U.S. Entry Into WWI
So we know that the fighting of WWI started in Europe. In what year??? Who was president? The U.S. at this point declared their neutrality toward the war. They were still focused on what concept??? What was it called? America stayed out of the war for as long as they could but their hand was forced by what country? U.S. Entry Into WWI
Crash Course- Who started WWI? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pFCpKtwCkI U.S. Entry Into WWI
Unrestricted submarine warfare- So Great Britain set up a naval blockade (What does this word mean?) of Germany. Germany retaliates by stating they will sink ANY naval vessel without warning. Sinking of the Lusitania- May 7, 1915, the Germans sunk the British ship, Lusitania. 1,200 people were killed including 128 Americans. This outraged many Americans and some argue this helped bring the U.S. into WWI. So, in war there is an understanding that you do not target civilians. Germany broke this rule. U.S. Entry Into WWI
The Sussex Pledge- The Sussex Pledge promised a change in Germany’s naval warfare policy. Sussex Pledge promised that: Passenger ships would not be targeted Merchant ships would not be sunk until the presence of weapons had been established, nor without provision for the safety of passengers and crew. The Germans made this promise to the then neutral U.S. on May 4th, 1916. On February 1st, 1917, they went back on their promise and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.
U.S. Entry Into WWI
Zimmerman Telegraph- a top secret, coded message sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to his country’s diplomatic delegation in Mexico in January 1917. The communication was an attempt to draw Mexico into warfare should the United States join the Allies in Europe. The interception and de-coding of the Zimmermann Telegram revealed a promise to the Mexican Government that Germany would help Mexico recover the territory it had ceded to the USA (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona) following the Mexican-American War. The Zimmerman telegram sparked nationwide outrage during WWI and helped to bring about American participation in the Great War. U.S. Entry Into WWI
Finally, in April 1917, the U.S. declared war on Germany. Stayed out for how long? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmyc_p20o_c U.S. Entry Into WWI
Trench Warfare- a form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield. Fighting with trenches, mines, and barbed wire. Horrible living conditions, great slaughter, little to no gains, stalemate, used in WWI. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war- i/world-war-i-history/videos/bet-you-didnt-know- trench-warfare New weapons (airplanes, automatic weapons, poison gas, tanks)- humans proved to be remarkably ingenuous and adaptable when it came to finding new ways to maim and kill during WWI.
U.S. Entry Into WWI
New Weapons continued- The major impact of technology on World War I (WWI) was that it made the war much more difficult for the infantry soldiers who did most of the fighting. The new technologies led to trench warfare and the lack of new tactics led to massive slaughter at the hands of the new technology. U.S. Entry into WWI
New technology in the form of machine guns and rapid-fire artillery gave a huge advantage to any army fighting on the defensive in this war. When the war settled down into stalemate on the Western Front, each side had really good defensive positions with their machine guns and their artillery. Even so, both sides felt the need to launch offensives at times. This meant that they were going to hurl infantrymen at the entrenched enemy with their technological advantages. This led to massive slaughter.
U.S. Entry into WWI
With the war bogged down, another new technology made war even more miserable. This was poison gas. Both sides felt that the use of poison gas would allow them to break through the enemy defenses, but no such thing happened. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world- war-i-history/videos/tech-developments-of-world- war-i http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world- war-i-history U.S. Entry into WWI
Woodrow Wilson was elected again in 1916. He ran on the slogan “He Kept Us Out of War.” Remember, we didn’t enter the war until?????? Public opinion on WWI was divided in the U.S. Some Americans, notably socialists, Christian pacifists, anarchists, women’s groups, unionists, and intellectuals opposed the war. Some believed the government was entering the war not to “make the world safe for democracy,” as Wilson claimed, but rather to serve the interest of capitalists. Other Americans strongly supported the U.S. entry into the war in light of the Zimmerman telegram and the sinking of the Lusitania.
U.S. Entry into WWI
Committee on Public Information- a propaganda agency that tried to drum up support for U.S. entry into WWI. It depicted Germans and other enemies on bad terms, and served to censor the press.
U.S. Entry into WWI
Espionage Act of 1917- made it a crime for a person to mail or print information that inspired dissent against the American war effort or promoted it’s enemies. Sedition Act of 1918- any treacherous act or draft dodging was forbidden, outlawed disgracing the government, the Constitution, or military uniforms, and forbade aiding the enemy. U.S. Entry into WWI
What is the 1st Amendment? Schenck v. United States- Congress could restrict speech if the words “are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger.” Schenck was convicted for mailing pamphlets urging potential army inductees to resist conscription.
U.S. Entry into WWI
Well, what can we do to support our country through a time of war? Any ideas? Thoughts? U.S. Entry into WWI
Victory gardens- private gardens which American citizens were encouraged to create as a source of food during the war period. Liberty bonds- government bonds sold to gain money for WWI. U.S. Entry into WWI
Selective service act- law provided for the registration of all American men between the ages of 21 and 30 for a military draft. War Industries Board- agency established during WWI to increase efficiency & discourage waste in war-related industries.