World War I: The Great World War I: The Great WarWar

PowerPoint Presentation by

Mr. Hataway

La Vega High School

Created 11/11/04

Revised 10/11/11

U.S. Enters the WarU.S. Enters the War

American Neutrality

Wilson’s Proclamation of Wilson’s Proclamation of Neutrality in 1914.Neutrality in 1914.– American tradition stay out American tradition stay out

of European affairsof European affairs– maintain economic ties with maintain economic ties with

both sidesboth sides

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

German Proclamation (1915)– Said waters around British Isles were

considered an official war zone.– Germany attempted to sink any ship that

entered this area.– Unrestricted submarine warfare

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare– German submarine torpedoed

British ocean liner Lusitania off southern coast of Ireland, resulting in death of 128 Americans in May 1915.

– Sink the Sussex in March 1916

German U-Boats

German U-Boats, or submarines (German = Unterseeboot)

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

Sussex Pledge (1916)– Germany makes a pledge

not to sink merchant ships without warning (did not uphold their pledge)

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

Jan. 1917

– Germany resumes U-Boat attacks on U.S. ships.

– Diplomacy failed to call off unrestricted submarine warfare.

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

Historic Ties to Great Britain– The U.S. conducted a significant amount of

trade with Great Britain which would be affected if Germany won the war.

Reasons for U.S. Entry to WWI

Zimmerman Telegram– British intelligence

intercepted the Zimmerman telegram which revealed Germany’s plan to approach the Mexican government for a military alliance.

U.S. Declares War

Wilson’s 2Wilson’s 2ndnd term term– began in March 1917began in March 1917

April 2, 1917April 2, 1917– Wilson asks Congress to Wilson asks Congress to

declare war “to make the declare war “to make the world safe for democracy”world safe for democracy”

What events led to the United States declaring war against Germany?

Moving Toward War (cont.)

The British navy blockaded Germany to keep it from getting supplies. To get around the blockade, Germany deployed U-boats. The Lusitania, a British passenger liner, was hit by the Germans, killing almost 1,200 passengers including 128 Americans. A German official, Arthur Zimmermann, cabled the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing that Mexico ally itself with Germany. In return, Mexico would regain territory it had earlier lost to the United States. The Zimmermann telegram was intercepted by British intelligence and leaked to American newspapers. In February 1917, Germany went back to unrestricted submarine warfare and, soon after, sank six American merchant ships. On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war against Germany.

Moving Toward War (cont.)

WWI:WWI:Mobilizing America’s Mobilizing America’s

Home FrontHome Front

Essential Question:

How did Americans help with the war effort (mobilize) at home?

Home Front

The Draft– Passage of the Selective Service Act

(May 1917)• Men age 21 to 30 (later 18 to 45)

• Put 3 million men into uniform

Home Front

The Draft– Women not drafted.

• Women served in “non-combat” positions

• Nurses, secretaries, and telephone operators.

Home Front

Selling the War– Increased the income tax– “Liberty Bonds” and “Victory Bonds”

• loan to the government• government used famous artists to make posters,

and used movie stars to host bond rallies.• Al Jolson, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks

and Charlie Chaplin were among the celebrities.

Home Front

Home Front

Economic Effects– WWI led to great levels of industrialization in

the U.S.– Increase exports– Increased agricultural production

Home Front

Constitutional Issues– Soon after declaring war in 1917, Congress

ruled that the U.S. mail could not be used for sending any material urging “treason, insurrection or forcible resistance to any law.”

– Punished offenders with a fine of up to $5,000 and a five-year prison term.

Home Front

Constitutional Issues: Schenk v. the United States (1919)– Supreme Court ruling limiting

individual’s freedom of speech if words spoken constitute a “clear and present danger.”

– Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

The American The American Expeditionary Force in Expeditionary Force in

WWIWWI

Contributions of the A.E.F

American Expeditionary Forces– U.S. military sent to the Western Front (France

predominately).– Fought alongside British and French allied forces

the last year of World War I.– Nicknamed the “Doughboys”

Contributions of the A.E.F

General John J. Pershing– Commander of the

American Expeditionary Forces.

– Nickname “Black Jack”– Insisted on an American

Army, not divisions fighting for British and French militaries.

Battle of Argonne Forest

September 26 - November 11, 1918

a.k.a. the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.

Battle of Argonne Forest

Objective was the capture of an important railroad/train station which would break the rail network supporting the Germany Army in France.

Allied victory in the battle is credited for leading to the Armistice.

Sergeant York

Alvin York– Most decorated

American soldier in World War I

– Awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest.

Sergeant York

Alvin York– Took out 32 machine

guns, killed 28 German soldiers, and captured 132 others.

– Event occurred during the U.S.-led portion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.

War’s End

Ottoman Empire (Turkey) surrendered Oct. 31

Austria-Hungary granted cease-fire on Nov. 4

War’s End

Armistice DayArmistice Day– 11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m.11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m.– cessation of hostilities on the cessation of hostilities on the

Western Front between Western Front between Germany and the Allied Germany and the Allied PowersPowers

– German Kaiser, Wilhelm II German Kaiser, Wilhelm II abdicated thrown Nov. 9abdicated thrown Nov. 9

Weapons of World War IWeapons of World War I

New Weapons of War

The Tank First introduced by

the British

New Weapons of War

Big Bertha– Long range cannon– Could fire a shell up to

9 miles

Impact of Significant Technological Innovations in WWI

Machine Guns– Relatively new technology at

the beginning of the war.– Many difficulties with keep

machine cool.– Made it nearly impossible to

cross defended ground.– Late in war used on tanks and

airplanes.

British gun crew firing a Lewis machine gun during WW1, circa 1918

German infantrymen operating a Maxim machine gun during World War I

New Weapons of War

Machine guns– The 1914 machine gun, usually positioned on a flat

tripod, would require a gun crew of four to six operators.

– 90% of deaths in WWI caused by machine guns

New Weapons of War

Flame Thrower– Could be used against

tanks

Impact of Significant Technological Innovations in WWI

Airplanes– Early in the war used as spotters.– Planes were unarmed but pilots would carry

handheld weapons.– Later larger plan4es crated and able to bomb

the enemy.

New Weapons of War

Airplanes– Observation and

“dog fights”

Impact of Significant Technological Innovations in WWI

Poison gas– Chlorine gas and Mustard gas– Sometimes used to create a smoke screen

to hide attacking soldiers.– Used to force evacuation of enemy

trenches.

New Weapons of War

Poison Gas (and the gas mask) First use of poison gas (chlorine

gas) introduced by the Germans on 22 April 1915, at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres

Over 100,000 deaths and millions of casualties.

German Gas Canisters

New Weapons of War

Submarines– Called U-boats by the Germans

Impact of Significant Technological Innovations in WWI

Trench Warfare– Resulted in stalemate on the Western Front– Form of warfare in which combatants occupy

fighting lines, comprised of trenches.– Area between opposing trench lines was

known as “no man’s land.

Trench Warfare

New Weapons of War

Trench Warfare– Snipers– Rat infestation– Lice and trench fever– Boredom– Patrols in no man’s land– Smells and poison gas

Some information and pictures obtained from www.firstworldwar.com

Major Issues of WWIMajor Issues of WWI

Major Issues of WWI

World War I– Isolationism v. Internationalism– Self-determination of all peoples

Major Issues of WWI

Fourteen Points Plan– League of Nations and its defeat in U.S.– How its defeat defined our international

position

Major Issues of WWI

Treaty of Versailles– Unjust treatment of Germans in Treaty of

Versailles, including the reparations payments– Established new political boundaries in

Europe.