Post on 28-Dec-2015
WORLD WAR IThe Great War
Why is World War I significant?
all countries in Europe are involved (30 nations)
rearranges the map of Europe
sets up World War II (Treaty of Versailles is crucial)
Underlying Causes Hadn’t been a war in Europe in over 100 years, but conflict was brewing
› Four MAIN Causes M— Militarism (Arms Race) nations begin to build up, goal is to see who can get most
arms, ex. England vs. Germany
A — Alliances - an alliance is an agreement between several nations in which they agree to intervene if another is attacked; Europe has a number of secret alliances
I — Imperialism: rapid production of goods leads to increased competition for colonies, markets and trade; countries in Europe (just like the US) desire more land, wealth, colonies. Leads to conflict. Nations compete to get the most colonies.
N — Nationalism: loyalty to one’s nation, belief that your nation is the best Problem: Serbians live in both Serbia and Austria-Hungary (in Bosnia) Serbs in Bosnia want to be Serbian; “my country is better than yours” -- I’ll prove it
Triple Alliance Triple Entente
Austria-Hungary France
Germany Great Britain
Italy (will join Allies in 1915) Russia
Proximate Cause (Sparking Event)
June 28, 1914› Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary (A-H) and
his wife Sofia are assassinated in Sarajevo by a member of the Black Hand. (Serbian terrorist group)
› His death is important because he is heir to A-H throne and A-H gets ticked off.
Choosing Sides
Central Powers› Austria-Hungary › Germany
(Kaiser Wilhelm)
› Bulgaria› Ottoman Empire
Allied Powers› Serbia, Russia
(Nicholas II)
› France› Belgium› Great Britain
(Lloyd George)
› Italy (1915)› Japan
In 1914 — the United States is Neutral
US Involvement
The Problem with Neutrality› Wilson says that the US needs to be
“Impartial in thought as well as deed”
› Three issues destroy neutrality Economic ties to the allies (Trade) Submarine warfare Psychological and ethnic ties to the
allies
Problems with Trade Britain cut off German
military supplies (Blockade coast)
Germany develops U-boats (subs) to counter blockade and cut off British trade (food)
Britain and Germany block American trade - because neither one wanted US trading w/ the enemy
Economic Links to Allies› US in economic recession
prior to WWI -- but orders for war supplies from Allies turn the economy around
› Trade with Germany slips down to almost nothing, while trade with Allies quadruples US tolerates British blockade,
but not Germany subs
› US Banks (like JP Morgan’s) loan millions of dollars to Allies -- allows the Allies to keep fighting and improves US economy
Submarine Warfare Germans warn that all ships entering the waters
around the British Isles are subjected to be sunk› Lusitania (May 1915) passenger ship sunk by German
U-boat, 128 Americans die may have been carrying ammunition as well as passengers --
passengers warned not to travel on Lusitania
Wilson protests › Nothing happened
Submarine Warfare
Sussex Incident (1916) › Germans attack an unarmed French boat --
a few Americans are injured -- Wilson protests again -- this time the Germans agree not to not to attack any unarmed passenger ships without warning
“Sussex Pledge”
American Public Opinion
Most favored Allies› many Americans are of British descent & Britain
controlled all news from Europe -- they cut out the stuff that makes Allies look bad
› Recent immigrants identify with their country of origin› Americans have had good relationships with France
since the Revolution› Britain and France are democracies -- Germany and
Austria-Hungary are monarchies Some Favored Central Powers
› German Americans -- For obvious reasons› Irish Americans -- They hate the British
Reason for Neutrality Americans mostly like making money off
the war and staying out of war!!
› Preparedness some Americans think that we need to “prepare”
in case we go to war (Teddy Roosevelt)› Opposition/Pacifists
Other Americans HATE the War (West, Midwest, Populists, Progressives, Socialists)
William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, Jeanette Rankin (1st woman in Congress)
The Final Straw Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (Jan. 1917)
› Early January 1917 -- Germany decided to pursue “unrestricted submarine warfare”
› Tell Wilson on January 31st , he cuts off diplomatic ties
Zimmerman Telegraph (March 1, 1917)› March 1, 1917 - coded message from Germany to Mexico› Says if Mexico attacks US, Germany will help Mexico take back
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas› British intercepted, decoded and sent to the US
Russian Revolution (March 15, 1917)
› Czar Nicholas II of Russia is toppled from power and Russia is taken over by a republican government (no communists yet)
› Russia not a monarchy -- now it is a war between democracy & autocratic rule
Declaration of War April 2, 1917 — Wilson asks US
Congress for declaration of war › “To make the world safe for Democracy” --
moral diplomacy April 6, 1917: Congress voted “Yes”
except for 6 senators: Robert LaFollette and Jeanette Rankin
Germany and the US are in a race: Germany thinks it can defeat the Allies BEFORE the US
can really intervene: Who is right?
Mobilization and Finance At first send $, supplies, arms, food, but not men
› Financing the War › War bonds
Selective Service — May 1917 › US passes “Selective Service Act” (the draft)
American Expeditionary Force (AEF) (Doughboys) — June 1917 › US War dept. sends John J. Pershing and 14,500 men
to Europe’s western Front› American Forces in Europe, kept separate from
European Troops and segregated as well Doughboys: nickname for American troops
New Technology & Old Tactics
Tactics› trench warfare
New technologies of WWI› Machine Gun› New artillery› Tanks› U-boats› Airplanes
(initially used to spy, later fitted with machine guns)
› Poison gas› Barbed wire
The War Eastern Front — Along
border with Russia
› Nov. 1917 - Civil War in Russia, Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin takes over,
› March 3, 1918 - Front Closes when Lenin makes peace with Germany
› “Separate Peace” -- Treaty of Bresk-Litovsk (will make the Allies very bitter towards Russia/USSR)
Western Front — Mostly France- Central Powers and Allies push each other back and forth to gain a few yards of territory› June 1918 - Germans
advance w/in 50 miles of Paris
› August 1918 - German Advance stopped at Amiens
› Sept. 1918 - Fresh American troops push the Germans back to Germany
Allies demand total surrender
The War Ends
Germany realizes defeat› Armistice:
“Cease-fire” Nov. 11, 1918
› Treaty of Versailles: Ends WWI - June 1919
The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month” (1918)
Post War Policy Paris Peace Conference: Held beginning in December
1918› David Lloyd George, prime minister of Great Britain› Georges Clemenceau, president of France› Vittorio Orlando, prime minister of Italy› Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States
formulated the general terms of the treaties ending WWI
Treaty of Versailles› Signed in June 1919, it was the peace treaty that ended
WWI The treaty failed to receive approval of the Senate
because it provided for the creation of the League of Nations.
› Finally on August 25, 1921, a joint resolution declaring the war to be over was adopted by Congress
Wilson’s Plan Fourteen Points
› Presented by Wilson in address to Congress on January 8, 1918, as the basis for peace terms at the end of WWI Espoused belief in the right of all peoples to self-determination
Also Included: freedom of the seas, open covenants, adjustment of colonial claims with respect for native populations, free trade, reductions in armaments, and impartial mediation of colonial claims.
› Proposed a League of Nations› an association of nations that would aid in implementing the new
principles and in resolving future controversies. League of Nations
› On January 25, 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference, the Allies voted to accept the creation of the League of Nations Assembly of nations would oversee world affairs and prevent future
wars U.S. Senate rejected the treaty of which the league was a part. In 1946, the United Nations replaced the League of Nations