World War I The MAIN Causes of WWI M Militarism the extensive building up of a nations military forces (This process is contagious and usually precedes hostilities) A Alliances (most of them secret) Fear of conflict led countries to seek out military alliances prior to WWI I Imperialism a countrys desire to expand and claim colonies (especially in Africa) N Nationalism the belief in the superiority of ones nation over others and a disregard for how its actions affect other nations Immediate Cause of WWI BOSNIA Claimed by both Austria Hungary and Serbia Austria Hungary annexed it (added it to their country) Held a celebration at the capital Sarajevo Serbian conspirators assassinated the heir to the throne in Austria Hungary Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Austria Hungary made unrealistic demands on Serbia Gavrilo Princip the Serb who assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife The Assassination Archduke Ferdinand was riding in this car when he was assassinated. Secret Alliances Central Powers Austria Hungary and Germany Allied Powers Serbia and Russia Russia and France France and Britain Britain also promised to defend neutral Belgium if they were attacked Other Nations that joined Central Powers Ottoman Empire to keep Constantinople from falling to the Russians (to protect their control of the entrance to the Black Sea) Allied Powers Italy bribed into the war with land U.S. because of Germanys unre- stricted submarine warfare, the Zimmerman Note, and the withdrawal of Russia from the war Early American Neutrality President Woodrow Wilson was determined to keep the U.S. out of WWI We would enjoy the benefit of trading with both sides during the conflict We didnt have anything against either side in the war We were fulfilling our promise in the Monroe Doctrine to stay out of European affairs New Weapons and Tactics used in WWI Submarines Machine Guns (and trench warfare) Tanks Airplanes (mostly for reconnaissance) Poison Gas (mustard gas) later outlawed These new weapons and tac- tics led to a large number of casualties in WWI. It is called the first modern war. Zimmerman Note German telegram sent to Mexico Intercepted by the British It promised Mexico would be given Texas and parts of the Mexican Cession if they joined the Central Powers This land was won by the U.S. in the Mexican War Concerned the U.S. because our relations with Mexico were not too friendly at the time Arthur Zimmerman German Foreign Secretary (1917) Land Offered to Mexico Zimmerman Note Russian Revolution Bolsheviks a communist group in Russia led by Vladimir Lenin Attacked the government of Russia during WWI in an attempt to make it a communist country Vladamir Lenin Russia was forced to withdraw from WWI to handle the civil conflict which they eventually lost (became the Soviet Union) Britain and France needed a new ally because the two front war was now a one front war they wanted help from the U.S. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Germany developed the submarine (u-boat) to break the British blockade of their ports Very effective because radar and sonar were not yet developed Used them to get goods to Germany and the other Central Powers and to stop goods from being delivered to Allied nations. Britain began transporting military goods on civilian (unarmed) ships Germany began sinking all vessels (armed and unarmed) that were seen in enemy waters The attacks were not limited (or restricted) to armed military vessels Lusitania British luxury cruise liner with American passengers Sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland in Americans were killed Wilson issued warnings to Germany about their use of unrestricted submarine warfare which endangered U.S. trade and lives. The Lusitania sank in less than 18 minutes killing 1,924 including 128 Americans The Lusitania The Lucky Lucy today German Pledges Arabic Pledge Germany promised not to attack unarmed vessels unless they tried to escape Sussex Pledge Germany again promised to stop attacks on unarmed vessels IF the U.S. persuaded Britain to lift the blockade on their ports This pledge technically ended American neutrality. Wilson did not ask Britain to end the block- ade (choosing the Allied side). The Arabic The beached remains of the Sussex Countdown to War February, 1917 Germany announces they will resume unrestricted submarine warfare due to Americas refusal to demand an end to the British blockade of German ports Wilson broke diplomatic relations but waited for overt acts from Germany Germany sank 4 unarmed merchant vessels in the first week of March, 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare war and they did on April 6, 1917. Americas Role in WWI Boosted Allied troops morale Sunk the morale of the Central Powers troops Plugged in the holes in the Allied forces protecting Paris Kept Paris from falling to the Germans Brought a quicker end to WWI Wilsons Fourteen Points Speech Given before Congress prior to U.S. entry into WWI Outlined his plan for world peace and prevention of future wars Woodrow Wilson It contained 14 solutions for world conflict including: Reorganizing colonies Ending Secret Diplomacy Establishing international waterways Establishing a League of Nations (like the United Nations) Wilsons Propaganda War U.S. planes dropped pamphlets over Germany They promised a fair peace treaty with Germany if they: Removed Kaiser Wilhelm II from leadership in Germany Agree to an armistice (cease fire to start negotiations) The agreed to the armistice on Nov. 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. The Peace Negotiations Negotiated in Paris by the Big Four leaders of the Allied Powers Wilson tried to get as many of his 14 points in the treaty as possible Other world leaders were not as ready to give Germany a fair peace treaty Germany was not allowed to attend The Big Four in Paris David Lloyd George - Britain Vittorio Orlando - Italy Georges Clemenceau - France Woodrow Wilson - USA Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors where the Versailles Treaty was signed The Versailles Treaty Germany had to accept complete responsibility for the war. Germany had to pay $33 billion in war reparations. Germany lost all of her colonies (given to Allied nations). Germany had to remain demilitarized. A League of Nations was established to allow mem- ber nations to talk out problems instead of waging war. The map of Europe was redrawn to discourage future threats to the balance of power in the region. Wilson attended the peace negotiations himself during his presidency and was received as the hero of WWI in Europe. Many Americans criticized him for leaving the country. U.S. Rejects the Versailles Treaty Treaties entered into by the U.S. have to be approved by the Senate (checks and balances) The Senate (dominated by isolationists) rejected the treaty and the League because they believed it to be an alliance Feared it would get us into foreign conflicts we did not want to be in Wilson toured the country to try to get support for the League of Nations but failed Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was the opposition leader to the League of Nations Great Migration Movement of African Americans from the south to Northeastern and Midwestern cities during World War I Thousands of them moved looking for work in factories and escaping the discrimina- tion in the south They replaced the many workers who were fighting in Europe Espionage Act of 1917 Made it a federal crime to communicate any information that interfered with the U.S. war effort or aided our enemies Passed to silence critics of the war and pacifists; they were supported by the people Eugene V. Debs leader of the American Socialist Party who was imprisoned for 10 years for his speech against military recruiting in 1918; ran for president 3 times Eugene V. Debs New Constitutional Amendments 18 th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol in the U.S.; passed to conserve grain and due to anti-German sentiment 19 th Amendment gave women suffrage rights (voting rights); rewarded women for their willingness to work in the factories during WWI to keep production going