Causes/ Georgia's Contributions to WWI

8th Georgia History

1. Essential Questions: 1. What were the causes of WWI? 2 . What were Georgia’s contributions to WWI? Standard: SS8H9 a. Explain reasons for World War I and describe Georgia’s contributions.

2. World War I 1914-1919

3. There were many factors that led up to the start of World War I in Europe. A lot of these factors were rooted in the deep history of the old powers of Europe including Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Britain. The real causes of World War I included politics, secret alliances, imperialism, and nationalistic pride. However, there was one single event, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria , which started a chain of events leading to war. 

4. On June 28, 1914 Franz Ferdinand and his wife were in the third car of a motorcade traveling through Sarajevo to the Town Hall. The Black Hand had several assassins positioned along the route.  The Austria-Hungary government saw the assassination as a direct attack on the country. They believed that the Serbians had helped the Bosnian terrorists in the attack . They made harsh demands on the Serbians which the Serbians rejected. At the same time , Russia began to mobilize their army to help protect Serbia. . A few days later, Germany declared war on Russia to help its ally Austria-Hungary . Then France began to mobilize to help its ally Russia, and Germany followed by declaring war on France. World War I had begun. 

5. Archduke Ferdinand of Austria & Wife Sophie The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria & Wife Sophie - June 28, 1914

6. The Sinking of the Lusitania It seems that many people didn't really believe that the Germans would attack a luxury cruise ship because 1,959 people boarded the ship, including 159 Americans. The Germans Attack On May 7, 1915 the Lusitania was approaching the coast of Ireland. The voyage was almost over, but it had reached its most dangerous point. It was soon spotted by the German u-boat U-20. The u-boat moved in to attack and fired a torpedo. Within twenty minutes of being struck, the Lusitania had sunk. Of the 1,959 people on board, only 761 survived and 1,198 were killed including children on board as well. Support for the Allies against Germany grew in many countries including the United States, who later joined the Allies in the war against Germany. 

7. Georgia’s Contributions Close to 100,000 Georgians served in the armed forces during World War I. Some volunteered while others were drafted. The increased demand for food and for ways to store it brought prosperity to Georgia farmers and boosted industry.

8. WWI Propaganda

9. Georgia’s Contributions Food production: Commercial canning plants were built to process sweet potatoes and peaches to send overseas to soldiers.

10. Georgia’s Contributions Meat packing plants opened in Moultrie, Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah

11. Georgia’s Contributions Georgians housed prisoners of war for the U.S. government. In 1917, a camp at Fort Oglethorpe in north Georgia, was built to hold German merchant seamen.

12. Georgia’s Contributions In 1918, they were moved to Fort McPherson near Atlanta. General Hospital No. 6 at Fort McPherson treated about 10,000 wounded soldiers from 1917 to 1919.

13. Georgia’s Contributions Fort Gordon (Atlanta) Trained over 230,000 U.S soldiers for WWI. Camp Hancock (Augusta) Hospital for wounded soldiers, trained soldiers. Home to second military airfield in the U.S

14. Georgia’s Contributions Textile productions : Georgia’s large supply of cotton was put to use in manufacturing clothing for soldiers. Provided fabric for uniforms & bandages for military hospitals. Victory gardens : Georgian’s planted “Victory Gardens” which were small family gardens that grew fresh vegetables and fruit to send overseas to soldiers. Cotton farmers : Cotton was king again, in high demand, farmers began to make large profit in Georgia (BUT….. Not for long)

15. The War is Over! The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. – June 28, 1919