Turning Points of the War

• World War I is a stalemate – Both sides were in trenches on the French and German border.(Western front)

• Eastern front with Russia is the same.FIRST BIG TURNING POINT – RUSSIA LEAVES WAR

• Russia is not as technologically advanced as the rest of Europe.

• Russia has lots and lots of people. They keep throwing more and more people at the war.

Vladimir Illich Lenin• The marxist leader of Russia – Followed the teaching of Karl Marx.

• The Czar had kicked him out of Russia for trying to overthrow the government.

• The Germans sneak him back into Russia. WHY??

• The Bolsheviks believe that Russia is only for the rich. They kicked out the Czar in November of 1917.

• First thing Lenin and the Bolsheviks did was pull Russia out of the war.

• Germany no longer had a two front war.

• Later, Lenin will change the name of Russia to the United Soviet Socialist Republics U.S.S.R.

US: From Neutrality to WarUS: From Neutrality to War

A. US Public OpinionA. US Public Opinion1.1. Anti-War?Anti-War?

– At first many At first many Americans thought of Americans thought of the war as a European the war as a European WarWar

– Popular song at the Popular song at the time – “I didn’t raise time – “I didn’t raise my boy to be a my boy to be a Soldier”Soldier”

  

2.2. Allied or Central PowersAllied or Central Powers– Most Americans supported the British and the Most Americans supported the British and the

French b/c of long standing tiesFrench b/c of long standing ties– But Millions of Americans had immigrated But Millions of Americans had immigrated

from the Central Powers and supported them.from the Central Powers and supported them.

B. PropagandaB. Propaganda

1. British Propaganda 1. British Propaganda – Used to influence U.S. Used to influence U.S.

OpinionOpinion– Depicted the Germans as Depicted the Germans as

cruel and inhumanecruel and inhumane

2.2. German PropagandaGerman Propaganda– Depicted President Depicted President

Wilson as a liar when it Wilson as a liar when it came to Neutralitycame to Neutrality

C. Germans Violate US C. Germans Violate US NeutralityNeutrality1.1. Sinking the LusitaniaSinking the Lusitania

– German U-boats (Submarines) attacked many German U-boats (Submarines) attacked many ships without warning instead of stopping and ships without warning instead of stopping and searching them. searching them. Unrestricted Submarine Unrestricted Submarine WarfareWarfare

– May 1915 a U-Boat sank a British Passenger May 1915 a U-Boat sank a British Passenger Ship, LusitaniaShip, Lusitania

– Killed 1,200 people, included 128 AmericansKilled 1,200 people, included 128 Americans– Infuriates AmericansInfuriates Americans

2.2. Sussex PledgeSussex Pledge– After sinking a French Ship, the Sussex, After sinking a French Ship, the Sussex,

German govt issues the Sussex PledgeGerman govt issues the Sussex Pledge– Promise not to sink merchant vessels w/o Promise not to sink merchant vessels w/o

warning or saving liveswarning or saving lives– Does not follow the pledge for very longDoes not follow the pledge for very long

3.3. Zimmerman Note Zimmerman Note – German Foreign Minister German Foreign Minister

Arthur ZimmermanArthur Zimmerman– Telegram asked Mexico to Telegram asked Mexico to

ally with Germany against ally with Germany against the USthe US

– They could retake New They could retake New Mexico, Texas and ArizonaMexico, Texas and Arizona

4.4. Wilson’s Response to German Wilson’s Response to German aggressionaggression– April 1917 Wilson Asks Congress to declare April 1917 Wilson Asks Congress to declare

war on Germanywar on Germany– ““The world must be made safe for The world must be made safe for

Democracy”Democracy”– April 6, 1917 U.S. Declares War on GermanyApril 6, 1917 U.S. Declares War on Germany

World War IWorld War IPropagandaPropaganda

Propaganda ObjectivesPropaganda Objectives““What You Want To Do”What You Want To Do”

Recruitment of soldiersRecruitment of soldiers Financing the war effort (bonds, Financing the war effort (bonds,

loans, or taxes)loans, or taxes) Unifying the countryUnifying the country Conservation of resources necessary Conservation of resources necessary

to the war (food, oil, steel, etc.)to the war (food, oil, steel, etc.) Participation in home-front Participation in home-front

organizationsorganizations

Propaganda ToolsPropaganda Tools“How You Are Going To Do It”“How You Are Going To Do It”

DemonizationDemonization- Portray the enemy as - Portray the enemy as purely evil, murderous, and aggressive. purely evil, murderous, and aggressive. The enemy is often committing The enemy is often committing atrocities against women and children.atrocities against women and children.

Emotional Appeals-Emotional Appeals- Playing on people’s Playing on people’s emotions to promote the war effort. emotions to promote the war effort. Fear is the most common emotion Fear is the most common emotion portrayed in these posters.portrayed in these posters.

Name Calling-Name Calling- Reinforced stereotypes Reinforced stereotypes through loaded labeling (“Commies”, through loaded labeling (“Commies”, “Japs”, “Huns”, etc.)“Japs”, “Huns”, etc.)

Patriotic Appeal-Patriotic Appeal- Using patriotic language Using patriotic language or symbols to appeal to national prideor symbols to appeal to national pride

Half-Truths or Lies-Half-Truths or Lies- Embellishing the Embellishing the enemies downfalls, and victimizing one’s enemies downfalls, and victimizing one’s own nation.own nation.

Catchy Slogans-Catchy Slogans- Using memorable Using memorable phrases to foster support for the war phrases to foster support for the war effort. (“Remember the Alamo!”)effort. (“Remember the Alamo!”)

Evocative Visual Symbols-Evocative Visual Symbols- Using symbols Using symbols that appeal to people’s emotions. (flags, that appeal to people’s emotions. (flags, statues, enemy uniforms, etc.)statues, enemy uniforms, etc.)

Humor or Caricatures-Humor or Caricatures- Using humor by Using humor by making the enemy the target of the joke.making the enemy the target of the joke.

MilitaryMilitaryPostersPosters

Home Home FrontFront

PostersPosters

The Red The Red CrossCross

British British PostersPosters

German German PostersPosters

French French PosterPoster

ss

RussiaRussian n

PosterPoster

Italian Italian PosterPoster

Irish Irish PosterPoster