WORLD WAR ITHE WAR TO END ALL WARS????

CAUSE OF WORLD WAR I

Remember M.A.I.N

Militarism- the process of building up military strength for the purpose of intimidating other countries

Alliance System

Imperialism

Nationalism -intense pride in one’s own country or nationality

WHY THE WAR BEGAN IN EUROPE

Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) Heir to the Austria-Hungry Throne

Assassinated by Bosnian rebels

Austria demanded that Serbia, who had supposedly supported the assassins, turn over anyone who was involved in the plot Serbia refused Austria declared war

Russia enters to show support for Serbia.

Germany enters to show support for Austria.

ALLIANCES BY 1914

Allied Powers/Entente:-Serbia-Russia-France-Britain-Eventually U.S. (1917)

Central Powers:- Austria- Germany- Ottomans

UNITED STATES’ STANCE IN 1914

The United States did not want to enter the war. Long stance of isolationism since Washington.

Exceptionalism- the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is "exceptional" in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles.

Woodrow Wilson Supported neutrality and isolationism

He advocated that Americans stay neutral during this period, and not take sides with either the Central Powers or Triple Entente.

AMERICAN’S DIFFERING VIEWS

Central Powers

German immigrants

Irish immigrants – anti-British. Mainly supported Germany’s efforts in the

war.

Triple Entente

Most Americans supported Britain. Identified more strongly with them

$ Reasons

U.S had loaned more money to British than they had to Germany.

FORCED TO TAKE SIDES

The United States wanted to maintain a state of neutrality. President Wilson thought it was in the best interest of the United States to maintain trade relationships with all countries, regardless of side.

However, Britain and France created a blockade and made trading with the Central Powers almost impossible for the United States. Trade with England and France more than tripled between 1914 and 1916, while trade with

Germany was cut by over ninety percent. 

This leads Germany to start submarine warfare against the United States.

THE LUSITANIA

May 7, 1917 German U-boats attacked and sunk British passenger liner Lusitania, killing nearly 1200 civilians, including 128 Americans Why would Germany attack a passenger ship with

Americans on it if the United States was not involved in the war?

Feb. 1915: Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare in the waters around Britain – any ships could be attacked without warning

Wilson warned Germany that Germany had a responsibility to protect civilians not involved in the war, or they would risk the United States’ entry into the war.

Does Germany listen?

NOT AGAIN!: THE SUSSEX PLEDGE

Germany apparently did not get the message! They attacked the French ship the Sussex

on March 2nd 1916

Wilson issued a second warning. Germany relented.

Sussex Pledge: A promise by Germany which stated they would no longer sink non-combative ships unless they found contraband on the ship. Wilson used this pledge as a way to get

re-elected

ELECTION OF 1916

Wilson won the election with the slogan “He kept us out of war”

However, with the sinking of two ships which had Americans on board fewer Americans were supportive of a stance of neutrality in the war. The war in Europe was becoming more

intense and American interests began to be threatened.

THE FINAL STRAW: THE ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAPH

January 1917: German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann sent orders to the German ambassador in Mexico to offer Mexico an alliance with Germany

Germany would help Mexico reclaim Texas, California, and the Southwest if Mexico could keep the U.S. occupied and out of the war in Europe

However, the telegraph was intercepted by the British and published in American newspapers. Americans were angry and demanded

war

GERMANY IN TROUBLE

Germany realized that having the United States enter war on the enemy side would not be good for them so they tried to end the war before the U.S officially entered. They resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in the hopes they could force a quick British

surrender

Began to attack US merchant ships without warning, prompting Wilson to take action

Was this a smart move on Germany’s part?

UNITED STATES ENTERS THE GREAT WAR

April 2, 1917: Wilson appeared before Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany. The Senate approved war by a vote of

82 to 6, the House by a vote of 373 to 50

Joined on the side of Britain and France

U.S. entry into the war is considered a major turning point in the War.

AMERICAN WAR EFFORTS AT HOME

SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1917

May 18, 1917 Congress passed the Selective Service Act.

Required ALL men between ages 21 and 30 had to sign up for the draft

Candidates were drafted through a lottery system and then either accepted or rejected for service by a local draft board

About 2.8 million Americans were drafted while another 2 million volunteered

AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS

Nearly 400,000 blacks were drafted to serve overseas

Had to serve in segregated units under white officers, faced racial discrimination Why do you think African Americans during

this time had to serve in segregated units?

Still, many, such as the “Harlem Hell Fighters,” served with distinction, winning medals

WOMEN

Since the men were at war, women had to step up and become more active members in the workforce.

Women helped out the war effort in a number of ways: Selling war bonds

Conserved food

Women served in the navy and marines, and thousands served as nurses.

Women aligned themselves with humanitarian organizations such as the American Red Cross, YMCA, Salvation Army and others to meet wartime needs.

Workforce Efforts Women worked in factories as well as in the government.

Approximately 1,600,000 women joined the workforce between 1914 and 1918

Women gain the right to vote in 1920

THE WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD

Created in July 1917

Run by former stockbroker Bernard Baruch, appointed by Woodrow Wilson

Tasked with efficiently managing US industry in the manufacture of war materials

Controlled what products were made in US factories

Terminated 1 January 1919, by executive order.

FOOD ADMINISTRATION

Run by Herbert Hoover

The United States made a great effort to conserve food and other vital materials to help supply the troops and our allies abroad Responsible for increasing food production and

reducing food consumption

15% reduction in domestic food consumption without rationing

Different method from Europe, where food was being rationed.

Encouraged families to grow their own food in “victory gardens” and to observe “Wheatless Mondays” & “Meatless Tuesdays”

“Food Will Win the War”

FUEL ADMINISTRATION

Run by Harry Garfield To conserve fuel, Daylight Savings Time

was created and Americans were asked to observe Heatless Mondays

Controlled the production, distribution, and price of fuels.

Factories not making war materials had their workweeks shortened

The Fuel and Food Control Act (1917) controlled the resource and supply of foodstuffs and fuels to the nation and overseas military.

FINANCING THE WAR

The total cost of World War I to the United States was approximately $32 billion, or 52 percent of gross national product at the time.

Congress raised and created new taxes on corporations

US also borrowed $20 billion from American citizens through the sale of Liberty Bonds or Victory Bonds Patriotic Duty

Bonds allowed private citizens to purchase a bond to help support the military effort. After the war ended the bond could be redeemed for

its purchase price plus interest

WAR PROPAGANDA?

THE WAR TO END ALL WARS ENDS

WILSON’S 14 POINTS

Pres. Wilson presented his plan for resolving the war; his plan sought to restabilize Europe and resolve the root problems that had started WWI to begin with Wilson also proposed the establishment of the League of Nations

Fails because the U.S does not join.

Wilson later used the Fourteen Points as the basis for negotiation of the Versailles Treaty that ended the First World War.

Britain and France rejected Wilson’s plan in favor of punishing Germany with harsh reparations (fines) Germany goes into an economic depression WWII

Why only punish Germany????

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE & TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Paris Peace Conference was an international meeting convened in January 1919 at Versailles just outside Paris

Purpose of the conference was to establish the terms of the peace after World War

Big Four Britain

France

Italy

United States

The Treaty of Versailles included a plan to form a League of Nations that would serve as an international forum and an international collective security arrangement. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was a strong advocate of the League as he believed it would prevent future wars.

The new German government was required to surrender approximately 10 percent of its prewar territory in Europe and all of its overseas possessions

LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND ITS FAILURE

When Wilson returned from Paris, the majority of Americans wanted the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. 32 state legislatures passed resolutions in favor of the treaty

The Senate opposed the treaty.

Opponents argued, the treaty ceded the war powers of the U.S. Government to the League’s Council

March 19, 1920, the Treaty of Versailles fell short of ratification by seven votes

United States instead signs the Treaty of Berlin- the United States would enjoy all “rights, privileges, indemnities, reparations or advantages” conferred to it by the Treaty of Versailles, but left out any mention of the League of Nations,