World War I

USII – 5c: United States involvement in WWI ended a long tradition of avoiding involvement in European conflicts and set the stage for the U.S. to emerge as a global superpower later in the 20th century.

What is going on in Europe in the 1800’s?

• Rise of Nationalism – belief that a specific nation, language, or culture is superior to all others

• Countries were competing to build empires (imperialism).

• European nations were building larger militaries then ever before (militarism).

• Germany had most powerful army and navy in Europe.

• European countries were forming alliances to create balances of power.

What was the spark that ignited the war?

• Austria-Hungarian leaders did not want Slavic independence and refused to make 2 areas part of Serbia, which angered Serbia.

• June 28, 1914-Archduke Franz Ferdinand, from Austria – Hungary, and his wife Sophia were visiting Serbia

• A 19 yr. old Serbian nationalist stepped out of crowd, shot and killed Ferdinand and wife.

• July 28, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophia

An alliance required Russia to join forces with Serbia and Germany to support Austria-Hungary.

• Aug. 5, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia and this is the beginning of The First Great War (World War I)

What was the war like for those fighting?

• New war strategies and weapons

• Trench warfare-fought from deep ditches, it was cold, wet, and full of disease.

• Germany used U-Boats (submarines)– Caused heavy losses to Allied shipping

What happened in 1914 on the Western front?

• The Western Front was in a stalemate

• Stalemate – situation in which neither side can win clear victory.

• Britain’s navy cut off shipping supplies to Germany (blockade).– Germany responded by sending subs to sink

supply ships.

Dog Fights

Forward Mounted Machine Guns• The device worked by first

loading and cocking the gun, then pulling a handle to enable the trigger. This handle lowered a cam follower onto the cam wheel. When the follower was pushed upward by an asymmetric bulge in the cam, a rod was pushed back against a spring enabling the trigger to fire the gun. The bulge in the cam was aligned such that the trigger was only enabled when the propeller blades were out of the line of fire.

WWI TANKS

TRENCHES

No Mans Land

• No Man's Land is the term used by soldiers to describe the ground between the two opposing trenches. Its width along the Western Front could vary a great deal. The average distance in most sectors was about 250 yards (230 metres). However, at Guillemont it was only 50 yards (46 metres) whereas at Cambrai it was over 500 yards (460 metres). The narrowest gap was at Zonnebeke where British and German soldiers were only about seven yards apart.

BARBED WIRE

U-Boats

Isolationism

• Isolationism-the policy of avoiding political and economic entanglements with other nations.

• Isolation refers to Americas longstanding reluctance to become involved in European alliances and wars.

The Colonial Period

• The isolationist perspective dates to colonial days. The colonies were populated by many people who had fled from Europe, where there was religious persecution, economic privation and war. Their new homeland was looked upon as a place to make things better than the old ways. The sheer distance and rigors of the voyage from Europe tended to accentuate the remoteness of the New World from the Old. The roots of isolationism were well established years before independence.

What events push the U.S into the war?

• 1. May 1915, German U-boat sank the Lusitania with 128 Americans on board.

• 2. Feb. 1917, Germans began unrestricted submarine warfare.– Pres. Wilson cut off

relations with Germany and ordered merchant ships fitted with guns.

What events push the U.S into the war?

• 3. Zimmerman Note Secret German telegram, proposed an alliance with Mexico against the U.S.

• Map showing Mexican territory in 1917 (dark green), with territory promised to Mexico in the Zimmermann telegram denoted in green.

April 6, 1917 – The U.S. declared war on Germany.

Who served, and when did the war end?

• There was almost 3 million draftees.

• 300,000 African Americans.

• Women served as nurses and interpreters.

• The war ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Allies and Central Powers

• Allied Powers– Great Britain – France– Russia– Serbia – Belgium– United States

• Central Powers– Germany– Austria-Hungary– Bulgaria– Ottoman Empire

What were the effects of the war?

• Allies lost more than 5 million people.

• U.S. lost more than 112,000.

• Central powers lost more than 3.4 million.

• The war cost about $330 billion dollars.

• Germany was left with a very heavy debt.

President Wilson and the 14 Points.

• President Wilson developed 14 points to try and keep the peace.– Asked to end secret agreements between

nations– 14th point-League of Nations- congress of

nations formed to settle international disputes and maintain peace and collective security.

• Republicans in congress would not sign with the League of Nations, they felt it would involve the U.S. in European affairs too often.

Treaty of Versailles

• France and Britain wanted Germany to: – Suffer– Take the blame– Pay allies war damages (REPARATIONS)– Never become a world power again.

• Germany ended up paying $33 billion in reparations (damages and repairs).

• This treaty ended the war.

Quiz Review

Prior to the U.S entrance into WWI, what was our policy?

• Isolationism - the U.S. wanted to remain neutral

What were the 3 Reasons for the U.S. to enter WWI?

• 1. Sinking of the Lusitania

• 2. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• 3. The Zimmerman Note

Why didn’t the U.S. join the League of Nations?

• The U.S. didn’t want to get involved in European conflicts, we wanted to remain neutral or isolated