World War I and Beyond From Neutrality to War

Causes of the War

Europe experienced peace from the 1870s through the early 1900s. However, the following powerful forces were pushing Europe towards war:

Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Militarism

During the 1800s militarism had increased around the world, making nations eager to use military force. Most nations had built massive armies and navies with the latest technology. Britain and Germany had the biggest arms race.

Alliances

Europe was made up of a system of alliances that kept the balance of power in Europe. Nations agreed to defend each other if attacked. This meant that a war between two nations could escalate into a global conflict.

Imperialism

The European powers, Russia, and Japan competed for economic power in the 1800s. France and Germany competed for colonial gains in Africa, while Britain and Germany competed industrially.

Because of their mutual competition with Germany, Britain and France formed close ties with each other.

Triple Alliance

Triple Entente

Nationalism

Aggressive nationalism was the source of tension throughout Europe. Many French people wanted to take revenge against Germany, and regain Alsace and Lorraine. Because of nationalism, the region of the Balkans was known as the “powder keg” of Europe.

The War Begins ~ The Spark

Not surprisingly, World War I began in Bosnia, which was the heart of the ethnically diverse Balkan powder keg. Although inhabited by many Serbs, Bosnia was not ruled by Serbia, but by Austria.

When Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, traveled through Bosnia in June of 1914, he was assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. The assassination of Ferdinand is known as the “spark” that started the Great War.

German War Plan - Schlieffen Plan

Germany was faced with a two front war in 1914, with Russia to the east and France to the west. German army general Schlieffen organized a battle plan designed to take on both France and Russia. The idea was to quickly defeat France first, and then defeat the Russians. German generals predicted Russia would be slow to mobilize due to a lack of industrialization and a shortage of railroads.

In order for the Schlieffen Plan to work, German armies had to march through neutral Belgium, which was protected by Great Britain. Once Germany invaded Belgium, Great Britain declared war.

Just as planned, Germany swept through Belgium. However, Russia mobilized much quicker than expected. To fight the Russians, Germany had to divert some of its forces to the east, which weakened their forces on the western front.

Nationalism – Devotion to the interest of your own country.

Horrors of War

Trench Warfare led to all types of new horrors on and off the battlefield. Many soldiers suffered from shell shock (combination of a lack of sleep and the horrible conditions).

The trenches were filthy; infested with rats, polluted water, gas, dead bodies. Men would now be at risk of trench foot from standing in cold, damp, mud and not changing socks.

Wilson Urges Neutrality

Officially the U.S. remained neutral and preferred to maintain their tradition of isolation from European disputes.

Neutrality Gives Way to War

In 1917, the neutral United States declared war on Germany for several reasons: 1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - Germany began sinking

Allied ships by using its U-boats, or submarines. 2. Lusitania – The Germans sunk the large ocean liner,

and did not halt unrestricted submarine warfare.

3. Zimmermann Note – the British intercepted a message from Arthur Zimmermann, the German Foreign Minister, to his ambassador in Mexico.

Zimmermann asked for Mexican support, and promised that in return Germany would help Mexico conquer New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

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World War I and Beyond The Home Front

America Mobilizes for War

When the U.S. entered WWI, the U.S. Army was only a fraction of the size of European armies. President Wilson encouraged Americans to volunteer for service and pushed Congress to pass the Selective Service Act (military draft).

Cultural Ties – the US had more similarities with the Allies than with the Central Powers (language, traditions, and democracy).

Historical Significance: *These 3 actions by Germany made it so Wilson could no longer call for peace.*

24 million registered for the draft and 3 million were drafted. 500,000 women joined the workforce for the first time. 400,000 African Americans left the rural South for industrial jobs in the North.

War Industries Board

The WIB was headed up to Bernard M. Baruch. The WIB encouraged factories to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and set price controls on products. Effect of the WIB: Wages went up but the cost of living went way up because of the rising cost of food & housing.

Committee on Public Information

Propaganda department headed by George Creel. The CPI designed, printed, and distributed millions of posters that dramatized the needs of America and its allies. Creel and the CPI’s job was to combine education and widespread advertising to “sell America”. The CPI also stressed the cruelty and wickedness of the enemy (specifically Germany).

Creel and the CPI conducted the greatest sales job ever! Governments were left to find ways to make the war popular for their citizens – besides songs they also used art. Propaganda posters were widespread and targeted all sorts of groups.

Target Audience Feelings/Emotions

1. Omit all if absent from class! 1. Omit all if absent from class!

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Effects of CPI – New Policies 1. Work or Fight! 2. “Sweetless, Meatless, Wheatless, and Heatless” 3. Victory Gardens

Espionage & Sedition Acts

Much like in 1798 America created laws to arrest anyone who spoke out against the war. Punishment included $10,000 fine and 20 years of imprisonment. Eugene Debs (Socialist Party) gave a mildly antiwar speech received a 10-year prison term in federal prison.

Schenck v. United States

Facts: Charles Schenck violated the Espionage Act, which made it a crime to cause refusal of duty in the military. Schenck had distributed pamphlets urging men to resist the military draft.

Issue: Schenck’s appeal to the Supreme Court argued that his actions were protected by the 1st Amendment.

Decision: The Court (9-0) said that in times of war the government may place reasonable limitations on freedom of speech.

Opposition & Its Consequences

The CPI posters and speeches intensified by portraying Germany as the cruel enemy. Some Americans wrongly generalized that all German people were cruel. Americans stop teaching German in public schools & we stopped playing Beethoven.

1. Hamburgers = “Liberty Steaks” 2. Dachshunds = “Liberty Pups” 3. German Measles = “Liberty Measles”

Flu Epidemic

An unusually deadly form of the influenza, or flu, virus appeared in the U.S. Historians believe that as many as 30 million worldwide died from the flu. 500,000 Americans were killed. Possibly spread by soldiers.

World War I and Beyond Wilson, War, and Peace

The Tide Turns

Due to horrible military defeats, hunger and chaos within Russia, a communist revolution occurred against the Czar in 1917. Communist leader Vladimir Lenin pulled Russia out of the war, which greatly upset the other Allies.

Germany Defeated

The Germans are closing in on Paris, but the Americans come to the rescue. In 1918 the Allies slowly pushed the Germans back, who were exhausted of men & materials.

Trapped behind enemy lines, Alvin York was being blistered with machine gun fire. York took out the machine gunner with his rifle and stormed the German position with

only a pistol. York took the German position at amazing odds. York won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

U. S. Gives the Allies the Edge

Austria-Hungary surrenders first in 1918, which just leaves Germany. Soldiers for the Germany deserted or just refused to fight anymore. Then Germany on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 signed an armistice.

Bloodiest War Ever!

Dead: 16.5 million Wounded: 21 million

U.S. Dead: 116,000 U.S. Wounded: 205,000

Costs of the War

The war costs the United States $35.5 billion, which was to be paid by taxpayers and war bonds.

The “Big Three”

Wilson wanted “peace without victory,” and wanted defeated nations to be treated well to avoid a war of revenge in the future. Wilson introduced America’s goals his Fourteen Points, which were admired by the Germans, but not the other Allies. Wilson wanted to eliminate the basic causes of war, such as conflicts over nationalism and imperialism. Wilson also called for an end to alliances, a reduction of military arms, and self-determination.

Russian Revolution

America’s Greatest Hero

Woodrow Wilson &

“The 14 Points”

Self-determination – the idea that the peoples of Eastern Europe would chose their own form of government. Wilson also argued for freedom of the seas, and the formation of the League of Nations. Georges Clemencu, David Lloyd George, and Vittorio Orlando all said NO to Wilson’s 14 Points because they thought it was too lenient on Germany. President Wilson succeeded in forming the League of Nations. The countries that joined the League promised to take cooperative economic and military actions against any aggressive country. Although Wilson’s idea, the United States Congress rejected the League because Americans feared it would pull them into future European wars. The lack of the US severely weakened the League.

The Treaty of Versailles

Germany’s punishment in the Treaty can be remembered as: 1. Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war in the form of a “war guilt” clause. 2. Germany had to pay over $33 billion in Reparations, or fines. 3. Germany was forbidden to have an Army over 100,000 men, no submarines, and no air force. 4. Germany lost Territory -- establishment of 9 new nations.

What Happened to Russia?

Since Russia’s new communist government left the war early, they were not invited to Versailles. The Allies wanted to weaken Russia to keep communism from spreading westward.

Anger over Versailles

Many nations were upset with the Treaty of Versailles, and felt their goals had not been achieved.

Country Attitude Towards Versailles Treaty

Germany Horrified by their reparations, reduced military, & territorial losses.

United States

Felt the Treaty was too harsh on Germany, & the US Congress refused to approve it.

Russia Russia was angry they were not invited to Versailles.

Historical Significance: Unfortunately, the treaty that ended the “war to end all wars” merely provided the motivation for WWII, just 20 years later.

League of Nations – A group of countries with the goal of settling disputes through negotiation rather than war.