world war i. causes of the war balance of power in europe franco-prussian war (unification) german...
TRANSCRIPT
World War I
Causes of the War Balance of Power in Europe
Franco-Prussian War (unification) German Industry
Tensions in SE Europe Sick Man of Europe Power Struggle
Balkans wanted autonomy Failed Alliance System
Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) Triple Entente (France, Russia, England)
Push into the Balkans Russia and Austria-Hungary come close to war Archduke Assassinated
The dominoes fall People believed it would be a quick war, lasts from 1914-1918
American Neutrality (1914 -1917) Americans
Some pro-German Irish
Some pro-British
Wilson issued a Proclamation of Neutrality
Important to note: Germans are not Nazis
U.S. Commercial Interests in Europe
1914 - US had 800 million dollars in trade with allies
1914 - Only 169 million dollars in trade with the central powers.
1916 – 3 billion dollars in trade with the allies. US had a financial stake in the war on the British
side.
British Propaganda British cut the Atlantic cable from
Germany to America. English dramatized German brutality
Submarines – barbaric Stealth Left survivors to die
Germans invaded neutral Belgium
German/American Tensions German U-
boats: unrestricted submarine warfare Lusitania – 128
Americans die Sussex Pledge
– Germans halt sub war
American Attitudes Some Americans -
Preparedness Neutrality
Woman’s Peace Party – 1915
William J Bryan
Wilson’s Reactions Wilson didn’t want to go to war, but he wanted
the allies to win. Campaign of 1916
Reelected on the “He kept us out of War”
“Peace Without Victory” Speech Neither side could save face
Reasons for US entry Most people were pro-allies Economic investment in the allies Unrestricted Sub Warfare Zimmerman Telegraph
Germans Resume Unrestricted Sub Warfare.
German officials believed it was their best chance for victory
They made two judgments… Cut allied supplies – 1917 offensive US couldn’t mobilize quickly
Zimmerman Telegram From Germany to Mexico. Germans invited Mexico
into war Return Mexican land
Brits intercepted this letter Outraged the US
population.
Mobilization US is pretty unprepared at start of US
involvement. Wilson centralizes economic power.
Railway Administration – standardize/prioritize railroads.
War Industry Board – fixed prices & managed production goals
Committee on Public Information – propaganda to support war effort
American Propaganda
Funding the war effort Raised income tax
Graduated rate between 2%-15%
Excess profits tax Tax on profits in excess of prewar profits
Liberty bonds 4 installments 4% - 4.5% interest
Draft May 1917 –Selective Service Act –
established conscription 24 million Americans registered for the draft 3 million entered the armed forces Drawn from a national lottery
Anti-War Dissent, Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights Suppression of Anti-War Dissent
Espionage Act - 1917 Make false reports to interfere with military
operation Cause insubordination/mutiny Fined up to $10,000 and up to 20 years in prison
Sedition Act 1918 (amendment to espionage act) crime for use of disloyal language against the US
Prosecuted dozens
Attack on all things German People of German dissent or
German names were harassed
German was once a required language
Sauerkraut was nicknamed “victory cabbage”
The U.S. Military Effort U.S. enters war
By 1917 – allies were in tough shape. Morale and economic boost.
German two front war ends Czarist Russia falls - Nov of 1917. Germany focuses on West.
Spring 1918, American Expeditionary Force in France Gen John J Pershing – commander of the Army
Americans fight in their own units Americans involved in fighting at…
Chateau-Thierry – fight back a German thrust toward Paris – June 1918 Belleau Wood – June, 1918 Second Battle of the Marne – July 1918 Rheims – July 1918 Meuse-Argonne – Sept-Nov 1918
Germany asks for Peace Nov 11, 1918 – Armistice ends the war More than 115,000 Americans were killed Peace Conference opens in Jan 1919 at
Versailles
Fourteen Points Wilson tries to define the specific war objectives of the allies.
System of secret alliance be ended Freedom of Seas for neutrals Eliminate tariff barriers – free trade Reduction of national armaments Partial adjustment of colonial claims Self-determination used in redrawing the map of Europe (Poland) Formation of League of Nations
Political independence and territorial integrity of members Vision of the 14 Points
New world order based on international law and collective security This is very idealistic and also quite visionary.
Treaty of Versailles Clemenceau (France), Lloyd-George (England) Orlando (Italy)
Pragmatic, vindictive Concerned about Germany in future
Signed by Germany under protest on June 28, 1919 War Guilt clause Germany to pay the full cost of war for themselves and enemies
Impossible number to expect Germany to pay Territorial losses as well
US & the Treaty of Versailles He fights hard to get the League of Nations (LON) included in
Treaty of Versailles US Senate has to approve the Treaty of Versailles Factions in Senate
Irreconcilables – opposed US participation in (LON) – perpetuated power of imperialists (LaFollette)
Reservationists – Felt it limited Congressional authority to declare war (now we would have to answer to an international congress, which doesn’t have American interests in mind) (Henry Cabot Lodge)
Wilson appeals to the people and campaigns for the signing of the treaty. He suffered a stroke and is disabled
US never ratifies the Treaty of Versailles. The US signed separate treaties to end the war with Germany and Austria in 1921-22.
Middle East From Dec 1917-Nov 1918, British army stormed
through the Middle East as the Ottoman Empire crumbled.
After the war, the British carved up the Middle East and created many of the nations that exist today
Saudi Arabia went to the Arabs Iraq, Palestine, Trans-Jordan became British
mandates Syria became a French mandate