In this powerpoint we discuss US Involvement in World War I and how we entered the war.

1. WWI

2. WWI Begins
• At the start of Wilson declared that the US would
be neutral during the war
• Because of trade neutrality was a hard thing to
keep, and the Allied Powers soon benefited from
US resources
• Soon Germany began to attack ships traveling
between Europe and North America, with their
new invention the submarine
• Most Americans saw the sinking of civilian
merchant ships as an outrage and a violation of
the rules of war
• May 7, 1915 a German U-Boat sank the Lusitania
killing 128 Americans, which prompted protests
in the US, which caused Germany to change its
tactics

3. • January 1917 Germany resumed
unrestricted submarine warfare and
Wilson broke off diplomacy with
Germany
• February the British government
reveled through the Zimmerman
Telegram that Germany was trying
to get Mexico to attack the US, in
exchange for the former Mexican
territory
• End of 1917 Wilson asked congress
to declare war on Germany, thus
beginning WWI for the United States

4. WWI Battles
• In 1917 the Selective Service Act
was formed which instituted the
draft
• 2 million men would serve in the
American Expeditionary Force,
under the command of Gen. John
J. Pershing
• Most of the AEF would see combat
on the Western Front
• Most of the AEF that were sent over
were untrained and made little
contributions to the war effort.

5. • In 1918 the stalemate that had
taken place since 1914 was over
when Germany was freed from
fighting the Russians on the
Eastern Front
• In September of 1918 the AEF took
on two major offensives to drive the
Germans back.
• AEF declared victory in October
after breaking through the
Germany line
• By the end of 1919 Germany was
forced to sign the peace armistices
• American causalities were over
320,00o and more than 112,000
killed

6. WWI Ends
• Paris Peace Conference 1919
brought the UK, France, Italy, and
US together to decided the fate of
Europe
• Purpose of the conference:
negotiate a peace treaty with
Germany and to draw boundaries
for new countries

7. • The Treaty of Versailles was
signed June 28, 1919 ending
WWI
• Versailles included President
Wilson’s provisions to establish
the League of Nations (early
form of the United Nations)
• The end of World War I saw the
rise of several newly formed
nations within Europe;
including Poland

8. The Treaty of Versailles

9. The Punishment for Germany
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Germany had to accept total blame for the war
Germany had to pay war reparations ($300 Billion)
Germany downsized army and gave up their navy
Germany gave up their colonial holdings, which were
divided up amongst the allies.

10. Other Territorial Changes
• Austria-Hungary divided up into four separate nations
• Five other independent nations were established out
of parts of Germany

11. An International Organization Established
• The League of Nations & World Court are formed
• The League were suppose to work together to stop
international aggression
• The World Court was set up to mediate disputes
between countries.

12. Issues not Covered by the Treaty of Versailles
• US President Wilson wanted open negotiations and
elimination of secret treaties
• No mention of the rights of neutrals at sea or freedom
of the seas
• Free trade was largely ignored and tariffs left enacted
• No other country was ordered to reduce their army or
armaments except for Germany