The Great War: The Effects of World War I on America

Honors U.S. History

Why did the Great War Start?

• Nationalism – Pride in your homeland/dislike of others• Imperialism – Taking over others (African and Asian

nations that aren’t independent)• Militarism – Build-up of military supplies in peace time• Alliance System – Making partnerships with and against

others in preparation for conflict– Russia, France, England – Entente/Allied Powers– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire – Central Powers

• Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand (1914)

Neutrality

• America does not want to get involved– Socially: American citizens with national roots

on each side– Economically: Trade can take place with both

sides– Politically: Keeping alliances and relationships

with all sides– Historically: Taking a side can get you

involved in the war• War are expensive and hazardous

Closer to Involvement

• US trying to trade military supplies with Germany and England– Problem for Germany: England has them

blockaded• Solution: Germany sinks RMS Lusitania

– Problem: US citizens die on board» Solution: Sussex Pledge (1916) – Germany will not

attack American ships with submarines» Problem: US now trades exclusively with England

Closer Closer to Involvement

• Communist Russia leaves Entente

• Germany being portrayed as non-Democratic

• President Woodrow Wilson’s reelection campaign slogan – “He kept us out of war”– He believes participation is

necessary for the protection of democracy

It’s On

• US intercepts Zimmerman Telegram– Germany asks Mexico to invade US to keep

them out of Europe

• Germany eliminates Sussex Pledge; announces unrestricted submarine warfare– The targets: England and their allies

• US is seen as an English ally

• April, 1917: US declares war on Germany

It’s Going

• Selective Service Act (1917) – Draft of American soldiers

• Committee on Public Information and the Four-Minute Men organize pro-war propaganda

• African-American soldiers fought under French command, not US

• African-Americans migrate to North for jobs and avoiding South

• 11-11-18: Germany surrenders, war is over

WWI Trench Warfare

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Laws and Rights

• Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917/1918) – Limited anti-war sentiment and prohibited interference with the draft

• 18th Amendment (Prohibition) passed

• 19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage) passed

• Federal authority is growing!

Time to End This War

• Treaty of Versailles – Officially ends WWI• Wilson’s 14 Points – A series of proposal meant

to dictate world progress at the war’s conclusion– Point 14: Establishment of a League of Nations

• US Congress rejects joining the LoN as well as ratification of Treaty of Versailles– Desired to isolate the US– More focus should be placed on domestic affairs

Results of WWI

• Spanish Influenza: 675,000 Americans dead (six times the casualties of WWI)

• Red Scare – American fear of Communists, Anarchists, Labor Leaders, and anyone considered “radical”

• Wave of Strikes (1919) – Government regulations of labor ended to help the war– Inflation rose, prices rose, salaries didn’t