American Anthem
Modern American History
Chapter 8
Columbus
statute in
Rhode Island
The First World War
1914 - 1920
Copyright © 2010, Mr. Ellington
Ruben S. Ayala High School
Chapter 8: The First World War, 1914-1920
Columbus
statute in
Rhode Island
1.
A World Crisis
A: Causes of World War I
B: War Breaks Out
C: Fighting in the Trenches
D: The War Reaches a Stalemate
2.
The United States in World War I
A: United States Stays Neutral
B: Heading Toward War
C: Americans in Europe
D: The War Ends
3.
The Home Front
A: Mobilizing the Economy
B: Mobilizing Workers
C: Influencing Public Opinion
4.
Peace Without Victory
A: The Fourteen Points
B: Paris Peace Conference
C: Fight Over the Treaty
D: The Impact of World War I
Part 1: A World Crisis
Section 1A: Causes of World War I
• Immediate cause: assassination of
Archduke Ferdinand
• Nationalism: extreme devotion to
one’s country/people
• Militarism: massive military buildups
• Schlieffen Plan: Germany plan to
invade Belgium and France
• Alliance System
Part 1: A World Crisis
Section 1B: War Breaks Out
• German army used
new technology such
as camouflage and
machine guns to
push within 25 miles
of Paris early in the
first few months
• First Battle of the
Marne cost the
French army 250,000
lives but pushed the
Germans back and
gave Russian army
time to mobilize
Part 1: A World Crisis
Section 1C: The War Reaches a Stalemate
• By late fall 1914, both sides had dug 400 miles of trenches for shelter
• Trench warfare led to a brutal stalemate and horrific loss of life
• Poison gas, tanks, and airplanes all failed to end the stalemate
Part 2: The United States in World War I
Section 2A: United States Stays Neutral
• US declared neutrality even though most trade and sympathy was
with the Allies
• Germany’s
response to the
British blockade
was “unrestricted
submarine
warfare” in the
waters around
England
Part 2: The United States in World War I
Section 2B: Heading Toward War
• Germany promised not to attack neutral ships (Sussex Pledge, 1916)
• Wilson was reelected in 1916 on pledge of keeping US out of war
• The Zimmerman Note, fall of the Russian Czar, and resumption of
unrestricted submarine warfare led the US join WWI in 1917
Part 2: The United States in World War I
Section 2C: Americans in Europe
• US relied on a draft and spent months training its ill prepared army
• After the Bolshevik Revolution of Nov.1917, Russia dropped out of
the war allowing Germany to send all its troops to the western front
• US troops halted the German army turning the tide of the war
Second Battle of
the Marne, 1918
Part 2: The United States in World War I
Section 2D: The War Ends
• After several major US victories in 1918, the German army was spent
• Food riots, strikes, and uprisings led the Central Powers to give up
• The Armistice
ending WWI
went into effect
on 11-11-1918
at 11 am
Second Battle of
the Marne, 1918
Part 3: The Home Front
Section 3A: Mobilizing the Economy
• WWI was financed through an
income tax on the rich and four bond
drives
• The War Industries Board regulated
materials needed for the war
• The Food Administration, led by
Hoover, expanded food supplies by
setting minimum prices, encouraging
sacrifice and “victory gardens”
• US manufacturing helped supply the
Allies and win the war
Part 3: The Home Front
Section 3B: Mobilizing Workers
• War spending led to huge corporate profits and increased worker pay
but many joined unions because of harsh working conditions
• Over 1 million US women joined the war effort in some capacity
• Influenza epidemic caused ½ of US soldier deaths and killed 675,000
Women making machine guns in New Haven, CT
Part 3: The Home Front
Section 3C: Influencing Public Opinion
• The Committee on Public Information, led by George Creel, created a
huge pro-war propaganda campaign with posters, movies, speeches
• Anti-German sentiment led to discrimination and some renaming
• The Sedition Act made it a crime to criticize the war or government
• Supreme Court upheld the Sedition Act in Schneck v. United States
Part 4: Peace Without Victory
Section 4A: The Fourteen Points
• Wilson proposed a 14 point
plan for lasting peace based
on Progressive ideals
Part 4: Peace Without Victory
Section 4B: Paris Peace Conference
• The Big Four (US, England, France,
and Italy) dominated the peace talks
• Wilson wanted a fair treaty that would
spread democracy and prevent future
wars, Allies wanted to punish
Germany and gain new colonies
• Wilson sacrificed most of what he
wanted for a League of Nations
Part 4: Peace Without Victory
Section 4C: The Fight Over the Treaty
• Senators divided into three groups towards the treaty: supporters
(pro), irreconcilables (con), and reservationists (wanted changes)
• Wilson tried to appeal to the public but suffered a serious stroke
• Wilson’s refusal to
compromise doomed
Senate ratification of
Versailles Treaty and
kept the US from
joining the League of
Nations
Part 4: Peace Without Victory
Section 4D: The Impact of World War I
• World War I cost 14 million lives, $280 billion, and devastated Europe
• WWI strengthened the US economy, led to communism in Russia,
overthrew several monarchies, and led to later colonial revolts
• American women
finally won the right
to vote in 1920