American History

Mr. Syroney

World War I (1914 – 1919) U.S. Entry (1917 – 1919)

Causes of World War I

  1. ***MAIN. . . Define: Militarism, Alliance Systems, Imperialism, Nationalism
  2. *Out of the causes of WWI, which one was the one that you really felt caused WWI? Give at least one reason why.
  3. Who made up the Triple Entente (The Allies)?
  4. Who formed the Triple Alliance (The Central Powers)?

An Assassination Leads to War

  1. Why didn’t Serbia like Austria-Hungary?
  2. What was the name of the Serbian who shot the archduke of Austria-Hungary? (This was the “spark” that started WWI)
  3. After the shooting:
  4. Who had Austria-Hungary’s back?
  5. Who had Serbia’s back?
  6. How did these two feel about each other (the two countries that “had their back”)?

4. **So once again, why did World War I happen in your own words?

The Fighting Starts

  1. What was the Schlieffen Plan? According to the map on p. 375, within how many miles of Paris, France did the German army come? This definitely tells you how close the plan came to working!!!
  2. *Which aspect of trench warfare would have bothered you the most?

Americans Question Neutrality

  1. Even though the U.S. remained neutral during the early part of the war (1914 – 1916), what did we intend on doing with both the Allies and Central Powers?
  2. Why did the U.S. begin to favor Britain and France?

The War Hits Home

  1. What were the 2 results of Britain’s blockade against Germany?
  2. *Why was President Woodrow Wilson upset about German U-Boats? Why was he particularly upset about the Lusitania?
  3. Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany unless they did what?
  4. *How did Wilson actually win the election of 1916?

The United States Declares War

  1. What did the Germans announce they would resume in order to defeat Great Britain?
  2. What was the significance of the Zimmerman Telegram?
  3. When did the U.S. finally declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary?
  4. Woodrow Wilson justified U.S. entry into War by saying, “The world must be safe for democracy.” Do you believe Wilson was right in his argument? Should the U.S. be the World’s Policeman?

America Mobilizes

  1. By 1918, how many men had signed up under the Selective Service Act? How many American men ultimately reached Europe?
  2. How did African-American soldiers differ from the white soldiers?
  3. How did the U.S. expand its Navy so quickly in order to fight against German U-Boats?
  4. How did WWI change the methods of warfare?
  5. Under the section, War Introduces New Hazards, which one do you believe was the most difficult to deal with and why?

American Troops Go on the Offensive

  1. How did the Americans help the Allies win the war?
  2. What is a conscientious objector? Can you think of any jobs that a conscientious objector can perform is he is drafted in the army; try to come up with at least 2!!
  3. What were the total numbers of casualties in WWI? What was the American toll? What was the economic cost?

Wilson Presents His Plan

  1. Of the first 5 Points of Wilson’s 14 Points, which one do you consider to be the strongest one? Why?
  2. Why did the Allies reject Wilson’s Plan?
  3. How did the “Big Four” punish Germany for causing World War I?
  4. Why did the U.S. Senate refuse to ratify or approve the Treaty of Versailles?
  5. THE UNITED STATES NEVER JOINED THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS!!!

HUGE POINT: THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES LED TO WORLD WAR II AND THE RISE OF ADOLF HITLER!!!!