World War IU.S. History 2 College Prep

ELL American Studies 2

Mr. Ryan L. FosterRed Bank Regional H.S.Created: 11/1/2007Revised:

The Goals…

• Identify the key causes leading to World War I• Explain the significance of each cause as it

relates to the War• Identify the countries of the Central Powers• Identify the countries of the Allied Powers

THE KEY CAUSESEvents that SHOOK the world…

There are at least 5…

• Nationalism– 2 Types

• Each country acts in own interest

• Ethnic minorities fight for independence

• Imperialism– Nations fight for

remaining uncolonized land

• Militarism– Build up of arms– Military gains more gov’t

power

• Alliances– Complex and fragile

• Assassination– Death of Archduke

Francis Ferdinand ultimately leads to war.

Sequence of Events (1914)• June 28: Archduke Ferdinand Assassinated at

Sarajevo• July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia• July 30: Russia begins mobilization of military• August 1: Germany declares war on Russia• August 3: Germany declares war on France• August 4: Britain declares war on Germany• August 6: Russia & Austria-Hungary at war• August 12: Britain declares war on Austria-

Hungary

U.S. PARTICIPATIONThe Groups Who Opposed…

Naturalized Citizens

•This group opposed U.S. involvement primarily because of past conflicts in Europe, especially involving Great Britain.

•Many newly arrived immigrants were also concerned with the affairs and welfare of their homelands.

Socialists

They believed that this war was a battle between nations who were imperial capitalists.

Pacifists (The Peace Movement)

They believed that citizens would end up paying more for the war through higher income taxes.

Parents

The most critical objection for parents involves the safety and welfare of their children.

U.S. PARTICIPATIONThe Nations Who Encouraged…

Great Britain

• Cut the transatlantic cable connecting German and United States– Affects news and media

reports reaching the United States

Russia

• The Russian Revolution of 1917– Czar Nicholas II is thrown

out of power– Establishes a republican

government

Germany

• Submarine Warfare– Repeated sinking of

Allied and American ships• Passenger• Merchant

TRENCH WARFAREWar Techniques and Technologies

How Does it Take Place?

From the Trenches…To get a “cushy” one is all the old hands think about. A bloke in the Camerons wanted a “cushy” bad! Fed up and far from home he was. He puts his two fingers over the top and gets his trigger finger taken off and two more besides. “I’m off to bony Scotland!” he says laughing. But on the way to down to the dressing station, he forgets to stoop low where an old sniper is working. He gets it through the head.

~Robert Graves

From the Trenches…If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.

~Harry Roberts

Where was it Used?

The Western Front The Eastern Front

The Western Front

Key Battles• Marne- Sept. 1914

– Allies stop German advance on Paris

• Ypres- May 1915– Germans use chemical

weapons for the 1st time• Verdun- Feb. thru July 1916

– French hold the line in longest battle of war

• Somme- July thru Nov. 1916– Disastrous British offensive

The Eastern Front

Key Battles• Tannenberg- August 1914

– Russian push into Eastern Prussia (Austria-Hungary)

• Gorlice-Turnow Offensive- May 1915– Turn around for Germany;

ultimately leads to Russian retreat

• Gallipoli- Apr. 1915-Jan. 1916– Allies are defeated while trying

to create supply route to Russia

U.S. ENTRY INTO THE WARApril 1917

U.S. Entry into WW I

• German Provocation – Began sinking all British ships on sight (U-Boats)– The Zimmermann Note

• The Russian Revolution removes America’s last obstacle from entering the war

• April 1917- Congress passes President Wilson’s War Resolution

Mobilization Efforts

• May 1917- Congress passes the Selective Service Act– November 1918: 24 million

men registered for draft– Lottery chose 3 million to

serve in the war

• Volunteers and National Guardsmen made up the American Expeditionary Force.

The Cultural Connection

• African-Americans– 400,000 served during the war in segregated units

• The majority served fighting for the French– Many were assigned non-combative duties

• Puerto Ricans– 235,000 registered for the draft– 18,000 were called into active duty

• Mexican-Americans– Many were seen as suspicious because of an alleged

connection to Germany

Funding the War Effort

• Liberty Bonds• War Industries

Board• Price controls and

food rationing

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLESThe Great War Comes to a Close…

Europe at the End of WW I

Newly Formed Nations

German Losses

Treaty Provisions

• Signed in March 1919– Germany threatened w/ French invasion if they

did not sign agreement• Nine new nations established– Including Poland and Yugoslavia

• Germany is barred from maintaining its own army

• Germans required to pay reparations ($33 billion worth) to Allied nations

Major Flaws

• Germany was humiliated– Forced to take the blame for starting WW I

• Russia was left out of treaty negotiations– Lost more territory than Germany

• Treaty ignored claims of colonized people for self-determination– Much of Southeast Asia saw fights for same

political rights as the Western world

FINAL SUMMARYThe Big Picture…

World War I

CAUSES• European powers compete

for colonies• Nationalism increases in

Europe• Arms race develops• Hostile alliances form

EFFECTS• Allies defeat Central Powers• Old empires break up• Europe is economically

devastated• League of Nations is formed• U.S. becomes economic

giant• Treaty’s harsh treatment of

Germany helps lead to WW II

Human and Financial Costs of WW I

Casualties• Russia- 9.3 million• Germany- 7.21 million• France- 6.22 million• Austria- 4.65 million• Britain- 3.43 million• Turkey- 2.2 million• Italy- 2.19 million• United States- 325,326

Financial and Economic Costs• Germany- $58.07 billion• Britain- $51.98 billion• France- $49.88 billion• United States- $32.32 billion• Austria- $23.71 billion• Russia- $21.60 billion• Italy- $18.14 billion• Belgium- $10.20 billion