Chapter #20Chapter #20“World War I”“World War I”

1914 - 19201914 - 1920

Sections of W.W. I

Section #1: The Road to War Section #2: The U.S. Declares War Section #3: American’s on the European

Front

Section #4: On the Home Front Section #5: Global Peacemaker

Section #1:“The Road to War”

Causes for W.W. I– 1.) Imperialism in Europe.– 2.) Militarism: Building up a

nation’s armed forces in preparation for war.

– 3.) Nationalism:• Act with their own national

interests.• Ethnic diversity led to violent

struggles for independence. Ex. Austria-Hungry

– 4.) Alliances designed to bolster each nation’s security.

– 5.) Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie on June 28, 1914 by Bosnian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

The Conflicts Expands– July 28, 1914 Austria-

Hungry declares war on Serbia.

– July 29th, Serbia’s protector, Russia began mobilization.

– Germany demands that Russia stops mobilizing.

– France begins to ready it’s troops.

– Aug. 1, 1914 Germany declares war on Russia.

• Schlieffen Plan• Brings Great Britain into

war.

– Great powers divided• Central Powers• Allies

– Stalemate: a situation in which neither side is able to gain the advantage.

– Trench Warfare

American Response– 1/3 of American

population were 1st or 2nd

generation immigrants. (1/4 German American, 1/8 Irish)

– Most Americans opposed Kaiser Wilhelm of

Germany. (autocracy)

– American Neutrality• Preparedness

Movement

• Peace Movement

Section #2:“The United States Declares War” Actions will lead the U.S. to

war.– German submarine warfare.

• U-boat activity• No warnings of attack.• Lusitania attacked, May 7,

1915.– 1,200 dead– 128 Americans

• March 24, 1916, sinking of the Sussex.

– Sussex Pledge– President Wilson agrees

with “preparedness”.– Authorized bankers to

make loans with Allies.• February 1, 1917 Germany

resumes unrestricted submarine warfare.

– Wilson asks Congress for permission to arm American merchant ships.

The Zimmerman Note– Filibuster: tactic in which

senators take the floor, begin talking, and refuse to stop talking to prevent a vote on a measure from taking place.

– A intercepted telegram that proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico.

Russian Revolution– 1.8 million killed– 2.4 million prisoners– 2.8 million sick / wounded– March 1917 Czar Nicholas II was

forced to give up his power.– Republic government established.– Russia backs out of war, signs treaty

w/ Germany.

War Resolution– March 16 – 18 three American ships

were sunk.– April 2, 1917 Wilson goes to

Congress. War resolution passed 82 to 6.

– April 6, 1917 Wilson signs the war resolution.

Section #3:“American’s in Europe” Preparing for Action

– Allies desperately need replacements.• Gen. John J. Pershing• Small force• Boost Allied morale• Start of W.W.I. U.S. = 120,000 enlisted troops and 80,000

national guard.– Selective Service Act: May 1917authorizing a draft of young men for

military service.– By November 1918, more than 24 million had registered for the draft for

“the war to end all wars.”– American Expeditionary Force (AEF)– 25,0000 + women would serve their country. (Red Cross)

• Transportation of troops and war goods by Convoy.• American forces separated from Allied forces.

– 300,000 African Americans volunteered or drafted.– Mostly for manual labor.– 369th Infantry (Harlem Hell Fighters) fought with the French. (Croix de

Guerre)

Turning Tide of the War– Nov. 1917, with the help of the German government, Vladimir

Lenin led his Bolsheviks to violently overthrow the Russian government. Lenin would then makes peace with Germany on March 3, 1918. How does this effect the war?

– Americans save Paris• Brigadier General James G. Harbord: “We dig no trenches to fall back on.

The Marines will hold where they stand” -- Battle of Chateau – Thierry• Lost of half his troops.

– Tank warfare• August 11, 1918 German General Erich Von Ludendorff advises Kaiser

Wilhelm to seek a peace settlement.• Allies began to use airplanes to drop bombs on the final German

strongholds.

Ending the War– German commanders hoping to dictate

terms for peace. Allies refused, called for unconditional surrender.

– November 11, 1918: armistice, or cease-fire.– 50,000 American soldiers died.– European casualties =

• 8 million + dead• 900,000 British troops dead.• Millions of civilians died during and

immediately after the fighting from starvation, disease, or war-related injuries.

• Ottoman forces deported and murdered hundreds of thousands of Armenians, genocide.

Section #4“On the Home Front”

Enforcing Loyalty

The Sedition Act of 1918

Makes it illegal to make “disloyal statements about the United States government or military.

Espionage Act of 1917

Passed in response to fears that German secret agents might try to weaken American war effort. Act makes it illegal to interfere with the draft.

Committee on Public Education

Rallies popular support for the war with films, posters, and pamphlets.

Literacy Test for Immigrants

Congress passes law forcing immigrants to prove they can read before entering the country. Law leads to nativism and increased anti-German feeling.

To strengthen the war effort, The American government expanded its control over the economy and brought changes to American society.

Section #5:“Global Peacemaker”

United States

After the War

* American economy slows as wartime production ends.

* Returning troops face difficult adjustment to civilian society.

* Many women and minority workers faced with loss of jobs as men return to work force.

* Despite contribution to war effort, returning African American troops continue to face discrimination and segregation.

* Death and destruction of war leads to feelings of gloom among many American.

Wilson’s plan for world peace met with opposition at home and in Europe.

Section #5 cont.

“Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.”

– Woodrow Wilson

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points

Versailles Peace TreatyVersailles Peace Treaty The Big Four?

– French premier, Georges, Clemenceau took advantage of the weakness to Wilson’s plan to demand harsh penalties for Germany.

– War guilt and Reparations• Germany owed the Allies $33 billion.

• French were backed by British and David Lloyd George.

• Treaty was signed June 28, 1919.

Post W.W.I MapPost W.W.I Map

Cause and Effects of W.W.ICause and Effects of W.W.IºImperialism leads to international rivalries, particularly within Europe.ºNationalism between and within countries intensifies.ºMilitary buildup in Europe intensifies.ºArchduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated.ºAustria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

World War IWorld War I

ºMap of Europe is redrawn.ºLeague of Nations is formed.ºUnited States economy is boosted.ºUnited States suffers post-war disillusionment.