America’s journey to war America’s journey to war When the war began in 1914 – U.S. When the war began in 1914 – U.S.

President Woodrow Wilson declared President Woodrow Wilson declared the U.S.A. neutral (not taking sides)the U.S.A. neutral (not taking sides)

Most American’s did not want to Most American’s did not want to enter into a conflict half way around enter into a conflict half way around the worldthe world

Americans came from many Americans came from many European countriesEuropean countries

Wilson feared the country would Wilson feared the country would become dividedbecome divided

British Blockade British Blockade Britain established a naval blockade of Britain established a naval blockade of

German ports, stopping all ships German ports, stopping all ships carrying goods bound for Germanycarrying goods bound for Germany

Germany responded by sinking all Germany responded by sinking all Allied merchant ships off the coast of Allied merchant ships off the coast of BritainBritain

May 1915, a German submarine (U-May 1915, a German submarine (U-boat) torpedoed the Lusitania (a boat) torpedoed the Lusitania (a British passenger ship)British passenger ship)

1,198 killed, including 128 Americans1,198 killed, including 128 Americans

British Blockade cont……British Blockade cont……Still, President Wilson keeps the U.S. Still, President Wilson keeps the U.S.

neutralneutralWilson demands Germany stop all Wilson demands Germany stop all

“unrestricted submarine warfare”“unrestricted submarine warfare”Wilson wins re-election for keeping Wilson wins re-election for keeping

American out of warAmerican out of warAlthough America remains “neutral” Although America remains “neutral”

they do financially support the Allies they do financially support the Allies in the warin the war

American entry to WWIAmerican entry to WWIIn early 1917, Germany sank 3 In early 1917, Germany sank 3

American ships American ships (after Lusitania (after Lusitania 1915)1915)

The last straw – ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAMThe last straw – ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAMGerman Foreign Minister Zimmerman German Foreign Minister Zimmerman

sends a telegram to a German sends a telegram to a German ambassador in Mexico to convince ambassador in Mexico to convince Mexico to join Germany & win back Mexico to join Germany & win back territory taken by the U.S.A. (Texas, territory taken by the U.S.A. (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona)New Mexico, and Arizona)

U.S. entry to WWI continued…..U.S. entry to WWI continued…..The telegram is intercepted by The telegram is intercepted by

the British, and passed along to the British, and passed along to the U.S. who became furious with the U.S. who became furious with GermanyGermany

Wilson asks Congress to declare Wilson asks Congress to declare war in April 1917! war in April 1917!

U.S. enters World War IU.S. enters World War I

American Homefront American Homefront Selective Service Act (Draft)– May Selective Service Act (Draft)– May

1917 Congress required all men 1917 Congress required all men between 21-30 to sign up for military.between 21-30 to sign up for military.

Almost 40,000 women also volunteerAlmost 40,000 women also volunteerWomen served as nurses in American Women served as nurses in American

Red Cross, clerks, interpreters, phone Red Cross, clerks, interpreters, phone operators, entertainers & ambulance operators, entertainers & ambulance driversdrivers

Government raises $$ for war by Government raises $$ for war by selling selling war bondswar bonds

Major BattlesMajor BattlesVerdun – French fortressVerdun – French fortressFeb 1916 – Dec 1916Feb 1916 – Dec 1916German attack meant to German attack meant to

devastate Frenchdevastate FrenchResult: stalemate continues; Result: stalemate continues; 400,000 French casualties & 400,000 French casualties &

approx. 400,000 German approx. 400,000 German casualtiescasualties

SommeSommeJune 1916 – Dec 1916June 1916 – Dec 1916British launch assault against British launch assault against

Germans to lead Germans Germans to lead Germans away from Verdunaway from Verdun

Result: stalemate continuesResult: stalemate continuesEnormous casualties on both Enormous casualties on both

sidessides

Battle of YpresBattle of YpresJuly 1917 – November 1917 (3July 1917 – November 1917 (3rdrd

battle)battle)3 major battles took place near 3 major battles took place near

Ypres, BelgiumYpres, BelgiumResult: Disastrous for BritishResult: Disastrous for BritishFront lines Front lines

unchanged….stalemate continuesunchanged….stalemate continues

Gallipoli CampaignGallipoli CampaignOttomans joined Central pwrs in 1914Ottomans joined Central pwrs in 1914Ottomans controlled Dardanelles – a Ottomans controlled Dardanelles – a

sea passage connecting Black Sea & sea passage connecting Black Sea & Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Allies used passage to transport Allies used passage to transport supplies to Russiasupplies to Russia

Result: Allies lost 200,000 troops in Result: Allies lost 200,000 troops in an attempt to destroy forts & guns an attempt to destroy forts & guns that lined this passage – Spring 1915that lined this passage – Spring 1915

Wilson 14 PointsWilson 14 PointsWhile fighting continued in 1918, While fighting continued in 1918,

Wilson drafted a plan for world Wilson drafted a plan for world peacepeaceReduction of weaponsReduction of weaponsRight of ppl to choose own govtRight of ppl to choose own govtProposal to form an organization Proposal to form an organization of world nations to protect each of world nations to protect each other from aggressionother from aggression

Not all Allied countries agree with 14 Not all Allied countries agree with 14 pts.pts.

France & Great Britain wanted France & Great Britain wanted Germany to be punished & France Germany to be punished & France wanted Germany to pay for costs of wanted Germany to pay for costs of warwar

Italy wanted to gain territory for Italy wanted to gain territory for themselvesthemselves

THE ENDTHE END11:00am, November 11, 1918 11:00am, November 11, 1918

ARMISTICE DAYARMISTICE DAYALL FIGHTING STOPS!!ALL FIGHTING STOPS!!Casualties: 8.5 Million Casualties: 8.5 Million

soldiers died; 21 million soldiers died; 21 million injuredinjured

1919 – Treaty of Versailles 1919 – Treaty of Versailles signed to officially end Warsigned to officially end War

Treaty of Versailles June 28 Treaty of Versailles June 28 19191919

Treaty forces Germany to accept Treaty forces Germany to accept complete blame for the war. complete blame for the war.

Germany lost all of its coloniesGermany lost all of its coloniesGermany’s military was limited to Germany’s military was limited to

only 100,000only 100,000Germany also forced to pay $33 Germany also forced to pay $33

BILLION in BILLION in reparationsreparations (money a (money a country has to pay to help repair country has to pay to help repair

the damage caused during the damage caused during war)war)