World War One 1914-1918

-------------------------------------Who Was Involved?

Who was Involved? CENTRAL POWERS

GermanyAustria-Hungary

Bulgaria Ottoman Empire

Who was Involved?ALLIED FORCES

France Great Britain

RussiaJapanItaly U.S.

(Belgium and Serbia)

United States InvolvementPresident Woodrow Wilson wanted the U.S. to remain

NEUTRAL

NEUTRALITY: Not participating in a war

United States = Trade Centero Trade between U.S. and Allied Forceso Great Britain & France borrowed

BILLIONS of dollars from U.S. banks to pay for war

Anyone see a problem with this?

The problem…

Germany’s viewpoint:

Why would a neutral U.S. help the Allied forces?

=We (the Germans) should stop

American aid to the Allied Forces!

= Okay, we will use U-boats to sink any

ship that enters or leaves the ports of Allied Forces

Good Idea?

United States viewpointAll right, Germany.

We (the U.S.) will hold you accountable for any American lives lost in submarine attacks.

=Germany ignored the U.S. threat

Smart move, Germany?

Reason #1: U.S. Involvement

SINKING OF LUSITANIA• May 7, 1915 • Germans sank the British cruise ship

by using a U-boat • 128 Americans were killed

Video

W.T. Turner Captain of Lusitania

Turner’s Response…“I saw the torpedo speeding towards

us. Immediately I tried to change our course, but was unable to maneuver out of its way. There was a terrible impact as the torpedo struck the starboard side of the vessel. It was cold-blooded murder.”

Results of Lusitania sinking• Over 1,000 died including 128

Americans

=U.S. OUTRAGED.

Reason #2: U.S. Involvement

REPARATIONS:Payment for war damages

Allied Forces were in debt to the U.S. and the U.S. wanted to make sure that they received payment.

Reason #3: U.S. Involvement

Zimmerman Telegram (1917)Intercepted by Great Britain

o German named Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico with an offer:

“We shall make war together and together make peace. It is understood that Mexico is to conquer lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.”

Reason #4: U.S. InvolvementMarch 1917

Germans attacked four American ships:

1. Algonquin 2. City of Memphis 3. The Illinois 4. Vigilancia

= 36 lives lost

April 6, 1917

The United States joined the Allied Forces.

Selective Service Act

Men aged 21 to 30 had to register for the military

By end of the war, over 24 million men registered for war

Who else joined?WOMEN

o 1st time allowed to join o Served as radio operators, clerks, and nurses

Who else joined?AFRICAN AMERICANS

o 300,000 joined Army & Navy o Marines would not accept o Faced with discrimination & racism o Mostly had low-level jobs on military bases

in U.S.