1914-1919

World War I

Last Surviving American World War I Veteran – Frank Buckles (1901-2011)

Life of a World War I Soldier – Officers Uniforms

Life of a WWI Soldier – Enlisted Uniforms

Equipment

Essential Question: How did militarism contribute to the outbreak

of World War I?

War in Europe

Feeling of intense loyalty to one’s country or groupEncouraged new nations like Italy and

Germany to establish their power in the worldInspired some ethnic groups to demand

independent nationsCaused much tension in Europe

Nationalism

Nations competed for colonies in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world

Expansion by one European nation brings it into conflict with others

 Great Britain FranceGermany ItalyRussia

Imperial Expansion

As European nations competed for colonies, they strengthen their armies and navies to protect their interests

Bitter rivalry develops between Great Britain and Germany (arms race)

Militarism

Develops as a result of military build-ups

Triple Alliance Triple EntenteGermany Great BritainAustro Hungary FranceItaly Russia *Europe is known as a “powder keg”

Formation of Alliances

Slavic people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire want independence

Gavrilo Princep assassinates Austro Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in hopes of bringing down the empire (June 28, 1914)

Assassination destroys European stabilityAustria Hungary declares war on Serbia (June

28, 1914)

Assassination Leads to War

Allied PowersGreat Britain (UK)FranceRussiaItalyJapan

Central PowersGermanyOttoman Empire (Turkey)Austria Hungary

The “Great War” Had Begun

Germany enters France and it becomes clear that no side will win quickly

For the next three years, neither side makes any advancements

Fought through a network of deep trenches (Trench Warfare)Provide protection from flying bullets and

shellsBehind the lines – served as first aid stations,

headquarters and storage areas

Fighting on the Western Front

“Whilst asleep during the night, we were frequently awakened by rats running over us. When this happened too often for my liking, I would lie on my back and wait for a rat to linger on my legs; then violently heave my legs upwards, throwing the rat into the air. Occasionally, I would hear a grunt when the rat landed on a fellow victim.” 

 (R L Venables)

First Hand Account

“If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.” 

 (Harry Roberts)

First Hand Account

“We slept in our clothes and cut our hair short so that it would tuck inside our caps. Dressing simply meant putting on our boots. There were times when we had to scrape the lice off with the blunt edge of a knife and our underclothes stuck to us. “ 

 (Elizabeth de T’Serclaes – a nurse on the front line)

First Hand Account

February to December, 1916 – Germany vs. France

One of the longest, bloodiest battles 750,000 casualties (both sides)

Technology of WarNew deadly weapons caused large numbers

of injuries and deaths

Battle of Verdun

New TechnologyImproved cannons, rifles and artillery

CharacteristicsCan fire shells at greater distances and can fire with greater accuracy

EffectsGreater numbers of casualties

New TechnologyPoison Gas

CharacteristicsCan seriously injure or kill anyone who

breathes it

EffectsGreater numbers of casualtiesSoldiers begin carrying gas masks

New TechnologyArmored Tanks

CharacteristicsCross battle lines by crushing barbed wireFire at close range

EffectsGreater number of casualtiesProvides route for advancing troops

New TechnologyU-Boats

CharacteristicsGerman submarines that sunk ships carrying

suppliesEffects

Eventually brings the United States into the war

TechnologyAirplane

CharacteristicsUsed for watching movements of troops,

bombing targets and “dog fights”Effects

Added a new dimension to warfare

How did militarism contribute to the outbreak of World War I?

Created need for alliances Armies built themselves up Nations looked for new kinds of

technology to defeat their enemies

Answer the Essential Question

Essential Question: Why did the United States enter World War I?

America’s Road to War

Originally most Americans thought that the war did not concern them

President Wilson declared the US would stay neutral

However, Americans eventually began to take sidesMost favored the Allied PowersBoth sides used propagandaAllied propaganda was more effective

American Neutrality

- US trades mostly with Allied Powers due to naval blockade of Germany

-1915 – Germany states they will sink any vessels that enter or leave British ports

-Wilson warns the US will blame Germany for any lives lost at sea

1915 – German U-boat torpedoed British passenger liner Lusitania carrying 128 Americans

America’s Early Involvement

United States strengthens their military but remains neutral

Germany continues attacking ships coming to or leaving from Allied PortsHopes to win the war before the US gets

involvedUS intercepts Zimmermann telegram

German offering of alliance with Mexico against the United States

Anti-German feeling in the US grows

On the Brink of War

1917 - Russian people overthrow monarchy and promise to establish free electionsWilson can now justify entering the war to fight

for democracy1917 – Germans sink 4 American

merchant shipsWilson’s cabinet members call for war

Revolution in Russia

April 6, 1917 – US declares warSelective Service Act sets up a military

draftMen aged 21-303 million drafted, 2 million volunteersWomen enlisted for the first time as radio

operators, clerks and nurses

America Enters the War

Why did the United States enter World War I?

Answer the Essential Question

Essential Question: How did the US help the Allies win the war?

Americans Join the Allies

1917 – Allies desperately needed help of American soldiersYears of trench warfare had exhausted their

armiesSome French troops refused to fight after

heavy lossesBritish were running out of food and war

suppliesGermans sank 1 out of every 4 ships leaving

British portsAmericans implemented convoys

Reduced shipping losses greatly

Supplying the Allies

1917 Russian Bolshevik RevolutionPeople upset over food shortagesCommunists overthrow democratic government

and establish a communist government led by Vladimir Lenin

Bolshevik’s pulled out of war to concentrate on setting up the new governmentSign peace treaty with Germany allowing

Germany to attack from the western frontLooked as if Germany might win the war

Russian Withdrawal

Germans advanced to within 40 miles of Paris, France

American soldiers, often known as “dough boys”, fought alongside Allied forces to break through German linesStopped German offensiveTurned the tide of the war

Dough Boys in Battle

1 million American troops joined other Allied forces in Argonne Forest

Faced harsh conditionsRugged, heavily forested terrainRain, mudBarbed wireMachine gun fireMany lives were lost

Allies pushed through German enemy lines***The End of the War: Central alliance falls apart as

countries are involved in revolutions and ethnic groups are declaring independence***

The Battle of Argonne Forest

German government appealed to President Wilson for an armistice

While deliberation took place, revolution spread in Germany and the Kaiser stepped down

Germany was declared a republic and agreed to Wilson’s termsWithdraw all land forcesWithdraw its fleet to the Baltic SeaSurrender huge amounts of equipment

The Great War had ended

Request for an Armistice

How did the United States help the Allies win the war?

US Navy helped protect the British (Convoys)

Provided more troops for the Allies Helped win significant battles and

stopped the German offensive

Answer the Essential Question

Essential Question: How did the United States mobilize its

resources to fight the war?

The War at Home

United States declared war on Germany in 1917

Americans began mobilizing Gathering resources and preparing for warAffected every part of American life

Mobilizing the Nation

Industry booms to produce war materialsLabor shortage

Men leave their jobs to fight Immigration slowsNew opportunities for women taking men’s

jobsGreat Migration: Hundreds of thousands

of African American’s come to Northern cities to find good jobs

Workers During the War

US had to produce food for the United States and the AlliesFood Administration encouraged farmers to

grow more and people to eat lessEncouraged voluntary rationingAmericans consumed less and exported more

Producing Supplies

Anti-War Sentiment was strongCommittee on Public Information

launched a massive propaganda campaignDistributed million of pro-war pamphlets,

posters, articles and booksProvided newspapers with government

accounts of the warHired speakers, writers and actors to build

support

Mobilizing Support

Espionage Act of 1917Tried to silence dissent (disagreement or

opposition)Provided stiff penalties for espionage or spyingPenalized people for interfering with military

recruitingSabatoge Act and Sedition Act

Made it a crime to say, print or write any criticism recognized as negative about the government

Controlling Public Opinion

How did World War I benefit workers?

Answer the Essential Question: How did the US mobilize its resources to fight the war?

Making Connections

Essential Question: Why did President Wilson’s Peace Plan fail?

Searching for Peace

World leaders from 27 nations met at a peace conference

Enormous problems lay aheadEurope was in ruins – landscape, towns and

farms destroyedHuman losses from war and disease were huge

(estimated at 9 million)People were homeless and hungry

Making Peace

Wilson’s Peace Plan – aimed at giving people the right to decide how they are governedAdjusted boundaries in Europe to allow for new

nationsCalled for free trade and freedom of the seasEnd to secret treaties between nationsLimits on armsFormation of the League of Nations

Member nations would help preserve peace and prevent future wars

Respect and protect one another’s independence

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Many European nations put their interests first

European powers wanted revenge while Wilson’s Fourteen Points opposed punishment for defeated nations

Believed Germany should make reparations or payment for damage done

The Allies Disagree

June 28, 1919 – Signed by Germany and the Allies

Dealt harshly with GermanyHad to accept full responsibility for the conflictHad to pay billions of dollars in reparationsHad to disarm and give up territory in EuropeHad to give up colonies

Included Wilson’s League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles

Republicans led by Henry Cabot Lodge opposed the treaty

Some Republicans wanted to embarrass Wilson

The Treaty was rejected and the US never joined the League of NationsTreaty was too tough on GermanyCommitted the US too strongly to international

affairs

Opposition at Home