19.1: World War I Begins Objectives: 1. Identify the causes of WWI 2. Be able to explain why the US abandoned neutrality

19.1: World War I Begins

Objectives: 1. Identify the causes of WWI2. Be able to explain why the US abandoned neutrality

THE CONTEXT:Europe is a “powder-keg”(Long-Term Causes of WWI)

NATIONALISM:National interests

placed ahead of global cooperation

IMPERIALISM:Industrialization

demands more resources and new markets, leading to colonization

MILITARISM:the development of

armed forces as a tool of foreign policy and as a tool of diplomacy

ALLIANCES:Central Powers = Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman EmpireAllied Powers = France, England, Russia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/causes1_01.shtml

The First Shot…The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Balkans = “powder keg of Europe”

• Each system of alliances had interests here

• June 28, 1914 Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austrian throne, assassinated by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princep

CHAIN REACTION:1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated2. Austria attacks Serbia3. Russia defends Serbia and attacks

Austria4. Germany defends Austria, attacks

Russia5. Germany attacks France, Russia’s ally6. Great Britain defends France, attacks

Germany7. Germany declares war on Britain8. Fighting in Europe spreads to their

colonies9. World War I begins

THE SYSTEM OF ALLIANCES FAILS TO PROTECT – RATHER, IT PROVOKES!!!

REFLECT:Which of the four long-term causes was most responsible for WWI?

Were they all necessary?

Could this happen today? Where?

War Strategy

The German Plan:•A QUICK strike west through Belgium to capture Paris. Then swing forces east to knock out Russia.

•Germany DOES NOT want to fight a war on TWO FRONTS.

The Reality:•Belgium does not fall easily, and British and French lines hold at the Marne. Two fronts form.•Fighting stabilizes around “no man’s land.” •No quick victory. •Trench warfare instead. Opponents deadlocked. Millions die for mere miles of land.

Neutrality…Between a rock and a hard place.US “tries” to stay neutral.

Neutral…•US has immigrants and bonds with both Central Powers and Allies•German saboteurs•Restraint after Lusitania

Not so Neutral…•Loans to Allies•Supply arms and munitions primarily only to Allies b/c of British Blockade•Sussex ultimatum•Zimmerman Note

19 January, 1917: The Zimmerman Noteto the German Minister to Mexico On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make wartogether and together make peace. We shall give general financial support,and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, & Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.... You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. Zimmerman (Secretary of State)

Hun posterThis poster encouraged Americans to buy Liberty bonds (that is, loan money to the government) by emphasizing the image of the vicious and brutal Hun. This was part of a larger process of demonizing the people of the Central Powers that extended to condemning the music of Beethoven and the writings of Goethe. (Collection of Robert Cherny)

Hun poster

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Unterseeboot

http://www.vth.de/modellbau/werft/Wer08_02/32.htm

Lusitania warningThough New York newspapers carried warnings from the German embassy about the dangers of transatlantic travel, the passengers who boarded the Lusitania on May 1, 1915, probably did not imagine themselves in serious danger from submarine attack. The ship was sunk on May 7. Of the 1,959 passengers and crewmembers, 1,198 died, including 128 Americans. (Cobb Heritage Centre, England; photo by Larry O. Nighswander/NGS)

Lusitania warning


Lusitania sketch of disasterThough New York newspapers carried warnings from the German embassy about the dangers of transatlantic travel, the passengers who boarded the Lusitania on May 1, 1915, probably did not imagine themselves in serious danger from submarine attack. The ship was sunk on May 7. Of the 1,959 passengers and crewmembers, 1,198 died, including 128 Americans. (Culver Pictures)

Lusitania sketch of disaster


REFLECT:

Was war inevitable? ORHow could war have been avoided?

ELECTION OF 1916

•TR does not run – Progressive Rep. Party fades away•Wilson runs on record of progressive reform and neutrality•Rep. candidate Charles Hughes flops – cold fish that he was.

http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1916ec.gif

19.2: American Power Tips the Balance

OBEJCTIVE: Understand the US’s contribution to Allied

victory

Franz FerdinandAssassinated

April, 6, 1917US declares war

on Germany

1. The election of 1916 was a (landslide, close-shave, terrible loss) for Wilson.

2. One of the reasons that the US finally went to war with Germany was the ______________ ______, that encouraged Mexico to wage war the US.

3. Germany’s decision in January 1917 to wage unlimited submarine warfare violated the ____________ pledge.

4. WWI was triggered by the assassination of _____________.

5. The Four causes of WWI were:

US Goes to War: CONTEXT

• Jan. 31, 1917: Germany declares unlimited submarine warfare – Sussex Pledge void.

• US arms merchant marine• Mar. 1, 1917: Zimmerman note discovered• April 6, 1917: US declares war • Jan. 8, 1918: Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Address

WILSON’s IDEAL: “war to end war” and “to make the world safe for democracy,” makes an appeal for a new world order of collective security. It would have to be a “peace without victory…a peace among equals.”

SELECTIVE SERVICE ACTPROBLEM: Only 200,000 men in

uniform

SOLUTION: DRAFT OR CONSCRIPT

HOW? Selective Service Act of 1917

• 3 million men drafted• 2 million serve• ¾ see combat• ONLY 9 MONTHS OF TRAINING!!!

Parade of recruits WWI, photo by Harry M. RhodesIn Denver, automobiles carrying young army recruits parade through the city. (Denver Public Library, Western History Division)

Parade of recruits WWI, photo by Harry M. Rhodes


Black troops of the 369th Infantry Regiment in the trenches near Maffrecourt, France, in 1918. Most African American soldiers were assigned to noncombat duty, such as unloading supplies and equipment. ()

Blacks at the front


Blacks at the front

"Hell Fighters" From Harlem- the 369th Infantry Division

Meuse-Argonne, September 26-October 1, 1918. ... On 29 September, the Regiment ". . . stormed powerful enemy positions, . . . took, after heavy fighting, the town of Sechault; captured prisoners and brought back six cannons and a great number of machine guns." Despite heavy casualties, the 369th, called "Hell Fighters" by the French and Germans, relentlessly continued the attack at dawn. Raked by enemy machine guns, they assaulted into the woods northeast of Sechault, flanking and overwhelming enemy machine gun positions. The "Le's Go!" elan and indomitable fighting spirit of the 369th Infantry was illustrated throughout the battle action. Their initiative, leadership and gallantry won for their entire Regiment the French Croix de Guerre.

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/afam/afam-usa.htm

AMERICA GETS TO THE FIGHTPROBLEM: How to get the troops to

Europe

SOLUTION: 1. Expand shipbuilding2. Use the convoy system against subs3. Mine the North Sea

OUTCOME: 1. Only 100 soldiers lost to u-boats2. Convoys cut Allied losses in half!

http://go.hrw.com/ndNSAPI.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?ST9%20WWI%20Convoy%20System

http://www.usmm.org/ww2.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwone/launch_ani_western_front.shtml

Fighting…”Over there…”• 1917 Russian Revolution w/d from

fight in 1918• Germany focuses on EASTERN FRONT• Spring 1918: Germans w/in 40 miles of

Paris• 30,000 US troops turn tide at Chateau-

Thierry• Pershing directs US forces in Meuse-

Argonne offensive• Argonne Forest: 120,000 KIA/casualties • US “tactics” lead to high casualties

THE TIDE TURNS•AEF arrives just in time to stop

German advance on Paris (after defeating Russia)

AEF CASUALTIES:•48,000 killed•62,000 die of disease•200,000 wounded

http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/trenches/turks-trench-anzac.jpg

noviomagus.tripod.com

TRENCH WARFARE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/wfront1_02.shtml

http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/machineguns.htm

MACHINE GUN

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/gabrmetz/wwi_tank.gif

http://home.hccnet.nl/h.van.oerle/landshp/landshp2.htm


THE TANK

ARTILLERY

http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/bbertha.htm

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/preservation/dav1/images1/pg217.jpg

14 inch US naval guns, mounted on railcar to silence “Big Bertha”

GAS

•Germans first use gas at Ypres in 1915•Allies retaliate•Delivered by artillery

TYPES:Chlorine GasMustard Gas

http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Heller/images/hellerp81.jpg

http://www.pilotfriend.com/century-of-flight/Aviation%20history/airplane%20at%20war/images/17a.jpg

WAR IN THE AIR: Zeppelins & Biplanes

LEADERS AND HEREOSAlvin York Eddie Rickenbacker

US’s WWI Ace: shot down 26 planes

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-468/p31.jpg

http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/fokker_dri.jpg

“Red Baron” von Richthofen

German Ace:Shot down 80 planes

York and 17 other men captured 132 German prisoners on October 8, 1918

Company KA U.S. soldier of Company K, 110th Infantry Regiment, receives aid during fighting at Verennes, France. (National Archives)

Company K



"The Prisoners and the Wounded," October, 1918 by Harvey Dunn

Harvey Dunn's 1918 painting (detail) of weary soldiers in the First World War captures the misery of frontline battle. (Smithsonian Institute, Division of Political History, Washington, D.C.)

"The Prisoners and the Wounded," October, 1918 by Harvey Dunn


MEDICAL CARE

•Dirt, mud, filth•Lice, rats, dirty water•Poison gas•Decaying bodies•“shell shock”•Trench foot•Great Flu Pandemic of 1918(20-40 million dead world-wide)

THE COLLAPSE OF GERMANY• Nov. 3, 1918: German sailors mutiny• Nov. 9. 1918: Berlin rebels• The Kaiser flees to the NetherlandsCEASEFIRE: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th

month

FINAL TOLL: 4 years of fighting, involving 30 nations26 million dead ( half are civilians)20 million wounded10 million refugeesCOST= $350,000,000,000

Documents

19.1: World War I Begins Objectives: 1. Identify the causes of WWI 2. Be able to explain why the US abandoned neutrality