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World War I

VOCABULARY

Fourteen Points

Allied Powers

Central Powers

“Hun”

Lusitania

Sussex Pledge

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Zimmermann Note

Liberty Bonds

League of Nations

Reparations

Sarajevo

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Selective Service Act

ABC Powers

Do-Now!!

All of the following events prepared America for war against Germany except… A. accounts of the conduct of “Huns” during military operations

reported in many American newspapers.

B. the Sussex Pledge

C. German policy concerning use of U-boats in 1917.

D. the sinking of the Lusitania

E. the Zimmermann Note

Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy

Wilson:

resolved to “strike a new note in international affairs” and to see that “sheer honesty and even unselfishness…should prevail over nationalistic self-seeking in American foreign policy”

Political Unrest in Mexico

1911, the 30-year supremacy (period of power) of dictator Porfirio Diaz came to an end when he and his government were overthrown.

Francisco Madero came to power. Widespread belief that Madero would

seize all land in Mexico owned by foreigners – this worried capitalists (especially Americans)

In response, General Victoriano Huerta seized power, and was Madero was murdered – presumably on Huerta’s orders.

Capitalist (especially Americans) supported Huerta, but President Wilson did not: He refused to recognize the new government, and was convinced that without the support of the American government, Huerta would be overthrown.

Wilson Intervenes in Mexico

Wilson attempted to intervene in the new political regime in Mexico in 1914, when it was clear that Huerta would retain his stronghold in Mexico even without the support of the United States.

In 1914, Wilson sent marines to seize the port of Veracruz.

Wilson expected the Mexican people to rejoice over the American intervention, but instead his actions were met with anti-American protests and riots throughout all of Latin America.

A-B-C Powers

Shocked by the world reaction, Wilson accepted an offer from the ABC (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) powers to mediate the dispute.

The ABC Powers supported Wilson by recommending that Huerta go into exile.

Venustiano Carranza was installed as Mexico’s president. Many did not support the Carranza

regime and conducted raids into the United States.

These oppositional forces were led by Pancho Villa.

Villa’s guerilla forces attacked and burned the city of Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans in the process.

Aggressive Nationalism

Nationalism can be a positive force, binding together a nation’s people. i.e. Saint Patrick’s Day, Cinco

de Mayo…

At the same time, national pride can fuel bitter conflicts.

In the 1900s, aggressive nationalism was a leading cause of international tension.

Alsace and Lorraine

Nationalism was strong in Germany and France.

Germans were proud of their new empire’s military power and industrial leadership.

France longed to regain its position as Europe’s leading power.

The French were still bitter about their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War War fought in 1871 between the

French and Prussians, leading to the end of French dominance over Europe world affairs.

The French especially resented German occupation of the border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.

Patriotic French citizens longed for revenged against Germany and recovery of the “lost provinces”.

Pan-Slavism

In Eastern Europe, Russia sponsored a powerful form of nationalism called Pan-Slavism. All Slavic peoples shared a

common nationality.

As the largest Slavic country, Russia felt that it had a duty to lead and defend all Slavs.

By 1914, Russia stood ready to support Serbia, an ambitious young Slavic nation, against any threat.

Crisis in the Balkans

Two old multinational empires particularly feared rising nationalism in Eastern Europe.

Austria-Hungary was worried that nationalism might foster rebellion among the many minority populations within its empire.

Ottoman Turkey felt threatened by new nations on its borders, such as Serbia and Greece.

Serbia was especially aggressive - it dreamed of creating and ruling a South Slav state.

Economic Rivalries

Economic rivalries further poisoned the international atmosphere.

The British felt threatened by Germany’s rapid economic growth.

By 1900, Germany’s new, modern factories increasingly out produced Britain’s older ones.

Britain therefore had strong economic reasons to oppose Germany in ANY conflict.

Germany, in turn, thought the other great powers did not give them enough respect.

Imperial Rivalries

Imperialism also divided European nations. In 1905 and again in 1911,

competition for colonies brought France and Germany to the brink of war.

Germany wanted to keep France from imposing a protectorate on the Muslim kingdom of Morocco.

Although diplomats kept the peace, Germany gained some territory in Central Africa.

As a result of the two Moroccan crises, Britain and France began to form closer ties against Germany.

Militarism

The late 1800s saw a rise in militarism – the glorification of the military. Under militarism, the armed forces and

readiness for war come to dominate national policy.

Militarists painted war in romantic colors.

Young men dreamed of blaring trumpets and heroic cavalry charges – not at all the sort of conflict they would soon face.

The rise in militarism grew partly out of the ideas of Social Darwinism. Echoing the idea of “survival of the fittest,”

the German militarist Friedrich von Bernhardi claimed that war was “a biological necessity of the first importance.”

The Arms Race

As international tensions grew, the great powers expanded their armies and navies.

The result was an arms race that further increased suspicions and made war more likely.

The fiercest competition was the naval rivalries between Britain and Germany.

To protect its vast overseas empire, Britain had built the world’s most respected navy.

When Germany began to acquire colonies, it began to build up its own navy.

The Central Powers

The first alliances had their origins in Bismark’s day.

He was aware that France longed to avenge its humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

Knowing that France would not attack Germany without help, Bismark signed treaties with a number of the other great European powers.

In 1872, Germany joined a weak alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia (Reinsurance Alliance). Ten years later, Germany formed the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy.

Otto von Bismark – Chancellor of Germany

The Central Powers (continued)

After Birmark resigned, Kaiser Wilhelm II pursued his own policies.

He preserved the Triple Alliance

However, he allowed Bismark’s Reinsurance Alliance with Russia in 1887 to lapse.

Thus, Russia was able to make its own, new alliances.

In 1914, when war did erupt, Germany and Austia-Hungary fought on the same side –they became known as the Central Powers.

The Allies

A rival bloc took shape in 1894, when France and Russia signed an alliance.

In 1904, France and Britain signed an entente cordiale “friendly understanding.”

Though not as binding as a treaty, the entente led to close military and diplomatic ties.

Three years later, Britain signed a similar agreement with Russia.

When war began, powers became known as the Allies.

The Two Sides

Central Powers

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Allied Powers

Britain

France

Russia

Consequences of Alliances

Other nations were drawn into alliances.

Germany signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire.

Britain drew close with Japan.

Rather than easing tensions, the growth of rival alliances made governments increasingly nervous.

A local conflict could easily mushroom into a general war.

In 1914, that threat became a horrifying reality.

The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

June 28th, 1914

Prince Ferdinand heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary.

Gavrillo Princip, Serbian Nationalist.

Declaration of War

Austria-Hungary's Declaration of War with Serbia, 28 July 1914

The following telegram sent by Count Leopold von Berchtold (Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister) at 11.10 am to M. N. Pashitch (Serbian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister), who received it at 12.30 pm

Sent by telegram (the first such declaration of war)

Vienna 28 July 1914 The Royal Serbian Government not having answered in a satisfactory manner the note of July 23, 1914, presented by the Austro-Hungarian Minister at Belgrade, the Imperial and Royal Government are themselves compelled to see to the safeguarding of their rights and interests, and, with this object, to have recourse to force of arms. Austria-Hungary consequently considers herself henceforward in state of war with Serbia.

U-Boats

Sussex Pledge

Germany promises to not sink American ships.

Germany ends up reneging on this pledge and states all boats near Britain and France would be sunk.

United States Neutrality

As war consumed Europe, Americans hoped the vast Atlantic Ocean would keep them out of the conflict.

President Wilson stated that this was “a war with which we had nothing to do.”

Taking Sides

America couldn’t help but take sides. Immigrants of European

nationality groups gave many Americans roots that influenced their opinions.

In general, the common heritage shared by the United States and Britain, and America’s historic links with France, put American public opinion on the side of the Allies.

Both Sides Strain Neutrality

America’s neutrality did not protect it from either the Allies or the Central Powers. The British imposed a blockade on

the Central Powers. They planted mines in the North

Sea, forced neutral ships into port for inspection, opened American mail, and redefined contraband, or prohibited materials, so that not even food could be shipped to Germany.

Trade between the United States and the Central Powers shrank.

At the same time, exports from the United States to the Allies nearly quadrupled, as war materials and food from America helped the Allies.

1915 Sinking of the Lusitania

German U-Boat sinks British liner RMS Lusitania.

1200 dead including 128 Americans

“Peace Without Victory”

On December 18, 1916, Wilson asked the warring nations to state their peace terms.

As a neutral party, he hoped to negotiate a settlement, but both sides responded with terms that their opponents would not accept.

Wilson called for a “peace without victory.”

Submarine Warfare Resumes

The Germans soon dashed Wilson’s hope of mediating an end to the war.

German losses on the battlefield caused by the British blockade forced Germany to resume unrestricted submarine warfare. German naval commanders claimed they

could starve Britain into submission in five months if the German government gave U-boats permission to sink ships on sight.

The Germans felt that even of this violation of their Sussex Pledge drew the US into the war, the Americans could not raise an army and transport it to Europe in time to prevent the Allies from collapsing.

Therefore, on February 3, 1917, Wilson responded by breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany.

The Zimmermann Note

The British government revealed that it had intercepted a cable from German foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico.

Zimmermann instructed the ambassador to arrange an alliance between Mexico and Germany in the event that the US entered the war. To encourage Mexico’s cooperation, Germany

promised that Mexico would regain Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico upon a German victory.

American newspapers published the Zimmermann Note, which absolutely outraged the American public.

Then, between March 12-19th, four American merchant ships were sunk without warning.

Wilson asked Congress to declare war.

The Zimmermann Note

The European Front

The Schlieffan Plan

Schlieffen Plan – war plan for Germany, created by Alfred von Schlieffen

Germany had to fight a war on two fronts (east with France/Great Britain and west with Russia)

Plan to reach Paris and defeat French in 6 weeks before Russia can mobilize, then attack Russia

Problems encountered by Helmuth von Moltke – German commander

Heavily fortified areas in Belgium

Strong resistance from France

Russia mobilized quicker

Britain attacked from the north

The Draft

Selective Service Act passed: requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service (total of 10 million registered).

The draft eventually extended to all men between 18 and 45 (total of 2.8 million registered, with an additional 2 million volunteers).

Example of WWI Propaganda

“Lafayette, we are here.”

Women and African-Americans

African-Americans: 370,000 African Americans

drafted to serve (200,000 served overseas).

Encountered discrimination and prejudice throughout war; many units were completely segregated.

Women: Millions of jobs normally given

to men were filed by women during the war.

Still did not have the right to vote.

Victory Gardens

Music

Espionage and Sedition Acts

To prevent spying and resistance to the war effort, Congress passed the Espionage and Sedition Acts

Severe penalties imposed by these laws silenced most war opposition.

Persecution of Germans

War fever was also to blame for the mistreatment and persecution of German Americans. Despite Wilson’s insistence that

Americans were “the sincere friends of the German people,” anti-German sentiment ran high.

Many school systems banned the teaching of the German language, and orchestras stropped performing the music of Beethoven, Schubert, and Wagner.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points