World War I

1. World War I Known as The Great War until ?

2. Allies vs. Central Powers ,

3. Allies Russia, France, Great Britain--- Italy, United States, Japan, Romania, Belgium, Serbia, Greece, Portugal, and Montenegro

4. Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary--- Turkey, and Bulgaria

5. Background Motives for the war included competition for colonies, rivalry between Germany & England for maritime supremacy, the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, determined nationalists in Eastern Europe, and an arm race-By 1914…

6. On June 28, 1914 Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, gunned down Austrain archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

7. Austria insisted on satisfaction from Serbia. Russia Seconded Serbia Germany supported Austria. Germany launched a preemptive strike against France through Belgium. “The War to End All Wars” officially began on August 1, 1914.

8. During the summer of 1914 most Americans felt that the fight had little to do with U.S. interests but most citizens advocated a strict policy of neutrality and insisted that the U.S. not get involved in a European conflict.

9. America’s neutral position became very difficult after several U.S. ships including the Lusitania were 124 Americans were killed on May 1915 by German submarines. The U.S. government demanded that all U.S. ships, cargo and passengers pass unharmed, Germany agreed. By 1917 Germany figured the best hope for victory was unrestrited submarine warfare on ships carrying supplies to the English and the French.

10. Germany looked to make a secret alliance with Mexico which would restore Utah, Arizona , New Mexico and California to Mexico. When President Woodrow Wilson found out he asked Congress to declare war on against Germany. Congress passed the bill to do so on April 6, 1917.

11. After declaring war, President Wilson called for a million men to volunteer, but six weeks later only 73,000 had signed up. On May of 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, allowing the armed forces to draft young men into the military whether they wanted to server or not. It was the first time in U.S. history that young men were drafted into a national army.

12. Approximately 21,000 Utahns saw military service, 665 died; 219 were killed on the battlefield or died from wounds received in action. 32 died of accidental causes. 414 died from disease and illness. 864 were wounded.

13. W.W.I helped bring Utah into the mainstream of American life. As part of the war effort Utahns: Planted victory gardens Preserved food Volunteered to work on farms and fruit orchards Purchased liberty bonds Gave 4 minute patriotic speeches Collected money for the Red Cross Used meat and sugar substitutes Observedd meatless days Knited socks, afghans, shoulder wraps, wove rugs Made posters Stopped teaching German in some schools.

14. Utah’s economy prospered as wartime demands for demands of farm and orchard produce, sugar, beef, coal and copper. Fort Douglas (near the U of U) trained thousands of recruits and housed prisoners.

15. Most Utah Servicemen returned in 1919. November 11th was declared as Armistice Day as a national holiday. Memory Grove in downtown Salt Lake was dedicated on June 27, 1924 as a permanent memorial to the soldiers killed during the war.

16. The war was something that many seemed to never really understand. Non-cooperation and misunderstandings led to increased tensions and another war.

17. Began: August 1, 1914 after the archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. U.S. entered: April 6, 1917 due to German submarine warfare. Armistice: November 11, 1918. U.S. joined the League of Nations (precursor for the United Nations).