11 World War I - Kenston Local Schools

THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918

Chapter 23: World War I   

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World War I Begins The United States Tries to Remain Neutral The Nation Goes to War Wilson Fights for Peace

Militarism Assassination

Nationalism Causes Of WWI Imperialism

1. NATIONALISM 

A devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation. (Love of your Country)

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This led to competition and rivalries among nations and ethnic groups were no longer protected. Russia and AustriaHungary disagreed over the treatment of Serbs in central Europe

2. IMPERIALISM 

Imperialism-Ambition of a powerful nation to dominate the political, economic, and cultural affairs of another nation or region

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Seizure of a weaker country by a stronger one

IMPERIALISM  Colonies supplied

European nations with raw materials and provided markets for manufactured goods  As Germany industrialized it competed directly with France and Britain  Major European countries also competed for land in Africa

3. MILITARISM 

Militarism—policy of glorifying military power, preparing an army

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The development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy.

MILITARISM

 Empires had to be

defended and European nations increased military spending enormously in the late 19th and early 20th century  By 1890 the strongest nation militarily in Europe was Germany  Germany had a strong army and built up a navy to rival England’s fleet  France, Italy, Japan and the United States quickly joined in the naval buildup

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Battleships were being stockpiled by European nations, Japan and America in the late 19th and early 20th century

4. ALLIANCE SYSTEM 

Members of alliances attack a nation if one of their Allies or themselves are attacked.

By 1907 there were two major defense alliances in Europe  The Triple Entente, later known as the Allies - France, Great Britain, and Russia 

The Triple Alliance, later known as the Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire 

5. ASSASSINATION 

Archduke Franz Ferdinand:  Heir to AustrianHungarian throne.  June 28, 1914  Assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist (Gavrilo Princip)

Balkan Region of Europe  The Balkan region was considered “the powder keg of Europe” due to competing interests in the area  Russia wanted access to the Mediterranean Sea

 Germany wanted a rail link to the Ottoman Empire  Austria-Hungary, which had taken control of Bosnia in 1878, accused Serbia of subverting its rule over Bosnia

The Archduke is assassinated in Sarajevo in June 1914

Bosnian Crisis of 1908 Another conflict was incited by the Austria-Hungarian annexation of the former Turkish province of Bosnia in 1908. The Greater Serbian movement had as an object the acquisition of Slavic Bosnia, so Serbia threatened war on Austria-Hungary. Russia had pledged their support to Serbia, so they began to mobilize, which caused Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, to threaten war on Russia. The beginning of World War I was postponed when Russia backed down, but relations between Austria- Hungary and Serbia were greatly strained.

Ultimatum- list of demands, that if not met will lead to serious consequences  

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Demands: Serbian government would condemn all propaganda against Austria- Hungary and suppress publication and societies that opposed Austria- Hungary Serbia would ban from its schools books and teachers who did not favor Austria- Hungary. Serbia would dismiss any officials who had promoted propaganda against Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian officials would participate in the proceedings against those accused of the crime at Sarajevo. It Serbia didn’t agree Austria-Hungary would resort to military action.

Alliance System kicks in 

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Small conflict escalates to World War Austria-Hungary assumed it would achieve a quick victory declared war on Serbia on July 28th after the time limit of the ultimatum expired (Russia moves troops towards Austria/German border) August 1, 1914 Germany declared War on Russia. August 3, 1914 Germany declared war on France figuring they would help Russia

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The alliance system pulled one nation after another into war.

Section 2: The United States Tries to Remain Neutral 

President Wilson  “He kept us out of war”  We favor the allies

America & the War 

Americans did not want to join a war over 3,000 miles away.

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Most Americans had ties in Europe, they still had relatives there.

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Germany’s style of attacking made Americans lean towards the Allies

America (con’t) 

America’s economy was tied more with the Allies’ nations than the Central Powers nations.

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The U.S. had a labor shortage during the war. The U.S. sent more goods to the Allies’ side than the Central Powers’ side.

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Germany Invades Belgium 

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August 3, 1914 – Germany invades Belgium in order to reach France quickly. Great Britain declared war on Germany for invading their ally and also on AustriaHungary.

WWI HAS BEGUN !!!!

THE FIGHTING BEGINS Schlieffen Plan- German plan to defeat France, then fight Russia This plan called for a quick strike through Belgium to Paris, France, then, Germany would attack Russia  The plan was designed to prevent a two-front war for Germany

The Schliefflen Plan

THE WAR BECOMES A STALEMATE  Unable to save Belgium, the

Allies retreated to the Marne River in France where they halted the German advance in September of 1914  Both sides dug in for a long siege

 By the spring of 1915, two parallel systems of deep trenches crossed France from Belgium to Switzerland Between enemy trenches was “no man’s land” – an area pockmarked with shell craters and filled with barbed wire

British soldiers standing in mud

FIRST BATTLE OF THE SOMME  During the First Battle of the Somme - which began July 1, 1916 and lasted until mid-November – the British suffered 60,000 casualties the first day  Final casualties for the First Battle of the Somme totaled 1.2 million, yet only 7 miles of ground was gained

Gas attacks were common features of trench life and often caused blindness and lung disease

 This bloody trench warfare, in which armies fought for mere yards of ground, lasted for three years

Weapons of World War I

Innovations in Warfare    

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Industrialized war (mass production) Machine gun- rapid firing bullets Trenches were dug and used 1916 tank was 1st introduced by British. Armored vehicle/ mounted guns Airplane- used to watch troop movements and drop bombs. Germany was 1st to introduce submarines (U-Boats) Germany also used poison gas

German soldiers in their trenches near Antwerp (September 1914)

A British trench - the soldier on the right is on guard - the others are resting.

Dead bodies in a trench after an attack

Horse Casualties

German soldiers after rat hunting in their trenches

German soldiers lice hunting in the trenches near Reims (1915)

Blinded by Mustard Gas

Animals were also susceptible to gas

THE WAR HITS HOME  During the first two years of the war, America was providing (selling) the allied forces dynamite, cannon powder, submarines, copper wire and tubing and other war material  Both the Germans and British imposed naval blockades on each other German U-boat 1919

 The Germans used U-boats (submarines) to prevent shipments to the North Atlantic  Any ship found in the waters around Britain would be sunk

German U-Boat

THE LUSITANIA DISASTER  United States involvement in World War I was hastened by the Lusitania disaster  The Lusitania was a British passenger liner that carried 1,198 persons on a fateful trip on May 7, 1915  A German U-boat sank the British passenger liner killing all aboard including 128 American tourists  The Germans claimed the ship was carrying Allied ammunition  Americans were outraged and public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers May 7, 1915

The N.Y. Times reports on the Lusitania

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Unrestricted Naval Warfare Contraband- goods forbidden by law to be imported or exported; smuggled merchandise British Blockade – “Hunger Blockade” Sussex Pledge- a pledge issued by the Germans in 1916, after the sinking of the Sussex, promising that no more merchant ships would be sunk without warning

U.S. Neutrality Tested  

Wilson Reelected Eastern Front-site of main fighting along the German-Russian border  Russia crumbles  Bolshevik Revolution  Brest-Litovsk Treaty- Russian Peace Treaty with Germany in 1918

Zimmerman Note 

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A telegram that was intercepted by the U.S. The telegram was from Germany to Mexico. Germany’s leader told Mexico that if Mexico invaded the U.S., that they (Germany) would help them. Pres. Wilson and Congress agreed to join the war.

Zimmerman note intercepted by a British agent and decoded

A SECTION 3: THE NATION GOES TO WAR  A light drizzle fell on Washington on April 2, 1917, as senators, representatives, ambassadors, members of the Supreme Court, and other guests crowded into the Capital building to hear Wilson deliver his declaration of war  Wilson said, “The world must be safe for democracy”  Congress passed the resolution a few days later

 America was not ready for war –

only 200,000 men were in service when war was declared Selective Service Act (May 1917)Law which requires men to register to be randomly selected for military service by the government.  By the end of 1918, 24 million had signed up and almost 3 million were called to duty  About 2 million American troops reached Europe

WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD  The War Industries Board (WIB) encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques  Under the WIB, industrial production and wages increased 20%  Union membership almost doubled during the war years – from 2.5 million to 4 million  To deal with disputes between management and labor, President Wilson set up the National War Labor Board in 1918 Poster encouraging production

VICTORY GARDENS  To conserve food, Wilson set up the Food Administration (FA)  The FA declared one day a week “meatless” another “sweetless” and two days “wheatless”  Homeowners planted “victory gardens” in their yards  Schoolchildren worked afterschool growing tomatoes and cucumbers in public parks  Farmers increased production by almost 30% by adding 40 million acres of farmland

WOMEN IN THE WAR  Many women were called upon to take on jobs previously held by men who were serving in the war  They became railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, factory workers, and miners  Many women served as volunteers in organizations such as the Red Cross  Their service hastened the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 giving women the right to vote

Rosie the Riveter was the symbol of women’s war contributions

SELLING THE WAR  The U.S. had two major tasks; raising money and convincing the public to support the war  The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war effort  The government raised about 1/3 of that through an income tax and “sin” taxes

 The rest was raised through war bonds sold to the public (Liberty Loans & Victory Loans)

PROPAGANDA- ideas, facts, or rumors spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause. -newspapers, magazines, fliers etc… were used to stir up nationalism  To popularize the war, the government set up the nations first propaganda agency called the Committee on Public Information (CPI)  George Creel led the agency and persuaded many of the nation’s artists to create thousands of paintings, posters, cartoons and sculptures to promote the war

ATTACK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES  As the war progressed, Civil Liberties were compromised  Anti-Immigrant feelings were openly expressed especially anti-German and Austrian- Hungarian  Espionage and Sedition Acts- the acts passed by Congress in 1917 & 1918 to control dissent by allowing censorship of magazines, newspapers, and films  Designed to prevent anti-war protests, but went against spirit of First Amendment (Free speech)  Socialists and labor leaders were targeted

Any anti-American sentiments were targeted during wartime

Allies Defeat Germany 

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Breaking the Blockade  Admiral William S. Sims Convoy System- means of protecting merchant ships from U-boat attacks by having the ships travel with a large group of destroyers (used in WWI & WWII) Fighting in Europe  Western Front nd Battle of the Marne  2 Armistice Signed – “ALL Quiet on the Western Front”

AMERICAN TROOPS GO ON THE OFFENSIVE  When Russia surrendered to the Germans in 1917, it allowed the Central Powers to focus on the Western Front  By May, the Germans were within 50 miles of Paris

Men of the 42nd Division during the Second Marne. These men were killed by artillery fire just 5 minutes after this photo was taken

 The Americans arrived and immediately played a major role in pushing the Germans back In July and August the Americans helped the Allies win the Second Battle of the Marne John “BlackJack” Pershing

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Eastern Front-site of main fighting along the German-Russian border  Russia crumbles  Bolshevik Revolution  Brest-Litovsk Treaty- Russian Peace Treaty with Germany in 1918

THE END 

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Italy will switch from the Central Powers to the Allies during the war. Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies on Nov. 3, 1918. On Nov. 9, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates his throne and takes refuge in the Netherlands German sailors and soldiers refused to fight. Germany agreed to an armistice on Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice was on 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour

SECTION 4: WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE  Despite hero’s welcome in Europe,

Wilson’s plan for peace would be rejected by the Allies

“Fourteen points”- President Wilson’s plan for world peace  Included in his “points” were:  No secret treaties  Freedom of the Seas  More free trade  Reduction of arms  Less colonialism  League of Nations to promote peace

Wilson’s 14 points in his own short hand

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14 Points Plan  Causes of War (1st Five)  Self-Determinationthe right of a people to freely decide upon its own political status or form of government  Formation of League of Nations

League of Nations 

This would provide a place for nations to discuss and settle their problems without going to war.

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Most Allies wanted revenge on Germany and did not agree with the Fourteen Points.

BIG FOUR They worked out the Treaty’s details 

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Woodrow Wilson (USA) David Lloyd George (England) George Clemenceau (France) Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

The Big Four met at Versailles

ALLIES REJECT WILSON”S PLAN, SIGN TREATY  Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in return for the establishment of the League of Nations  On June 28, 1919, the Big Four and the leaders of the defeated nations gathered in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and signed the Treaty of Versailles

Hall of Mirrors

Treaty of Versailles  

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The treaty which ended WWI. Britain, U.S., France, and Italy (BIG FOUR) decided the end of WWI. Russia, even though on their side, was not invited to the conference. New nations were formed: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Finland, and Iraq.

Treaty of Versailles 

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1. Germany was blamed for the causing the entire war: War-guilt clause 2. Germany had to reduce the size of their army and navy, could not develop air force 3. Germany had to stop all creation of war materials. 4. Germany had to pay reparations- money to all of the Allies.

Treaty (con’t) 

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5. Germany had to pay $33 billion to the Allies. 6. Germany had to recognize Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria as nations. 7. Germany had to return Alsace-Lorraine to France. 8. Germany had to give up West Prussia

Treaty (con’t) 

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9. Germany had to give up overseas colonies. 10. Germany had to give up land. - Germany could not afford to pay the money to the Allies. -Germany was upset that they alone were to blame for the war.

U.S. 

Many people in the U.S. thought the treaty was harsh.

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Congress was against the League of Nations The U.S. did not join the League of Nations and signed their own treaty with Germany.

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New Nations 9 new countries created: -Some were Finland, Estonia, Poland, Yugoslavia, & Czechoslovakia Austria-Hungary was split into two separate nations and land was taken away from them The Treaty broke up the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire empires 

Legacy of Treaty 

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Germany is angry and wants revenge, will help lead to WWII. Germany can not pay the $33 billion. Germany is forced into a severe economic depression. U.S. Senate refuses to pass treaty due to the League of Nations. Senate does not want to get involved in European affairs and wars.

Legacy of War   

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U.S. has a strong military Europe is devastated by the war. Germans wanted revenge for what was taken away from them. Adolf Hitler later promises Germany that they will once rise again.

Costs of the War  

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Costs had huge consequences 10 million dead, 20 million wounded (many crippled for life) Germany lost 1.8 million soldiers, Russia around the same, France 1.4 million, AustriaHungary 1 million, Great Britain 1 million, U.S. lost 120,000 in battle. Civilian casualties were also high Estimated total costs of war $300 billion

World years after WWI