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World War I. “The Great War” 1914-1919. Reasons for War . Secret Treaties Among Nations Aid each other if a nation were under attack June 1914 – Assassination of Austria Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
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World War I “The Great War” 1914-1919
Reasons for War • Secret Treaties Among Nations • Aid each other if a nation were under attack • June 1914 – Assassination of Austria Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand • Austria-Hungary blames Serbia, Serbia refuses to meet the demands of Austria-Hungary, A-H declares war • Sets off a chain reaction in Europe
Choosing Sides • Germany, Austria-Hungary – Central Powers • Great Britain, France, Russia – Allied Powers • America claims neutrality! • Protect investments • Act as peacemaker
American Neutrality? • German Submarine Warfare • Germans promised to sink any ship it thought was carrying weapons to the Allies • Lusitania sunk in the Irish Sea (1915) – 128 Americans dead.
American Neutrality? • Zimmerman Telegram • British intercept a German telegram to Mexico • “You help us, we will help Mexico retake lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.” • Not taken seriously by U.S. or Mexico, but the pro-war propaganda from the event was huge!
America’s Entry into WWI • Draft • Armed forces are very small • Selective Service Act (1917) • American Expeditionary Force (AEF) – Volunteers, National Guardsmen, Draftees
America’s Entry into WWI • Convoy System • Protect Merchant and Troop ships from U-boats • Surround American ships with a convoy of small destroyers
World War I Warfare • Trench Warfare • Tanks • Machine Guns • 150 rounds per minute • Gas Attacks • Mustard, Chlorine, Tear • Submarines- “Untersee boot” • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwone/index.shtml • http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory
America on the Home Front • New Gov’t. Agencies • Fuel Administration - gasless days and daylight savings time introduced • War Trade Board – licensed foreign trade, made sure firms were real and not aiding the enemy • Food Administration – increase the agricultural output and reduce waste
Postwar • President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points – blueprint for peace • Secret Treaties Must Go! • Freedom on the Seas • Reduction in Armaments
Postwar • Treaty of Versailles • Germany is absolutely crippled financially • Allies – “You owe $33 billion!” • Germany can’t even come close to paying this amount • Economic hardships after WWI lead to the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and WWII