World War IWorld War I1914 - 19191914 - 1919

Causes of the Great WarCauses of the Great War

1. 1. ImperialismImperialism Nations in competition for land and Nations in competition for land and

influence can create animosity.influence can create animosity. Some nations were left out as Some nations were left out as

others expanded. others expanded.

Causes of the Great WarCauses of the Great War

2. 2. MilitarismMilitarism Nations had begun to build Nations had begun to build

bigger armies and navies.bigger armies and navies. Weapons were more Weapons were more

technologically advanced. technologically advanced.

Causes of the Great WarCauses of the Great War

3. 3. NationalismNationalism Pride in one’s nation.Pride in one’s nation. Belief that people with same Belief that people with same

language, culture, religion, etc…, language, culture, religion, etc…, should have self-determination.should have self-determination.

Causes of the Great WarCauses of the Great War

4. 4. Secret AlliancesSecret Alliances Many of the great powers began Many of the great powers began

to make alliances with each other.to make alliances with each other. A small conflict could erupt into A small conflict could erupt into

an international war!!an international war!!

Alliances Prior to WarAlliances Prior to War Triple AllianceTriple Alliance

• Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary• GermanyGermany• ItalyItaly

Triple EntenteTriple Entente• EnglandEngland• FranceFrance• RussiaRussia

War in EuropeWar in Europe• War erupted in Europe with the War erupted in Europe with the

assassination of Ferdinand of assassination of Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was next in line for the He was next in line for the throne. throne.

• The U.S. decided to not get The U.S. decided to not get drawn in, but Wilson sold arms drawn in, but Wilson sold arms and supplies to both.and supplies to both.

• As the war dragged on, we As the war dragged on, we sold supplies to the Allies on sold supplies to the Allies on credit, but not Central Powers.credit, but not Central Powers.

• When they ran out of money, When they ran out of money, the supplies dried up. the supplies dried up. Therefore, German U-Boats Therefore, German U-Boats began sinking American began sinking American merchant ships. merchant ships.

Lusitania and SuchLusitania and Such• May 7, 1915, a British ship the May 7, 1915, a British ship the

Lusitania was sunk by a Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat. Over 100 German U-boat. Over 100 Americans were killed.Americans were killed.

• Muckraking Journalists called Muckraking Journalists called for swift response, but Wilson for swift response, but Wilson continued to sell supplies.continued to sell supplies.

• Under the Sussex Pledge, Under the Sussex Pledge, Germany agreed to stop Germany agreed to stop sinking unarmed ships, sinking unarmed ships, without warning. It only lasted without warning. It only lasted a short while. a short while.

• Wilson wanted to win the Wilson wanted to win the election of 1916 and peace election of 1916 and peace would help do that.would help do that.

Election of 1916Election of 1916• Charles Evans Hughes Charles Evans Hughes

was the Republican and was the Republican and the pro-war candidate the pro-war candidate (sometimes).(sometimes).

• Wilson was the Wilson was the Democratic incumbent Democratic incumbent and the anti-war and the anti-war candidate (sometimes).candidate (sometimes).

• Wilson won the West and Wilson won the West and the South and the the South and the election.election.

• Wilson won, but was not Wilson won, but was not able to stay out of war.able to stay out of war.

Balkan Powder Keg

World War IWorld War I• On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.declared war on Serbia.• Within two weeks…Within two weeks…• Russia had declared war on Austria-Russia had declared war on Austria-Hungary and GermanyHungary and Germany• Germany attacked Belgium and Germany attacked Belgium and France.France.• England declared war on GermanyEngland declared war on Germany

The Central PowersThe Central Powers

• Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary

• GermanyGermany

• BulgariaBulgaria

• The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire

The Allied PowersThe Allied Powers

• SerbiaSerbia• BelgiumBelgium• FranceFrance• RussiaRussia• EnglandEngland• And so on and so on And so on and so on

America’s ResponseAmerica’s Response• Wilson had made every attempt to keep the Wilson had made every attempt to keep the

U.S. out of war.U.S. out of war.• Germany had resumed unrestricted Germany had resumed unrestricted

submarine warfare by 1917.submarine warfare by 1917.• Finally, British intel. intercepted a telegram Finally, British intel. intercepted a telegram

from Germany to Mexico.from Germany to Mexico.• The “Zimmerman Note” called for an all out The “Zimmerman Note” called for an all out

attack on the United States.attack on the United States.• In response, it caused Americans to call out In response, it caused Americans to call out

for war. for war.

Wilson’s AimsWilson’s Aims Wilson asked for and got a Wilson asked for and got a

declaration of war in April.declaration of war in April. He still had to convince many in our He still had to convince many in our

country that war was necessary.country that war was necessary. His stated goal for going to war in His stated goal for going to war in

Europe was to “make the world safe Europe was to “make the world safe for democracy”for democracy”

The nation believed it and set out to The nation believed it and set out to go to war.go to war.

War EffortWar Effort Government led propaganda was Government led propaganda was

spread throughout the nation.spread throughout the nation. George Creel led the Committee on George Creel led the Committee on

Public Information.Public Information. Movies were made in support of the Movies were made in support of the

war effort and posters were hung.war effort and posters were hung. Creel’s efforts paid off a little too Creel’s efforts paid off a little too

much. There was an anti-foreigner much. There was an anti-foreigner backlash.backlash.

Anti-German SentimentAnti-German SentimentBy Feb. 4, 1918, all German males 14 and older in the United States who were not naturalized were required to register as alien enemies with local authorities. President Woodrow Wilson issued the proclamation in November 1917 as the United States entered World War I against Germany and its allies. The German Alien Registration Act required that each "alien enemy" be issued a registration card, which was to be carried at all times. At their registration, they were photographed, fingerprinted and questioned about their personal habits. The government ordered them to get permission to travel or change residences.Ohio later passed a law prohibiting teaching the German language in public schools. In Cincinnati, where 58 percent of residents were of German heritage, an ordinance was passed changing German street names. German-language books were removed from library shelves, one-third of the city's German-language newspapers folded and German teachers were fired.

http://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/n2.jpg

The HomefrontThe Homefront• Americans bought war bonds to fund Americans bought war bonds to fund

the war effort.the war effort.• Americans conserved food and gas and Americans conserved food and gas and

grew victory gardens for their own foodgrew victory gardens for their own food• Wilson even asked for and got the Wilson even asked for and got the

Espionage Act and Sedition Act passed Espionage Act and Sedition Act passed by Congress to silence any critics of the by Congress to silence any critics of the war. war.

• Eugene V. Debs was a socialist leader Eugene V. Debs was a socialist leader who was snared by the lawswho was snared by the laws

Obstacles to VictoryObstacles to Victory

1.1. A Rapid Change to Wartime A Rapid Change to Wartime EconomyEconomy

2.2. Building up the MilitaryBuilding up the Military3.3. Rallying LaborRallying Labor4.4. Stifling Labor DisputesStifling Labor Disputes

The Early MonthsThe Early Months

• Gen. John J. Pershing led the first Gen. John J. Pershing led the first wave of American troops – American wave of American troops – American Expeditionary Force.Expeditionary Force.

• Initially, we were unsuccessful in our Initially, we were unsuccessful in our battles against the Central Powers.battles against the Central Powers.

• We were green and they were We were green and they were veterans.veterans.

• Birthday cake and combat boots Birthday cake and combat boots turned the tide to the Allies.turned the tide to the Allies.

The FightingThe Fighting

• Germany and the Central Powers Germany and the Central Powers were forced into a costly two-front were forced into a costly two-front war.war.

• The Allies (French, British, and The Allies (French, British, and Americans) were all but beat in the Americans) were all but beat in the West.West.

• The Russians were suffering heavy The Russians were suffering heavy losses as were the Germans.losses as were the Germans.

• Supplies were blocked to Russia.Supplies were blocked to Russia.

German TroublesGerman Troubles

• Germany was losing soldiers faster Germany was losing soldiers faster than they could be replaced.than they could be replaced.

• Food and supplies were almost non-Food and supplies were almost non-existent on the front lines.existent on the front lines.

• Trench warfare allowed for little land Trench warfare allowed for little land and heavy casualties.and heavy casualties.

• Young boys were replacing veteran Young boys were replacing veteran soldiers on both fronts. soldiers on both fronts.

The FightingThe Fighting

• Most fighting on the Western Front Most fighting on the Western Front was done in the was done in the trenchestrenches..

• ““Going over the top” was a deadly Going over the top” was a deadly form of attack into “no man’s land”form of attack into “no man’s land”

• The Germans controlled the seas and The Germans controlled the seas and were able to blockade England.were able to blockade England.

• New weapons inflated the number of New weapons inflated the number of deaths and casualties.deaths and casualties.

VerdunVerdun

American StrategyAmerican Strategy• As we got used to the theater we As we got used to the theater we

became more adept at trench warbecame more adept at trench war• Shipping was still a major problem.Shipping was still a major problem.• American ships were being sunk at an American ships were being sunk at an

alarming rate with little resistancealarming rate with little resistance• The use of caravans or convoys as The use of caravans or convoys as

well as depth charges helped “turn well as depth charges helped “turn the tide” in the Atlantic. the tide” in the Atlantic.

• The Germans were on the run by The Germans were on the run by 1918. 1918.

Major ProblemsMajor Problems

• America lacked a huge peace-time America lacked a huge peace-time standing army.standing army.

• When the declaration of war was When the declaration of war was made, more soldiers were needed.made, more soldiers were needed.

• Conscription was necessary though Conscription was necessary though Wilson hated the idea.Wilson hated the idea.

• Men between the ages of 18 and 45 Men between the ages of 18 and 45 had to register.had to register.

RussiaRussia• By the time American forces had By the time American forces had

reached full-scale capability – Russia reached full-scale capability – Russia pulled out.pulled out.

• The The Bolshevik Revolution Bolshevik Revolution overthrew overthrew the Tsar and Russia signed a peace the Tsar and Russia signed a peace treaty.treaty.

• German troops were taken from the German troops were taken from the Eastern Front and moved to the Eastern Front and moved to the Western Front.Western Front.

• Pershing wanted control of all U.S. Pershing wanted control of all U.S. forces and to be in charge. forces and to be in charge.

RussiaRussia Russian CollapseRussian Collapse

Return of LeninReturn of Lenin

The End in SightThe End in Sight

• By the Fall of 1918, Germans were By the Fall of 1918, Germans were deserting their posts.deserting their posts.

• The Kaiser had abdicated the throne The Kaiser had abdicated the throne and fled to Holland.and fled to Holland.

• Russia had lost 1.7 million; Germany Russia had lost 1.7 million; Germany 1.6 million; Austria 800,0001.6 million; Austria 800,000

• America suffered some 53,000 America suffered some 53,000 soldiers.soldiers.

PeacePeace

• Paris Peace Conference convened Paris Peace Conference convened after the armistice was signed Nov. after the armistice was signed Nov. 11, 1918.11, 1918.

• Georges Clemenceau wanted the Georges Clemenceau wanted the German army crushed and David German army crushed and David Lloyd George wanted the German Lloyd George wanted the German Navy gone.Navy gone.

• Wilson wanted his 14 points. Wilson wanted his 14 points.

The Big FourThe Big Four At the Paris Peace Conference, there At the Paris Peace Conference, there

were 4 major nations represented.were 4 major nations represented. England – P.M. David Lloyd GeorgeEngland – P.M. David Lloyd George France – Georges ClemenceauFrance – Georges Clemenceau Italy – Vitorio OrlandoItaly – Vitorio Orlando U.S. – Woodrow WilsonU.S. – Woodrow Wilson

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles First German delegation to Paris First German delegation to Paris

refused to sign the treaty.refused to sign the treaty. They opposed Article 231 – Guilt They opposed Article 231 – Guilt

ClauseClause Germany’s new government sent a Germany’s new government sent a

22ndnd delegation – they signed. delegation – they signed. The war was officially ended in 1919.The war was officially ended in 1919.

League of NationsLeague of Nations Wilson’s major plan of a world Wilson’s major plan of a world

organization to avoid war was created.organization to avoid war was created. Most nations who were involved in the Most nations who were involved in the

conflict joined the League.conflict joined the League. However, it was a failure. Why?However, it was a failure. Why? The U.S. didn’t join.The U.S. didn’t join. Europe’s problems were Europe’s Europe’s problems were Europe’s

problems.problems.