WWI

1. WWI and it’s aftermath

2. Beginning of WWI • Began with assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • The heir to the Austria-Hungary throne

3. Beginning of WWI • On July 28, Austria declared war on Serbia • Russia mobilized it’s army on German border • On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia • Two days later it declared war on France WWI had begun

4. ‘Mericans & the War • Wilson declared the country neutral • Many choose sides especially the many new immigrants to the country • Most did not want to join the war, but supported the allies • Series of events will eventually lead U.S. into the war

5. Moving Toward War • Germans announced they would sink any ship around Britain without warning • On May 7, 1915, German U-boats (submarines) sunk the British passenger ship, Lusitania • 1200 passengers including 128 ‘Mericans were killed • March 1916, a German U-boat sank a French passenger ship, the Sussex, killing more ‘Mericans

6. Moving Toward War • Germany promised not to sink any more merchant ships without warning with the Sussex Pledge • This pledge helped keep the US out of war a little longer

7. Moving Toward War • Britain intercepted a message sent from Germany to Mexico known as the Zimmerman Telegram • It stated that if Mexico entered the war on Germany’s side & attacked U.S., Germany would help Mexico recover lost territory • First 3 weeks of March 1917, Germans resumed unrestricted submarine warfare sinking 4 U.S. ships • On April 6, Wilson signed a resolution entering U.S. into the Great War

8. The Home Front • Wilson issued the Selective Service Act of 1917 requiring all men 21-30 to register for draft • 2.8 million were drafted and another 2 million volunteered

9. African Americans in the War • 400,000 were drafted and about 42,000 served overseas as combat troops • Discrimination was encountered and they served in segregated units supervised by white officers • Several divisions won distinctive awards for their war efforts

10. Women in the Military • Women served in the war, but only in non-combat positions • Nurses, radio operators, electricians, photographers, pharmacists, torpedo assemblers • The Army Nursing Corps served overseas including 10,000 women

11. The Home Front • War Industries Board created • Oversaw war time productions • Raw materials, construction of new factories, manufacturing of goods

12. Paying For the War • Liberty Bonds & Victory Bonds helped raise $ for the war • By buying bonds, ‘Mericans were loaning the govt money • Taxes were also raised

13. Federal Agencies • Food Administration • Supervised agricultural production, promoted food conservation & rationing • Fuel Administration • Increased production of coal & oil, daylight savings times, Heatless Mondays

14. Federal Agencies • National War Labor Board • Oversaw cooperation between industry and labor unions • Committee on Public Information • Used propaganda to rally support for war effort

15. Women Support Industries • Increased opportunity for women • Took jobs vacated by men in the military • Factory & manufacturing jobs, shipping & railraod • After the war, many women were replaced by men

16. The Great Migration • Between 300k-500k African Americans left the south to fill factory jobs in the north • Changed the racial makeup of northern cities and caused tensions after the war

17. Supreme Court Limits Free Speech • In landmark case Schenck v U.S., court ruled free speech could be altered during times of “clear and present danger” • Controlled public opinion and stopped antiwar protests

18. The Conflict • Trench Warfare – “No Man’s Land” • Reliance on machine gun • New Technology • Poison gas, tank, airplanes

19. The Conflict • soldiers were sent overseas were nicknamed “doughboys” • U.S. used convoys to take troops over seas to protect from German U-boat attacks • No lives were lost at sea

20. The Conflict • March 1917, Russia leaves the war with the outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution allowing Germany to focus fighting the western front

21. The War Ends • Nov. 11 1918, fighting came to an end when Germany signed an armistice, cease fire, that ended the war • Wilson came up with his Fourteen Points, plan to rebuild after the war with the League of Nations being formed to help keep peace • Allies thought Wilson’s plan was too lenient

22. The War Ends • Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, in June 1919 • Forced to pay $33 billions in reparations, war damages, to the Allies • Required Germany to take guilt for the outbreak of the war

23. The War Ends • Russian and Ottoman empire will dissolve • Austria-Hungary split into separate countries • 9 new countries established including Yugoslavia & Poland

24. The War’s Impact Effects of WWI on Economy Mass demand for goods Rapid Inflation Strikes

25. Rapid Inflation • Rationing ends leading people to start buying these goods • With a high demand the prices rise about 15 cents a year • Inflation greatly increased the cost of living

26. Strikes • Inflation increased businesses operating costs. They wanted to keep wages low to compensate • Strikes occurred because workers wanted higher wages to keep up with inflation

27. The Red Scare • ‘Mericans became anti-German during and after the war & anti-communist when Russia withdrew • Communism became associated with being unpatriotic and disloyal

28. The Red Scare • The Red Scare became a nationwide panic that Communists, or “reds”, might seize power • Postal Service caught over 30 letters to leading businessmen that exploded when opened suggesting a country wide conspiracy • Most believed the bombs were the work of Communists or other revolutionaries

29. The Red Scare • Palmer Raids, led by General Palmer, were raids on headquarters of radical organizations and homes of suspicious people accused of being led by reds • Run through the General Intelligence Division, soon to be FBI, led by J Edgar Hoover • Palmer loss credibility when he started predicting events that didn’t occur