Causes of World

War 1 The Great

War
1914-1918

Militarism

the development of armed forces and

their use as a tool of diplomacy.

Trench Warfare

Machine Gun

Airplane

Tanks

Gas/Chemicals

U-Boats (submarines)

Alliances

The Allies France, Britain, and Russia

The Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, and

Italy

Alliances provided a sense of security for many

nations

Later these alliances happened to set off a major

conflict.

Nationalism
A

devotion to the interests and culture of ones

nation.

Led

to competitive and antagonistic rivalries

among nations.

Imperialism

For centuries, European nations had been building

empires.

Colonies supplied European powers with raw materials

and markets for goods.

As powers industrialized, competition arose.

Assassination of Archduke Franz

Ferdinand

Heir to the Austrian throne.

Visited Bosnian capital of Sarajevo in June of 1914

Was assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip (member

of Serbian nationalist group the Black Hand).

On July 28th, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (expected to

be a short war).

Instead, alliances between nations caused a domino effect which

pulled many into The Great War.

American & British Propaganda

Stressed German barbarism.

Posters depicting the Kaiser as some sort of

madman.

Urged American to support allies throughout

neutrality.

U.S. Business Interests

US trade w/ the allies increased from 825

million in 1914 to 3.2 billion in 1916.

Blockades

Unrestricted submarine warfare

(U-Boats)

Sinking of the Lusitania (1915)

The "Sussex" pledge (1916) - promised a

change in Germany's naval warfare policy. (no
more unrestricted submarine warfare)

Germany renews unrestricted U Boat

attacks (1917)

Zimmerman Note

Germany asked Mexico to enter the war against the US.

We intercepted the note.

Major factor in pushing U.S. into war.

Effects on Domestic Policies

Economic
Political
Social

Economic Effects

War Industries Board government agency created to

coordinate the purchase of war supplies.

National War Labor Board created to fix disputes

between workers and employers in order to ensure
labor reliability and productivity during the war.

Political Effects

Food Administration (Rationing) - the responsible agency for

the administration of the allies' food reserves.

Committee of Public Information - created to influence U.S.

public opinion regarding American participation in World War I.

Espionage & Sedition Acts (Debs case, Schenck v. U.S.) a

person could be fined up to 10,000$ and sentenced to 20 years
in jail for interfering with the war effort or saying anything
disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or the war
effort.

Selective Service Act required men to register with the

government in order to be randomly selected for military service.

Social Effects

Young White Men (Dough Boys)

Immigrants (Labor opportunities)

African-Americans (Northern city employment, Great

Migration large scale movement of thousands of Africans from
the South to the North)

Women (labor opportunities, Factory jobs and nursing on

frontline)

 War

of Attrition - process of gradually reducing

the strength or effectiveness of someone or
something through sustained attack. Whom
ever loses more men loses the war.

Wilsons 14 Points

Self Determination - nationalities should be able to have their

own countries.

Disarmament - we should take away many of the worlds

weapons.

No blame or punishment - just start over. Blame would create

bad feelings.

League of Nations - He wanted an international organization

to make sure there wasn't another war.

Freedom of the Seas - to be able to sail and trade anywhere.

Treaty of Versailles

War Guilt Clause - Germany was blamed

Reparations Germany made to pay reparations.

League of Nations was created.

New Governments - No real self-determination existed.

Nations kept colonies and made new nations without regard the
wishes of the peoples who lived there.

Germanys military was greatly reduced

US Senate Refusal

Turn Isolationist: Disillusionment with wartime allies

League of Nations: Concern would drag US into war

Partisan Politics: Henry Cabot Lodge & Alfred Beveridge

strongly denounced the treaty that called upon the US to support
League actions.

Can

you shout fire in a crowded

theater?
Can you yell bomb on a plane?