During times of war some Civil Liberties are limited. The president needed to prevent treason and anti-war sentiments

Articles of Confederation. The Feds were too weak

Bellringer

What was the First form of government in the US? What

was wrong with it?

Justify President Lincoln’s suspension of Habeas

Corpus during the Civil War.

World War I

Though the conflict started in Europe, America had become a world power. Soon,

even the US could not stay neutral

Push for warAs the 20th century dawned, the world was ripe for war. Several conditions were steering the world closer and closer:

M - MilitarismA - Alliance System I - ImperialismN -Nationalism

Militarism and Arms RaceMilitarism= glorification of the military

Develops from Social Darwinism:Survival of the fittest

Survival of the strongest

Increase military budgets and expand armies and navies

Militarism and the arms race fuels suspicions and competition between the European nations.

AlliancesAs tensions increase and fear of war grows, nations sign alliances pledging to protect one another

The Triple Alliance

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Triple Entente

Britain

France

Russia

Please note

The Triple Alliance

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Also known as-Central Powers

Also known as-The Allies

Alliances lead to warInstead of easing tension, the growth of rival alliance systems made governments uneasy and nervous. By 1914 all the major powers were linked, making war likely

Imperialism

Competition for colonies brought European nations close to war, especially France and Germany in Africa.

Britain was also threatened by Germany’s rapid economic and industrial growth.

Nationalism Strong nationalistic competition had developed within the European nations who were looking to show off their power. Additionally, ethnic unrest occurred in several nations who wanted to free themselves from Imperial control, especially the Slavs in the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Powder Keg and SparkThe Balkans were known as the Powder Keg of Europe because nationalism between ethnic groups was causing tension. When the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated the war started.

US Neutrality While Europe went to war, America stayed politically neutral. We did not want to get into a costly and deadly war. However, the American public was distinctly divided between the Central Powers and the Allies:

Most of America were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants with ties to their old nations. German Americans and Irish Americans sided with the Germans (Central Powers). The rest of America sided with the British and French, who we felt loyalty to.

Economic considerationsBefore the War America traded freely with all of Europe. Once the War began, a British blockade of the North Sea cut off trade with Germany. Despite being officially neutral, the US still traded goods to the Allies. We provide billions worth in guns, ammunition and loans to the Allied countries.

US peace and TradeDespite being officially neutral, the US continued to increase aid and supply shipments to the Allied forces.

PreparednessDespite being neutral, many American business leaders urged the US to get ready for war. Their promoted preparedness, so the US would be able to aid the Allies if necessary. As a result the Army increased its training and peace time numbers. The Navy also increased its membership and battleship counts.

PropagandaThough the US was neutral, images and propaganda posters flooded America. These Propaganda campaigns advertised the war as a civilized Europe against the Germany barbarians.

In this poster the Germans are compared to non-evolved apes,

with a club to destroy culture and kidnapping women.

Freedom of the SeasAs the blockade of the North Sea continued, the Germans were getting desperate to cut Britain’s supply route. Using newly developed submarines, known as U-Boats, the Germans announced a War Zone around Britain. Any enemy ships would be attacked.

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareThe Germans were attacking any ships that flew Allied flags. Despite giving warning, the Germans broke international laws that required all submarines to surface before firing on enemy ships. This violated the US stance that neutral nations have the right to travel and trade during war.

Lusitania 1915 German Submarines had a habit of targeting civilian passenger ships. In 1915 they sank the Lusitania, a British passenger ships carrying many American citizens. The USA threatened war but Germany backed down, agreeing to allow civilians a chance to escape.

In 1917 German resumed unrestricted submarine warfare

Zimmerman Note 1917After announcing the German U-boats would resume unrestricted submarine warfare, the US uncovered a telegraph from the German foreign secretary, George Zimmerman, to Mexico. In the letter, Germany asked Mexico to attack the US if we joined the war. In return, the Germans would guarantee Mexico reclaim its lost lands in Arizona, new Mexico and Texas.

Russian RevolutionAs the war dragged on into a stalemate, neither side was gaining any advantages. The Russian Revolution overthrew the czar and adopted a democratic government. Now, the war seemed to be democracy vs monarchy. If the US joined it would be in the defense of democracy.

“Make the World

safe for Democracy ”

War declaredDuring March, 1917, the Germanys sank 5 American ships. By April 6, 1917 the president was signing a Declaration of War, already approved by Congress.

Uncle Sam: “Hold the fort, for I am coming!”

Mobilizing AmericaNow that war was declared, America needed to mobilize. The Military general recommended the US gather a force of 1 million men by 1918, and an additional 3 million by 1919. The question was, how would the men be gathered?

Mobilize-Getting troops and supplies ready for war

DraftIn May 1917 Congress approved the Selective Service Act, a draft to call young men into military service. During the Civil War the Draft had sparked riots and hatred for President Lincoln. During World War I, the war to end all war, American patriotism was so high, few complained. By 1918 2 million men had been drafted into the American Expeditionary Force.

The Stalemate endsThe American troops provided much needed reinforcements for the allies. Soon, the Allies were pushing Germany and the Central powers out of their trenches and back towards Germany.

Remember, WWI was a stalemate for much of the war due to Trench Warfare and improved weapon technologies like artillery, machine

guns and tanks.

American CasualtiesIn all, the US lost approximately 51,000 men, far fewer than the millions lost by the Europeans. Thousands more were injured physically and mentally by the war.

The War endsOn November 11, 1918, the Allies accept an armistice or ceasefire. The guns went silent and the work on a peace treaty finally began.

Trench WarfareThe new technologies of WWI caused more deaths than every before, but also changed war forever. In the past, gentlemen wars were fought by exchanging fire in orderly ways. The invention of the machine gun, artillery rounds and more accurate rifles made gentlemen’s wars obsolete (outdated and useless). New technology caused the development of Trench Warfare, leading to a terrible stalemate.

Weapons

Machine gun

Gas

TanksSubmarines

Artillery

grenades

planes

Total WarNow that the United States was officially at war, life changed for the Americans. War is costly, in human lives and resources. To ensure there was enough for the war effort the Nation had to become involved in Total War, with all resources going toward the war effort.

The War at Home: Liberty BondsTo help finance the war, the government sold Liberty Bonds. Bonds can later be redeemed for their original value plus interest. The Liberty Bonds created funds directly for the War effort. In total the Liberty Bonds raised more than $20 Billion.

The War at Home: War DepartmentsIndustrial factories were converted from consumer good production to military grade supplies. To organize this hundreds of business men and women were hired:

-War Industries Board- gave out raw materials, told manufactures what and how much to produce and fixed prices.

-War Trade Board- shut down businesses suspected of trading goods to the enemy

-War Labor Policies Board set wages, working hours and factory conditions

Voluntary RationingThe United States, led by President Hoover did not want to estblish the

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