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II. War Begins :

II. War Begins :. The American Response : -some Americans felt personally involved – Why? 1/3 were 1 st or 2 nd generation immigrants -most Americans wanted to Allies to win – Why? Cultural ties with England Most of the news from the war came from England

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II. War Begins :

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  1. II. War Begins: • The American Response: -some Americans felt personally involved – Why? 1/3 were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants -most Americans wanted to Allies to win – Why? • Cultural ties with England • Most of the news from the war came from England • Kaiser Wilhelm II, German leader, was an autocrat (ruler with unlimited power)

  2. II. War Begins: • The U.S. remained neutral at first and continued to trade with both sides -we were an isolated country at that time

  3. III. U.S. Declares War: • 3 Major Events led the U.S. to join the Allies: • Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare – Ex: a. Sinking of the Lusitania (May 7, 1915) – British passenger liner sunk by a German u-boat because it was secretly carrying weapons for the Allies – 1,200 died (128 Americans)

  4. III. U.S. Declares War: b. Sinking of the Sussex (March 24, 1916) – French passenger liner sunk by a u-boat – the Germans later agreed to the Sussex Pledge (promised to warn ships before attacking) – kept the U.S. out of the war

  5. III. U.S. Declares War: • Election of 1916 – Pres. Wilson ran under the slogan “He kept us out of the war” and was re-elected • Feb. 1, 1917: Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare – thought they could defeat the British and win the war before the U.S. could make a difference

  6. III. U.S. Declares War: • Feb. 3, 1917: Wilson ended Am. neutrality by arming merchant ships – “armed neutrality”

  7. III. U.S. Declares War: • Zimmerman Note / Telegram – German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, made a secret offer to Mexico -if they would attack the U.S., then they would be given back the lost territory in TX, AZ, and NM -the note was intercepted by the British -neither Wilson nor Mexico took the note seriously -however, the American public called for war

  8. Zimmerman Note

  9. III. U.S. Declares War: • Revolution in Russia – March 1917, Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and replaced by a republican (democratic) gov’t -since a czar was no longer in power, the U.S. viewed Russia as an acceptable ally -this was the last stumbling block to a full Am. commitment to the Allies

  10. III. U.S. Declares War: • Pres. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany saying… “The world must be made safe for democracy.” • War was declared on April 6, 1917

  11. V. Americans on the European Front: • American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) – led by Gen. John J. Pershing – arrived in Paris on June 14, 1917 – provided reinforcements to British and French troops -U.S. soldiers nicknamed doughboys

  12. V. Americans on the European Front: • The first job of the doughboys was to help England attack the German u-boats – Americans thought they would only provide naval assistance at first • Convoy system – began in May 1917 – group of unarmed merchant ships surrounded by armed naval ships – reduced number of ships sunk

  13. V. Americans on the European Front: • The Bolshevik Revolution (communist revolution in Russia – Oct. 1917) changed the involvement of Am. soldiers -led by Vladimir Lenin -Russia signed a treaty with Germany in March 1918 to drop out of the war -allowed Germany to send all troops to the Western Front -forced U.S. to send in more foot soldiers to help Allies

  14. V. Americans on the European Front: • Battle of Chateau-Thierry (June 1918) – major turning point in the war – U.S. helped French save Paris and began to push German lines back towards Germany • Battle of Argonne Forest (Sept.-Nov. 1918) – last critical battle of the war – 47 day battle – 1.2 million Allied troops began to push German lines back and eventually broke through

  15. VI. Postwar: • An armistice (cease fire) was signed on Nov. 11, 1918 (11th hour, 11th day, 11th month) • WWI Casualties: -Russia – 9 million -Germany – 7 million -France – 6 million -A-H – 7 million -England – 4 million -U.S. – 364,000

  16. VI. Postwar: • WWI’s Impact on U.S.: -lost 116,000 young men -created a distrust of foreigners -created new opportunities for women and Afr. Am’s. -higher wages -booming economy – richest nation in world

  17. VI. Postwar: • Pres. Wilson’s Plan for Peace: -to prevent future world wars he outlined his goals in his “Fourteen Points” speech before Congress – included: • Ban on secret treaties / alliances • Freedom of the seas • Reduction of arms

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