World War I“The War to End All Wars”

1914 - 1918 World Leaders (sp) Long Terms Causes Allies Triple Alliance/Central Powers Archduke Franz Ferdinand Immediate Cause of the War Schlieffen Plan (sp) Trench Warfare

– No Man’s Land American Foreign Policy British Blockade German U-Boats

– Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Lusitania: 5/7/1915 1916 Election Zimmerman Note Why the US Enters the War: 4/6/1917

Wilson’s War Aim American Militarism Selective Service Act, 1917 African American Troops Convoy System General John Pershing Conscientious Objector Germany’s Collapse Cease Fire US Home Front Food Administration

– Victory Gardens

War Bonds Committee of Public Information

– George Creel

Anti-War

Espionage & Sedition Act Schenk v. USA, 1919 (sp) Great Migration Women Wilson’s Peace Plan League of Nations The Big Four Treaty of Versailles, 1919

– Terms

• Reparations

• War Guilt Clause Weaknesses of the Treaty (sp) Congress Rejects the Treaty League of Nations is Weak Post War Germany Isolationism

Differing ViewpointsDiffering Viewpoints

“ “Family Feud”Family Feud”

“ “Fall of the Eagles”Fall of the Eagles”

“ “The War to End All Wars”The War to End All Wars”

“ “The War to ‘Make theThe War to ‘Make the World Safe for Democracy’” World Safe for Democracy’”

World Leaders Woodrow Wilson: President of the

USA

Kaiser Wilhelm II: German leader

President Poincare: French leader

Victor Emmanuel: Leader of Italy

King George V: King of England

Franz Josef: Leader of Austria-Hungary

Czar Nicholas II: Czar of Russia– Will be removed from power– V. Lenin will be the leader of the Soviet

Union

World Leaders Germany:

– Kaiser Wilhelm II

England– King George V

Russia– Beginning: Czar

Nicholas II– End: V. Lenin

USA– President Wilson

“MAIN” CausesLong Term Causes

of WWI

ImperialismTaking territories - colonies

MilitarismBuilding up of militaries

Alliance SystemTaking Sides - secretly

NationalismPride in one’s nation;

National pride

Immediate Cause of WWI“The Spark”

The Balkans were annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908

– The Balkans known as the “Powder Keg of Europe

Serbia encouraging rejection of their reign

– Resentful of A-H

To drum up support for the A-H Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the A-H throne, visited the area

– Assassinated by Gavrilo Principe

The Assassin: The Assassin:

GavriloPrincipGavriloPrincip

1,2,3,4…Let’s Declare War!!

July 28, 1914 Expansive alliance system brought many countries into war

7/28/14: A-H declares war on Serbia (a quick little war) Russia declares war of A-H 7/29/14, protecting the Serbs (allies) Germany declares war of Russia 8/1/14, & France the next day Great Britain declares war on A-H & Germany to help their allies –

Frenchy

Within days, all of central Europe has been brought into war

The war has begun!

Soldiers Mobilized

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France Germany Russia Britain

Mil

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TeamsTeamsAllies: “The Good Guys”

France, Great Britain, Russia

Later the US in, Russia out due to Revolution

Triple Alliance

AKA – The Central Powers: “The Bad Guys”

Germany, Austria-Hungary & the Ottoman Empire

1916 Election

Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins the election

His campaign slogan was “He Kept Us Out of War”

Ran against Charles Hughes who did not want to treat Germany as harsh as most Americans want to

1914: WWI Begins

The US remains Neutral, but stilltrades with both

sides

1917: US GetsInvolved

April 6, 1917

The US enters the war on the side of

the Allies

Reasons the US Got Involved in WWI

England blockaded Germany’s coastline

US supplies rarely made it to their destination

– Causes fertilizer & food shortages: 750,000 Germans will die as a result of the blockade!

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Aggressive German tactics – U-Boats attacked & sank many ships

– U-Boats: German subs– Harsh b/c no way to warn the

crew, exploited by the Yellow Press

Germany will be seen as the “bully of Europe” as a result of this practice

Zimmerman Note

German Telegram to the ambassador to Mexico

Suggested a German-Mexican Alliance if the US gets involved in the war

Germany promises Mexico the return of all land lost during the Mexican-American War!

Germany wants Mexico to attack the US from the south & west

US Enters the War: 4/6/1917 Aggressive German tactics

(unrestricted submarine warfare)

Zimmerman Note

Russia pulls out of war in 1917 After Russian Revolution,

Russia leaves the war – leaves the Allies weak!

Wilson’s (US) War Aim: Make the World Safe for Democracy

Schlieffen Plan

German plan of attack– Named after Count Alfred von

Schlieffen

2 part plan – Holding pattern against Russia– Attack France via Belgium

Created 2 theaters of war– Western Front & Eastern Front

August, 1914

Trench Warfare Trenches were dug to house

fighting soldiers

Stretched across the European countryside

Very bloody warfare over yards of land

– During the battle of the Somme, the British lost 60,000!

Inconclusive warfare due to stalemates

No Man’s Land: Area between opposing trenches

– Craters, mines – you did not want to be there!

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

““No Man’s No Man’s Land”Land”

““No Man’s No Man’s Land”Land”

U-BoatsU-Boats

German submarines

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

German U-Boats will sink (did sink) any ship in British waters

U-BoatsU-Boats

Lusitania

British liner sunk by German U-Boats

128 Americans died Seen as organized murder Public opinion of Germany is

negative Germany defends itself by

claiming their were munitions hidden aboard

Long Term Cause for American entry into the war

After the discovery of the downed ship, it was learned there were munitions hidden aboard, as Germany claimed!

The Sinking of the Lusitania

The Sinking of the Lusitania

Unrestricted submarine warfare

Jan. 31, 1917 – Germany announces to the world that their submarines would sink any ship found in the waters around Britain.

The Housatonic - Feb. 3, 1917 US cargo ship torpedoed & sunk without warning

American Militarism When war was declared, only

200,000 men in military, 55 planes & 130 pilots– Very outdated weapons!

Massive build up of US armed forces– Trained with pretend

weapons due to shortage

Selective Service Act, 1917: Draft– Over 10,000 registered– Average age of European

soldier is 22

African Americans Large numbers joined the military

– Prove their worth (as if they had to)

Served in segregated units 1st African American military

officers

389th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters): Saw the most frontline combat

– Henry Johnson & Needham Roberts received the highest French military honor “Croix de Cuerre” (Cross of War)

– Not even recognized by the US – Progressive Presidents did squat for African Americans!

Convoy System

Conceived by British Admiral William Sims

Merchants ships would travel in a group of military ships for protection from German U-Boats

Ships loss down 50%

Germans will start using sea mines

Barrier of mines across the North Sea

– Still some floating around today!

The Convoy System

Merchant vessels and warships traveling together in great numbers for safety

General John Pershing Leader of US troops in Europe

US troops were being used as replacements & were told to fight under the flag of another country!

American troops were often called doughboys because of their uniforms

Insisted US fight under own flag– “I will not parcel out our American

boys!”

Wanted to make sure the US had a strong voice at the peace talks when the war ended

Americans in the Trenches

Americans in the Trenches

New WeaponsNew Weapons• WWI is the 1st mechanized war (using modern machines & equipment)

• Contributed to the high casualty rate

New Weapons

Reliance on machines with diesel & gas powered engines

– Mechanized warfare

Big Bertha, German cannon launching 1,800 lb shells 9 miles

Machine guns: 600 rounds/minute

Poison Gas: Mustard Gas– Leads to the invention of the gas

masks

Krupp’s “Big Bertha” GunKrupp’s “Big Bertha” Gun

French Renault TankFrench Renault Tank

British Tank at YpresBritish Tank at Ypres

The AirplaneThe Airplane

“Squadron Over the Brenta”

Max Edler von Poosch, 1917

“Squadron Over the Brenta”

Max Edler von Poosch, 1917

Curtis-Martin U. S. Aircraft Plant

Curtis-Martin U. S. Aircraft Plant

Medic!!

Trenches full of diseases: Dysentery

Lice, rats, sewage & corpses

Trench Foot: Feet would rot due to wet conditions

Shell Shock: Emotional collapse

Ypres The 1st use of poison gas in

wartime (used by the Germans first)

War Is HELL !!War Is HELL !!

Turning Point of WWI US entry into WWI is the turning point

– We provided fresh soldiers, economic & military aid, & war goods by increasing industrial production

Mutiny among German soldiers

Citizens in Berlin rebel, declared Republic of Germany

Kaiser abdicated the throne– Stepped down

There is no decisive battle

German war machine & economy run out of steam

War of attrition

Cease Fire

Germany agreed to a cease fire on Nov. 11, 1918

Ends the fighting

11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month

Celebration in the streets of Paris

11 a.m., November 11, 1918

11 a.m., November 11, 1918

Toll of War 30 nations involved

Bloodiest war to date

37.5 million casualties– 50% due to disease & starvation– Just over ½ of all men didn’t return

home

USA suffered 364,000 casualties

10 million refugees

Cost $186+ billion

US troops burying American Soldiers in France

Toll of War

Belgian Refugees

European Ruins

French Cemetery at Verdun

Russian Soldier

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

14 Points Wilson’s peace plan – created

before was ended 1st 5 points dealt with the long

term causes of WWI– Militarism– Alliances– Imperialism– Nationalism

Made boundary changes in Europe

League of Nations: the 14th Point

– Creation of an International Peacekeeping Organization

– Addressing diplomatic issues that could bring about war

Treaty of Versailles: 1919

Official end to WWI Created 9 new European countries

– Many boundary changes & different nationalities now mixed together

“The Big 4” attended: Italy, France, USA, & Great Britain

Terms of the Treaty Polish Corridor created

– Germany lost valuable sea port to the new country of Poland Demilitarized Germany – can’t raise an army Reparations: Germany must pay Allies war damages War Guilt Clause: Germany had to take full responsibility for the

war

Weaknesses of the Treaty

Germany humiliated: Other European countries provoked the war too

Ignored the Soviet Union & the Bolsheviks: Fought for 3 years; highest casualty rate & lost the most land, which they were determined to regain

Germany stripped of it Pacific colonies to repay debt

Ignored problems of SE Asia (Vietnam)

Congress Rejects the Treaty

Congress rejected the Treaty of Versailles – Afraid the League of

Nations would drag us into another European war

Wilson fails to empathize with European anger– Too easy on Germany

Wilson gave up the 14 Points to get the League of Nations

Weak League of Nations

The US never joined the League of Nations or ratified the Treaty

Senator Henry Cabbot Lodge led vote against League of Nations & Treaty

The League had no muscle power

US signed separate treaty with Germany in 1921

Treaty weaknesses will cause problems in the future!!

USSR not involved

Issues with Germany

Ignored problemsin Vietnam

• Escalates to the Cold War between the USA & USSR - Increases distrust/tensions between the 2 countries

• Germany can’t repay war debts & goes into a severe economic depression - Leads to the rise of Hitler - promised Germany a way out of the depression - promised to restore Germanys’ proud name & reunite the German people - raised an army

• Escalates to the Vietnam War, in which Vietnam fights to gain independence from France - The US steps in & gets bogged down in war

Germany After the War

Media strictly censored

1923 depression; loss of jobs & worthless money was used for heat

Germany blamed its hardships on the Jews & other “undesirables”– Used as a scapegoat– Hitler blames the Jews & the Weimer Republic

Gov’t. was a very weak republic

Hitler won control of Germany & started new militaristic practices

America’s Home Front Wilson controls the economy

– Mobilizing the economy to produce goods for the war

Gov’t. Controls: The Gov’t. controlled what was being made

– Limited production to war machines

Skirts & heels shorter

“Gasless Sundays” & Lightless Nights”

Day Light Savings Adopted

Paying for War

$33 billion toward the war effort– 1/3 raised through taxes!

War Bonds: Raise money for war effort

– Liberty Bonds– After war, get your $ back, plus

interest

Only a friend of Germany would refuse to buy them!

Food Administration

Asked people to conserve food– No rationing in WWI

Meatless, Wheatless, Sweetless & porkless days

“Gospel of the Clean Plate”

Food shipments to the Allies tripled

Victory Gardens: Home gardens

Farmers producing more

Food shipment to the Allies tripled

Committee of Public Information

Propaganda agency to boost support for the war

George Creel: Head of the CPI– Former muckraker

“How War Came to America” printed in many different languages

– Explained Wilson’s war aim

4-Minute Men: Trained to deliver a patriotic propaganda speech at any given time

– Draft, war, gardens– 7.5 million speeches during the war

Have You a Red Cross Service Flag?

Anti-German Fever

German immigrants tarred & feathered

No Mozart or Bach

German language not taught, books removed from libraries

German Measles: Liberty Measles

Sauerkraut: Liberty Cabbage

Hamburger: Liberty Sandwich

Daschunds: Liberty Pups

Women’s Work

Taking the place of men in society– Cab drivers, brick layers, RxR

workers, making weapons, police, farming, etc.

Red Cross encouraged sales of war bonds & victory gardens

Wilson formally recognized their efforts after the war (19th Amend.)

Nurses – 1918 Flu epidemic– 500,000 dead in US

The Great Migration African Americans moved to

Northern cities– Hoping to avoid racial

discrimination– Promised higher paying & better

jobs– Cotton crop had been ruined– Ford opened his plant to African

Americans• 1st to do so

More job opportunities because less immigrants

Lived in crowded urban neighborhoods

Black owned businesses catered to the African American community

Espionage & Sedition Acts June 1917

Illegal (unpatriotic) to interfere with the war effort

– Ex: draft, sale of war bonds, or speak negatively about US leaders

– Violated the 1st Amendment!– Since we don’t like immigrants, it

gives us a reason to deport

Schenk v. USA, 1919 Richard Schenk encouraged people

to avoid the draft - arrested Set limits on freedom of speech Clear & Present Danger: Speech

that puts the US in danger Chief Justice Oliver Wendell

Holmes

IsolationismIsolationism

Not getting involved in foreign disputes

American foreign policy after WWI

Bibliography

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWW.htm www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwone.index.shtml www.firstworldwar.com