World War I: The Great War

Chapter 11

Focus: What is the United States’ role in world affairs at the conclusion of the SPAM war?

Causes of WWI

1.Nationalism

– belief that national interests should be ahead of global consideration. Foreign affairs should be guided by self interest.

2. Imperialism Germans competed with France

and Britain for colonies Colonies added prestige Small conflicts arose

3. Militarism

–development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy

Competition with other countries

4. Alliance System

–treaties of assistance. A commitment to support one another

Alliances

Triple Entente Allies (France, Great Britain,

and Russia, later Italy & US.)Triple Alliance

Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary)

Assassination Leads to War

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Heir to Austrian throne was

visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia with wife Sophie.

Bosnia was annexed by Austria-Hungary

Funeral of Archduke

Gavrio Princip Shot the Archduke Member of the “Black Hand”

–Group who wanted to unite Serbs under one government

War Begins

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Russia supports SerbiaGermany supports Austria-

Hungary Declare war on Russia, France

Great Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary

Discussion Questions

1. How did the formation of Alliances contribute to the beginning of World War I?

2. What was Archduke Ferdinand’s role in World War I?

Focus: Who were the “Black Hand” and what did they want?

Fighting Begins

Germany invades Belgium on August 4th, 1914 Used the Schlieffen Plan (wait

on Russia, go west first)

Great Britain and France go to protect. Retreate to the Marne River to stop Germans

Trench Warfare

Battles were fought inside trenches for yard gain.

Land in-between trenches known as “no man’s land”

Allied Kitchen

Food was mostly canned beef, bread and biscuits.

Local VegetablesSoup and Tea

Trench Periscope

Trench Periscope

Eastern Front

Russia vs. GermanyAustria-Hungary vs. ItalyIn Africa: Germany vs. Britain

American Neutrality

Pacifism – Most Americans didn’t feel the need to get involved. No threat to American lives or property.

Most sympathized with the Allies, especially after Germany’s aggression in Belgium.

•Common Ancestory, language and literature

British Blockade

Coast of Germany, neutral ports, mined the North Sea.

Blocked weapons and food (750,000 starved)

Germans responded with U-boats (submarines) sink any British ship

“Lusitania”

May 7, 1915 British ship “Lusitania” was sunk 128 Americans aboard Germans said it had weapons

•Americans avoided the sea

Neutrality

President Wilson still remained neutral despite numerous sinkings

Wilson wins the election of 1916. “He kept us out of war”

Zimmerman Note

Telegram sent by German foreign minister to Mexico

Intercepted by BritishSaid that Germany would help

Mexico in a fight against the U.S.

Germany continues to sink American Ships (4 unarmed merchant ships, loss of 36 lives)

U.S. Enters War “Over There”

War Resolution Passed in April, 1917

Reasons 1. Ensure Allied repayment 2. Prevent Germans from

threatening shipping

Lack of Manpower

Only about 200,000 men were in service. Many outdated weapons.

Draft - (conscription) Requires men to register for

service

Who do you think should be eligible for the draft?

A. Males 18-45B. Males and Females 18-45C. Males 18-35D. Males and Females 18-35E. Males and Females 18-25F. Males 18-25

Who should be excused?

A. Farmers who are needed on the farm.B. Defense plant workersC. Highly skilled defense plant workersD. Single people who are the sole support of their familyE. People who are marriedF. People who are married and have young kidsG. Married people who are the sole support of the familyH. Doctors and DentistsI. Doctors and Dentists who are the only ones in comm.J. Business owners

Who should be excused?

A. Skilled workers who can’t be replaced.

B. College StudentsC. Students studying to be scientistsD. ScientistsE. Teachers

Arnold Whipple

A. Yes

B. No

John Donnell

A. Yes

B. No

Sam Snell

A. Yes

B. No

Fred Freiburg

A. Yes

B. No

Ray Richardson

A. Yes

B. No

Charles Jenkins

A. Yes

B. No

Frank Columbo

A. Yes

B. No

Amos Sadbury

A. Yes

B. No

Charles Duryea

A. Yes

B. No

Fred Schmidt

A. Yes

B. No

Selective Service Act

To call men to serve (18-45)About 3 million were called

(most 21-23)2 million reached Europe13,000 women (non-combat)

African Americans segregated 369th Infantry saw more

continuous duty on the front lines than any other American Regiment.

Convoy System

U.S. needed to ship suppliesProtect merchant ships from U-

boats with Navy

John J. Pershing

Commander of American Expeditionary Force Nicknamed “Doughboys” – white

belts cleaned with clay or “dough” Supposed to be replacements for

Allies

Tide Turns

June 1918 - Americans fight against Germans at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood.

July – Helped win the Second Battle of the Marne.

Sept- Saint-Mihiel and Argonne Forest.

With the help of the Americans, the Allies began to win against Germany

48,000 U.S. die in battle62,000 U.S. die of disease

Alvin York

First a “conscientious objector” opposed the war for religious

reasonsBecame a heroKilled 25 Germans, helped

capture 132

Discussion Questions

1. Why did the United States elect to remain neutral at the beginning of the war?

2. What were the reasons that the U.S. eventually became involved?

Focus: What was the convoy system and why was it needed?

Weapons

Mechanized warfare – warfare that relies on machines powered by gas and diesel engines. (tanks and airplanes)

Cannons (Germany – Big Bertha) Could shoot 75 miles Zeppelin - gas filled airship

(blimp)•Dropped bombs

British Artillery

Calamity Jane

More Weapons

Machine GunPoison Gas (Chlorine, Mustard Gas)

Mustard Gas – Most lethal of all gases. Almost Odorless, 12 hours to take effect. Once in the soil, remains active for several weeks

TankAirplane (with machine guns)Observation Balloons

Canadians

U.S. Caterpillar Tank

Poison Gas Drill

Gas Masks

Victim of Poison Gas

Grenade Crossbow

French Flame Throwers

Periscope Rifle

Setting Barbed Wire

Floating Mine

Floating Mine Exploding

German Battleship

German U14

Medical Problems

Trench Foot Due to standing in wet trenches

without changing socksTrench Mouth

Infection of gums and mouth

Cease Fire (Armistice)

November 11, 1918 Germany agrees to a cease fire

after some German soldiers refused to go on. The mutiny spread. They were physically and economically exhausted.

26,000,000 people deadDirect economic costs

estimated at $350 billion.

Discussion Questions

1. What were the differences in techniques and weapons between the SPAM war and WWI?

2. What were some of the problems associated with life in the trenches?

Focus: What were two of the most influential weapons of World War I. Why did you pick them?

The War at Home

Economy Many women joined the work

force African Americans moved to

get more money

Increase in productivity Industry wages went up

War Industries Board

Encouraged companies to increase efficiency and eliminate waste. Price controls at the wholesale level resulted in retail prices soaring to almost double.

Paying for the War

Spent 33 billion on the War raised taxes Sold War Bonds

Advertisements (Propaganda)

change public opinion using language, name calling etc.

Promoting support of War effort save food,buy war bonds and

support the draft.

Four minute men would deliver speeches to encourage support for the war.

Discrimination in U.S.

Against immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary People lost jobs Would not play Mozart Stopped teaching German Changed names of food

Espionage and Sedition Acts

A person could be fined up to 10,000 dollars and/or 20 years in jail for going against the war effort. (draft, disloyal) Around 6,000 arrests were

made. 1,500 convictions

Social Changes

Most African Americans backed the war along with WEB DuBois

Great Migration large scale movement of

thousands of Southern Blacks to the North.

Reasons for Migration

1. Escape discrimination2. Find jobs3. Find Prosperity

Women

Have men’s jobs cab/truck driver, bricklayers

etc. many volunteered with the

Red Cross

Flu Epidemic

1918 One fourth of the population

was effected Came from France 500,000 died

Wilson Wants Peace

Fourteen Points plan for peace called for League of Nations

•place to settle arguments

Meeting with the “Big Four”

U.S., France, Britain, Italy (who wanted land in Austria-Hungary) The group rejected all the

Fourteen Points except the League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles

1. End War2. Establish New Nations

(Poland, Czech., Yugo.)3. Demilitarize Germany

4. Germany must return land to France and pay money to them (reparations)

5. Forced Germany to admit guilt (war-guilt clause)

Problems with Treaty

1. Humiliated Germany2. Russia was not invited (also

lost territory)3. Germany stripped of

colonies

Wilson goes Home

Congress will not agree to join the League of Nations (do not want to be involved)

Wilson becomes ill

The War is Over!!

Germany seeks answers and revenge Economic problems lead to

the rise of Nazism

Russia is mad about being left out of the BIG FOUR meeting

This will lead to WWII

Discussion Questions

1. How did Americans on the home front support the war?

2. How did the end of WWI contribute to the beginning of WWII?