America’s entry into WWI and the Treaty that ends the war.

• In the beginning the United States wanted to remain neutral.

• The war was happening in Europe. • Woodrow Wilson was re-elected in 1916

On the slogan “He kept us out of the war”

What pulled America into the War

1. Unlimited Submarine (u-boat) warfare by the Germans

2. The sinking of the Lusitania3. Sussex Pledge is broken4. The Zimmerman Telegram

Unlimited Submarine (u-boat) warfare• According to international law civilian ships must

be warned before sinking – allowing for passengers to escape to safety.

• Germany was not doing this!

The Sinking of the Lusitania

• British passenger liner that set sail from New York carrying American citizens.

• It was sunk without warning on May 7, 1915 off the coast of Ireland

• 1,198 lost; 128 US citizens • Germans claimed the Lusitania was carrying

contraband (war materials: guns, ammunition…)

RESULT of the Sinking of the Lusitania

• Germany despite promises sunk another ship – The Sussex, killing 2 Americans

• President Wilson protested & Germany issued the Sussex Pledge – not “to sink merchant or passenger ships without warning and without saving human lives”

• The Sussex Pledge broken: February 1, 1917 Germany continued unlimited submarine warfare http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G8iU1

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Zimmerman Telegram• March 1917 The Zimmermann telegram

released • If the U.S. entered War against Central

Powers, Mexico should attack the U.S. and receive as a reward: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

•April 6, 1917 Congress declares war!!

American Stats from the War24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918.

4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat).

400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units. African-American Generals lead U.S. troops in battle

15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units.

How the War ended?• US needed in France after Russia pulls out of war

(sends millions of fresh troops to fight)• Played key role in stopping German invasion of

France• Second Battle of the Marne marked the point of

German withdrawal from France (1918)

• Germany wanted to surrender in October 1918, with a peace based on The 14 Points.

World War 1 officially ended at 11 am on November 11th, 1918

Wilson’s Fourteen Points• Made Wilson the moral leader of the allied cause• Goal was to keep Russia in war and boost morale of

troops.• Wanted to make world a safe place for democracy• Key ideas : abolish secret treaties, freedom of the seas,

free trade, reduction of armaments, readjustment of colonial claims, self-determination

• 14th Point: Creation of League of Nations– Not everyone supported this idea

• The prospect of endless American troops was key.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ldr18Rnho

• With so many men off fighting in Europe, there was a need for women to work the vacant jobs to support their families and the country.

• Women worked in factories and also worked for the military directly.• They took jobs mostly as nurses but some actually saw

combat in rare cases!!!

Women’s Impact on the Home Front

Propaganda Posters

Purpose: To rally support for the war and encourage people to join or do their part to help the war effort (U.S.)

• Big Four in Paris—US, Britain, Italy and France• Compromises: The losers colonial holdings would be

controlled by the League of Nations, the League would be included in the treaty

• Had to work out compromises with France, Italy and Japan over colonized land.

• Germany forced to accept a peace they did not participate in—only about 4 of 23 principles of 14 Points in final treaty.

• Treaty punished Germany harshly!

The Treaty of Versailles

Details of the TreatiesGermany * Austria Hungary Turkey Bulgaria

Reparations Pay for damages = $961 million

Pay for damages but went bankrupt

Pay for damages but amount unknown

Pay for damages = $150 million

Military Army -reduced to 100,000 men and no tanks.Navy- 6 ships no subs.No Air force

Army- Reduced to 30,000 men.

Army- Reduced to 35,000 men.

Restrictions made but unknown.

Land Lost land and colonies

Lost land to Italy, Czech., and Serbia

Reduce size from 283,000 to 93,000

Lost land to Greece,

Lost land to Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia

* Guilt for starting War

• Liberated many minority peoples—ex. Poles.• Weakened League meant world was unable to

deal with tensions after WWI WWII• US hurt itself by remaining isolationist when it

needed to take global responsibility.• We are therefore, somewhat to blame for the

problems between the wars that led to WWII

Key legacies of the war and the peace