World War I World War I “The Great War” U.S. History & Government

World War I“The Great War”

World War I“The Great War”

U.S. History & Government

Causes of WWICauses of WWI• Nationalism – Strong

pride/belief in your country

• Imperialism – Quest for colonial empires

• Militarism – Glorification of military strength– Arms race

• Alliances – Promise to aid each other– Central Powers: Germany,

Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria

– Triple Entente/Allied Powers: France, Russia, Great Britain

• Nationalism – Strong pride/belief in your country

• Imperialism – Quest for colonial empires

• Militarism – Glorification of military strength– Arms race

• Alliances – Promise to aid each other– Central Powers: Germany,

Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria

– Triple Entente/Allied Powers: France, Russia, Great Britain

The Beginnings in Europe

The Beginnings in Europe• Balkan feuds• June 28, 1914

Austrian Archduke assassinated

• Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary

• Alliances bring war

• Balkan feuds• June 28, 1914

Austrian Archduke assassinated

• Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary

• Alliances bring war

The European WarThe European War• Stalemate on the Western

Front – Trenches

• Networks of supply & command trenches

– Machine Gun– Poison Gas– (Tanks & Airplanes)

• North Atlantic Deadlock– Submarines– Mines

• Surrender on the Eastern Front– Russia nearly “unarmed”– Revolution = Russian surrender– Germans sense victory

• Stalemate on the Western Front – Trenches

• Networks of supply & command trenches

– Machine Gun– Poison Gas– (Tanks & Airplanes)

• North Atlantic Deadlock– Submarines– Mines

• Surrender on the Eastern Front– Russia nearly “unarmed”– Revolution = Russian surrender– Germans sense victory

Trench Warfare

Why did the US Enter WWI?

Document A

Why did the US Enter WWI?

Document A

• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1• Discuss with your table partner &

record your answer:1. Did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.

• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1• Discuss with your table partner &

record your answer:1. Did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.

US Neutrality in WWI?US Neutrality in WWI?

• Not our war• But tied to Europe anyway…• Problems with neutrality

– Trade– Freedom of the Seas

• Lusitania, 1915• Arabic & Sussex Pledges• US Prepares…for war or peace?

– Army & Naval buildup– Negotiations…

• Not our war• But tied to Europe anyway…• Problems with neutrality

– Trade– Freedom of the Seas

• Lusitania, 1915• Arabic & Sussex Pledges• US Prepares…for war or peace?

– Army & Naval buildup– Negotiations…

Document BDocument B• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #2• Discuss with your table partner & record

your answers. Be sure to provide evidence to support your answers:2. By 1917, did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not?3. What did Wilson accuse Germany of doing?4. Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? Explain.5. Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?

• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #2• Discuss with your table partner & record

your answers. Be sure to provide evidence to support your answers:2. By 1917, did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not?3. What did Wilson accuse Germany of doing?4. Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? Explain.5. Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?

The US Goes to

War

The US Goes to

War

• US Declaration of War…– Make the world safe for

democracy– For the rights & liberties of small

nations– A war to end all wars– Strengthen GB’s navy (a la

Monroe Doctrine )• Turning the Tide

– AEF arrives summer 1917 (American Expeditionary Force)– “Over There”

• US Declaration of War…– Make the world safe for

democracy– For the rights & liberties of small

nations– A war to end all wars– Strengthen GB’s navy (a la

Monroe Doctrine )• Turning the Tide

– AEF arrives summer 1917 (American Expeditionary Force)– “Over There”

Pulling the

US into War

Pulling the

US into War

• Why else did the US go to war?– Zimmerman Note – Return to Unrestricted

Submarine warfare– GB broke– Chaos in Russia

• Discuss with your table partner:6. What do you think are the TWO biggest reasons why the US entered the war?7. Based on the reasons in Wilson’s 1917 speech and those given above, do you think the US had good reasons for entering the war? Explain.

• Why else did the US go to war?– Zimmerman Note – Return to Unrestricted

Submarine warfare– GB broke– Chaos in Russia

• Discuss with your table partner:6. What do you think are the TWO biggest reasons why the US entered the war?7. Based on the reasons in Wilson’s 1917 speech and those given above, do you think the US had good reasons for entering the war? Explain.

A Little Bit about Historian Howard Zinn

A Little Bit about Historian Howard Zinn

• Howard Zinn was a historian and activist who was best known for his 1980 book, A People’s History of the United States. His book tells American history from the perspective of minorities, women and poor people. He was very critical of the United States government.

• Howard Zinn was a historian and activist who was best known for his 1980 book, A People’s History of the United States. His book tells American history from the perspective of minorities, women and poor people. He was very critical of the United States government.

Document CDocument C• Read the excerpt from Howard Zinn • Discuss with your table partner

8. Why did Zinn claim that Wilson made a “flimsy

argument?”9. What did Zinn suggest were the real reasons

the US entered the war?10. What evidence did Zinn provide to support

his claims that the US was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks of US ships)?11. Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

• Read the excerpt from Howard Zinn • Discuss with your table partner

8. Why did Zinn claim that Wilson made a “flimsy

argument?”9. What did Zinn suggest were the real reasons

the US entered the war?10. What evidence did Zinn provide to support

his claims that the US was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks of US ships)?11. Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

The Home Front…The Home Front…• Wilson’s Preparedness

Program– “Mobilization of men, money,

machines & minds”• Men

– Selective Service Act, 1917• Money

– Liberty Bonds & Victory Loans• Machines

– Ships, Guns, Jeeps…• Minds

– Opposition to the war– Committee on Public

Information

• Wilson’s Preparedness Program– “Mobilization of men, money,

machines & minds”• Men

– Selective Service Act, 1917• Money

– Liberty Bonds & Victory Loans• Machines

– Ships, Guns, Jeeps…• Minds

– Opposition to the war– Committee on Public

Information

Woodrow Wilson

Over ThereOver There

• In 1917, George M. Cohen, wrote the song, Over There. The 1942 movie Yankee Doodle Dandy used the song to help tell its story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5oWH6JWBJY

– 12. How is the song useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWI? Explain.

– 13. How is this movie clip useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWII? Explain.

– 14. Which is more useful, the song for WWI or the video clip for WWII? Explain

• In 1917, George M. Cohen, wrote the song, Over There. The 1942 movie Yankee Doodle Dandy used the song to help tell its story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5oWH6JWBJY

– 12. How is the song useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWI? Explain.

– 13. How is this movie clip useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWII? Explain.

– 14. Which is more useful, the song for WWI or the video clip for WWII? Explain

Fighting the War at Home

Fighting the War at Home

• Conversion to Full Wartime Economy– War Industries Board– Council of Defense

• Food Administration• Fuel Administration

– The Labor Force• National War Labor

Board

• Attack on Civil Liberties

• Espionage Act, 1917• Trading with the Enemies

Act, 1917• Sedition Act, 1918

• Conversion to Full Wartime Economy– War Industries Board– Council of Defense

• Food Administration• Fuel Administration

– The Labor Force• National War Labor

Board

• Attack on Civil Liberties

• Espionage Act, 1917• Trading with the Enemies

Act, 1917• Sedition Act, 1918

WWI US Propaganda Poster

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points• Wilson’s Plan for World Peace• 9 Points – Self Determination

– The right of people to govern themselves

– Settles territorial disputes• 4 Points – Causes of War

– No more secret diplomacy– No more arms race– No more violation of

freedom of the seas– No more trade barriers

• 1 Point – League of Nations– Set up an international

body designed to prevent offensive wars

• Wilson’s Plan for World Peace• 9 Points – Self Determination

– The right of people to govern themselves

– Settles territorial disputes• 4 Points – Causes of War

– No more secret diplomacy– No more arms race– No more violation of

freedom of the seas– No more trade barriers

• 1 Point – League of Nations– Set up an international

body designed to prevent offensive wars

Death and Destruction:Before WWI

Death and Destruction:Before WWI

Death and DestructionAfter

Death and DestructionAfter

BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

WWI CasualtiesWWI Casualties

The SurrenderThe Surrender

• German generals decide to surrender– Can’t win with US entry into the war– Hope the treaty will be based on the

14 Points– Kaiser abdicates

• The cease fire goes into place at 11 AM on 11/11/1918 (Armistice Day)– Peace Conference set for January

1919 in Paris

• German generals decide to surrender– Can’t win with US entry into the war– Hope the treaty will be based on the

14 Points– Kaiser abdicates

• The cease fire goes into place at 11 AM on 11/11/1918 (Armistice Day)– Peace Conference set for January

1919 in Paris

Paris Peace ConferenceParis Peace Conference• Wilson leads US

delegation– Wants to “end all wars”

• Big Three (from L to R)– David Lloyd George –

Great Britain• Couldn’t be trusted

– Georges Clemenceau – France

• Wanted revenge– Vittorio Orlando – Italy

• Demanded new ports– + Woodrow Wilson – U.S.– Other nations were there

too• Six months of debate

until decision reached

• Wilson leads US delegation– Wants to “end all wars”

• Big Three (from L to R)– David Lloyd George –

Great Britain• Couldn’t be trusted

– Georges Clemenceau – France

• Wanted revenge– Vittorio Orlando – Italy

• Demanded new ports– + Woodrow Wilson – U.S.– Other nations were there

too• Six months of debate

until decision reached

The “Big Four”

Treaty of Versailles“Harsh and Humiliating”

Terms

Treaty of Versailles“Harsh and Humiliating”

Terms• Europeans wanted as much as possible

from the treaty• Treaty provisions

– Each victor received land as promised in secret treaties

– Germany disarmed & colonies parceled out– Meant to weaken communist Russia– New Countries formed– Rejected claims for independence outside of

Europe– Germany forced to admit full responsibility for

the War– Germany charged billions of dollars in

reparations– League of Nations established…

• Europeans wanted as much as possible from the treaty

• Treaty provisions– Each victor received land as promised in secret

treaties– Germany disarmed & colonies parceled out– Meant to weaken communist Russia– New Countries formed– Rejected claims for independence outside of

Europe– Germany forced to admit full responsibility for

the War– Germany charged billions of dollars in

reparations– League of Nations established…

League of NationsLeague of Nations

• League covenant embedded in the Treaty– Article X

• Purpose– To resolve disputes

peacefully– To “respect and

preserve” all other member nations

– Established a waiting/cooling off period

– Economic pressure to be used

– Use of force only if necessary

• League covenant embedded in the Treaty– Article X

• Purpose– To resolve disputes

peacefully– To “respect and

preserve” all other member nations

– Established a waiting/cooling off period

– Economic pressure to be used

– Use of force only if necessary

1914: Before the Great War

1914: Before the Great War

Great Empires:

• Russia

• Austria-Hungary

• Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

After the Great War: by 1924

After the Great War: by 1924

New Countries: • Finland• Estonia• Latvia• Lithuania• Poland• Czechoslovakia

• Yugoslavia• Syria• Trans-Jordan• Iraq

Fight Over the TreatyFight Over the Treaty• Wilson triumphantly returns to US• Problem: Senate has to approve

treaty• US fearful of treaty “alliances”

– The U.S. would be forced to go to war in defense of any League member

• No compromise: Wilson vs. Congress

• League – set up in Geneva, Switzerland without the U.S.

• Wilson triumphantly returns to US• Problem: Senate has to approve

treaty• US fearful of treaty “alliances”

– The U.S. would be forced to go to war in defense of any League member

• No compromise: Wilson vs. Congress

• League – set up in Geneva, Switzerland without the U.S.

Reflection QuestionsReflection Questions

• 15. What do you think was the biggest reason why Europe erupted into war?

• 16. What provisions would you have put in the treaty of Versailles? What would you have excluded?

• 17. What are two things that were new, interesting, or you know that you will (or should) remember a month from now?

• 15. What do you think was the biggest reason why Europe erupted into war?

• 16. What provisions would you have put in the treaty of Versailles? What would you have excluded?

• 17. What are two things that were new, interesting, or you know that you will (or should) remember a month from now?