World War I: 1914-1918

WORLD WAR I (1914-1918)US Enters in 1917

• 64. Identify and explain reasons for changes in political boundaries such as those resulting from international conflicts (WWI). (TEKS US 9B)

• 65. Identify the reasons for U.S. involvement in World War I, including unrestricted submarine warfare (the Lusitania and the Zimmermann Note). (TEKS US 3B) (TAKS 1)

• 66. Explain the impact of significant international events, such as World War I, on changes in the role of the federal government (financing the war and debate on membership in League of Nations). (TEKS US 15B)

• 67. Explain how scientific discoveries and technological innovations such as those in agriculture, the military, and medicine resulted from specific needs (gas mask, tanks, airplanes, over production of crops). (TEKS US 22B)

• 68. Analyze significant events such as the Battle of Argonne Forest and the impact of significant individuals including John J. Pershing during World War I. (TEKS US 3C)

• 69. Analyze major issues raised by U.S. involvement in World War I (isolation v. internationalism), Wilson's Fourteen Points (League of Nations) and the Treaty of Versailles. (TEKS US 3D) (TAKS 1)

• 70. Describe the economic effects of international military conflicts, including World War I, on the U.S. (increased exports, increased agricultural production). (TEKS US 12E)

U.S. Involvement In WWI

• American Neutrality: at the start of WWI, President Wilson sought to keep the US from being drawn into the war

• U-Boats: submarines deployed by Germany to keep the US from providing supplies to the Allies

• Lusitania: British passenger liner sunk on May 7th, 1915 by German submarine killing 1,200; 128 Americans

• Zimmermann telegram: proposal by Germany to Mexico to ally itself with German in the event of war with the US

MAIN Causes of World War IMilitarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism,

Today’s Sponge

• Identify MAIN causes of World War I

1. Militarism: building up a country’s army, navy and military to gain military dominance over your rivals

2. Alliance System: “entangling” alliances3. Imperialism: the actions used by one nation to

exercise political and/or economic control over a smaller or weaker nation

4. Nationalism: loyalty or devotion to a nation

Causes of World War I: Imperialism• In the 19th century, a new phase of

Western expansion into Asia and Africa began.

• European nations began to view Asian and African societies as a source of industrial raw materials and a market for Western manufactured goods.

• In this era, products of European factories were sent to Africa, Asia, and Latin America in return for oil, tin, rubber, and the other resources needed to fuel European industry and economy.

Causes of World War I: Imperialism

• Imperialism is defined as the extension of a nation’s power over other lands.

• The imperialism of the late 19th century was referred to as the “new imperialism.” – imperialism went beyond the

establishment of trading posts in these regions.

– Now European countries sought direct control over these territories.

Causes of World War I: Imperialism

• Imperialism was tied to Social Darwinism and racism.

– Social Darwinists believed that in the struggle between nations, the fit are victorious.

– Europeans believed that they were racially and culturally superior to non-European people of the world.

• By the late 1800s, nationalism, or a feeling of intense pride of one’s homeland, had become a powerful idea in Europe.

• Nationalists place primary emphasis on promoting their homeland’s culture and interests above those of other countries.

• One of the basic ideas of nationalism is the right to self-determination—the idea that who people belong to a nation should have their own country and government.

Nationalism• In the 1800s, nationalism led to a

crisis in southeastern Europe in the region known as the Balkans.– once ruled by the Ottoman Empire

and Austria-Hungary

• As nationalism became a powerful force in the 1800s, the different national groups within these empires began to press for independence.

• Serbia was one of the first nations of this region to obtain its independence

• Russia supported the Serbs, Austria-Hungary wanted to limit its growth.

Militarism• Militarism means that the army

and military forces are given a high profile by the government.

• The growing European divide had led to an arms race between the main countries.

• The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas.

Militarism: the Naval Race

In the late 1890s, the Germans began building a navy challenging Great Britain’s historical dominance at sea.

By the early 1900s, an arms race had begun between Great Britain and Germany.

Militarism and World War I

The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany.

The Alliance SystemIn the 1860’s, Prussia—a German kingdom—launched a series of wars to unite the various German states into one nation. By 1871, Prussia had succeeded and the German Empire was born.

France and Germany quickly became enemies. To help unify Germany, the Prussians had attacked and defeated France in 1870, forcing the French to give up territory along the German border.

To defend itself, Germany joined into an alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary. This alliance became known as the Triple Alliance.

The Alliance System--The formation of the Triple Alliance alarmed Russian leaders, who feared that Germany might expand eastward into Russia.--Russia also feared Austria-Hungary, and feared it threatened southeastern Europe. The Russians also supported the Slavs of southeast Europe. --In 1894, Russia and France-- recognizing their common interests and fears of German and Austria-Hungary--signed the Franco-Russian alliance.

World War I: the Balkan Crisis

In the late 1800s, nationalism led to a crisis in southeastern Europe—an area known as the “Balkans.”

As nationalism had become a powerful force in Europe, different national groups in these regions had begun to push for independence, including: the Serbs, Bosnians, Croats, and Slovenes.

Serbian Nationalism

The first of these people to obtain their independence were the Serbs, who formed a nation called Serbia between the Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungarian state.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, which at the time belonged to the Ottoman Empire. This infuriated the Serbs.

The European Continent Goes to War

In late June 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, visited the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

A Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip rushed his car and shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife to death.

The assassination occurred with the knowledge of Serbian officials who hoped to start a war that would destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Europe Goes To War

Following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Austro-Hungarian government decides to crush Serbia in order to prevent Slavic nationalism from undermining its empire.

Austia-Hungary sought the support of Germany in case Russia entered the war in defense of Serbia

Serbia counted on Russia for support in the event of an attack; Russia counted on the support of France.

On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilized its army in response. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st. Two days later, it declared war on France. WWI had begun.

Europe Goes To War

At the start of WWI, Germany launched a massive invasion of France. When German troops advanced through neutral Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany.

Those fighting for the Triple Entente were called the Allies: France, Russia, and Great Britain; Italy joined in 1915.

German and Austria-Hungary , along with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, formed the Central Powers.

Civilians join German soldiers on their first mile's march towards Paris.

French soldiers, also joined by civilians, on their way to Berlin.

Russian soldiers with band in St. Petersburg.

French cuirassiers depart Paris on horseback.

The Kaiser's war order is read on 1-Aug-1914.

Russian peasants "volunteer" for the Czar's army.

Austro-Hungarian troops waiting to depart from Prague.

English and French, colors side by side, at the outbreak of hostilities.

British hordes swamp the recruiting office. This would augment their small professional army with much needed manpower.

German troops packed into the tender of a locomotive.

These care-free French troops would soon learn the realities of war in the industrial age.

Russian soldiers with band in St. Petersburg.

Berlin students on their way to enlist.

World War I: The Home Front

1. Conscription: forced military service; a military draft2. Selective Service Act of 1917: required that all men between 21 and 30 to

register for the draft. A lottery determined the order they were called before a local draft board in charge of selecting or exempting people from military service

3. War Industries Board: To efficiently manage the relationship between the federal government and private companies, Congress created special boards to coordinate mobilization of the economy. These boards emphasized cooperation between big business and government. The WIB was created in July 1917 and coordinated the production of war materials in the United States. The WIB told manufacturers what they could and could not produce. It controlled the flow of raw materials, ordered the construction of new factories, and occasionally set prices.

4. National War Labor Board: an agency established in April, 1918 that sought to prevent strikes from disrupting the war effort by medicating labor disputes

5. Bernard Baruch: a Wall Street stockbroker who was appointed to run the WIB6. Victory garden: gardens planted by Americans during the war to raise

vegetables for home use, leaving more food for the troops

World War I: The Home Front1. Liberty and Victory Bonds: bonds sold to Americans to raise money for to

cover the cost of the World War I. By buying bonds, Americans were loaning the government money.

2. Great Migration: many African Americans left the South in search of work in northern cities and factories during WWI

3. Committee on Public Information: government agency created to “sell” the war to the American people; headed by George Creel, it provided “propaganda” to rally citizen support for the war effort

4. Propaganda: the spreading of ideas about an institution or individual for the purpose of influencing public opinion

5. Espionage: spying, especially to gain government secrets6. Espionage Act of 1917: an act passed to fight antiwar activities or enemies at

home; established penalties and prison terms for anyone who gave to the enemy or interfered with the war effort

7. Sedition Act of 1918: expanded the meaning of the Espionage Act; made it illegal to make any public expression of opposition to the war

8. Schenck v. the United States (1919); landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that an individual’s freedom of speech could be curbed when the words uttered constituted a “clear and present danger.”

World War I (1914-1918): Key Terms• Trench Warfare: troops dig trenches and ditches, wait for enemy to attack;

new weapons: machine guns, tanks, airplanes- “dog fights” • Battle of Argonne Forest: led by Gen. Pershing and 600,000 troops,

Americans break German defenses;• Wilson’s 14 Points: Wilson’s plan for ending WWI; based on the principle

of justice to all peoples and nationalities; free trade, freedom of the seas; disarmament, open diplomacy, no secret treaties, etc.

• League of Nations: a “general assembly of nations” created to preserve peace and prevent future wars;

• Treaty of Versailles: signed 1919, stripped Germany of its armed forces; they were also forced to pay reparations, or war damages

• Sedition Act of 1918: During WWI, the US Government stifled freedom of speech with this act in an effort to silence anti-war protest; Socialist Eugene Debs sentenced to 10 years for anti-war speech; the Supreme Court ruled in Schenck v. the United States “individual freedom of speech can be curbed when the words constitute a “clear and present danger.”

WWI: Casualties

• The total number of casualties in World War I, both military and civilian, was about 37 million: 16 million deaths and 21 million wounded.

• The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians.

• The Entente Powers (also known as the Allies) lost about 5.7 million soldiers.

• The Central Powers lost about 4 million.

Key Terms

• “No man’s land”: a rough, barren landscape pockmarked with craters from artillery fire

• Convoy: a group of ships or troops that travel with naval vessels for protection

Combat in World War I• By the spring of 1917, World

War I had devastated Europe and claimed millions of lives. Why?

• The early offensives of the war demonstrated how the nature of warfare had changed.

• New weapons:– Modern rifles– Machine guns– Heavy artillery– U-boats (submarines)

Combat in WWI• Because of these new

weapons, troops along the Western Front began to dig a network of trenches that extended from the English Channel to the Swiss border.

• The space between the opposing lines or trenches became known as “no man’s land”

• Troops crossing no man’s land were cut down or slaughtered.

No Man’s Land

Combat in WWI

• To break these impenetrable defenses, each side of the conflict developed new technologies.– Poison Gas: caused

vomiting, blindness and suffocation

– Tanks– First use of airplanes on

combat

Key Terms

• Wilson’s 14 Points: Wilson’s plan for ending WWI; based on the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities; free trade, freedom of the seas; disarmament, open diplomacy, no secret treaties, etc.

• League of Nations: a “general assembly of nations” created to preserve peace and prevent future wars;

• Treaty of Versailles: signed 1919, stripped Germany of its armed forces; they were also forced to pay reparations, or war damages in the amount of $33 billion

Establishing Peace

• In January 1919, a peace conference began in Paris to resolve issues that cause WWI

• Big 4 (Main Figures):– President Wilson (US)– David Lloyd George (GB)– Georges Clemenceau

(FR)– Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Establishing Peace (cont’d)

• Wilson’s plan for establishing peace was known as the Fourteen Points.– Based on the “principle of

justice for all peoples and nationalities”• Free trade• Disarmament• Freedom of the seas• Impartial (fair) adjustment of

colonial claims• Open diplomacy• Self-determination

Establishing Peace (cont’d)

• The most important 14th point called for the creation of a “general association of nations” known as the League of Nations.• Under the League of Nations,

nations would agree to help preserve peace and prevent future wars by pledging to respect and protect each other’s territory and political independence.

The Treaty of Versailles

• The Treaty of Versailles, signed by Germany on June 28, 1919, weakened or ignored many of Wilson’s 14 points. Under the treaty: – Germany stripped of its

armed forces– Forced to pay reparations, or

war damages in the amount of $33 billion to the Allies

– Required Germany to accept guilt for the outbreak of WWI and the devastation it caused

Treaty of Versailles (con’t)

• The war caused the break-up of four empires: – Russian Empire– Ottoman Empire– German Empire– Austria-Hungary

• split into separate countries

– Nine new countries created Yugoslavia , Poland, Czechoslovakia

U.S. Senate Rejects the Treaty

• The Treaty of Versailles, especially the League of Nations, faced immediate opposition from U.S. lawmakers.– Fear that the League of

Nations would prevent the US from own foreign actions

• Senate failed to ratify the treaty in 1919 and 1920

U.S. Senate Rejects the Treaty

Europe after World War I (1923)

Europe Before/After WWI

The results of artillery bombardment. The once tree-lined road to Guillemont. August, 1916.

The devastation of Delville Wood. September, 1916.

Péronne during the Battle of the Somme, 1916--Robert Carlson. "Don't be angry, just be amazed," was the calling card left by Germans on the destroyed town hall of Péronne after their withdrawal to the Hindenberg Line. The sign is on display in

Péronne today in the Historial de la grande guerre.

British infantry knee deep in mud.

The results of artillery bombardment.

German cemetery at Bethune.

Dead French soldiers in the Argonne. Many soldiers developed a defensive callousness after seeing such sights frequently, and blotted these images out of their

conscious minds for ever.

Americans burying their dead, Bois de Consenvoye, France, November 8, 1918

German remains at Verdun.