WORLD WAR 1

WORLD WAR 1 PHOTOS

Europe Goes to WarA. Long-Term-M A I N-Causes

Militarism – increasing armed forces & using them as a tool of diplomacy

Alliance System – countries forming secret friendships

Imperialism – European countries gained political, economical, & cultural control over another

Nationalism - caused competition and antagonism among countries

B. Immediate Cause

Assassination of the Archduke FranzFerdinand heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by a Serbian nationalist (Black hand)

Triple Alliance-Allies Central Powers- 1. France, 1. Germany2. Britain, 2. Austria-Hungary3. Russia 3. Roman Empire

Reasons the U.S. Enters WWIA. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare – (Germany

announced that it would fire on any enemy ship)violated international law by interfering with U.S. freedom of the seas and American neutrality.

1. Lusitania (1915) – German U-boat sunk passenger ship killed 128 Americans.

ADD to your notes… 2. Sussex Pledge(1916)-Passenger ships

would not be targeted;

3. Resumptions of Submarine Warfare

B. Allied Propaganda – tended to sympathize with the Allies because:

 1. friendship with England due to common language, culture, history.

2. friendship with France going back to revolutionary war support.

Hostility toward Germany:

1. dislike of Germany’s militarism

2. Zimmerman Note- plot to draw Mexico into war on side of Germany, in hope of regaining the United States territory lost during the Mexican War.

III. American Economic Interests

1. America sold goods to Allies2. Loaned money to Allies and would only get it back if Allies won the

war IV. American IdealismA. Wilson’ proclamation to “make the world safe for democracy;”

and a“war to end all wars.” V. American SecurityA- If Germany were victorious, it would have replaced democratic Britain

asthe dominant power in Europe. The U.S. would not have any allies on the

continent.   ***April 1917, President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war

against Germany***

The War at Home

Home Front

A. Presidential Powers Increase – Congress gave Wilson direct control over fixing prices and regulating war related industries

B. Mobilizing the Economy – government regulated factory production, railroads, supplies of coal, oil, settled disputes between labor & management to prevent strikes American encouraged to eat corn, and send wheat overseas.

C. Financing the War -

1. Raise taxes, both income and excise

2. Borrow money through the sale of bonds (called “Liberty Bonds” and “Victory Bonds”)

II. MilitaryA. Providing Military Manpower1. Selective Service Act – draft of

males, age 18-25

2. New Technology – new weapons and military strategy such as trench warfare, machine guns, airplanes, Zepplin, poison gas and tanks

*** Schenck vs. United States – Schenck disagreed with the draft, so he printed 15,000 fliers and distributed them to men entering the draft office. He was arrested and found guilty of sedition (treason). Schenck appealed the conviction, saying that his 1st amendment right (free speech) had been violated. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision, saying that “a man’s rights are NOT absolute!” This established “ clear and present danger” – meaning that if your actions are a danger to person or country, you can be stopped from completing that action.

American Contributions

1. America comes to the rescue with fresh troops and supplies

After the War

- On November 11, 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire. Deaths numbered about

22 million, more than half of which were civilian. Over 20 million people were wounded and about 10 million became refugees. Over 100,000 American soldiers died with more than 200,000 wounded.

WILSON’S 14 POINTS

III. Wilson's 14 Points - In January 1918, Wilson presented his program for a just

and lasting peace:

A. Major Points

1. Self-determination of nationalists – countries based on ethnicity

2. Freedom of the seas3. Right of nations to free trade4. Redistributing colonial territories5. End to secret alliances6. Arms reduction – minimal standing army to lessen hostility7. Formation of an association of nations that would help guarantee

collective security and peace... LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Treaty of Versailles

A. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war, was very harsh on Germany. This, and poor leadership in the

winning Allies planted the seeds for WWII. B. Leaders – known as the “Big Four” 1. Great Britain – LlOYD GEORGE   2. France – GEORGE CLEMENCEAU 3. United States – WOODROW WILSON

4. Italy – VITTORIO ORLANDO

C. Terms:

1. War guilt – Germany blamed for war 2. Germany paid reparations equaling $33 billion 3. Germany lost all its colonial possessions in African

and Asia 4. Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 soldiers

and limited weapons 5. Each nation that signed the treaty had to join the

League of Nations  ***When Wilson brought the treaty back to the U.S.,

the Senate chose NOT to ratify the treaty. Therefore, the U.S. did NOT join the League of Nations!

Regents “BIG” Idea!

The terms for the treaty set the stage for WORLD WAR II