Transcript File

1914-1918
“The Great War”
“The war to end all wars”
1st global war
New weapons technology
poison gas, machine guns, airplanes, new
artillery, trench warfare
Nationalism
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Intense national pride or loyalty in one’s
country or nationality
Imperialism….countries take over other
areas…..colony building.
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increased rivalries, competition
 Social Darwinism a component
threatened minority groups within countries
destabilized empires
Militarism
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Glorification of military strength
caused distrust & paranoia between
countries
 Militarism + distrust created by
imperialism =arms race
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Alliances
Agreement among nations to cooperate for specific
purposes.
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Nations became bold/overconfident
turned small, local conflict into global war
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By 1907 there were 2 opposing alliances:
1.
Triple Alliance = Germany, Austria-Hungary
& Italy (Central Powers……no Italy)
2.
Triple Entente = France, GB & Russia (Allied
Powers)
By 1910, Europe was a
“powder keg” ready to
explode.
Assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
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Heir to throne of Austria-Hungary
assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo
Princip June 1914
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
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Germany supported A.H.
Russia supported Serbia
Alliance system brought in the rest
Initial German Strategy
(Schlieffen Plan)
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End war quickly
Massive strikes on France
Enter through neutral Belgium
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Belgians resisted….war would not end quickly
Germans dug trenches
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450 + miles long
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Symbolic of W.W.I
Emerged on western
Trenches were:
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front
Often elaborate
Could stretch for hundreds of yards
 “no
man’s land”….bombed out area
separating two sides
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Soldiers went “over
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the top”
Cut down by artillery fire as they ran
Poison gas & artillery shellings often used
Stalemate on the Western Front
 stalemate
….neither side wins (tie) on
western front
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A win on western front= a win of the war
Why the stalemate?
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new defensive weapons, trench warfare
Key events that led to
U.S. involvement in The
Great War.
Until 1917 the United States maintained a “neutral”
status
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Woodrow Wilson urged “Be impartial in thought as well as
action”
Different American positions on the war:
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Isolationists….stay out of it completely
Interventionists….intervene on side of Allies
Internationalists…play active role to achieve a just peace.
Loyalties split
Most supported Allies
Sinking of the Lusitania
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British blockade of Germany effective
Germans used U-Boats to sink Allied ships
May 7, 1915 U-Boat sunk British passenger
ship the Lusitania
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Approx. 1,200 died (128 Americans)
Outrage in America…Germans said the ship
carried contraband and weapons
Promised to warn/not sink civ. ships
Sussex Pledge Violated
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March of 1916-unarmed French vessel (The Sussex) attacked
…..several Americans injured.
Wilson threatens to cut ties w/ Germany
Sussex Pledge …… (re) promise not to sink liners without
warning or ensuring safety of passengers.
U.S. preparedness steps up
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Feb. 1917, Germans resume full-scale U-Boat
warfare.
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Diplomatic ties cut.
The Zimmerman Note (Jan. 1917)
Telegram from Germany
to Mexico
 Intercepted by the British…
 Proposed an alliance w/
Germany
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Published in papers
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.
get back land it lost U.S.
Reaction = Call for war
On the first of February, we intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare. In spite
of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep the United States of America neutral.
In the event of this not succeeding, we propose an alliance on the following basis
with Mexico: That we shall make war together and make peace together. We shall
give generous financial support, and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to
reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details of
settlement are left to you. 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, on his own
initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence with this plan; at the same time, offer
to mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call to the attention of the President
that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of
compelling England to make peace in a few months.
U.S. Enters the War
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April 2, 1917 – Wilson asks Congress for War declaration.
April 7, 1917 – Congress votes for war (511-56)
“The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of
political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no
indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but
one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made
as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.”
Woodrow Wilson
American Govt. Mobilizes for War
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Selective Service Act….draft of young men for
military service
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2.8 mill drafted out of 4.8 mill served
Economy changed from peacetime to wartime
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War Industries Board....took charge of industry
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Committee on Public Information …formed to
convince Americans to support the war effort
 Used
propaganda in 5 main areas
U.S.Propaganda and W. W. I
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A planned effort to shape people’s ideas and
opinions generally in support or opposition to
a cause.
Propaganda usually plays with people’s
emotions and calls on a group or individual to
act
1. Organize Labor
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War Industries Board
encouraged business to
cooperate with labor and
use materials for war
goods.
2. Promote Conservation
Liberty Bonds….bonds sold by the govt. Pd for 2/3 of the war
4. Rally Public
Opinion/Promote Patriotism
5. Enforce Loyalty
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American doughboys gives Allies edge to
break stalemate
Use of the convoy….groups of merchant
ships sail together breaks U-Boat advantage
Nov. 11, 1918 …armistice
The War’s End
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Wilson’s address to Congress
Proposed a peace by noble ideals.
No harsh treaty
Fourteen Points sought to change the world
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self determination….right to choose their own govt.
League of Nations…a world organization of countries to
peacefully resolve differences.
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“Only a tranquil Europe can be a stable Europe….[There]
must be a peace without victory….Victory would mean peace
forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the
vanquished. It would be accepted in humiliation…and would
leave a sting, a resentment, a bitter memory upon which
terms of peace would rest, not permanently, but only as upon
quicksand.”
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January 22, 1917
Fourteen Points
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1. No more secret agreements ("Open covenants openly arrived at").
2. Free navigation of all seas.
3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.
4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers.
5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial
6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to
develop
her own political set-up.
7. Belgium should be independent like before the war.
8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine
9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy's borders are to "along
clearly recognisable lines of nationality."
10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.
11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed for
the Balkan states.
12. The Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. NonTurks in
the old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.
13. An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the
sea.
14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial
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European leaders not happy w/Wilson’s input
Began to erode his Fourteen Points
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League of Nations squeaks through
 Treaty
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of Versailles signed June 28, 1919
Harsh, punitive treaty…Germany responsible for
the war (War Guilt)
Blame for starting the war
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1.
Germany had to accept the
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2.
3.
Germany had to pay
eparations for the damage done during the war.
Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. She could have
R
A
a navy of only six battleships, and an
rmy of just 100,000 men. In
addition, Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip
of land, 50 miles wide, next to France.
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T
4. Germany lost
erritory (land) in Europe. Germany’s colonies were given
to Britain and France.
(Also, Germany was forbidden to join the League of Nations)
Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Great
Britain, Vittorio Orlando - President of
Italy,
Georges Clemenceau - President of
France, Woodrow Wilson - President of
the United States of America
U.S. Senate did not ratify the Treaty of
Versailles.
Wilson’s plan is watered-down in Europe
League is formed w/out the U.S.
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2.
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weak world governing body.
Global effects of the War
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Britain, France = weakened economically
U.S. strong, confident, prosperous
U.S. =creditor nation….other countries owed
more to the U.S. than it owed
German Humiliation
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Germany enters 15 yrs (1920 – 1935) of
poverty , despair.
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Poverty, violence widespread
Radical groups vie for power