The End of WWIThe End of WWI

The U.S. Enters the WarThe U.S. Enters the War► The Germans announced a policy ofThe Germans announced a policy of Unrestricted Unrestricted

Submarine WarfareSubmarine Warfare- sink any ship near Britain.- sink any ship near Britain.► The US was neutral at the time and The US was neutral at the time and continued continued

tradingtrading with Britain, Germany upset. with Britain, Germany upset.► American lives were being lost- American lives were being lost- German German

torpedoes were sinking ships in the Atlantic (ex. torpedoes were sinking ships in the Atlantic (ex. Lusitania in 1915, 128 Americans died), Pres. Lusitania in 1915, 128 Americans died), Pres. Wilson upset.Wilson upset.

► The sinking of these ships, plus the Zimmerman The sinking of these ships, plus the Zimmerman note, would prompt note, would prompt the US to join the warthe US to join the war..

Lusitania, British Passenger Lusitania, British Passenger ShipShip

Lusitania, TodayLusitania, Today

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

President Woodrow WilsonPresident Woodrow Wilson

Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram►The British intercepted a telegram to the The British intercepted a telegram to the

German ambassador in MexicoGerman ambassador in Mexico..►Telegram asked Mexico to ally with Germany Telegram asked Mexico to ally with Germany

and and start a war with the USstart a war with the US to keep them to keep them distracted.distracted.

►Germany would give Mexico money and Germany would give Mexico money and help help them regain lost landsthem regain lost lands

►Pres. Wilson was outraged and this was the Pres. Wilson was outraged and this was the last straw- last straw- asked Congress to declare war asked Congress to declare war against Germany against Germany (April 1917).(April 1917).

►The US joined the side of the The US joined the side of the AlliesAllies

Total WarTotal War

►WWI was a total warWWI was a total war- all aspects of the - all aspects of the country were dedicated to the war effort.country were dedicated to the war effort.

►Rationing was a common practiceRationing was a common practice- - governments only allowed small amounts governments only allowed small amounts of food and supplies to be purchased.of food and supplies to be purchased.

►PropagandaPropaganda also used to encourage also used to encourage people to support/join the war.people to support/join the war.

►Women worked the factoriesWomen worked the factories to make up to make up for the men being gone.for the men being gone.

Russia Withdraws from the WarRussia Withdraws from the War

• Civil unrestCivil unrest due to lack of food, due to lack of food, suppliessupplies

• Czar Nicholas Czar Nicholas abdicated the throneabdicated the throne• By 1917- By 1917- 5.5 million5.5 million casualties casualties • Communist leader LeninCommunist leader Lenin seized seized

power & signed a truce with power & signed a truce with Germany (ends war March 1918)Germany (ends war March 1918)

• Germany can now focus on Germany can now focus on W. FrontW. Front• With U.S. help, the With U.S. help, the Central Powers Central Powers

were defeated.were defeated.• 11/11/1918 at 11 o’clock- 11/11/1918 at 11 o’clock- ArmisticeArmistice

signed to end the war. Veteran’s signed to end the war. Veteran’s DayDay

Aftermath of WWIAftermath of WWI

► By the Numbers:By the Numbers: Estimated cost Estimated cost $338 $338

billionbillion 8.5 million 8.5 million soldiers soldiers

dieddied 21 million 21 million more more

woundedwounded Millions of Millions of civilianscivilians

were killedwere killed

Aftermath of WWIAftermath of WWI

U.S. 117,000

France 1,385,000

Britain 703,000

Russia 1,700,000

Italy 460,000

Germany 1,718,000

Austria H 1,200,000

Effects of WWIEffects of WWI

►World War I had four main World War I had four main effects:effects: Millions of lives lostMillions of lives lost Countries Countries bankruptedbankrupted by by

warwar Land, towns, and villages Land, towns, and villages

destroyeddestroyed ““The lost generationThe lost generation””

►Those who returned were Those who returned were scared, insecure, desperate, scared, insecure, desperate, and many questioned the and many questioned the meaning of lifemeaning of life

The Allies Meet at VersaillesThe Allies Meet at Versailles

► On January 18, 1919 the allies met at the On January 18, 1919 the allies met at the Paris Peace Conference.Paris Peace Conference.

► 32 countries attended but most of 32 countries attended but most of the decisions were made by the the decisions were made by the ““Big FourBig Four”:”: United States- United States- Pres. WilsonPres. Wilson France- France- Georges ClemenceauGeorges Clemenceau Great Britain- Great Britain- David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George Italy- Italy- Vittorio OrlandoVittorio Orlando GermanyGermany and its allies were not invited. and its allies were not invited.

The Fourteen PointsThe Fourteen Points► Woodrow Wilson’s plan to build a Woodrow Wilson’s plan to build a

lasting peace in Europelasting peace in Europe► It was a speech that he delivered to It was a speech that he delivered to

Congress in January 8, 1918-Congress in January 8, 1918- before before the armisticethe armistice

► Some believe it was part of the Some believe it was part of the reason why the Central Powers reason why the Central Powers eventually surrenderedeventually surrendered. They though . They though the treaty would be a just one and the treaty would be a just one and based on Wilson’s 14 pointsbased on Wilson’s 14 points

► Very little of the 14 pointsVery little of the 14 points were were added to the final treaty. Britain and added to the final treaty. Britain and France thought it was France thought it was too easytoo easy on on GermanyGermany

► Wilson won a Wilson won a Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize in in 1919 for his efforts1919 for his efforts

The Fourteen PointsThe Fourteen Points► The key points:The key points:

End of End of secret treatiessecret treaties Freedom of the Freedom of the seasseas Free Free tradetrade ReducedReduced army and navy sizes army and navy sizes Self-determinationSelf-determination

Other points were specific Other points were specific suggestions for changing borders suggestions for changing borders and creating and creating new nationsnew nations

The Allies Dictate a Harsh The Allies Dictate a Harsh PeacePeace

►Great Britain and FranceGreat Britain and France thought the Fourteen Points thought the Fourteen Points were too easy on Germany.were too easy on Germany.

►Georges Clemenceau (Premier Georges Clemenceau (Premier of France) wanted to of France) wanted to punish punish GermanyGermany by dismantling their by dismantling their army and making them pay army and making them pay for the war.for the war.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

►What are two reasons that France may What are two reasons that France may have wanted to punish Germany more have wanted to punish Germany more than the United States did?than the United States did?

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

► The The Treaty of Treaty of VersaillesVersailles was was signed in the Hall of signed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Mirrors at Versailles on on June 28,1919June 28,1919 (exactly 5 years (exactly 5 years after the death of after the death of the Archduke)the Archduke)

► The treaty had four The treaty had four major provisions:major provisions:

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of VersaillesProvision #1Provision #1

► League of Nations:League of Nations:--International peace International peace

organizationorganization;;

membership included Allied membership included Allied nations as well as 32 other nations as well as 32 other onesones

-Germany and Russia -Germany and Russia were were excludedexcluded

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of VersaillesProvision #2Provision #2

► Territorial Losses:Territorial Losses: Germany had to Germany had to

return Alsace & return Alsace & Lorraine to France. Lorraine to France. France’s border was France’s border was extended extended to the to the Rhine River.Rhine River.

Germany had to give Germany had to give up all of its up all of its coloniescolonies in Africa and the in Africa and the Pacific.Pacific.

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of VersaillesProvision #3Provision #3

►Military RestrictionsMilitary Restrictions German army could be no German army could be no

larger than larger than 100,000100,000.. Germany prohibited from Germany prohibited from

manufacturing or manufacturing or importing importing weapons or war weapons or war material.material.

Germany Germany forbidden to forbidden to build build submarines or air submarines or air force.force.

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of VersaillesProvision #4Provision #4

► War Guilt or War Reparations:War Guilt or War Reparations: Responsibility for the war Responsibility for the war

was mainly placed on was mainly placed on Germany.Germany. Germany had to pay the Allies over $30 Germany had to pay the Allies over $30

billion to billion to cover the costs of the warcover the costs of the war►Today’s equivalent: Today’s equivalent: $442 billion US dollars►Germany finally paid off this debt in 2010!►War payments were not only paid in cash, but

also resources like coal, steel and intellectual property such as the Aspirin patent (owned by German company Bayer)

The Creation of New NationsThe Creation of New Nations

► To split up the To split up the Central PowersCentral Powers, , many new countries many new countries were created after were created after WWIWWI

►New countries New countries included:included: PolandPoland CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia YugoslaviaYugoslavia

A Peace Built on QuicksandA Peace Built on Quicksand► The U.S. The U.S. ultimately ultimately

rejectedrejected the Treaty of the Treaty of Versailles, didn’t get 2/3 Versailles, didn’t get 2/3 vote of approval in vote of approval in CongressCongress

► Many GermansMany Germans were left were left with bitterness and hatredwith bitterness and hatred

► Instead of building a Instead of building a lasting peace, lasting peace, the stage the stage was set for World War IIwas set for World War II