Title: World War I & Its Aftermath

Revisit the Monroe Doctrine• Asserted US right to

intervene in Western Hemisphere when national security was at stake

• US wants no part of Europe’s internal disputes

• With Europe leading toward WWI, it was difficult for US to follow Monroe Doctrine

Isolation & neutrality • US initially tried to stay out of

events going on in Europe• Woodrow Wilson won

presidential election of 1912: vowed to keep America in isolation

• When WWI broke out in August 1912, Wilson declared neutrality.– America would treat all

countries fairly and without favoritism

• Neutrality was difficult to follow because the US & Britain were close allies

Germany had submarines, or U-boats

• International law: Attacker must warn civilian ships before attacking

• Germany announced that their submarines would not do this – Usually attacked US ships that were

carrying military supplies

• Germans sank the passenger ship Lusitania in 1915– 1,200 passengers killed– It was carrying tons of ammunition to

British

Zimmerman Telegram

Zimmerman Telegram

• Telegram from Germany to Mexico

• Proposed that if Mexico/Japan declared war on US, Germany would help

• Intercepted and published in newspapers

• Helped shift US desire to enter WWI

Are you a code breaker?

End

The War’s End

• When the U.S. entered the war, the Allied Powers had fresh soldiers and supplies

• German troops

– Had no food and other supplies

– They were forced to retreat with the coming of the U.S. army

Armistice

• On October 4, 1918, Germany asked Woodrow Wilson for an armistice

• –The armistice began on November 11, 1918 11th day, 11th month, 11th hour

IV) Aftermath of WWI• American participation tipped the

balance in the Allies’ favor, and they won the war

• The Versailles Treaty was to be written in Paris

• President Woodrow Wilson attended because he wanted them to implement his Fourteen Point Plan:– Free trade through lower tariffs and freedom

of the seas– Reduction of arms supplies on all sides to

the level needed for domestic safety– Promotion of self-determination (The right to

decide how to be governed - both in Europe and overseas)

– Creation of the League of Nations (organization that would meet to resolve international issues -functions like the United Nations)

League of Nations

• Wilson’s final point called for the creation of an international organization where countries would work together to keep peace.

• This organization was known as the League of Nations

Paris Peace Conference

• The Allies disagreed on how to “punish” the Central Powers

• –Wilson did not want to punish them –other Allies sought revenge (why?)

Results of the Versailles Treaty• Punished Germany

through: – Disarmaments (no subs

or planes)– Reparations– Germany had to admit

fault for starting the war

• Many historians agree that by leaving Germany humiliated & in economic ruin, the Treaty set the stage for WWII

• Wilson’s 14 Point Plan was mostly discarded, except for the League of Nations

American Opposition• Wilson presented the Treaty of

Versailles to the U.S. Senate in July 1919 for ratification

• –The Senate had to approve the treaty before the U.S could officially accept it

• Many Americans did not trust the idea of a League of Nations

• They thought that an organization would tie America to international work (protecting other nations forever)

American Opposition

• The U.S. rejected the Treaty of Versailles in 1920

–The U.S. did NOT join the League of Nations

–In 1921 the U.S. signed a separate treaty with each of the Central Powers, officially ending the war.

Compare Plans

• Look at page 44 in your packet.– What are some of the main differences

between Wilsons 14 point plan and the Treaty of Versailles?

– Why do you think these plans differed the way they did?

– Which one is harder on Germany?