america and world war i causes of the war 1. aggressive nationalism
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3. Militarism & Arms Race3. Militarism & Arms Race
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914
94 130 154 268 289 398
Total Defense Expenditures for the Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers [Ger., A-H, It., Fr., Br., Great Powers [Ger., A-H, It., Fr., Br.,
Rus.] Rus.] in millions of dollars.in millions of dollars.
1910-1914 Increase in Defense
Expenditures
France 10%
Britain 13%
Russia 39%
Germany
73%
4. The Alliance System4. The Alliance System
Triple EntenteTriple Entente::Triple EntenteTriple Entente:: Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::
Two Armed Camps!Two Armed Camps!Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers:: Central PowersCentral Powers::Central PowersCentral Powers::
The Major Players: 1914-17
The Major Players: 1914-17
Nicholas II Nicholas II [Rus][Rus]
Nicholas II Nicholas II [Rus][Rus]
George V [Br]George V [Br]George V [Br]George V [Br]
Pres. Poincare Pres. Poincare [Fr][Fr]
Pres. Poincare Pres. Poincare [Fr][Fr]
Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers::
Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]
Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]
Victor Emmanuel Victor Emmanuel II [It]II [It]
Victor Emmanuel Victor Emmanuel II [It]II [It]
Central PowersCentral Powers::Central PowersCentral Powers::
Enver PashaEnver Pasha[Turkey][Turkey]
Enver PashaEnver Pasha[Turkey][Turkey]
Verdun – February, 1916
Verdun – February, 1916
German offensive.
Each side had 500,000 casualties.
German offensive.
Each side had 500,000 casualties.
The Somme – July, 1916
The Somme – July, 1916
60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.
Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.
60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.
Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.
Why Neutrality?– Both sides had
popular support. Why?
– War Profiteering-US arms manufacturers at first sold to both sides, later only to Allies. Why?
– Anti-war movement very strong in the US.
America’s Precarious Neutrality
America’s Precarious Neutrality
The US sold so much munitions and lent so much money to the Allies, we couldn’t afford to let them lose.
1. Profits Endangered?1. Profits Endangered?
American “merchants of death”.
2. The British Blockade and the German
Response
2. The British Blockade and the German
Response
•In early 1914 the British Navy acts immediately to blockade Germany and cut it off from all food and supplies.
2. The British Blockade and the German
response
2. The British Blockade and the German
response
Why were U-boats perceived as “unfair”?
2. The British Blockade and the German
response
2. The British Blockade and the German
response
The “war zone” around Britain. The Germans warned that any ship, neutral or otherwise, would be torpedoed in this zone.
2. The British Blockade and the German
response
2. The British Blockade and the German
response•750,000 German civilians starved to death as a result of the British blockade.•60,000 civilians were killed by the U-boats.•Which was worse?
Starving German children during WW1
After the Lusitania, Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning.
March 1916-the Sussex pledge. Germany again agrees not to sink merchant ships without warning as long as the British lift their blockade.
U-Boats and NeutralityU-Boats and Neutrality
On January 31, 1917 Germany reneged on the Sussex pledge and announced it would sink all ships, neutral or not, in the war zone around Britain. Why?
Germans feared the entry of America into the War, but in the end concluded that they could force the British and French to surrender before the American could arrive in large numbers.
The tool for doing so: The U-boat
U-Boats and NeutralityU-Boats and Neutrality
4. The Russian Revolution-March 1917
4. The Russian Revolution-March 1917
Czar Nicolas II overthrown, and a democratic government installed in Russia.
Now four democracies vs. three autocracies.
Americans felt better about joining a war to “make the world safe for democracy.”
The Most Famous Recruitment The Most Famous Recruitment PosterPoster
The Most Famous Recruitment The Most Famous Recruitment PosterPoster
U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration
U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration
U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration
U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration
1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies
50,000,000 – 50,000,000 – 100,000,000 died100,000,000 died
50,000,000 – 50,000,000 – 100,000,000 died100,000,000 died
The Somme American Cemetary, France
The Somme American Cemetary, France
116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died
World War I CasualtiesWorld War I Casualties
01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,0007,000,0008,000,0009,000,000
10,000,000RussiaGermanyAustria-HungaryFranceGreat BritainItalyTurkeyUS
14 POINTS1. There should be no secret treaties among
nations.2. Freedom of the seas should be maintained
for all.3. Tariffs and other economic barriers among
nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade.
4. Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses during diplomatic crises
5. Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial peoples as well as the interests of the imperialistic powers
14-points continued 6-13 dealt with boundary changes 14th point called for a creation of and
international organization to address the diplomatic crises like those that had sparked the war
League of Nations- provide a forum for nations to discuss and settle their grievances without war
•President of Princeton•Democrat•Believed in the League of Nations as the only way to end all war•Would only accept his ideas and not Congress’s
•Graduate of Harvard•Republican•Believed League of Nations would take away Congress’s power to declare war•Made additions to the League of Nations, Wilson would not accept them
Wilson vs. Lodge
The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression, the Council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.
Article X-League of Nations
What’s the problem?
•Was Wilson’s League of
Nations and his belief in “ending all war” based on idealism or
reality?
•Could the world eliminate war?