19-1 Critical Thinking #3&5

Describe some ways in which WWI threatened lives of civilians on both sides of the Atlantic.

WWI threatened life on both sides of the Atlantic in two main ways: the threat of death and the threat to peoples "way of life." For those on the west side of the Atlantic, the treats to their lifestyle were difficult in the subject of imported goods. This was especally true for those who were used to German goods. And with so many men being drafted into the war, a threat of death, women's lifestyles were changed by having to take the jobs men were not present to do. Also as a threat to death were the merchants being escorted in the U-boat attacks while trying to bring their goods across the Atlantic.
On the East side of the Atlantic, Belgium was being invaded, most European leaders were facing the possibility of assassination, and countless villages in France were being destroyed by the war being primarily fought in that country. All of which were threats of death. All countries in Europe were required to change their lifestyle by rationing things needed for the war such as ammunition and food. Also, if Germany and her allies were to have won the war there would have been a serious impact on all the countries they would have conquered.
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Why do you think Germany escalated its U-Boat attacks in 1917?

Germany escalated their U-Boat attacks because they were already building up their military. The had built a large Navy and decided to use it. Not to mention their build up was geared towards trying to conquer and empire and were even attempting to match the Naval power of Great Britain. They were attempting to match Britain because they had already stopped Germany from getting weapons and military supplies. Britain was also trying to slow food imports to the German armies in an attempt to keep neutral nations from trading with Germany. However, the Germans did have a reason for using Submarine warfare. This was the fact their needed to counter blockade Britain and show that their Navy was superior when it truly was not.