WORLD WAR IGoal 8

FACTORS LEADING TO WWI

Militarism – building up a nation’s armed forces

Alliances – an agreement between 2 or more countries to help one another if attacked

Imperialism – led to competition between European powers; each wanted more influence and resources than the others

Nationalism – an extreme pride in one’s own country; the belief that it is better than any other country

THE START OF WWI

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visits Sarajevo, Bosnia on June 28th, 1914

Archduke is heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary; he’s in Bosnia to give them political representation He’s assassinated by Serbian nationalists (Black

Hand)

Austria-Hungary holds Serbia responsible; Germany supports declaration of war

ALLIANCES

Alliance System: each nation had treaties with other nations Conflict with Serbia & Austria-Hungary causes

alliances to trigger; most of Europe to brought into the conflict

Allied Powers France, Russia, Great Britain, Serbia

Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman

Empire, Bulgaria

Alliances of World War I

WAR FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Most Europeans excited about war; thought it would end by Christmas 1914

War quickly turns into a stalemate Western front w/ trench warfare (France) Eastern front (Russia) Southern front (Greece & Ottoman Empire)

War becomes war of attrition (who can wear out the other side)

New technology leads to massive casualty totals Machine gun Poisonous gas Tanks Airplanes Artillery guns & shells

No major shifts of power between 1914-1917

AMERICA’S PERSPECTIVE

US decides to stay neutral-Isolationism Most Americans don’t see conflict as “our

problem” President Wilson’s foreign policy towards

Europe US had no enemies; no need to pick a side US focus needed to be on Western Hemisphere

Mexico, Latin American countries, etc. Wilson will run for re-election in 1916, vowing

to keep US out of war Some Americans want us to enter the war Propaganda used against Germans/Central

Powers

WOODROW WILSON AND HIS IDEALISM

For over a century, U.S. had proud tradition of isolationism from Europe.

Wilson needed to instill burning idealism to inspire Americans to fight

Twin goals: "Make the world safe for democracy" as a crusade    ”A war to end war“

U.S. did not fight for profit or territorial conquest. U.S. wanted to shape an international order in which democracy

could flourish without fear of autocracy and militarism. Wilson genuine in his belief in democratic ideals and U.S. as a

world model. Result: Persuaded Americans to embark on the crusade

US FINALLY ENTERS THE WAR

Britain blockades Europe to keep Germans from getting supplies; Germans counter w/ “U-Boats”

Unrestricted Sub Warfare – attack all ships going to Great Britain or France Lusitania – passenger ship sank in

1915 (132 Americans killed) Germany signs “Sussex Pledge”

promising to stop Unrestricted Sub Warfare

AMERICA IN WWI

Zimmerman Note – letter from Germany to Mexico trying to get them to attack US

Russian Revolution – Russia withdraws from war, ending two-front war (forced to give up Poland to Germany)

Germans break Sussex Pledge, continue sub warfare

Wilson asks for a declaration of war against Germany “make the world safe for democracy” Jeanette Rankin – 1st female in Congress –

votes “no”

AMERICANS IN WAR

US Military not ready to fight (only 200,000 enlisted) Selective Service Act – May 1917

Had to register w/ government for draft 24 million register, 3 million drafted

American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by General John J. Pershing

Training period of 8 months Shipping becomes necessity

Shipyard employees given draft exemption Convoy system used to protect merchant ships Black soldiers

400,000 sign up (army) Most given non-combat duties (ie – cooks) 369th Infantry saw most frontline duty during war (most decorated)

Women volunteer as secretaries & nurses

American Convoy System used during WWI

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

Women took over for men in factories War Industries Board (WIB) -

created to regulate economy & war effort Led by Bernard Baruch Liberty Bonds

Committee on Public Information – created propaganda to get support for the war Led by George Creel

DOMESTIC AFFARIS

Food Administration - created to produce & conserve food

Led by Herbert Hoover Victory garden Meatless Mondays

Fuel Administration Daylight savings time

Voluntary

DOMESTIC PROBLEMS Anti-immigrant hysteria,

especially against Germans Espionage & Sedition Acts

Limits free speech Over 2000 people prosecuted Unions & socialists targeted &

persecuted Eugene V. Debs jailed for 10 years Industrial Workers of the World

(IWW) accused of “sabotage” b/c they urged workers to strike

Leads to Schenck v. US, 1919 Espionage & Sedition Acts declared

constitutional “Clear and Present Danger”

END OF FIGHTING OVERSEAS

US troops give new life to Allies, but did minimal fighting (compared to others) Nicknamed “doughboys”

Central powers weaken Germany tries 1 last attack in Summer of 1918

(unsuccessful) Central powers begin to crumble

Austria-Hungary surrenders in early Nov. German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates the

throne on Nov. 9th

Germans call for an armistice on Nov. 11th, 1918 (11-11 @ 11am)

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Treaty of Versailles, 1919 “Big Four” meet to discuss outcome of war France & Great Britain look to punish Germany;

Italy is indifferent President Wilson proposes “14 Points”, looks to

rebuild Europe

14 POINTS

There should be an end to all secret diplomacy amongst countries.

Freedom of the seas in peace and war The reduction of trade barriers among nations The general reduction of armaments The adjustment of colonial claims in the interest of

the inhabitants as well as of the colonial powers The evacuation of Russian territory and a welcome

for its government to the society of nations The restoration of Belgium

14 POINTS CONTINUED

The evacuation of all French territory, including Alsace-Lorraine

The readjustment of Italian boundaries along clearly recognizable lines of nationality

Independence for various national groups in Austria-Hungary The restoration of the Balkan nations and free access to the

sea for Serbia Protection for minorities in Turkey and the free passage of the

ships of all nations through the Dardanelles Independence for Poland, including access to the sea A league of nations to protect "mutual guarantees of political

independence and territorial integrity to great and small nations alike

TREATY OF VERSAILLES CONTINUED France & Britain reject Wilson’s

plan, only give him League of Nations Germany given sole blame, loses all

colonies, military limited, territory lost, must pay war debt ($33 Billion)

Separate treaties signed w/ other Central powers

Russia left out of treaty process; fuels anger towards West

Heavy burden on Germany will lead to rise of Nazi party & WWII

Wilson brings treaty home, but Congress refuses to accept it Henry Cabot Lodge leads

conservatives against treaty US does not join League of

Nations; begins policy of Isolationism

AFTER EFFECTS OF THE WAR

Europe is ruined 9 million dead 22 million casualties

Economies of several nations destroyed Estimated cost of war $350 Billion New countries created (Poland,

Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia)

AFTER EFFECTS CONTINUED

U.S became world's economic & political leader (notwithstanding its isolationism)

Russian Revolution ultimately instituted communism (tremendous impact until 1992) USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

The Big Four leaders at Versailles (Britain, France, Italy, US)

ELECTION OF 1920

Warren G Harding vs. James M. Cox Harding will run on a platform

Ambiguous on the issue of the League of Nations.

Harding spoke of returning America to "normalcy“

RESULT OF THE ELECTION

Result:   Harding d. Cox

First time full-suffrage for women in national election. Results displayed public desire for change from idealism,

moral overstrain, and self-sacrifice. Isolationists turned results into a death sentence for the

League of Nations. Later, the U.S. would bear part of the blame for WWII as

it undercut the League of Nations by refusing to join it. Security Treaty with France also rejected by the Senate. France then undertook to build a powerful military in the

face of increased German power and lack of U.S. support.

ELECTION CONTINUED

Germany, fearing France’s buildup, embarked on an even more vigorous rearmament program under Hitler.

 U.S. thus spurred an opportunity to emerge as a world leader and to shape world events for the benefit of peace. Two main causes for the failure of peace:

The Great Depression (precipitating cause) War psychosis" (dubbed by Wilson and others):

hatreds raised up in Europe by a war that lasted so long that Europe’s leaders lost all perspective