Ch:7 Charting A New CourseLesson 2

ALCOS# 11. Describe the impact of World War I on Alabamians.●Recognizing Alabama participants in World War I●Identifying the use of new technology in World War I

OUTCOMEStudents will be able to identify how the war affected Alabama’s economy and how Alabamians helped war efforts, and use that understanding to form an opinion on Alabama’s involvement.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course (Before)

Imagine that you were enjoying a beautiful afternoon at a nearby park. You walk over to where some of your classmates are hanging out. You quickly realize that something is going on! Gunter, a really tall athletic boy, appears to be bullying Kevin and Freddie, 2 shorter non-athletic boys. You really don’t want to get involved, but you are pretty good friends with Kevin and Freddie. So you decide to go stand by them just in case they need you. Even though you are just being a supportive friend, Gunter gives you the “evil eye”. “I’ve done nothing to you Gunter, but these guys are my friends and I don’t agree with how you are treating them”, you comment... Gunter’s anger continues to grow…Turn and talk to your partner and make a prediction about what happens next.

In this lesson, you will learn about World War I. Think back on this story and see if you can guess which country was represented by each character in the story.

Ch:7 Charting A New CourseActivity: Jot & Post (During)

As you learn about Alabama during WWI, listen for the following ideas: You will each receive a post it. Half the class will jot down an idea presented in this lesson that describes an effect of the war, and the other half will jot down how Alabama helped war efforts.

Effects of the War on Alabama Alabama’s Efforts During WWI

Based on the details you learn, be able to answer this question:

Do you agree or disagree with the United States declaring war on Germany? Give details to support your opinion.

Ch:7 Charting A New CourseThe Age of Flight in Alabama

Lesson 2 (page 212)

∙ December 1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright, 2 young bicycle makers flew the 1st motorized aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The “mechanical bird’s” 1st try was successful by flying for 12 seconds. It covered 120 feet.

∙ In 1910, Orville Wright opened a civilian flying school in Montgomery, Alabama. Many pilots were trained there and sponsored the 1st night flight.

∙ He later moved the school, but Alabama had played a major role in the early history of flight.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course Progress and War

Lesson 2 (page 213)

Progress and War

- Along with electricity, other inventions made life better for Alabamians.

- Telephone, telegraph, wireless radio- easier communication- Streetcars- people in the suburbs could easily travel to

their jobs in the city (Horses, buggies, and wagons were fewer and fewer thanks to Henry Ford’s new affordable automobile.)

- Giant ocean liners could carry people between America and Europe in just over a week.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course Alabama and World War I

Lesson 2 (page 215)World War I

- The Great War was going on in Europe between Germany and the combined forces of England and France. Soon the United States developed close ties with England and France. They were buying manufactured goods from the United States, which made Germany very angry.

- Diplomatic relations (communication between countries) grew worse. German subs were sinking ships carrying supplies to England and France.

- 1915- a German sub sank the Lusitania, which killed 128 Americans, and threatened to sink anymore ships helping the other countries.

- 1917-United States declared war on Germany. Because so many countries were fighting, the conflict became known as the Great War.

- During the war, 100,000 Alabamians entered the armed forces.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course Alabama and World War I

Lesson 2 (page 215)World War I

President Woodrow Wilson said to Congress,

“the world must be made safe for democracy,”

when he asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course Alabama and World War ILesson 2 (pages 216-218)

- The Great War introduced many new and terrible weapons…so warfare changed!

Machine guns-they had so many bullets that a shot could be fired from far away instead of soldiers having to charge each other on a battlefield. They dug and waited in trenches for the enemy positions to weaken.

Airplanes- This was the 1st time planes were used in warfare. They scouted enemy positions, carried and shot at ground troops, and fought in aerial dogfights.

Poison Gas- Its effects were so horrible that after the war its use was banned by international agreement.

- World War I ended on November 11, 1918. This day was celebrated as Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day. More than 6,200 Alabamians died- 2,400 died in fighting-the rest died from wounds and diseases(flu epidemic).

Ch:7 Charting A New Course On the Home Front

Lesson 2 (page 218)

On the Home Front

- WWI also changed the lives of the Alabamians that stayed home…demand for textiles grew and cotton prices rose. Many poor farmers were earning more money than they had ever thought possible. Some of them used their money to buy land and others bought consumer goods (goods, as in food and clothing that satisfy human needs and wants)

- TIMES WERE GOOD ON THE FARM!!!

Ch:7 Charting A New Course On the Home Front

Lesson 2 (page 218)

On the Home Front- TIMES WERE EVEN BETTER IN THE CITY!!!

- Factories and industrial centers made iron and steel for the war effort. Textile mills also stayed busy. Sawmills buzzed. Trains ran from factories to the docks at Mobile loaded with what Alabamians had made . Then the ships carried those goods to the war. At this time, ship building became a major industry, and many were built in Mobile.

- Many poor farmers heard of the good jobs in the city and moved. The population in cities grew, the population in rural areas declined.

- If the sharecroppers would have returned to their farms, they would have been disappointed. Alabama had been invaded by the boll weevil (a small beetle that destroys cotton crop). Many planters had to start raising cattle which didn’t leave work for a sharecropper.

Ch:7 Charting A New Course On the Home Front

Lesson 2 (page 222)

On the Home Front- In Alabama, people helped the war

effort in many ways. Families planted “victory gardens”, saved food for soldiers by having “meatless” days, buying war bonds to help pay for the war, and making clothing.

- Many Americans who joined the military were sent to Alabama to train because of mild climate.

- WWI changed Alabama and Alabamians!!!

Ch:7 Charting A New CourseLesson 2 (pages 212-223)

Lesson 2 Review Questions

- 1. Name 2 other inventions that made life easier for Alabamians, and explain how they changed lives.

- 2. Why did America declare war on Germany?

- 3.Why was this conflict known as the Great War?

- 4. Name 2 weapons that had a dramatic effect on how war was waged.

- 5. What economic changes did the Great War bring to Alabama?

Ch:7 Charting A New CourseLesson 2 (pages 212-223)

Lesson 2 Review Answers

- 1. Other inventions that made life easier for Alabamians were the telephone, telegraph, wireless radio, streetcars, and ocean liners. They all made communication and transportation easier

- 2.America declared war on Germany because Germany sank the ocean liner Lusitania, killing 128 Americans.

- 3.This conflict known as the Great War because so many countries were fighting.

- 4. Some weapons that had a dramatic effect on how war was waged were machine guns, airplanes, and poison gas.

- 5. The Great War caused Alabama’s economy to improve because of the demand for products increasing which created more jobs and the opportunity to earn more money.