This is an example of how I incorporate geography into my keynotes. Almost every slide has animation to help the student stay interested and grasp the larger concepts surrounding WWI: imperialism, foreign relations, boundary shifts, etc.

1. WORLD WAR I
1914 - 1918

4. MAP of EUROPE

5. ORIGINS of WWI
••• The -ISMs of War •••
✤ Nationalism: a devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation
✤ Nationalists often embody competitive and antagonistic rivalries with
other nations in attempts to show pride in one’s country (Think:
Olympics) or to fight in its name.
✤ KEEP IN MIND: Germans possessed a high level of nationalism due to
its growing economic and military power in Europe.
✤ Ethnic Groups resented their dominating mother countries and
longed to be independent (Think Revolutionaries and England in
early US History), however, many smaller groups relied on larger
countries for support and protection.
✤ Russia protected Slavic peoples no matter where they lived or
who ruled over them.
✤ Serbs are a type of Slav. Austria-Hungary ruled over the
millions of ethnic Serbs in Serbia, which was an independent
country.
✤ Therefore, Russia and Austria-Hungary battled for influence in this area.

6. ORIGINS of WWI
••• The -ISMs of War •••
✤ Imperialism: What makes the natives...well, native.
✤ When mother countries extend economic, military, and
political control over other peoples of the world. (Reference CH
18 - Am. Imperialism)
✤ European nations such as France and Great Britain had been
building vast empires in Asia and Africa.
✤ The territory, called colonies, provided small European
nations with raw materials and new markets for trade of
manufactured goods.
✤ As Germany grew in power, it began to compete with Great
Britain and France. See the tension building?!

7. Example of Imperialism:
The British Empire

8. ORIGINS of WWI
••• The -ISMs of War •••
✤ Militarism: With land to protect, you need guns…lots of guns.
✤ Empires were expensive and difficult to defend without a large
armed force (soldiers) and a larger stockpile of weaponry
(guns, bombs, boats, planes, etc).
✤ As you can see on our world stage today, the country with the
most and the best weaponry “wins”.
✤ By 1890, Germany was the most powerful
✤ Strong leader: Kaiser (or Emperor) Wilhelm II
✤ Army reserve and draft = plenty of soldiers
✤ Large navy of battleships and destroyers that rivaled the
British fleet and brought about a worldwide naval arms race.

9. ORIGINS SystemWWI
••• The Alliance
of •••
Triple Entente (later the Allies): France, Britain, and Russia.
Triple Alliance (later the Central Powers):
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy later joined with the
Ottoman Empire which consisted of mostly Middle Eastern
land controlled by the Turks.

10. THE
POWDER KEG
The Balkan Peninsula earned the nickname
“The Powder Keg”
due to its centralized location and melting pot society. Many powerful
nations claimed interests there: Russia wanted access to the
Mediterranean Sea, Germany wanted a rail connection to the
Ottomans, and Austria-Hungary wanted control over Bosnia.
Yipes – it was primed to blow!

11. ASSASSINATION
In the Powder Keg
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand,
heir to the NO
Austrian throne,
visited Bosnia’s
capital Sarajevo
with his wife
Sophie. Gavrilo
Princip,
a member of
the Black
Hand Serbian
DE A? nationalist
OO DI group,
G
shot Franz and
Sophie as they
drove through
the city.

12. ASSASSINATION
In the Powder Keg
Austria-Hungary Germany Belgium Britain
Serbia Russia France
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in retaliation. It would have
been a short, small-scale, country to country war if not for the Alliance
System already in place.
Germany supported Austria-Hungary by declaring war on Russia.
France was an ally of Russia so Germany went after them too. Then,
Germany invaded Belgium, which ticked off the British so they
declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
THE GREAT WAR BEGAN.

13. Allies:
DIVISIONS
Australia, Belgium, British Colonies, Canada & Newfoundland, France,
French North Africa & French Colonies, Great Britain, Greece, India, Italy,
Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia,
South Africa, United States.
Central Powers:
Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Ottoman Empire

14. THE FIGHT BEGINS
Germany’s Schlieffen Plan:
1. Hold Russian Front
2. Take Belgium quickly and move into France
3. After Paris, combine forces and go after Russia.

15. INTO THE TRENCH
Trench Warfare: bloody, often inconclusive form of fighting during
WWI.
FRONT LINE TRENCH: called “Saps” which were shallower and located
in “no man’s land.” Machine guns, grenade-throwing positions, and
observation posts located here.
SUPPORT TRENCH: Communication trenches that connected the first to the
third.
RESERVE TRENCH: third and farthest line of the trench system where
artillery fire was located. Cannons would strike before an infantry assault.
“NO MANS LAND”: 25 yards to a mile stretch of muddy and crater-filled
space between the two front lines. Soldiers would become tangled in barbed
wire, then mowed down by enemy machine gun fire, before being blown to
smithereens by artillery shells. (See pg. 582 illustration)
Trench battles would last for months and the scale of slaughter could total
over a million (Britain lost 60,000 during the first day of the First Battle of
Somme).

16. TRENCH WARFARE

17. Americans Question
Neutrality
A Country Divided
Most Americans saw no reason to
get involved. They had opinions, sure,
but did not feel threatened enough.
Many Americans felt a close
connection to the interests of Europe
since many recently emigrated there.
When Germany attacks Belgium,
many Americans are quick to offer
sympathy. Photographs and video
showing civilian attacks, obliterated
villages, cathedrals, and libraries
along with broken down hospitals
inspired Germany’s new nickname:
“the Bully of Europe”

18. Americans Question
Neutrality
The Nature of Trade
America’s economic ties with the Allies were far stronger than the
Central Powers.
In fact, our trade with Britain and France was double what we had
with Germany.
Allies demanded war supplies from American manufacturers such
as dynamite, submarines, and armored cars.

19. Americans Question
Neutrality
The British Blockade
Britain blockaded the German coast to prevent military weaponry from
getting through.
They called these good contraband
Soon, British forces included food in the definition of contraband and
intercepted all food shipments.
They also extended the blockade over neutral ports and cut off the entire
North Sea from Germany.
IMPACTS:
American ships carrying goods for Germany refused to challenge
Britain’s blockade and therefore hardly ever reached Germany.
Germany found extreme difficulty in keeping up with the much
needed foodstuffs and fertilizer for crops. In 1917, the country was deep
in famine. An estimated 750,000 Germans died.
German’s had no choice but to resort to violence in the SEA!

20. Americans Question
Neutrality
The Lusitania
Germans counterblockaded with U-Boats (Unterseeboot)
Any British/Allied boat would be attacked, sometimes without warning
MAY 7th, 1915
Off the coast of Ireland TRAGEDY STRIKES!
The Lusitania, a British Liner takes a hit
Out of almost 2,000 deaths, 128 of them were American
GERMANY! Explain yourself!

21. Americans Question
Neutrality
The Lusitania
Germany explained that they had merely targeted another
ammunitions carrier.
In fact, it was common practice to transport
weaponry aboard passenger ships.
The Lusitania actually had bombs onboard,
but American sympathies still rested with the civilians who lost
their lives.

22. Democrat: Woodrow Wilson
Slogan: “He kept us out of war”
ELECTION of 1916
WILSON’S IN FOR A SECOND TERM!!!
Republican: Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes
Focused on the freedom of the seas, but wished to
Go easy on the Germans, which lost him supporters
Wilson WON by a narrow margin

23. The UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
German Provocation
Although Wilson asked for peace, Germany
ignored him and continued using U-Boats in
hopes of Britain’s defeat.
Still, Wilson hesitated
ZIMMERMANN NOTE
British Agents intercepted a telegram from
Germany to Mexico that offered alliance
as well as support should Mexico declare
war on the US in order to win back
territory in Texas, New Mex, and Arizona.

24. The UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
German Provocation
Germans also sank 4 merchant ships
36 dead
Russia became a representative democracy
after toppling its oppressive monarchy.
Since the US was already an ally, now they
could claim WWI as a war between democracy
and oppressive regimes.
April 2nd, 1917: The US declares WAR

25. The UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
UNPREPARED
The United States was not ready for WaR.
We had only 200,000 trained men
SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT
Required men to register with the
government in order to be randomly selected
(Sounds like the DRAFT right?)
24 million registered
3 million were called

26. The UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
Limitations
CIVIL RIGHTS:
400,000 African American men served
They had to serve in segregated units - BOO
WOMEN’S RIGHTS:
Women were reluctantly accepted into
The Army Corps of Nurses
But were denied pay, rank, or benefits
Some 13,000 also served as secretaries and
telephone operators with full military rank

27. THE UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
MASS Production of NAVY
The army had to SAFELY transport
men, food, and equipment
1) Shipyard workers were exempted from Draft
2) U.S. Chambers of Commerce campaigned the
importance of shipyard work.
Ex. Urged automobile owners to carpool with shipyard workers
3) Standardized Parts: shipped into the yard and
assembled in order to create efficiency
4) Gov’t took hold of commercial/private ships
and converted customized them for war

28. THE UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
MASS Production of NAVY
The army had to SAFELY transport
men, food, and equipment
CONVOY SYSTEM
A heavy guard of destroyers escorted
merchant ships inside a safe zone

29. THE UNITED STATES
DECLARES WAR
GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING
and his
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
(AEF)
Pershing led the AEF or
“doughboys”
into dangerous battles because he
believed in aggressive strategy.
________________________________________
He was able to stop the German
advance in France and capture key
enemy positions.
________________________________________
He became General of the Armies of
the United States after WWI

30. NEW
WEAPONRY
TANKS: Used to mow down barbed wire and soldiers.
Could traverse trenches and craters
AIRPLANES / ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS:
Planes began dropping bombs and Zeppelins dropped poison gas
Machine guns mounted in front allowed for “dogfights”
POISON GAS:
Yellow-green chlorine fog sickened, suffocated, burned, and blinded
Gas masks became standard issue
MACHINE GUNS:
Improved guns shot 600 rounds a minute
Showered bullets on “No Man’s Land” literally mowing down men

31. NEW
FILTHY:
HAZARDS
Lice, rats, and polluted water
Dysentery, infection, and the dreaded trench foot and trench mouth
SMELLY:
Poison gas inhalation resulted in approximately million deaths
Raise your hands if you want to smell dead bodies 24/7!
SHOCKING:
Constant bombing caused injury and the inability to sleep
“Shell shock” became a common effect of artillery bombardment
MEDICAL AID:
Nurses were in the thick of battle and endangered their own lives
Many suffered fatigue from the never-ending number of injured men

32. SHELL
SHOCK
WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE MAY DISTURB YOU

33. WAR AT HOME
WAR FINANCE
USA spent 35.5 billion dollars on the war effort
New taxes: income, war-profit, and higher tax on
tobacco, liquor, and luxuries
Bonds: Liberty Loan and Victory Loan
COMMITTEE on PUBLIC INFORMATION
Propaganda Agency
*************
• Set up the promote the war
• Former muckraker George Creel was in charge
• Highly Effective!

34. WAR AT HOME
ANTI-IMMIGRANT
Many immigrants lost their jobs
Orchestras refused to play Mozart, Bach, Beethoven,
and Brahms = music of the enemy
Violent attacks were common. Tar and feathers galore!
ESPIONAGE and SEDITION ACTS
FINE: 10,000
SENTENCE: 20 years in jail
For “interfering” in the war effort.
Aka saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive
SAY GOODBYE TO THE 1st AMENDMENT

35. WAR AT HOME
THE GREAT MIGRATION
Large-scale movement of hundreds of thousands of
African Americans into northerly cities.
They were attempting to escape the
JIM CROW LAWS of the South
THE FLU EPIDEMIC
30 million deaths believed worldwide
It was a catalyst for the END of the war
America hoped WWI was the
“WAR TO END ALL WARS”

36. Americans Help End It
• RUSSIA pulled out in 1917 so Germany focused on
the western front (France)
• Some Americans, like hero Alvin York, sought
exemption as a conscientious objector. He referred
to the Bible: “Thou shalt not kill”
• York eventually agreed to fight claiming he fought
with just cause
• He became one of the more famous WWI heroes

37. GERMANY COLLAPSES
• Austria-Hungary surrendered on Nov 3, 1918
• On the same day, German sailors mutinied
The mutiny spread everywhere!
• Socialist leaders established a German Republic
In Berlin and Kaiser Wilhelm II was dethroned.
• ELEVEN!
- On the 11th hour
- Of the 11th day
- Of the 11th month
GERMANY ORDERED A CEASE-FIRE
And signed an ARMISTICE (truce)

38. OUTCOMES of WWI
Bloodiest war in HISTORY
22 million deaths
(more than half were civilians)
10 million refugees
$ Cost: approx. 338 billion dollars
USA: 48,000 dead, 62,000 diseased
200,000+ were wounded
IS THERE ANY CHANCE FOR PEACE!?

39. You are Invited
to the PARTY at the PALACE
The Place: Palace of Versailles (outside Paris, France)
The Date: January, 1919 (we aim to party all month)
Honorary Guests: Woodrow Wilson, Georges Clemenseau, David
Lloyd George, Vittorio Orlando, Ho Chi Min, the Armenians, Jews,
Ukrainians, Poles, and YOU
NOT INVITED: The Stupid Germans
The Commie Russians

40. THE FOURTEEN POINTS
PARTY RULES:
1. NO secret treaties
2. Freedom of the seas
3. Foster free trade by abolishing high tariffs
4. Reduce your arms/demilitarize
5. Consider the interests of your colonial powers
6-13. Change up your borders
14. Lets make a forum where we can discuss our problems without
resorting to war called the LEAGUE of NATIONS.

41. Georges Clemenseau
David Lloyd George (France)
(Britain)
THE “BIG FOUR”
Woodrow Wilson Vittorio Orlando
(USA) (Italy)

42. THE PARTY POOPERS
David Lloyd George
(Britain)
“No more
“Make invasions!”
Germany
Pay” Georges Clemenseau
(France)
They both REJECT Wilson’s Plan
They Demand Revisions

43. The TREATY of VERSAILLES
PROVISIONS:
••••••••••••••••••••••••
New Nations: Poland, Czechoslovakia,and Yugoslavia
Ottoman Empire: carved up and distributed to
England and France as
mandates (temporary colonies)
Germany: no more army,
return the land you stole from France,
and pay reparations = 33 billion dollars

44. The TREATY of VERSAILLES
WEAKNESSES:
••••••••••••••••••••••••
War-Guilt Clause: Forced Germany to take full
responsibility for starting WWI. There was also no way
Germany could pay all the reparations. :(
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: Fought
with the Allies for 3 years, suffered the most casualties,
and then lost the most land (more than Germany).
Colonies: Ignored the plea for self-determination
(independence) especially in Vietnam. :(

45. League of Nations DEBATE:
••••••••••••••••••••••••
Henry Cabot Lodge: suspicious of joint economic and
military action against aggression.
Woodrow Wilson: Refused to change a thing! Even
though he was wicked ill, he went on an 8,000 mile tour
to promote the League. He suffered a stroke and lost his
powerful voice.
The Senate: Refused to pass Wilson’s uncompromising
legislation. The USA never joined the League.

46. The LEGACY of the WAR
Warren G. Harding: He became president after
Wilson and joined the country in the desire for a return
to “normalcy”
USA: WWI strengthened the US military and the power
of its government. It also excelled social change:
women’s rights, African American equality.
Russia: became the first Communist state
Fascism: took hold of Italy, Spain, and Germany
Seeds of WWII: Although WWI was dubbed “the war
to end all wars” it was anything but.
Germany would rise again

47. The LEGACY of the WAR
“It cannot be that two million [Germans] should
have fallen in vain. . . No, we do not pardon, we
demand - VENGEANCE!”
- Adolf Hitler