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Austria-Hungary was trying to exert their control over Serbia. In retaliation Serbian nationalists, the Black Hand, shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie as a warning.
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Picture: https://goo.gl/images/WM2skW
Info: From WWI Notes -
Ammunition was on the Lusitania along with 120 unaware Americans. The Germans had a warning posted in newspapers telling Americans not to go on the Lusitania. The Americans did not heed the Germans torpedoed the Lusitania using their U-Boots because they were aware of the ammunition on the ship. They didn't want the Allies to get more resources and help in the war.
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Picture: https://goo.gl/images/hRqQTs
Info: From WWI Notes -
The National Defense Act was a federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903 which mainly applies to the National Guard. It was passed in response to the campaign by the Preparedness Movement. It organized and increased the size of the National Guard, while the Militia Act created a National Guard and rules applying to how and when it could be federalized.
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The Housatonic was a US ship that was headed to Great Britain to deliver food. Before the German commander of the U Boat sunk the ship he told the captain of the ship, "You are carrying foodstuff to the enemy of my country, and though I am sorry, it is my duty to sink you".
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Germany had an advantage because they could blindside other ships and torpedo them with using their submarines before their enemies had time to respond. To appease the Americans and prevent them from joining the war, Germany promised to practice restricted warfare in 1915. The broke their promise and started unrestricted warfare when America joined the war in 1917. Unrestricted warfare began a month after the Germans made the decision to break their promise.
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Woodrow Wilson requests Congress to allow the US to send their troops to Germany to fight alongside the British and the French. Wilson wants to break their diplomatic relations with Germany because they renewed unrestricted submarine warfare.
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On April 2nd, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson asked for a special joint session of the United States Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Congress responded with the official declaration on April 6th with 373 members voting for war against the 50 voting to stay out of the war.
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Liberty Loans were part of the U.S. government's effort to sell war bonds also known as Liberty Bonds, which were issued by the U.S. Treasury. During World War 1 they were used to reduce the expense of the war. The First Liberty Bond Act was passed by Congress on April 24th, 1917.
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The Selective Draft Act allowed the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War 1 through conscription, which is compulsory enlistment for service. Woodrow Wilson passed this Act to form a larger army ready to be sent to Germany. All men between the ages of 21 and 30 were required to sign up and this act was successful. This act increased the army enlistment size by millions.
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The War Industries Board was created on July 28th, 1917 to coordinate the production of war materials and the purchase of war supplies. When the U.S. helped by sending its troops to Germany they needed more war supplies and materials. This board helped to organize this process and encouraged companies to mass-produce to increase efficiency and eliminate waste by the standardization of products.
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It gave Woodrow Wilson the privilege of regulating prices, production, transportation, and the distribution of food, fuel, beverages, and distilled spirits. His control over these things lasted for the remainder of World War 1. This Act increased the president's power.
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The War Revenue Act's purpose was to raise more money for the war effort. This Act was not like the Liberty Bonds, instead, this was an income tax Act. Income taxes were increased to unfathomable prices.
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Propaganda was used by the government to sell liberty bonds. Some examples of the propaganda they used were entertainers advertising liberty bonds, comic strips, and persuading local clubs, organizations, movie theaters, and other to help advertise. They used the fact that buying these liberty bonds was a symbol of patriotism against the people. It made people think if they don't help are they patriotic? Are they Americans?
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Nationalization means to transform privately-owned businesses to more national businesses. This was common during the Great War because businesses and the government were working hand in hand. Nationalization of industry usually included industries of transportation, communication, etc.
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The average price of a hot-rolled steel bar was $2.89 for every hundred pounds, but the price for steel scrap pieces was $28.11 for every metric ton. Steel was a very important metal because they had started using it for aircraft bodies.
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The German army launched its first major offensive in 2 years near the Somme River, France. In 1917, Russia left the war in 1917 because of the Russian Revolution, which stopped Germany's 2 front war. The Eastern Front was open now so they could focus all of their troops on the Eastern Front. They were able to shift about 44 divisions of men to the Western Front being able to launch an offensive.
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In 1918 an average bond costed around $18.75. When the bond matured in the future the buyer would be repaid with $25.
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General John J. Pershing was the commander of the First Independent Action by the Expeditionary Force. They launched their first major offensive in Europe, which was a major turning point in the War. Because the Expeditionary Force was successufl with their offensive they gave the Allies a lead.
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This was the first sizable action of the U.S in Belleau Wood, which is northwest of the Paris-to-Metz Road. In late May 1918, the third German offensive of the year had penetrated through the Western Front and got within 45 miles of Paris. This soon resulted in the Battle of Belleau Wood as the Allies attempted to prevent the Germans from conquering Paris and other parts of France.
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The 2nd Battle of the Marne was the result of stopping a German offensive. This battle was fought by many of the doughboys sent from the U.S. Doughboy is an informal term for an American soldier, specifically referring to members of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). This term dates back 72 years from the Mexican-American War of 1846.
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The Battle of Meuse-Argonne was the biggest battle and one of the final victories of the American Expeditionary Forces in the Great War. The armistice instructions arrive on Armistice Day and the Great War ends with a final Triple Entente victory.
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Because of the Depression and the expensive war efforts the government began to drown more and more under the increasing debt. The taxes weren't collecting as much money as they needed. By the 1920's the U.S. government's debt had decreased from $23 billion to $17 billion. By the end of World War 1, the U.S. government had raised about $20 billion altogether through bonds.
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Armistice Day is celebrated for ending World War 1 on the 11th month of the 11th day in the 11th hour. The 14 Points were addressed before a joint meeting of Congress on January 8th, 1918. Woodrow Wilson outlined his vision for peace with the European countries, and the rest of the world following the Great War.
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