Georgia StudiesUnit 6: The New South

Lesson 3: Georgia and the Great War

Study Presentation

Lesson 3: Georgia and the Great War

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What were Georgia’s contributions to

World War I?–How did World War I impact Georgia?

“The War to End All Wars”????

Causes of WWI• Indirect

– Alliances– Nationalism– Arms Build-up– Imperialism

• Direct Causes– The assassination

of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand

– Unrestricted submarine/U-boat warfare

1. Alliance System- some countries becoming allies

2. Arms Build Up- getting more weapons/build up

3. Nationalism- being proud of your country

All Roads Lead to War

Pre-WWI Alliances

Triple Alliance– Germany– Austria-Hungary– Italy

Triple Entente– Russia– France– Great Britain

• By 1914:– Germany had the second largest navy - behind

Britain– Had pushed Britain closer to France and

Russia– Had wasted considerable money because the

fleet was bottled up for most of the war– If those resources had gone to the army

Germany would have won the war– 1890 German army was 20,000– 1913 German army was 800,000

Weapons of the Great War1. Gun chiefly used as a psychological weapon

Bayonet2. Usually not thought of as a weapon; used to

separate the trenches and no-man’s landBarbed Wire

3. Scary combination of fuel and fire creating 'sheets of flame‘; terrorized the British in 1915

Flamethrower4. Ancient weapon adopted in the trenches; used to

lob shells into the enemies trenchMortars

1. Bayonet

2. Barbed Wire

3. Flamethrowers

4. Mortars

Weapons of the Great War5. Quick-loading, and if water-cooled could continually

fire on the enemyMachine Gun

6. First used by the French and popularized by the Germans; used to kill or incapacitate large numbers of enemy troops

Mustard/Poison Gas7. Invented by British to break through the trenches while

being protected by enemy fireTanks

8. Mammoth airships used by Germans to spy on and bomb the enemy

Zeppelins9.Originally used for observation; later in war “dogfights”

occurred Airplanes (Bi-Planes)

5. Machine Gun

6. Poison and Mustard Gas

7. Tanks

8. Zeppelins

9. Airplanes

• 1900 there were 25 sovereign states in Europe– Each nation believed it should have its own

state – None would admit to a higher authority – Patriotic literature motivated people “my

country, right or wrong”– Alliances created states less willing to

compromise

European Nationalism

Causes of World War I• On June 28, 1914, an assassin gunned down

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary • Austria-Hungary believed that Serbia's government

was behind the assassination. • When the fighting began, France, Russia, and Great

Britain backed Serbia. They opposed the Central Powers, made up of Austria-Hungary and Germany.

• Austria-Hungary seized the opportunity to declare war on Serbia and settle an old feud.

World War I1914-1918

Allied Powers Leading Countries

Central Powers Leading Countries

FranceGreat BritainRussia(United States joined in 1917)

GermanyAustria-Hungary

• President Woodrow Wilson declared the US would be neutral until 1917.

Austria declared war on Serbia Russia mobilized troops against Austria

– Was determined to support Serbia Russia declares war against the Austria-Hungary Austria mobilized against Russia Germany declares war on Russia, France, invades neutral

Belgium Most Europeans believed it would be a short and

decisive war

The War Begins

The United States Enters the War

• President Wilson worked to keep the US out of the war

• 1915: German submarine sank passenger ship Lusitania killing 128 Americans

• 1917: sub attacks resumed sinking American cargo ships

• Zimmerman telegram: Germany tried to get Mexico to attack the US

• Wilson finally joined the Allied powers

The Zimmerman Telegramhttp://www.commandposts.com/2012/02/feb-24-1917-british-release-decode-of-zimmerman-telegram/

World War I in Europe

• Czar Nicholas abdicates and government falls in Russia

• In December, new Russian government signs armistice with Germany

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk• Ended war for Russia

– Forced by the liberals in Russia– Bolsheviks gain power

• Russia loses:– Poland, Ukraine, Finland, Baltic Provinces – – 34% of Russia’s population– 89% coal mines– 32% farmland– 54% industry

• U.S. troops began to arrive in June, 1917• British and U.S. navies combined forces, and

formed convoys to counter U-boats• The combined forces stop German advances,

heavy casualties to the 270,000 U.S. troops• By end of summer, over 1 million Americans

are in Europe

Georgia and World War I• ±100,000 Georgians volunteered to join

the US armed forces• Training in Georgia at Camp Benning,

Fort McPherson, Camp Gordon, and Camp Hancock helped Georgia’s economy

• Georgians contributed manufactured goods and farm produce

• 3,000 young Georgians killed in the war• On November 11, 1918, Germany

surrendered ending what President Wilson called “the war to end all wars”

Georgia’s Contributions to World War I

Farmers grew more crops, tobacco, and livestock.

Towns grew “victory gardens”.

Georgia’s Contributions to WWIWomen volunteered for the Red Cross Sewing circles, war bonds

Georgia’s Contributions

• Railroads transported arms, ammunition and soldiers to military posts and ports.

Georgia’s Contributions toWWI

• Textile mills made fabric for military uniforms.

GeorgiaHome to more training camps that any other state!

• Camp Benning (Columbus)- training infantry troops.

• Fort McPherson (Atlanta)- housed German sub crew prisoners.

• Camp Hancock (Augusta)- National Guard training camp.

• Camp Gordon (Chamblee)- military training site, home of 82 Airborne division.

End of WWI

• Treaty of Versailles: Germany had to accept blame for WWI and pay $33 billion in war reparations.

• Allies wanted to punish Germany• Treaty included:

– Allies would occupy Germany for 15 years– Germany had to renounce the Treaty of Brest-

Litovsk– Germany lost her colonies and France regained

Alsace-Lorraine– Germany had to pay for the damage done

• President Wilson wanted to prevent future wars– Came up with diplomatic way to end future

disagreements

Germany takes the Blame