. Fair adjustments of colonial territories5. End to secret alliances6. Arms reduction – Germany had to reduce

# of weapons7. Formation of the LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Major Points

Treaty of Versailles

1. War guilt – Germany blamed for the war- Germany had to take full responsibility

2. Germany had to pay reparations equal to $33 billion

3. Germany lost her colonial possession in Africa, Asia, & territory in Europe

4. Germany was disarmed and army was limited to 100,000 men

5. Each nation that signed the treaty had to join the League of Nations

Terms of Treaty

Would end U.S. isolation Wilson did not include Senate Republicans

U.S. Rejects Treaty

Did not include all major nations (U.S.) Lacked power to tax & draft army Decisions required unanimous vote

Why League of Nations Failed

Post WWI Problems

Strikes blamed on communists Attorney Gen. Palmer organized raids of

suspected “Reds” Thousands of “suspected” Communists

arrested & deported

Red Scare – Due to Russian Rev.

Distrust of immigrants being radical & taking jobs Cut off immigration from Southern & Eastern

Europe

Sacco – Vanzetti Trial◦ Two Italian born anachists are put to death for

robbery & murder. Weak evidence, many believed they were convicted b/c they were Italian

Nativism

Many blacks go north to avoid segregation & find jobs

Blacks

Klan membership rises Becomes politically active

Growth of KKK