World War I

5th Grade Georgia Performance Standards on WWI and the 1920's

SS5H4 The student will describe U.S. involvement in World War I and post-World War I America.
a. Explain how German attacks on U.S. shipping during the war in Europe (1914-1917) ultimately led the U.S. to join the fight against Germany; include the sinking of the Lusitania and concerns over safety of U.S. ships.
b. Describe the cultural developments and individual contribution in the 1920's of the Jazz Age (Louis Armstrong), the Harlem Renaissance (Langston Hughes), baseball (Babe Ruth), the automobile (Henry Ford) and the airplane (Charles Lindbergh).
SS5G2c. Map and explain how the dispersion of global economic activities contributed to the United States emerging from World War I as a world power.

World War I

The United States did their very best to ignore the fighting that was taking place in Europe. World War I began in 1914 when the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria Hungary was assassinated. Countries continued to join the war in support of their allies. The United States did not want to join the war. Then on May 1, 1915 the Germans sunk the Lusitania, a passenger ship, killing 128 American citizens. The U.S. was outraged, but still did not join the war when Germany promised to not attack any more American ships. However, in 1917 the Germans began attacking more ships and the United States joined the Great War. The fighting ended on November 11, 1918, but the Treaty of Versailles (which officially ended the war) was not signed until June of 1919. The war was over, but nobody really won and it was only a matter of time before the conflict continued.

Great World War I Links:

Propaganda Helps WWI

After trying to stay out of the war for as long as they could the United States began a mass propaganda campaign trying to gain support for World War I. The hit song "Over There" became one of the most popular songs of this movement. In addition posters and advertisements in newspapers and magazines attempted to get men to join the war effort and women to help by working in factories or becoming nurses.

The End of World War I

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on November 11, 1918, which is now known as Armistice Day. The treaty ended the war but didn't end the problems that existed in Europe. Germany was required to claim full responsibility for the war, disarm all of its military and pay billions of dollars to repair the damages caused by the war. Germany was never able to repay most of the money and eventually all of the problems that still existed reemerged when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party took control of Germany in the 1930's. World War II was inevitable.

World War I--Impact on the Economy

World War I had a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy.

First, many businesses and factories which had been developed to build war supplies, were converted after the war into thriving businesses. Instead of building tanks, guns and airplanes, they began making cars, refrigerators and many other useful items.
Second, many women joined the war effort and at the same time fought for their rights. As a result, after the war the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote. In addition with women working, more people were making money and as a result more money was spent. This made the economy thrive even more.
Third, people continued to pour into cities. Rather than trying to make everything they needed to survive, many people now had some money and could afford to live in a city and pay for food and other necessities.
Fourth, many countries in Europe were broke after the war and they asked the United States, which was thriving, to lend them money. This helped propel the U.S. into even greater economic success.
Finally, because businesses were doing well and people had money, people had money to invest in stocks. This caused businesses to boom further. The Roaring Twenties had arrived.