Transcript 2. What was the “spark” that started WWI?

 Causes of the War
 1. nationalism and Alsace-Lorraine
 http://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/civiced/res
ources/docs/TrenchwarefareinWWI.pdf
 2. alliances
 3. Austria-Hungry and Serbia
Conditions Facing Soldiers
 1. new weapons-
 2. trench warfare-
Reasons for U.S. Involvement
 1. German threats
 2. U-boats
 3. Lusitania

Look at the picture on page 280. What does
the image tell you about the mood of the
WWI era?

The United States remained neutral at first.
Why did the U.S. decide to enter the war
and fight on the side of the Allies?

What was the Zimmerman note and why did
it surprise the U.S.?
World
War
One
WWI
 WWI is also known as
 The Great War
 or the war to end all wars
The MAIN causes existed before the war
took place.
They were building up to a major conflict
M
 Germany starts an arms race because of
militarism. They wanted their military to be the
BEST!!
 In 1914, Germany had the world’s largest
collection of guns and this made Great
Britain nervous…the race WAS ON!
A
 Before the war started, Europe was divided
into two alliances.
 The Triple AllianceGermany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
and
 The Triple EntenteFrance, Russia, and Great Britain
(entente is the French word for alliance)
I&N
 European countries were competing for
colonies. They wanted to take their
natural resources and create markets.
 Nationalism: This is also known as pride and
devotion for your country.
Colonies by WWI
Nationalism!
The Spark!
June 28, 1914= Francis Ferdinand is assassinated
July 28, 1914= Austria-Hungary declares war on
Serbia
Union or Death!
 Archduke Francis Ferdinand
assassinated.
 Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary
 Germany declares war on Russia.
 France comes to the defense of Russia
 Germany goes through neutral Belgium to
get to France
 Belgium is allied with Great Britain, so
they declare war on Germany and WWI
begins…
The Fighting Begins!
 As the fighting continues in Europe, trenches
are dug and machine guns are used.
 450 miles of trenches stretched from the
coast of Belgium to the border of Switzerland
*this became known as the Western Front.
 A stalemate (or stop in fighting) was caused by:


1. ineffective offense
2. defensive weapons
The United States and the War
 As European powers are fighting, Wilson
says he wants to remain NEUTRAL.
 There are three main American positions:
 1.
Isolationists
 2.
Interventionists
 3.
Internationalists
 (Pg.
287- come up with three points
for your argument)
The U.S. goes to WAR…
 German threats-
 U-boats- Germany sank the Lusitania
 and the Zimmerman Note- look @ pg.291
POP Quiz
1. In WWI, who made up the Triple Entente?
2. What was the “spark” that started WWI?
3. The nearly 450 miles of trenches from the
coast of Belgium to the border of
Switzerland was known as what…
4. List the three American positions about
entering WWI.
The Home Front
 America declares war on
April 6, 1917.
 As America begins to
fight, things greatly change
for Americans at home.
Major changes at home:
 1. Building an ARMY.
Congress passed the Selective Service Act
which authorized a draft of young men for
military service in Europe.
During the course of WWI, 24 million
Americans registered for the draft and more
than 4 million were sent to help the Allies in
France.
2. A changing ECONOMY
 America shifts from a peacetime to a
wartime economy.
With this changing economy, the U.S.
government determined:
1. what crops farmers grew
2. what products industries produced
3. how supplies moved on trains
*a big change from the Industrial Revolution…
Opposition on the home front:
1. PACIFISTS - oppose war for any reason
2. RESISTANCE TO THE DRAFT- almost 12%
of men who received draft notices never
responded to them!
3. Conscientious objectors- people whose
moral or religious beliefs forbid them to fight
in wars
4. Women working for peace- group of
American women opposing the war. Once
the United States joined the Allies, however,
many started to support the war.
How does the United States
government crack down on the
opposition?
 Espionage Act-
The post office could ban certain materials
from the mail
 Sedition Act-
Americans could not use “disloyal, profane, or
abusive language” about America
*pg. 300
Wilson, War, and Peace
 American entry into the war plays a key role
in Allied victory.
 *The United States helped end the
STALEMATE on the WESTERN FRONT.
 Remember:
Who were the winning allies?
Who were the Allied Powers?
Towards the end of WWI…
 What’s the deal with RUSSIA??
1) Revolution in late 1917
2) Vladimir Lenin takes over in Russia and the
country stops fighting in WWI
3) Russia changes sides (made a pact with
Germany)
 President Wilson’s response to Lenin=
“peace without victory” and Wilson writes
his famous “Fourteen Points”.
 In the Fourteen points, Wilson states that he
really wants the League of Nations to help
keep the peace after WWI.
 And so the Versailles conference begins…
Versailles Conference
 Sit with the delegates from your country!
 Discuss your paper- do you all want the
same things?
 Decide what you will ask for during the
conference…
 Break into mini-conferences (assigned by
teacher)
Versailles Conference
#1= Introduce yourself
#2= Each delegate will fill out their own green
worksheet- results of WWI . What should the
Treaty say? You must all agree! *Bonus
points to the group that gets the most correct!
#3= Go over correct options as a class
#4= Write up your official Treaty of Versailles
*All members must participate in drafting the
treaty and sign to earn credit!
Results of WWI
 The goal of Wilson’s 14 Points=

“Peace without Victory”
The Allied leaders do not like many of
Wilson’s ideas…
they want peace AND victory
At the conference, Allies want reparations
They make Germany pay!
Results continued…
 Wilson goes home from Paris and the
Senate REJECTS the Treaty of Versailles
 What happens to the League of Nations?

Without American support of the treaty, the
League of Nations was not able to keep the
peace…