Transcript America and WWI

America and WWI
American Neutrality
• Most Americans are
immigrants from
Europe– take sides
based on home
country
• President Woodrow
Wilson declare us
neutral, newspapers
and groups use
propaganda however
to influence
• We want to trade
with both sides-$$$$
• Germany blockades
England and we loan
lots of $$$ to the
English and French
• Appears we are on
Allies side, Germans
start attacking ships
entering/exiting
England
• Lusitania sunk, British passenger ship
(Titanic), Americans on board
• Germany makes the Sussex Pledge–
promise not to attack passenger ships
End of Neutrality
• We build up military
just in case
• Zimmerman
Telegram– secret
message from
Germany to
Mexico, join Central
Powers and attack
the US
• Wilson asks
Congress for
declaration of war
• Selective Service Act– draft of 21-30 yr
olds, women and AA enlist as well, serve
in segregated units
• Espionage Act– jail for helping enemy or
refusing military duty
• Sedition Act– couldn’t speak badly about
the US
Organizing for War
• Women work as interpreters, nurses,
typists, supplies, fill jobs of men at home
• Liberty Bonds– money went to Allied
forces to buy supplies
• War Industries
Board– control
production and
distribution of goods
made in US, victory
gardens, meatless
Mondays
• National War Labor
Board– settle
disputes between
workers and
management to
prevent strikes
US Joins the Allies
• Allies needing serious help, supplies, men
• Russia drops out– Bolshevik Revolutionoverthrow democratic gov, communism
starts led by Vladimir Lenin
• Germany now moves all troops to the
western front
• Ships now sail with armed convoys
• Americans commanded by Gen. John
Pershing, called the American
Expeditionary Force
• Soldiers called doughboys– well fed
Final Battles
• Fresh German forces attack along Somme
River, push miles into Allied lines, over
stretch supply lines
• Americans win Battle of Argonne Forest
• Last German
push– Second
Battle of the
Marne, major
losses on both
sides, Germany
running out of
troops
Armistice
• Germany out of food and
troops, riots in German
cities
• Other Central powers
surrender
• German Kaiser flees,
Germany become a
republic, asks for armistice
or truce
• Signed on Nov. 11th at 11th
hour 1918
14 Points
• Wilson’s plan for after WW1, 14 Points or
ideas
• New countries created, League of Nations
created
• England and France want to punish
Germany– give up tons of land and pay a
lot of $$$$
• Treaty of Versailles– ends the WW1, US
signs separate treaty