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