world war i causes of the war – for europe imperialism nationalism – individual ethnic groups...

WORLD WAR IWORLD WAR I

CAUSES OF THE WAR –For Europe

IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM – individual

ethnic groups wanting their own nations

MILITARISM•Tensions high; an arms race &

war preparations began•Pre-war alliances for protection

by 1914

PRE-WAR ALLIANCESPRE-WAR ALLIANCES TRIPLE ALLIANCE•GermanyGermany•Austria-Austria-HungaryHungary

•ItalyItaly

TRIPLE ENTENTE•Great Great BritainBritain

•FranceFrance•RussiaRussia

The Spark:The Spark: June 1914• Archduke Ferdinand of Austria Hungary Archduke Ferdinand of Austria Hungary

assassinated by a Serbian studentassassinated by a Serbian student

The Assassin: The Assassin:

GavriloPrincipGavriloPrincip

June 28, 1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, age19, part of the Black Hand in Sarajevo

Princip wanted Bosnia to be part of just Serbia and not the Austria-Hungary Empire

Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism, and a tangled web of alliances = Everyone was ready for an excuse to go to war!

After the war starts, these alliances change and become known as:

CENTRAL POWERS•GERMANYGERMANY•AUSTRIA-AUSTRIA-HUNGARYHUNGARY

ALLIES•GREAT GREAT BRITAINBRITAIN

•FRANCEFRANCE•RUSSIARUSSIA•ITALYITALY

EUROPE AT WAR! July 1914July 1914

•Austria-Hungary declares war on Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia!Serbia!

Russia threatens Germany from the East Russia threatens Germany from the East & France from the West& France from the West

Germany attacks BelgiumGermany attacks Belgium (France) – (France) – brings British inbrings British in

By 1915By 1915• all the Allies & Central Powers are at warall the Allies & Central Powers are at war• Italy switches sides to the Allies-why?Italy switches sides to the Allies-why?

The Schlieffen Plan Germany’s first strike

strategy that called for a quick sweep through France knocking them out of the war so that they could concentrate on defeating Russia on the Eastern Front.

To do this had to invade neutral Belgium which brings Britain in the war

War tech bogs down fighting to stalemate, plan fails, Germany fights 2 front war

A Multi-Front WarA Multi-Front War

America’s Official America’s Official Position is:Position is:

NEUTRALITYNEUTRALITY Wilson a pacifist!Wilson a pacifist! BUT, U.S. sympathies are with the BUT, U.S. sympathies are with the

ALLIES:ALLIES:•A common cultural background

with Great Britain•Historical links with FranceHistorical links with France•British surpass Germans with British surpass Germans with

propagandapropaganda

AMERICANECONOMICNEUTRALITY,WORLD WAR I

Why didn’t we trade with Central Powers? BRITISH BLOCKADE

2.3 BILLIONTO ALLIES….are we neutral?

GermanU-Boat

Germany sinks the British Lusitania – May 1915

Wilson’s response to the sinking?

THE SUSSEX PLEDGE Germans hit a French passenger Germans hit a French passenger

ship nextship next• Sussex hit in March 1916Sussex hit in March 1916• Apprx. 50 passengers killed; Apprx. 50 passengers killed;

several Americansseveral Americans• Wilson threatens to break all Wilson threatens to break all

diplomatic relations with diplomatic relations with GermanyGermany

Germany agrees to Germany agrees to SUSSEX SUSSEX PLEDGEPLEDGE• Will sink no more passenger

ships without warning first• Wilson agrees to seek lifting of

the Allied blockade

CAUSES OF WAR FOR U.S.: Jan. 1917 Europe refuses Wilson’s call for

“peace without victory” “Unrestricted sub warfare” (America included)

resumed by Germany in Feb. - why don’t we why don’t we declare war?declare war?

Zimmerman Note – March• Germans attempt deal with Mexico to keep America out Germans attempt deal with Mexico to keep America out

of war, promised them return of SW U.S. and $$$of war, promised them return of SW U.S. and $$$• Intercepted by Brits (Feb), given to U.S., causes Intercepted by Brits (Feb), given to U.S., causes

immediate public outrageimmediate public outrage• Wilson arms merchant shipsWilson arms merchant ships 4 U.S. merchant ships sunk by Germans –March• Why would Germany risk U.S. entry into war? U.S. DECLARES WAR! April 1917U.S. DECLARES WAR! April 1917• “To make the world safe for democracy”• “The war to end all wars”

Wilson’s 14 Points

Goals for the post-war world – his plan to eliminate the general causes of war• Free trade• Disarmament• Freedom of the seas• Open diplomacy (no secret agreements)• Self-determination – no imperialism;

countries determine for themselves their desired type of government

Point #14: LEAGUE OF NATIONS Point #14: LEAGUE OF NATIONS – a world peacekeeping organization• The “point” most important to Wilson

MOBILIZATIONMOBILIZATION ““Mobilize” – Mobilize” –

preparing troops preparing troops and supplies and and supplies and getting them to getting them to warwar

Woefully Woefully inadequate troop inadequate troop numbersnumbers

Selective Service Selective Service Act is instituted:Act is instituted:• the Draftthe Draft• included ages included ages

18-4518-45

SELLING THE WAR TO AMERICA: CPI, Creel 4-Minute Men Patriotic songs –

“Over There” Crusade:

freedom & democracy

PROPAGANDA! Negative effect?

War Industries Board to War Industries Board to direct industrial direct industrial mobilizationmobilization

““Work or fight” rule Work or fight” rule issued by War Dept.issued by War Dept.

RR Administration; Fuel RR Administration; Fuel Administration & Administration & daylight savings timedaylight savings time

Food Administration – Food Administration – HooverHoover• Voluntary complianceVoluntary compliance• Wheatless WednesdaysWheatless Wednesdays• Victory GardensVictory Gardens

A major change in the A major change in the relationship between relationship between gov’t and business!gov’t and business!

How did WWI aid How did WWI aid Prohibition-18Prohibition-18thth Am.? Am.?

ESPIONAGE & SEDITION ACTSESPIONAGE & SEDITION ACTS ESPIONAGE – fines/jail for

“aiding enemy”• Obstructing recruiting

for military SEDITION – crime to

criticize U.S. gov’t, the war, uniforms, even the Red Cross or Boy Scouts!

SCHENCK v. U.S. – acts AREARE constitutional….. but cannot be jailed unless there’s a “clear and present danger” to safety of U.S.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITIES & WOMEN

Wages up, but so is cost of living Women: new opportunities in both

factories & farms, but short-lived• MANY are opposed to war – why?• Do get suffrage finally in 19th Am!

Blacks: the “Great Migration”• 500,000 move to North 1914 to

1919• Leads to brutal race riots in N

(Chicago – 1917, 9 whites, 40 blacks dead)

• BUT, do see economic improvement

• In military, serve in segregated units

MINORITIES IN MINORITIES IN THE MILITARYTHE MILITARY

Blacks:Blacks: • In military, serve in segregated unitsIn military, serve in segregated units• NOT allowed in MarinesNOT allowed in Marines• Manual labor in Army, etc.Manual labor in Army, etc.• Treated better in Europe thanTreated better in Europe than

at homeat home Women:Women:

• First war that women couldFirst war that women could

serve in militaryserve in military• No combat dutyNo combat duty

THE COSTS OF WAR LIBERTY LIBERTY

BONDS/VICTORY BONDS/VICTORY BONDS!BONDS!• Most effective Most effective

methodmethod• ““Every Scout to save Every Scout to save

a Soldier!”a Soldier!”• Raised $21 billion – Raised $21 billion –

2/3 of the total cost2/3 of the total cost INCOME TAXESINCOME TAXES

• Raised on the Raised on the wealthy class (up to wealthy class (up to 75%)75%)

Living Statue Living Statue of Libertyof Liberty

U.S. Army Human Statue of Liberty at Camp Dodge,

Iowa.

On a stifling July day in 1918, 18,000 officers and soldiers posed as Lady Liberty on the parade [drill] grounds at Camp Dodge." According to a July 3, 1986, story in the Fort Dodge Messenger, many men fainted-they were dressed in woolen uniforms-as the temperature neared 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The photo, taken from the top of a specially constructed tower by a Chicago photography studio, Mole & Thomas, was intended to help promote the sale of war bonds but was never used."

FIGHTING IN FRANCE AEF (American Expeditionary Force) primarily

serves as a supporting force to Allies What’s new in WWI warfare?

MachineGuns….

TRENCHWARFARE!

NEW WEAPONSNEW WEAPONS

Landship/Tank Barbed Wire

Maxim Machine Gun

Hand Grenade

Poison Gas Submarine

Bi-Plane

Navy usesConvoySystemforProtection

Dramatically cuts losses to U-boats

Poison Gas

Why were American Why were American soldiers called soldiers called “doughboys?”“doughboys?”

America had troops in America had troops in France within 4 France within 4 months of declaring months of declaring war. What major war. What major effect did this have?effect did this have?

Russia pulled out of Russia pulled out of the war in 1917 due the war in 1917 due to the Communist to the Communist RevolutionRevolution

What effect did that What effect did that have on the Germans?have on the Germans?• Germany could now Germany could now

move all its forces to move all its forces to the Western Frontthe Western Front

American Doughboy

Trench Warfare/Technology Trench Warfare/Technology causes a Stalematecauses a Stalemate

Germans get 30 miles Germans get 30 miles outside Paris, Brits and outside Paris, Brits and French halt the advanceFrench halt the advance

Each side digs in Each side digs in creating the Western creating the Western Front, a series of Front, a series of trenches ~300 miles trenches ~300 miles longlong

Equal in size and Equal in size and strength they reach a strength they reach a stalematestalemate

Trenches are nasty, with Trenches are nasty, with dead bodies and rats dead bodies and rats and bugsand bugs

Between the trenches is Between the trenches is No-Man’s Land, a No-Man’s Land, a desolate kill zonedesolate kill zone

Trench FootTrench Foot

'My memories are of sheer terror and the horror of seeing men sobbing 'My memories are of sheer terror and the horror of seeing men sobbing because they had trench foot that had turned gangrenous. They knew because they had trench foot that had turned gangrenous. They knew they were going to lose a leg. Memories of lice in your clothing driving they were going to lose a leg. Memories of lice in your clothing driving you crazy. Filth and lack of privacy. And cold deep wet mud everywhere. you crazy. Filth and lack of privacy. And cold deep wet mud everywhere. And of course, corpses. I'd never seen a dead body before I went to war. And of course, corpses. I'd never seen a dead body before I went to war. But in the trenches the dead are lying all around you.'But in the trenches the dead are lying all around you.' Arthur Savage Arthur Savage

Animated map of trench warfare

• An infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and insanitary conditions. In the trenches men stood for hours on end in waterlogged trenches without being able to remove wet socks or boots. The feet would gradually go numb and the skin would turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. Trench foot was a particular problem in the early stages of the war. For example, during the winter of 1914-15 over 20,000 men in the British Army were treated for trench foot.

SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN ENGAGEMENTS

Chateau-Thierry• Germans 40 mi. from Paris• 1st major U.S. engagement

Second Battle of the Marne • Turning point – beginning of

German withdrawal St. Mihiel

• 4,153 American lives• Push Germans out of key

position Meuse-Argonne offensive

• Gen. John “Blackjack” Pershing• Major engagement as separate

army• Cut German RR lines• 47 days – 1.2 million Americans

involved

St. Mihiel

CHER AMICHER AMICARRIER PIGEONCARRIER PIGEON

Heroic carrier pigeon who saved the American “Lost Battalion” in the German forests

Came home to a full hero’s welcome & tour

Stuffed & placed in Smithsonian Museum

HEROES OF WWI:

TransportingCarrierPigeons

PlacingMessagesIn the LegCapsules

SGT. ALVIN C. YORKThe “Hillbilly Hero”

Sharpshooter Sharpshooter from Tennesseefrom Tennessee

Almost single-Almost single-handedly captured handedly captured 132 German 132 German soldiers using his soldiers using his turkey-shooting turkey-shooting expertiseexpertise

Received Received Congressional Congressional Medal of HonorMedal of Honor

CAPTAIN EDDIERICKENBACKERThe “Ace of Aces”

Professional race car driver

Became General Pershing’s personal chauffeur

Then became the top U.S. pilot in WWI

shot down 26 planes in less than 7 months

Also serves in WWII

Sergeant Stubby (1916 or 1917 – April 4, 1926), was the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through

combat. America's first war dog, Stubby, served 18 months 'over there' and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and even once caught a German spy by the seat of his pants

(holding him there until American Soldiers found him).

ARMISTICE DAY Germans had approached Wilson Germans had approached Wilson

regarding surrenderregarding surrender• Required Kaiser to be deposedRequired Kaiser to be deposed• Germans surrendered at the 11Germans surrendered at the 11thth

hour, 11hour, 11thth day, 11 day, 11thth month of 1918 month of 1918 Now Veteran’s DayNow Veteran’s Day

Major contributions of America?Major contributions of America?• FoodstuffsFoodstuffs• Oil; MunitionsOil; Munitions• NOT battlefield victoriesNOT battlefield victories• ManpowerManpower

BUT, prospect of endless BUT, prospect of endless flow of U.S. troops flow of U.S. troops demoralized Germansdemoralized Germans

Political Blunders that Political Blunders that doomed the 14 Points:doomed the 14 Points:

WILSONWILSON went to Paris for the went to Paris for the peace conferencepeace conference

Republicans were excluded from Republicans were excluded from the Senate peace conference the Senate peace conference delegationdelegation

When seeking Senate approval When seeking Senate approval of the Treaty, Wilson refuses to of the Treaty, Wilson refuses to compromisecompromise

THE BIG FOUR:THE BIG FOUR:British Prime MinisterDavid Lloyd George

French PremierGeorges Clemenceau

U.S. PresidentWoodrow Wilson

Italian PremierVittorio Orlando

His blunders in thepeace delegation?

TREATY OF VERSAILLESTREATY OF VERSAILLES

TREATY NEGOTIATIONS Problems Allies had with terms: Wanted to establish guilt and get

reparations from Germany Wanted the spoils of War – LAND! Ignore open diplomacy, free seas,

national self-determination Ignored Wilson’s goals of justice and

international harmony What happens at home to weaken

Wilson’s bargaining position?• During the peace conference, opposition

in the Senate is made public…weakens Wilson’s hand at the bargaining table

PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY:PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY: GERMANY:

• War Guilt Clause• Stripped of all colonies; loses land in Europe• Severe military restrictions• Ordered to pay reparationsreparations to the Allies• Treaty resented by Germany – “stabbed in the

back” AUSTRIA-HUNGARY IS SPLIT LEAGUE OF NATIONS is established & all signers

become members “Self-determination” granted to Poland, Czech,

Finland, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia but NOT to colonial holdings in Asia or Africa

TREATY FAILS IN THE U.S.: U.S. SENATE –Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge

and the 39 “Reservationists”• Wrote 14 “Reservations”• Opposed to Art. X requirement

which would “morally” bind them to aid any member that’s attacked

• Do NOT want to join the LEAGUE OF NATIONS – want to preserve U.S. sovereignty over foreign affairs

• Wilson will NOT compromise IRRECONCILIABLES (12) won’t ratify it

at all .. with our without the reservations - no compromise.

ISOLATIONISTS oppose the “entangling alliances;” INTERNATIONALISTS favor it

TREATY FAILS IN THE U.S.: 14 Lodge Reservations are

added to the treaty Wilson orders Democrats to

vote against the treaty• Defeated twice

Wilson goes to the people for approval• “Irreconciables” followed him

to each city and gave an opposing speech

• Suffers a stroke in 1919 just 6 days into tour

• Wife Edith acts as “President”

• Wilson incapacitated for about eight months

The Somme American Cemetery, France

The Somme American Cemetery, France

Costs of War for the Costs of War for the U.S.:U.S.:

116,516 Americans116,516 Americans$33 billion$33 billion

Costs of War for the Costs of War for the U.S.:U.S.:

116,516 Americans116,516 Americans$33 billion$33 billion

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

THETHEBIGGESTBIGGESTKILLER:KILLER:

Influenza outbreak, 1918-1919Influenza outbreak, 1918-1919• Killed more than 20 million worldwideKilled more than 20 million worldwide• Over 500,000 in U.S.Over 500,000 in U.S.• Hit hardest ages between 15 & 30 & Hit hardest ages between 15 & 30 &

probably began in an army barracks in probably began in an army barracks in KansasKansas

Washington, D.C., 1919. "Walter Reed Hospital flu ward." One of the very few images in Washington-area photo archives documenting the influenza contagion of 1918-1919, which killed over 500,000 Americans and tens of millions around the globe.

Most victims succumbed to bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection.

Impact of WWI on U.S.Impact of WWI on U.S. Government excess & threats to

the civil liberties of Americans Red Scare, Labor strikes• Palmer Raids• FBI formed

Organized economy Women’s right to vote, 19th

Amendment Return to isolationism End of Progressive Era Prohibition, 18th Am. Opportunities for minorities

(Great Migration)• BUT, racial problems in North• Rise in KKK numbers –

increased nativism