UNIT 5: WWI

DAILY

ESSENTIAL

QUESTIONS

What caused World War I and why did the

United States enter the war?

How did the US government get the

public to support the war?

How were individual freedoms limited

during WWI?

What was President Wilson’s role in the

Treaty of Versailles and the League of

Nations?

What were the effects of WWI in the United

States?

EQ #1: What caused World War I, and why did the

United States enter the war?

1. Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, and

Imperialism combined started war in

Europe in 1914. War lasted until 1918.

• The igniting incident was the

assassination of the Archduke

Franz Ferdinand, heir to the

Austro-Hungarian throne, by a

Serbian nationalist.

• The confrontation between

Austria-Hungary and Serbia

quickly involved other

European countries because

of alliances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRcg_t2oJkc Causes of WW1 6min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njINCi9iIrA 2min

M.A.N.I.A

CENTRAL POWERS

World War I through 1917

2. The United States declared that

it would remain neutral.

• Wilson won re-election in 1916

with the slogan

“he kept us out of the war.”

3. US public opinion was divided:

• Many people were isolationists – stay out of the war –

not our business.

• Some were interventionists – join on the side of the

Allies.

• Some like Pres. Wilson were Internationalists – the US

should try to keep peace but not fight.

4. US joins the war in 1917.

1. Unrestricted Submarine warfare - German U-boats

frequently torpedoed ships

bound for Britain.

May 7, 1915:

a U-boat sank the British

passenger ship Lusitania off

the coast of Ireland, killing

many Americans. Angered

many in US. But the ship was

carrying war ammunition!!

What were the two primary reasons the US ultimately

joined the war?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0RUebcUZIk 2min unrestricted warfare

• President Wilson still

wanted peace, but

Congress expanded the

army and authorized

more warships, but

Germany continued!

2. The Zimmermann note was intercepted in January 1917. In

this telegram, Germany tried to forge an alliance with

Mexico. Told Mexico we will help you get your land back

from the US.

• After this Wilson said, “The world must be made safe for

democracy.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHn1Egt6XdgWhy US in war 3min

1. President Wilson called for

volunteers.

2. Congress passed the Selective

Service Act.

• More than 4 million U.S. soldiers

were sent to Europe.

EQ #2: How did the US government get the public to

support the war?

3. The War Industries Board

encouraged factories to increase

output.

4. People bought war bonds and

planted victory gardens.

5. The Food Administration

encouraged farmers to

produce more food to feed

soldiers.

6. Women entered the

workforce to help the war

effort.

• By proving that they could

succeed in any type of job,

women convinced

President Wilson to support

their demand to vote.

7. The Committee on Public information (CPI) encouraged

public support for the war by using propaganda.

• distributed pamphlets and sent out speakers.

• materials outlined US and Allied goals and

stressed the Germany’s cruelty.https://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=C5KhZj_SxO4

Propaganda video clip –

actual example 3min

WWI POSTERS

https://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=BBlwLnfzRus

Supporting the War

9.30min

1. The 1917 Espionage Act gave postal

authorities power to ban newspapers or

other printed materials that could incite

treason.

2. In 1918, the Sedition Act outlawed speech

that went against the government or the

military (Eugene Debs was sent to prison

for this).

3. Interfere with the war effort 20 years

in prison/$10,000 fine.

EQ #3: How were individual freedoms

limited during WWI?

In Schenck v. United States -1919 –

• Socialist, Charles Schenck, attempted to distribute flyers

that said the draft was "involuntary servitude" and violated

the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery).

• He was charged by the U.S. government with violating the

Espionage Act.

• Schenck responded that the Espionage Act violated the

1st Amendment right of free speech.

• He was found guilty by the Supreme Court on all charges

because he presented a “clear and present danger.”

• The ruling was eventually overturned (1969).

The significance of this case and the laws is that the US government believed it could suppress people’s constitutional rights in the time of war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bkpZkVnVGM 3min

Germany surrendered November 11, 1918.

In early 1919, Pres. Wilson traveled to Versailles, France for a peace

conference.

1. He presented a plan for peace based on his

Fourteen Points.

2. Wilson wanted “peace without victory.”

3. European leaders did not agree and wanted

Germany to pay reparations $$$ for war

damages.

4. The 14th point was the League of Nations

EQ #4: What was President Wilson’s role in the Treaty of

Versailles and the League of Nations?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fISuf8m3_v83min 14points

League of Nations

5. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919. It redrew the map of Europe and broke up the Ottoman Empire. (US does not sign.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKzZ1OwPXgk TofV 3min

1. The League of Nations was an organization where

countries could come together to resolve disputes

peacefully. Wilson’s IDEA!

Significance: Predecessor to United Nations.. ****The Treaty

of Versailles and the League of Nations was rejected by the

US Congress but it provided the idea for the United Nations.

2. Those opposed believed that being in the

League of Nations would bind the US to

decisions made by foreign powers.

What was the League of Nations?

What is the message of this cartoon?

1. The US helps the Allies defeat the Central Powers.

2. More than116,000 US military died from combat and

flu. Over 204,000 were wounded.

3. The Spanish Flu spread around the world and killed

550,000 Americans and more than 50 million people

around the world.

4. US Congress refuses to join League of Nations.

5. US becomes an economic power.

6. Americans embrace normalcy and isolationism

electing Warren G. Harding president in 1920.

7. The first Red Scare – suspicion of immigrants

and the fear of communism.

EQ #5: What were the effects of World War I on the

United States?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZD95Lp7ikU Flu 5 min