The Great War: The Effects of World War I on America
Honors U.S. History
Why did the Great War Start?
• Nationalism – Pride in your homeland/dislike of others• Imperialism – Taking over others (African and Asian
nations that aren’t independent)• Militarism – Build-up of military supplies in peace time• Alliance System – Making partnerships with and against
others in preparation for conflict– Russia, France, England – Entente/Allied Powers– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire – Central Powers
• Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand (1914)
Neutrality
• America does not want to get involved– Socially: American citizens with national roots
on each side– Economically: Trade can take place with both
sides– Politically: Keeping alliances and relationships
with all sides– Historically: Taking a side can get you
involved in the war• War are expensive and hazardous
Closer to Involvement
• US trying to trade military supplies with Germany and England– Problem for Germany: England has them
blockaded• Solution: Germany sinks RMS Lusitania
– Problem: US citizens die on board» Solution: Sussex Pledge (1916) – Germany will not
attack American ships with submarines» Problem: US now trades exclusively with England
Closer Closer to Involvement
• Communist Russia leaves Entente
• Germany being portrayed as non-Democratic
• President Woodrow Wilson’s reelection campaign slogan – “He kept us out of war”– He believes participation is
necessary for the protection of democracy
It’s On
• US intercepts Zimmerman Telegram– Germany asks Mexico to invade US to keep
them out of Europe
• Germany eliminates Sussex Pledge; announces unrestricted submarine warfare– The targets: England and their allies
• US is seen as an English ally
• April, 1917: US declares war on Germany
It’s Going
• Selective Service Act (1917) – Draft of American soldiers
• Committee on Public Information and the Four-Minute Men organize pro-war propaganda
• African-American soldiers fought under French command, not US
• African-Americans migrate to North for jobs and avoiding South
• 11-11-18: Germany surrenders, war is over
WWI Trench Warfare
WW
I - Gas W
arfare
Laws and Rights
• Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917/1918) – Limited anti-war sentiment and prohibited interference with the draft
• 18th Amendment (Prohibition) passed
• 19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage) passed
• Federal authority is growing!
Time to End This War
• Treaty of Versailles – Officially ends WWI• Wilson’s 14 Points – A series of proposal meant
to dictate world progress at the war’s conclusion– Point 14: Establishment of a League of Nations
• US Congress rejects joining the LoN as well as ratification of Treaty of Versailles– Desired to isolate the US– More focus should be placed on domestic affairs
Results of WWI
• Spanish Influenza: 675,000 Americans dead (six times the casualties of WWI)
• Red Scare – American fear of Communists, Anarchists, Labor Leaders, and anyone considered “radical”
• Wave of Strikes (1919) – Government regulations of labor ended to help the war– Inflation rose, prices rose, salaries didn’t