U.S. Enters WW1. The Grim Cost of War “We set to work to bury people. We pushed them into the sides of the trenches but bits of them kept getting uncovered.

U.S. Enters WW1

The Grim Cost of War“We set to work to bury people. We

pushed them into the sides of the trenches but bits of them kept getting uncovered and sticking out, like people in a badly made bed. Hands were the worst; they would escape from the sand, pointing, begging—even waving! There was one which we all shook when we passed, saying, “Good morning,” in a posh voice. Everybody did it. The bottom of the trench was springy like a mattress because of all the bodies underneath…”Leonard Thompson, quoted in Akenfield

Causes of WWINationalism: one nation is superior over others

Imperialism: global expansionMilitarism: building an army Alliances: secrets partnerships amongst countries intended to increase power (got each other’s backs)

AlliancesAustro-Hungarian Archduke

Franz Ferdinand assassinated while in BosniaAlliances begin forming, war

breaks outTriple Entente (Allies)

France, Russia, Great Britain, and Italy (eventually U.S. as well)

Triple Alliance (Central Powers)Germany, Austria-Hungary,

Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria

American NeutralityWilson declares the US to be neutral

Britain uses propaganda to gain US supportAlso cut transatlantic cable to limit media coverage

US businesses and banks support Allies

Lusitania May 1915 British passenger ship, Lusitania, sank by German U-Boat (128 Americans on board)

Sussex U-boat shot at French ship, SussexResults in “Sussex Pledge”President Wilson issued Germans a warning

Germany promised not to fire on merchant ships without warning- kept US out of war for a little longer

Zimmermann TelegramZimmerman

TelegramSecret

telegram from Germany to Mexico asking them to fight against the U.S.—intercepted by the British, angers the U.S.

US declares war on Germany

Buildingup the Military

National Defense Act: increased the size of the army and trained officers through conscription and selective service (2.8 million drafted)

Women and African Americans served in the armed forcesWomen in non-combat positionsAfrican Americans faced discriminations and

prejudice

Organizing IndustryWar Industries Board-

coordinated production of war materials

Victory GardensLiberty/Victory Bonds

Ensuring Public SupportSet up Committee on Public

Information/George CreelHired writers to create propaganda to swing

public opinion in favor of the warEspionage Act of 1917- made it illegal to spy

or interfere with governmentSedition Act of 1918- no public opposition of

warSchenck v. the United States- Supreme Court

rules that a persons freedom of speech is limited when the words constitute a “clear and present danger”Ex.: Yelling “fire!” in a crowded theatre

WW1 and Modern Warfare

Combat in WWIRapid fire machine guns“No man’s land”- space between

opposing trenches, covered with barbed wire, landmines, etc.

Poison gasBritish introduce the tank1st use of airplanes

Poison GasGermans were 1st to use chlorine gas in 1915 (Battle of Ypres)Caused a burning sensation to the throat and chest

pains. Painful death by suffocationWeather had to be just right—any wind could blow

gas back on your own men

Mustard gas was most deadly weapon used Fired into the trenches in shells—colorless and takes

12 hours to begin working (death can take up to 5 weeks)

Effects include blistering skin, vomiting, sore yes, internal and external bleeding

Move Toward PeacePeace conference begins January 1919 in

ParisBig Four

President Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando

Fourteen PointsPresident Wilson’s plan for peaceLeague of Nations- help to prevent wars

Fourteen PointsAllies felt it was too easy on Germany

Required Germany to disband armed forcesHad to accept blame and pay reparations

Many members of Congress opposed the Treaty of Versailles (thought the League of Nations would drag the U.S. into conflict)

Wilson suffers a strokeSenate refuses Treaty of Versailles, signs

individual treaties with the Central Powers League of Nations starts without the U.S.

The War’s ImpactInflation leads to an increase in the cost of living

Increase of labor strikes in 1919

A “general strike” takes place in Seattle that results in riots

The Red ScareStrikes cause fear of Communist

revolution within the U.S.U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer’s

house is damaged by a bomb (Communists are blamed)

Palmer sets up General Intelligence Division, headed by J. Edgar Hoover (later became the FBI)

Palmer Raids- Raids on private homes and businesses conducted by the GIB to investigate communists