World War 1

(1914-1918)

SS5H4 Describe the US involvement in WW 1

• a. Explains how German attacks on the US shipping during the war in Europe (1914-1918) ultimately led the US to join the fight against Germany; include the sinking of the Lusitania and concerns over safety of U.S. ships, U.S. contributions to the war, and the impact of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

World War 1

• World War 1 was the first war that involved countries from ALL over the WORLD. Although the war started in 1914, the UNITED STATES did NOT enter the war until 1917. When the war was over, the boundaries of several European countries had changed.

• Although it was said to be the WAR to END all WARS, it actually set the stage for another war.

Maps of Europe BEFORE & AFTER World War 1

BEFORE WW1Europe 1914

AFTER WW1Europe 1919-1938

World War 1

• In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Britain, France, and other European nations were seizing territory in Asia and Africa. When one country takes over another it is called imperialism.

• Smaller nations in Europe sought out alliances to protect themselves from being taken over by an imperialist nation.

Causes of World War 1

• By 1914, military tensions and a series of alliances have Europe on the edge of war. In August, the fuse is lit by an assassination in Sarajevo. By war's end, more than 100 countries would be involved in the conflict.

• http://www.history.com/videos/causes-of-world-war-i#causes-of-world-war-i

• SEE WW1 book “The Spark” pg. 3

Causes Continued• The industrial countries of Europe were very competitive. Some

had large world empires. Their leaders wanted to increase the size of these empires.

• To protect themselves, countries formed alliances. These alliances said that if one nation was attacked, the other nations would defend it. France, Russia, and Great Britain had an alliance called the Triple Entente.

• The war was triggered by the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serb in Sarajevo. In response, Austria-Hungary ATTACKED Serbia on July 28, 1914—officially starting the Great War (WW1). The person who assassinated Ferdinand was a young member of a terrorist group called the Black Hand.

Causes Continued

• The alliances brought many countries into the war. Russia came to the aid of Serbia. Germany then DECLARED war on Russia. France DECLARED war on Germany. Germany ATTACKED Belgium. Britain ENTERED the war to help Belgium and France.

• Many Czechs, Slovaks, and other Slavic peoples, seeking freedom from Austria-Hungary fought for the Allies.

• The Allied Powers included Great Britain, France, and Russia.• The Central Powers included Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Great War Alliances

ALLIES CENTRAL POWERSGreat Britain GermanyBelgium Austria-HungaryFrance Bulgaria (from 1915)Italy (from 1915) The Ottoman EmpireJapanPortugalRussia

The “Firsts” Video

• WWI may have been the war to end all wars, but it was also the beginning of many military and civilian technologies.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#wwi-firsts

• SEE WW1 book “Poison Gas” pg. 10• SEE WW1 book “Dogfights” pg. 11• SEE WW1 book “Tanks” pg. 12

REAL FOOTAGE of WW1

• In this History Rewind video clip, take a step back in time to the beginning of World War 1. The repeated sinking of American ships caused the President to declare war. Watch the historic black and white footage of some of the attacks.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#world-war-i-germans-attack-us-navy-boats

(This is a PRIMARY SOURCE)—it is REAL footage.

Trench Warfare

• Although best known for its role in the long slog of World War I, trench warfare actually got its start on the battlefields of the American Civil War. Find out how new weapons and technology played a part in both its development and destruction.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#trench-warfare

• SEE WW1 book “Trench Warfare” pg. 9• Trench warfare was a form of war where each side

dug trenches. Soldiers stayed in the trenches. Some trench systems were as long as 400 miles. The area between the trenches was called NO MAN’S LAND.

Contributions

• Since the war in Europe had taken millions of farm workers away from their farms and factories, there was a huge demand for food, clothing, machines, munitions, guns, and supplies.

• This meant that American business was doing well. Our nation was prospering by supplying both sides with the things they needed.

• Blockades began to prevent the United States to sell to German supporters—the U.S. then sold ONLY to Britain and its supporters.

• This made Germany really mad.

U-Boats Sink the Lusitania in 1915• When Germany torpedoes a British passenger ship believed to be

smuggling arms, anger at the resulting American deaths increases pressure on President Wilson to enter World War I.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915

• SEE WW1 book “U-Boats” pg. 7• SEE WW1 book “Sinking of the Lusitania” pg. 6

Reasons for ENTERING the WAR

• When war broke out in Europe, the United States declared that it would remain NEUTRAL, or NOT take SIDES.

• The U.S. began to turn against Germany after German submarines, called U-boats(short for underwater boats), sank the Lusitania, an unarmed British passenger ship, killing almost 1,200 people including over 100 Americans. The U.S. claimed that the sinking of the Lusitania went against the LAW that says that all SEAS are NEUTRAL territory.

• German U-boats also sank several unarmed American commercial ships. This continued sinking of American ships eventually led President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress to

DECLARE WAR on Germany on April 6, 1917.

WW1-PACKS

• In a Mail Call video, R. Lee Ermey answers a question from Mark of Kansas who wants to know what was in a World War I backpack. Ermey reveals that the backpacks WWI soldiers had to wear served to be an annoyance.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#world-war-i-packs

Treaty of VersaillesEnds World War 1

• German resentment over harsh peace terms leads to a rise in nationalist sentiment and the eventual rise to power of Adolf Hitler.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#treaty-of-versailles-end-world-war-i

• All nations met together at the Paris Peace Conference to create terms to end the war.

• On November 11, 1918, both sides signed an agreement, called an armistice, to end fighting. The Treaty of Versailles, signed on May 7, 1919, formally ended the war. The United States lost 116,516 soldiers during the war. A total of almost 10 million soldiers died in the war. 21 million were wounded. 5 million civilians, people who are not soldiers, died.

• SEE WW1 book “Treaty of Versailles” pg. 26

The Treaty of Versailles Made the following Conditions:

• Germany was forced to give up territory and colonies to Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, and other Allied nations.

• To prevent Germany from starting another WAR, the size of its army was reduced. It was FORBIDDEN to have submarines, aircraft, armored cars, or tanks.

• Germany accepted responsibility for starting the war and was PENALIZED $33 billion in damages to other nations. ***Germany NEVER paid the $33 billion in damages***

• The League of Nations was formed. It was President Woodrow Wilson’s idea, however the United States never joined.

• Turkish territories in the Middle East, such as Palestine (now Israel), were made protectorates (territories under the protection) of Great Britain and France.

Coming Home from WW1

• In this video clip, a veteran of World War I talks about what it was like to return home from the war. He talks about how they pulled into New York Harbor on Easter Sunday and they could see the Statue of Liberty.

• http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos#coming-home-from-world-war-i