Download - Us enters war and treaty of versailles
What event is this poster based on?
Is this an effective
propaganda poster? Why?
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By 1917 the conflict we call The First World War had been raging for over two years, drawing in troops from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and
Australia, although the main battles were in Europe.
Breaking the Stalemate!
In 1917, the focus of the war shifted to the high seas. That year, the Germans intensified the submarine warfare that had raged in the Atlantic
Ocean. Germany decided that a naval blockade of Great Britain would cause severe food shortages and give them an advantage. In January 1917, the
Germans announced that their submarines would sink without warning any ship in the waters around Britain. This policy was called
___________________________.Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
The Sinking of the Lusitania
One result of this German policy was that a British passenger ship, the Lusitania, was sunk by a German
submarine on May 7, 1915, with a loss of more than 1,100 passengers and crew, including 124 Americans.
How do you think U.S. citizens felt about this? What should be done?
Department of State, Washington, May 13, 1915 To Ambassador Gerard: In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable that the Government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted.
The Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of the Imperial German Government … the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies … in the destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity.... The Government and the people of the United States look to the Imperial German Government for just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital matter…..Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan
The United States Government Responds
Do you think this letter was a sufficient response to the sinking of
the Lusitania?
Sussex Pledge
The Sussex Pledge was a promise given by the
German Government to the United States of America
on May 4th 1916 in response to US demands relating to the conduct of
the First World War.
Germany promised to alter their naval and submarine policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and stop the indiscriminate sinking of non-military ships. Instead, Merchant Ships would be searched
and sunk only if they contained contraband, and then only after safe passage had been provided for the crew and passengers.
The 'Zimmerman Telegram' – often called the Zimmerman Note - was a memo sent from the German
Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Ambassador to Mexico through a supposedly
secure channel devoted to peace negotiations. It informed the
ambassador that Germany would be resuming its policy of Unrestricted
Submarine Warfare (USW) and proposed an alliance. If Mexico would join in a war against the US, they would be rewarded with financial support and re-conquered land in New Mexico, Texas, and
Arizona.
The Zimmerman Note
Why do you think this was such a threat to the U.S.
Why would the Germans propose such an
alliance?
Why would the telegram be published in U.S.
newspapers?
How would the U.S. public react?
The Germans knew renewed USW would
probably cause the US to declare war on them. Gambled on shutting
Britain down before an American army could
arrive in force. Alliance with Mexico and Japan, as proposed in the
Zimmerman Telegram, was intended to create a new Pacific and Central
American Front.
British intelligence intercepted the telegram and,
recognizing the effect it would have on US
public opinion, released it to America
on February 24th 1917.
It was released to the world press on March
1st.
The U.S. generally felt kinship with Great Britain
(common language, culture, history)
US public - felt need to end isolationism.
A vast majority reacted to the Note and
renewed USW by backing war against Germany. When the American Congress approved Wilson's decision to
declare war on April 6th, there was just 1 vote
against.
The United StatesUnited States – Maintained a policy of noninvolvement, yet economically were benefiting by selling goods.
Sinking of the Lusitania – German submarine warfare affected Americans.
Germany breaks the Sussex Pledge
Zimmerman Letter – Germany sent a letter to Mexico encouraging them to fight the U.S. The letter was intercepted.
The United States entered the war against Germany in 1917.
Create a title for
this Political Cartoon
Russia Leaves The War1918 – Russia gets out of the war. They sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. This gives the Germans
territories in western Russia in exchange for peace.
FRANCE
St. Mihiel
Argonne Forest
PARIS
The American Presence
Battle of the Argonne Forest
Last Night of the War, 10-11 Nov 1918
An Armistice is DeclaredGermany put their all into an
attack on March 21st 1918. For several months the offensive
pushed the Allies back, but in July the Germans were stopped at the Second Battle of the Marne. The Allied counter-offensive began in
August and in what became known as the Last Hundred Days,
they pushed the Germans back. Germany sought an armistice
which came into effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles
Objective:
• To understand the events and process of the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles.
• What impact did American politics have on the treaty process?
World War I EndsOn January 18, 1919 representatives of 32 nations attended a conference at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France to establish terms of peace.
This was called the _________________________________Paris Peace Conference
The four personalties who dominated the conference were known as the ______________________Big Four
There were heated debates among these nations as they all
wanted different things. Woodrow Wilson wanted
lasting peace and wanted the ________________ to be the
basis for peace. This was a list of terms for resolving this and all future wars. It called for
the end of secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade and the large scale reduction
of arms.
What did Wilson believe to be the answer to the
world’s problems? Would it work?
Wilson’s Idealism
Fourteen Points
Wilson also felt that self-determination was
important.
The right of a people to determine how their own
nation should be governed.
The Goals of France
1. According to this cartoon, what was Clemenceau’s main concern? Why?
2. Why do you think Clemenceau was nicknamed “The Tiger?”
The British and French were more interested in demanding
harsh treatment for the Germans. The French leader had bore the nickname “The
Tiger” for his fierce war policy. His goal was to weaken Germany
so that it could never threaten France again.
The Treaty of VersaillesLasting-Peace Peace-Revenge
War-Guilt clause, Germany pays reparations, Arms limitation, Germany lost territory, Alsace-Lorraine to France, Poland is
created, Creation of the League of Nations, Germany forbidden to join League, France controls Rhineland, Polish corridor established,
no secret alliances
Arms LimitationCreation of the League of Nations
Polish Corridor established
France controls Rhineland
Poland is createdWar-Guilt clause- Blame
Germany pays Reparations
Germany lost Territory
Germany forbidden to join League
No secret alliances Alsace-Lorraine to France
The Treaty of Versailles
New Map of Europe!
1. Which major empires lost the most land? Why?
2. What problems could occur due to the structure of the European landscape?
Costs of War New Nations Treaty of Versailles
•Millions of lives lost
•$338 Billion spent
•Land, towns, cities were destroyed
•Led to worldwide depression
•Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman
Empire, Russia were broken up
•Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland•Baltic states – Lithuania,
Estonia, Latvia•Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Trans
Jordan•Europe continues
imperialism, rejects self-determination for
colonies
•Germany accepts war guilt
•Germany pays reparations
•Germany loses colonies•Germany limits size of
military•League of nations is created but U.S. and
U.S.S.R. are not members
Results of WWI