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America Enters World War IAmerica Enters World War I

Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster by

James Montgomery Flag 1917-18

Boys and Girls! War Savings Stamps Poster by

James Montgomery Flag 1917-18

Patten & KemptonMepham High School

Global History

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The First World War:The First World War:

•War involving nearly all the nations of the world

•1914-1918

What?

When? When?

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The First World War:The First World War: Why? Why? Long term -

1. Alliance system

2. Imperialist Competition

3. Stockpiling of Weapons

Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914

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The First World War:The First World War:

Who? Who?

GermanyAustria-HungaryOttoman EmpireBulgaria

RussiaFranceGreat BritainItalyJapanUnited States (1917)

Central Powers: Allies:

Prior to 1917, what nations were involved in World War I?

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The First World War:The First World War: Where? Where?

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America’s Policy in the Beginning of WWI

America’s Policy in the Beginning of WWI

America was isolationist “Why should I get involved in

someone else’s problems”

America was isolationist “Why should I get involved in

someone else’s problems”

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Should the United States enter World War I?

Should the United States enter World War I?

U.S. President Wilson

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U.S. was under attackU.S. was under attack

The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against all mankind.... Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion.. Armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable.

-U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's War Message (April 1917)

It would be the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare that would ultimately bring the United States into the war.

-The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against all mankind.... Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion.. Armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable.

-U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's War Message (April 1917)

It would be the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare that would ultimately bring the United States into the war.

-The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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DemocracyDemocracy

Our object...is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power.... We are glad...to fight...for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included: for the right of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy....

-President Woodrow Wilson's War Message (April 1917)

Our object...is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power.... We are glad...to fight...for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included: for the right of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy....

-President Woodrow Wilson's War Message (April 1917)

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EconomicsEconomics

Beginning in 1916, the Morgan negotiated a series of extremely large loans to France and to England, becoming their exclusive purchasing agent and financier in the United States.

-Notable American Volunteers of the Great War, Great War Primary Documents Archive

By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry $27 million.

-The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Beginning in 1916, the Morgan negotiated a series of extremely large loans to France and to England, becoming their exclusive purchasing agent and financier in the United States.

-Notable American Volunteers of the Great War, Great War Primary Documents Archive

By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry $27 million.

-The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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PropagandaPropaganda

A large number of the great newspapers and news agencies of the country have been controlled and enlisted in the greatest propaganda that the world has ever known to manufacture sentiment in favor of war.

-Senator George W. Norris in Opposition to President Woodrow Wilson's War Message

(April 4, 1917)

A large number of the great newspapers and news agencies of the country have been controlled and enlisted in the greatest propaganda that the world has ever known to manufacture sentiment in favor of war.

-Senator George W. Norris in Opposition to President Woodrow Wilson's War Message

(April 4, 1917)

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PropagandaPropaganda

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MilitarismMilitarism

That which has driven the masses of Europe into the trenches and to the battlefields is not their inner longing for war; it must be traced to the cutthroat competition for military equipment, for more efficient armies, for larger warships, for more powerful cannon. You cannot build up a standing army and then throw it back into a box like tin soldiers.

-Emma Goldman, from "Preparedness: The Road to Universal Slaughter"

That which has driven the masses of Europe into the trenches and to the battlefields is not their inner longing for war; it must be traced to the cutthroat competition for military equipment, for more efficient armies, for larger warships, for more powerful cannon. You cannot build up a standing army and then throw it back into a box like tin soldiers.

-Emma Goldman, from "Preparedness: The Road to Universal Slaughter"

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Events that lead to American’s entrance into WWI

Events that lead to American’s entrance into WWI

1. Blockades •Britain blockaded (stopped) all German ships going to America

•Germany announced a submarine war around Britain

Y-53 German Submarine 1916

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•In May, 1915 Germany told Americans to stay off of British ships

•They could/would sink them

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LusitaniaLusitania

•Lusitania torpedoed by a German U-Boat, sinking all passengers and crew•Was eventually found to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunitionGerman Propaganda Justifying Lusitania

sinking

•British Passenger Ship with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)

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LusitaniaLusitania

•The US sharply criticized Germany for their action

•Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future

Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster

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Submarine WarfareSubmarine Warfare

•1917 Germany announced “unlimited submarine warfare” in the war zone

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Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

•Britain intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico

•Mexico was asked to enter the war and become allies with Germany, and in return was promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona

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On April 6, the US declared war on Germany.

U.S. Enters World War IU.S. Enters World War I

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30141-assignment-discovery-america-enters-world-war-i-video.htm

Check out this video:

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How was the war looking for the allies?

How was the war looking for the allies?

•Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917

•Made it a one front war for Germany - all its troops could concentrate on France

Not Good...

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What did the US do to help? What did the US do to help?

US provided the food, money, and fresh troops needed to win the war

US provided the food, money, and fresh troops needed to win the war

American Troops March Through London

Supplies: