2. Tension in Imperial Europe
During Imperial Age, European nations
sought power through acquisition of colonies
Countries competed with each other for relative
power
They began to get paranoid about their
neighbors—If a war broke out, would they be
strong enough to survive?
Nations began to look for ways to ensure their
security
3. Militarism
Policy of aggressively building up a
nation’s armed forces in preparation
for war
4. Alliances
Secret treaties
or informal
understandings
between nations
that promised
they would side
together in the
event of war
7. Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the Austria-
Hungarian throne.
His assassination
was the spark that
ignited the war.
8. Brinksmanship
A strategy where a country seeks an
advantage by creating the impression
that they are willing and able to push
a situation to the point of war in
order to get their demands
10. Ultimatum
A statement, especially in diplomatic
negotiations, that expresses or
implies the threat of serious penalties
if the terms are not accepted
12. Kaiser Wilhelm II
German leader during
World War I. He declared
war on Russia and invaded
France.
13. Allied Forces
The group of nations that opposed
the Central Powers; originally
consisting of Great Britain, France
and Russia and later joined by the
U.S., Italy and others
14. Central Powers
The group of nations--led by
Germany, Austria-Hungary and the
Ottoman Empire--that opposed the
Allied Forces
40. Isolationism
Foreign policy of neutrality and non-
involvement
Wilson made a declaration of
neutrality just days into the war
41. Blockade
An effort to cut off food, supplies, war
material or communications from a
particular area by force
England used their powerful navy to cut off
Germany
Some estimate 750,000 Germans died of
starvation
42.
43. U.S. Exports
•After war
began, U.S.
traded even
more with Allies
•U.S. economy
boomed from
supplying Allies
with war
materials and
extending credit
46. Lusitania
British passenger ship sunk off coast
of Ireland by German submarine; 128
Americans dead, led to U.S. outrage
47. American Reaction
Wilson issues warning to
Germany
He affirms Britain’s right to
blockade Germany but
demands Germany stop
attacks on ships
Secretary of State, William
Jennings Bryan, resigned in
protest of U.S. non-neutrality
48.
49. Germany Resumes Attacks
At breaking point from blockade
Germany makes calculated tactical
decision
Declares they will attack without
warning after all
Figure they can win war with
unrestricted submarine warfare
before the U.S. could enter
50.
51. Zimmerman Telegram
Telegram intercepted by
British intelligence
German ambassador asks
Mexico to enter the war
on the German side
In return Germany
promises to help them
recover territory they lost
in the Mexican War
Last straw for Wilson
52. Autocrat
A ruler with unlimited power
Russian Revolution ends their autocracy
Makes it easier for U.S. to justify war “to make the
world safe for democracy”
Russia out of war, leaving France and Britain
vulnerable
Wilson declares war on April 6, 1917
58. Sedition Act of 1918
Made it illegal to
obstruct the sale
of Liberty Bonds
or to discuss
anything
"disloyal" to the
U.S. government
59. Charles Schenck
Anti-war activist who was arrested for
distributing pamphlets urging men to
avoid the draft.
60. Schenck v. United States
Established restrictions of freedom of
speech in cases of "clear and present
danger"
Oliver
Wendell
Holmes
61. Propaganda
Committee on Public Information
aimed to unite public opinion
Published over 75 million pieces of
printed material
Encouraged journalists to use “self-
censorship”
62. "Four Minute Men"
75,000 volunteers
recruited by the
Committee on Public
Information
Gave 4-minute
speeches in support of
the war effort
Helped turn public
opinion
63. Shaping the economy for war
War Industries Board coordinated
production of military supplies
National War Labor Board pressured
industries to grant workers
concessions in return for not striking
Other “War Boards” for railroads,
fuel, food, etc.
64. Liberty bonds
Bonds sold to promote the war effort;
heavily-promoted by the government
65. Help from the Homefront
$23 billion by 1920
Victory gardens
Meatless Tuesdays and Wheatless
Wednesdays
Production of alcohol restricted to
conserve grain
66. Women on the Homefront
Shortage of
male labor
led to
women
being hired
to do work
traditionally
done by
men
73. Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson
drafted 14-point plan for
peace in 1918
First presented to joint
session of Congress before
war to justify entry in moral
terms
Later presented at Versailles
peace conference after the
war, but failed to win
approval of all 14 points
into final treaty
Wilson advocated “Peace
without victory”
74. Main Points
No secret alliances
Freedom of the seas
Removal of trade barriers
(tariffs, etc.)
Reduce military to just
what’s necessary to protect
your own country
Let go of some colonies
Create a League of Nations
78. Terms of the Treaty
Germany humiliated:
--Charged with war crimes
--Forced to accept guilt for the war
--Must drastically reduce military
--Allow France to occupy the
Rhineland for 15 years
--Give up territory
--Pay reparations
France wanted revenge and security
against any future German threat
79. League of Nations
International body
proposed by
Woodrow Wilson to
ensure peace and
stability after the
war through
cooperation and
accountability
84. Dulce Et Decorum Est
Poem written by
British poet and
solider Wilfred
Owen, famous for
its horrific imagery
of war
Owen died in battle
shortly before the
armistice