“All blood runs red.”
- Eugene Bullard 1895-1961
First African-American Combat Pilot
- Eugene Bullard 1895-1961
First African-American Combat Pilot
World War I or "The Great War" as it was better known by--was considered the war to end all wars. The death toll was tremendous, as new battle technology such as machine guns, poison gas, and airplanes created death in mass.
This truly was a world war, as it included fighting on nearly every continent, thanks in part to European colonial empires. The causes that led to WWI had been building up for many years and were finally set off by the rejection of the Austrian "ultimatum" by Serbia, after the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. For its part, the US was slow to enter WWI. Many American citizens considered this a European conflict and most were eager to remain "Isolationist." However, this would not last forever. The combination of our friendly alliance with Great Britain and a series of transgressions by Germany led the US to the side of the Allied Powers. The biggest impact for the US was the war's affect on home life. With many men going overseas to fight, a large influx of African Americans came to northern cities in a mass movement called "The Great Migration." Women also shouldered greater responsibility, which ultimately led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Not all of the changes were considered positive. The US federal government's powers increased to an all-time high with the passage of the Espionage and Sedition Acts which essentially made it illegal to criticize the government or the war effort. WWI had a profound impact on the United States' place in the world. It further connected us to the affairs of the European continent and it also made us more isolated in the process. A real "catch-22." |
Lectures/Notes
World War I Powerpoint YouTube-World War I Home Front Lecture Video Google Drive- World War I Home Front Lecture Video Guided Notes 19-1&2 Guided Notes 19-3&4 Guided Notes Primary Source Analysis WWI Propaganda Analysis Assignment Videos Crash Course In World History: America in WWI Crash Course in World History: Archdukes, Cynicism, & WWI "Over There" song about American Soldiers in WWI Study Guide World War I-Chapter 19 Study Guide Supplemental Materials WWI IQ Tests for Recruits 75 Facts About WWI Political Map of Europe in 1911 |
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