Background to WWI

Causes- Industrialization, Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism, Alliances

Tensions- Powder keg of Europe- Balkan Peninsula, Serbs want independence from Austria Hungary

Assassination of Austrian Archduke- Austria blames Serbia, declares war, Russia comes to their aid

Triple Alliance- Germany gives Austria support, prepare for war, but Italy switches sides when war starts

Triple Entente- France gives Russia support, Britain joins when Belgium is attacked

Germany attacks Belgium and heads for France- Schlieffen plan- defeat France quickly then fight Russia Fight on western front becomes stalemate

World War IBattles: Western front- Marne (French stop German advance), Somme

(British led), Verdun (German led), trench warfare, stalemate- horrible conditions

A truly world war- Gallipoli (Britain attacks Turkey), colonies send troops to fight, Eastern Europe joins in, naval war over supply routes

Eastern front (Russia) losing badly, leaves Russian Revolution 1917 southern front (Austria vs. Italy) dead locked American Neutrality US divided- represent many countries, many sympathize with Allies

(Germany destroys neutral Belgium), supplies to Britain, Allies- Britain blockades Germany (severe food

shortage)- Germany sinks ships to Britain (U-boats) unrestricted sub warfare, US angry (Lusitania)

1917 - Wilson calls for peace Zimmerman note- Germany to Mexico, asking them to join the war. Unrestricted submarine warfare continues Congress declares war (April 6)

US joins the fight

US prepares for war Selective Service/Draft- (3 million into service) 2 million sent to

Europe/ 9 months of training African American- Segregated units- both combat (some

officers) and non combat roles Women- perform non- combat roles (navy and marines)

Ships and Supplies- Encourage shipyards- workers avoid draft, fabrication- parts

built, sent to ship yard to assemble Convoy system- ships in packs with protection- U-boats lose

battleUS fight in Europe 1917- Fought at first as replacements, 1918 as separate army- Germany mounts attack (Russia out of

war)- US pushes them back, turns tide of war New weapons- (mechanized war) Chlorine Gas, machine gun,

artillery, bombs, tanks, planes, balloons Disease, filth, death, trenchfoot, shell shock

Total War all parts of country/ economy were involved

War Industries board- organize/ regulate economy, production- fuel, food, railroads, victory gardens

War Labor Board- deal with disputes of workers, improve conditions, lower work hours

Women and African Americans get jobs, higher pay- Great Migration (move out of the south)

Propaganda- get nation to support the war- Committee on Public Information, posters, paintings, cartoons, sculptures, speeches, leaflets

Financing war- money from war bondsIntolerance - attacks on Immigrants Espionage and Sedition Acts, 1917, 1918- fine/ jail,

interfere with draft or war bonds, or criticizing war effort, arrested thousands- Where is the 1st amendment?

End of the war November 1918- German mutiny, leads to Revolution,

overthrow the Kaiser, 11/11/18 at 11:00 Germany surrenders

26 million dead, 20 million wounded, 10 million refugees, $ 350 billion

1918-1919 Flu epidemic- killed between 40- 100 million worldwide- believed to be started in France or Spain, in fact started here in US- killed 500,000 in US, many young, good health- often turned into pneumonia

The Paris Peace Conference - controlled by the four major allied powers

The Big Four U.S. Woodrow Wilson French George Clemenseau Great Britain David Lloyd George Italy Vittario Orlando

Wilson’s plan for world peace-

14 points- 3 parts 1-5 issues that caused war

1. non- secret alliances 2. freedom of seas 3. lower tariffs 4. reduce weapons 5. consider needs of colonists

6-13- new boundary changes according to self determination

14. League of Nations- to discuss differences

A Harsh Peace

Britain/ France want to make Germany pay for the war, weaken its military- can’t wage war again. different opinions created conflict Italy, U.S. left the conference early

The Treaty of Versailles designed to punish Germany. Major Provisions- Lost all overseas colonial possessions Severe restrictions placed on military (no navy) Forced to accept all blame for the war (war guilt

clause) Payment of money to allied nations (reparations $33

billion)

Opposition in US

say its too harsh main opposition to League of Nations- thought it

would pull US into European problems Wilson wouldn’t compromise Senate votes it down Wilson tours US to gain support, has a stroke, dies 2

months later Result- Germany shocked by the loss of the war and

the terms, leaves resentment, huge economic problems