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