Chapter 11 NotesWorld War I

Flyboys

Section 1

World War I BeginsAs World War I intensifies, the United States is forced to abandon its neutrality.

• Nationalism—devotion to interests, culture of one’s nation, nationalism leads to competition, antagonism between nations

• Imperialism-competition to build empires, acquire colonies overseas

• Militarism—development of armed forces, their use in diplomacy, stockpiling weapons

• Alliance System• Triple Entente or Allies—France, Britain, Russia• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire are Central

Powers• Alliances give security; nations unwilling to tip balance of

power

Causes of World War I

Empire Building

Nationalism

• Alliances Complicate Conflict• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of

Austria shot by Serbian nationalist in Bosnia

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, expects short war

• Alliance system pulls one nation after another into war, would have been a local/regional conflict without alliances

An Assassination Leads to War

War Declared

Early Battles• Germany’s Schlieffen Plan: hold

Russia, defeat France by driving quickly to Paris, then Russia

• 1st active battles of the war, German troops sweep through Belgium, cause major refugee crisis

• No man’s land”—barren expanse of mud between opposing trenches

• Armies fight to gain only yards of ground in bloody trench warfare-opposing forces attack from systems of fortified ditches

Neutrality• Naturalized citizens concerned about effect

on country of birth• Many feel ties to British ancestry,

language, democracy, legal system• U.S. has stronger economic ties with Allies

than with Central Powers• 3 years of neutrality for the US

American Neutrality

The British Blockade• British blockade, mine North Sea, stop war

supplies reaching Germany, also stop food, fertilizer

• U. S. merchant ships seldom reach Germany• Germany has difficulty importing food, fertilizer;

by 1917, famine, widespread starvation

German U-Boat Response• Germany sets up U-boat counterblockade of Britain• U-boat sinks British liner Lusitania; 128 Americans

among the dead• U.S. public opinion turns against Germany• President Wilson protests, but Germany continues to

sink ships• Germany asks U.S. to get Britain to end food blockade• Otherwise will renew unrestricted submarine war

The United States Declares War• Kaiser announces U-boats will sink all

ships in British waters• Zimmerman note—proposes alliance

of Germany, Mexico against U.S.• Four unarmed American merchant

ships sunk, unrestricted submarine warfare main reason for US entry into war

• Russian monarchy replaced with representative government

• Wilson calls for war to make world “safe for democracy”

The Zimmerman Telegram• We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine

warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace.

Signed,

Zimmermann

Section 2

American Power Tips the Balance

The United States mobilize a large army and navy to help the Allies achieve victory.

America Mobilizes• Over There by George M Coh

en• Selective Service Act—men

are required to register, randomly chosen for service

• African Americans in segregated units, excluded from navy, marines

• Women in army, navy, marines as nurses secretaries, phone operators

Role of African Americans

America Turns the Tide• After 2 1/2 years fighting, Allied

forces are exhausted, demoralized• American troops bring numbers,

freshness, enthusiasm• General John J. Pershing leads

American Expeditionary Force• By 1917, British learn to use tanks

to clear path for infantry• Early planes flimsy, only do

scouting; later ones stronger, faster

Allies Stop German Advance• Russia pulls out of war 1917;

Germans shift armies to western front• Americans help stop German

advance, turn tide against Central Powers

• November 3, 1918, Austria-Hungary surrenders to Allies

• German sailors, soldiers rebel; socialists establish German republic, kaiser gives up throne

• Germans exhausted; armistice, or truce, signed November 11, 1918

The Final Toll• World War I bloodiest war

in history to date• more than half of 22 million

dead are civilians• 20 million more are

wounded • 10 million people become

refugees

Section 3

The War at HomeWorld War I spurs social, political, and economic change in the United States.

Congress Gives Power to Wilson

• War Industries Board is main regulatory body, urges mass-production, standardizing products

• Conservation measures adopted by public, nation, including daylight savings time

• Food Administration under Herbert Hoover works to produce, save food

• Encourages public conservation, increase of farm production

Conservation

Propaganda

Selling the War• 1/3 paid through taxes, 2/3 borrowed

through sale of war bonds• Propaganda—biased communication

designed to influence people• Former muckraker George Creel heads

Committee on Public Information• Creel produces visual works, printed matter

to promote war• Gets volunteers to speak about war,

distribute materials

Attacks on Civil Liberties Increase• Attacks against immigrants, especially from

Germany, Austria-Hungary• Suppression of German culture—music,

language, literature• Espionage and Sedition Acts—person can be

fined, imprisoned for interfering with war effort, speaking against government

• Allowed govt. to silence those who challenged authority

• Labor leaders, advocating for workers’ issues were specific targets

The War Encourages

Social Change

• Du Bois urges support for war to strengthen call for racial justice

• Most African Americans support war

• Some think victims of racism should not support racist government

• Great Migration—large-scale movement of Southern blacks to North- escape racial discrimination- take up new job opportunities

Women in the War• Many women take jobs in heavy industry previously

held by men• Many do volunteer work for war effort• Some active in peace movement; Women’s Peace

Party founded 1915• Women’s effort bolsters support for suffrage; 19 th

Amendment passes

Section 4

Wilson Fights for PeaceEuropean leaders oppose most of Wilson’s peace plan, and the U.S. Senate fails to ratify the peace treaty.

Wilson Presents His Plan• Wilson’s plan for world peace

known as Fourteen Points• Points 1–5 propose measures

to prevent another war• 6–13 address how ethnic

groups can form own nations or join others

• 14 calls for international organization or League of Nations

The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan• Big Four Conference• France-Georges Clemenceau• Britain-David Lloyd George• Italy-Vittorio Orlando• US-Woodrow Wilson• Conference excludes Central

Powers and Russia

Provisions of the Treaty• Treaty of Versailles creates 9 new nations,

British, French mandates• Places various conditions on Germany:• cannot have an army• Alsace-Lorraine returned to France• pay reparations, or war damages

The Treaty’s Weaknesses• War-guilt clause—Germany

must accept sole responsibility for war

• Germany cannot pay $33 billion in reparations that Allies want

• Russia loses more land than Germany; territorial claims ignored

• Colonized people’s claims for self-determination ignored

Debate over the League of Nations

• Some think League threatens U.S. foreign policy of isolation, Senators believe the League ties us to European conflicts

• Senators like Henry Cabot Lodge mistrust provision for joint action

Wilson Refuses to Compromise

• Goes on speaking tour to convince nation to support League, has stroke, is temporarily disabled

• U.S., Germany sign separate treaty; U.S. never joins League

Consequences of the War• In U.S., war strengthens military, increases

power of government• Accelerates social change for African

Americans, women• Treaty of Versailles does not settle conflicts

in Europe and treats losing nations unjustly