The Great War

“The War to End All Wars!”

The Great War BeginsThe Great War Begins German Strategy: defeat German Strategy: defeat

France quickly, leave France quickly, leave British forces stranded, British forces stranded, then move on to Russia then move on to Russia (Schlieffen Plan) (Schlieffen Plan)

Sept. 1914 - the First Battle of the Sept. 1914 - the First Battle of the Marne - Allies pushed the German Marne - Allies pushed the German lines back some 40 mileslines back some 40 miles

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare By early 1915, both armies By early 1915, both armies

occupied hundreds of miles occupied hundreds of miles of trenches of trenches

No-man’s-land - separated two sides, No-man’s-land - separated two sides, thin strip of bombed out territorythin strip of bombed out territory

Soldiers would charge through Soldiers would charge through no-man’s -land toward enemy no-man’s -land toward enemy trenches as thousands were killed by trenches as thousands were killed by machine-gun firemachine-gun fire

The Battle of the The Battle of the SommeSomme

In July 1916, Allied Powers launched In July 1916, Allied Powers launched an offensive near the Somme River an offensive near the Somme River in Francein France

British forces suffered some 60,000 British forces suffered some 60,000 casualties in a SINGLE daycasualties in a SINGLE day

Battle lasted 4 months, Battle lasted 4 months, more than 1 million more than 1 million dead & wounded dead & wounded

New WeaponsNew Weapons Machine guns fired hundreds of Machine guns fired hundreds of

rounds per minuterounds per minute

The Allies introduced tanksThe Allies introduced tanks

Most feared - poison gasMost feared - poison gas

Submarines/airplanesSubmarines/airplanes

• May 7, 1915, a U-boat May 7, 1915, a U-boat torpedoed & sank the torpedoed & sank the LusitaniaLusitania, British , British passenger liner passenger liner

• 128 Americans were killed128 Americans were killed

• ““savages drunk with blood”savages drunk with blood”

LusitaniaLusitania

Road to WarRoad to War• March 1916, the French passenger vessel March 1916, the French passenger vessel SussexSussex

was attacked injuring several Americanswas attacked injuring several Americans

• Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Germany if they did not stop submarine warfareGermany if they did not stop submarine warfare

• Germany responded with the Germany responded with the SussexSussex pledge - promise not to pledge - promise not to sink liners without warning or sink liners without warning or ensuring passengers’ safetyensuring passengers’ safety

• 1916 Wilson launched military “preparedness” 1916 Wilson launched military “preparedness” programprogram

• National Defense Act in June 1916 - increased the National Defense Act in June 1916 - increased the number of soldiers in the regular army 90,000 - number of soldiers in the regular army 90,000 - 175,000175,000

• ““He Kept Us Out of War”He Kept Us Out of War”

Road to WarRoad to War

Diplomatic Relations BrokenDiplomatic Relations Broken

• February 1, 1917 - Germany resumed full-scale February 1, 1917 - Germany resumed full-scale U-boat warfareU-boat warfare

• Wilson ordered the arming Wilson ordered the arming of U.S. merchant ships sailing of U.S. merchant ships sailing into war zoneinto war zone

• However, German torpedoed & sank 5 U.S. shipsHowever, German torpedoed & sank 5 U.S. ships

The Zimmermann NoteThe Zimmermann Note• March 1, 1917, American newspapers published March 1, 1917, American newspapers published

an intercepted telegram from German foreign an intercepted telegram from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to a German secretary Arthur Zimmermann to a German minister in Mexicominister in Mexico

• Proposed a Mexican alliance with GermanyProposed a Mexican alliance with Germany

• Angered AmericansAngered Americans

• April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of warfor a declaration of war

Preparing U.S. MilitaryPreparing U.S. Military• Selective Service Act passed Selective Service Act passed

on May 18, 1917 - required on May 18, 1917 - required men between the ages of 21 men between the ages of 21 & 30 to register with local & 30 to register with local draft boardsdraft boards

• Supporters of draft argued it would Supporters of draft argued it would help build a more democratic U.S.help build a more democratic U.S.

• Massive training camps had to be built to house Massive training camps had to be built to house & train the new soldiers& train the new soldiers

Over ThereOver There• U.S. troops began sailing to France as part of the U.S. troops began sailing to France as part of the

American Expeditionary Force (AEF)American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• The troops did not participate in the fighting The troops did not participate in the fighting until 1918until 1918

• Escorted by U.S. warships, Escorted by U.S. warships, merchant vessels merchant vessels transported troops, supplies, transported troops, supplies, & volunteers (Convoy System) & volunteers (Convoy System)

The War at HomeThe War at Home

Mobilizing the NationMobilizing the Nation

Directing the EconomyDirecting the Economy• 1st step - raise money to pay for war 1st step - raise money to pay for war

• Liberty Bonds during the war & Victory Liberty Bonds during the war & Victory bonds after the end of the fightingbonds after the end of the fighting

• Government also increased taxesGovernment also increased taxes

Conserving ResourcesConserving Resources• Food Administration - Herbert Hoover - Food Administration - Herbert Hoover -

encourage agricultural production & conserve encourage agricultural production & conserve existing food suppliesexisting food supplies

• “ “food will win the war”food will win the war”

• Hoover guaranteed Hoover guaranteed farmers high prices farmers high prices

• Fuel Administration - Harry Garfield - Fuel Administration - Harry Garfield - encouraged heatless Mondaysencouraged heatless Mondays

Organizing IndustryOrganizing Industry• War Industries Board (WIB) - government’s War Industries Board (WIB) - government’s

central war agencycentral war agency

• Some business leaders were Some business leaders were critical of Wilson’s programscritical of Wilson’s programs

• Some argued government Some argued government intervention would damage intervention would damage U.S. system of free enterprise U.S. system of free enterprise

Mobilizing WorkersMobilizing Workers• American industries became short on laborAmerican industries became short on labor

• Unionized workers across the country went on Unionized workers across the country went on strike - higher wages & benefitsstrike - higher wages & benefits

• National War Labor Board (NWLB) - arbitrated National War Labor Board (NWLB) - arbitrated disputes between workers & employersdisputes between workers & employers

• Labor shortages strengthened unions & brought Labor shortages strengthened unions & brought changes in the work forcechanges in the work force

The End of WarThe End of War

Revolution in RussiaRevolution in Russia• March 1917 Russians demanding a change in March 1917 Russians demanding a change in

government & an end to the war, overthrew the government & an end to the war, overthrew the czarczar

• Bolsheviks (radical Bolsheviks (radical Russian socialists) seized Russian socialists) seized powerpower

• Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik leader, seized power Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik leader, seized power & moved quickly to remove Russia from the war& moved quickly to remove Russia from the war

Germany’s Last TryGermany’s Last Try• March 21, 1918, some 1 million German soldiers March 21, 1918, some 1 million German soldiers

launched a tremendous offensive against the launched a tremendous offensive against the AlliesAllies

• ““Big Bertha”Big Bertha”

• By late May Germans had pushed Allies back to By late May Germans had pushed Allies back to Marne RiverMarne River

• U.S. troops helped French stop the U.S. troops helped French stop the Germans at Chateau-ThierryGermans at Chateau-Thierry

Allied VictoryAllied Victory• Late summer of 1918, French commander Late summer of 1918, French commander

Foch ordered a major offensive along the Foch ordered a major offensive along the entire western frontentire western front

• For 3 months the Allies pushed deep into German-held For 3 months the Allies pushed deep into German-held territoryterritory

• By November, had reached & occupied By November, had reached & occupied the hills around Sedanthe hills around Sedan

• Battle of Argonne Forest - African American troops Battle of Argonne Forest - African American troops played a major roleplayed a major role

Allied VictoryAllied Victory• Taking a hard hit from the Allied offensive, the Taking a hard hit from the Allied offensive, the

Central Powers’ forces began to disintegrateCentral Powers’ forces began to disintegrate

• In Fall of 1918, mutinies broke out in the In Fall of 1918, mutinies broke out in the German army & navyGerman army & navy

• November 9 1918, Kaiser November 9 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm gave up the throneWilhelm gave up the throne

Allied VictoryAllied Victory• November 10, 1918 German government representatives November 10, 1918 German government representatives

arrived at Allied Headquarters to hear the armistice arrived at Allied Headquarters to hear the armistice termsterms

• Allies demanded Germany Allies demanded Germany evacuate & surrender military evacuate & surrender military equipmentequipment

• Signed armistice on Signed armistice on November 11, 1918 - cease fireNovember 11, 1918 - cease fire

• At last, the war had endedAt last, the war had ended

Wilson’s 14 PointsWilson’s 14 Points• Program for world peaceProgram for world peace

• 9 of the points dealt with self- 9 of the points dealt with self- determination - the right of people determination - the right of people to govern themselvesto govern themselves

• Other points focused on causes of modern war: Other points focused on causes of modern war: secret diplomacy, arms race, violations of secret diplomacy, arms race, violations of freedom of the seas, & trade barriersfreedom of the seas, & trade barriers

• Final point established the League of NationsFinal point established the League of Nations

Paris Peace ConferenceParis Peace Conference• Opened on January 18, 1919Opened on January 18, 1919

• Big Four - Wilson, David Lloyd Big Four - Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, & George, Georges Clemenceau, & Vittorio OrlandoVittorio Orlando

• The other three insisted Germany bear the The other three insisted Germany bear the financial cost of war by making huge reparations financial cost of war by making huge reparations to the Alliesto the Allies

• After 6 months of debate, the Treaty of Versailles After 6 months of debate, the Treaty of Versailles was signed was signed