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 luxury liner sunk by the Germans; 1,198

killed…128 Americans Sussex Pledge

◦ Germany pledged not to target passenger ships Resumptions of Submarine Warfare

Reasons for US entry into WWI

Kinship with Britain due to common language, culture, and history

Friendship with France dating back to revolutionary war support

Allied Propaganda

Dislike of Germany’s militarism Attempted sabotage in U.S. Zimmerman Note – plot to draw Mexico into

war against 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 England as the dominate power in Europe.

It would leave U.S. without allies on the continent

American Security

America at War

ALWAYS IN TIMES OF WAR/CRISIS, THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT INCREASES!!!!

Presidential Powers Increase

Improve production by encouraging mass production

War Industries Board

Settled disputes between management & labor

Agreed not to strike

War Labor Board

Operated nations RR’s as a single system

Railroad Administration

Regulated supplies of coal & oil

Fuel Administration

Encouraged America to eat corn and send their wheat abroad

Farmers produced more (supplied the world)

Food Administration

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

Liberty & Victory

Financing the War

Selective Service Act Required all men, ages 18 – 45 to register

for military service

American Contributions America comes to the rescue with fresh

troops and supplies (HUGE)

Military

Wilson’s 14 Points

1. Self – determination of nationalists2. Freedom of the seas3. Right of nations to free trade4. Fair adjustments of colonial territories5. End to secret alliances6. Arms reduction – reduce weapon

production7. Formation of the LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Major Points

Treaty of Versailles

Wilson – U.S.

Orlando – Italy

Lloyd George – England

Clemenceau - France

War guilt – Germany blamed for the war◦Germany had to take full responsibility for the war

Germany had to pay reparations = to $33 billion

Germany lost her colonial possessions Germany was demilitarized Each nation had to join the League of

Nations

Terms

Schenck vs. USRead the case sheet and answer the questions.

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 Favored immigration from N. & W. 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