The First World War

US History

Long-Term Causes of WWI

Nationalism – belief that national interests and national unity should be placed ahead of global cooperation and that a nation’s foreign affairs should be guided by self-interest

Imperialism – the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories

Long-Term Causes of WWI

Militarism – the development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy

Alliance system – treaties of assistance between nations to support one another if attacked (mutual defense)

Causes of World War I

NATIONALISM

IMPERIALISM

MILITARISM

ALLIANCESYSTEM

WORLDWAR I

Choosing Sides

Central Powers– Austria-Hungary

– Germany

– Ottoman Empire

Triple Entente (Allies)– France

– Britain

– Russia

– United States (1917)

American Neutrality

Isolationism – policy of opposition to political or economic ties with other nations

Public opinion is strongly divided– Recent immigrants have connections to countries at war

Sympathy for the Allies– Cultural / economic ties to Britain

– German atrocities in Belgium

U.S. Enters the War

1. Allied repayment of debt$2.3 billion loaned to Allies for war materials

2. German U-Boats– British blockade of Germany– German u-boat response– Role of U.S. shipping

• Lusitania

U.S. Enters the War

3. Zimmerman note – Germany promises support for Mexico to recover lost territories if U.S. enters War

4. President Wilson – 1916 Campaign pledge “He Kept Us Out of War” unable to broker a “peace among equals”

Quick Review Key Concepts

What are the four main causes of WWI?– Don’t look in your notes yet

– One was the main goal during the game

– The other three end with ism

What are three reasons the US entered WWI?– Two of the reasons were things that other countries

were doing or thinking of doing to us!

– One big reason was to insure we got???

1917 – Selective Service 1917 – Selective Service ActAct1917 – Selective Service 1917 – Selective Service ActAct

24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918.

4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat).

400,000 African-Americansserved in segregated units.

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the EconomyEconomy

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the EconomyEconomy1. Unemployment virtually

disappeared.2. Expansion of “big government.”3. Excessive govt. regulations in

economy.4. Close cooperation between

public and private sectors.

5. Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

“Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919

African-Americans move North for war industries work

Enlistment in segregated units.

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansof Americans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansof Americans

1. Espionage ActEspionage Act – 1917 - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote insubordination in the military.

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans 2. Sedition ActSedition Act – 1918

- it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces.

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

3. Schenck v. USSchenck v. US – 1919 -The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. [Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes] - If an act of speech posed a clear and present danger, then Congress had the power to restrain such speech.

The Flu Epidemic

Fall 1918 an international flu epidemic spreads to the US– Within a year – 500,000 dead US; 40 million

worldwide– Devastates US economy

• Businesses forced to close (not enough workers)

• Consumer purchases decline

Wilson Fights for Peace

Early 1918 German military takes over the German governmentGerman Kaiser began peace negotiationsGerman army/navy mutinyGermany surrenders 11/11/1918 @ 11:00 a.m.– Last deaths @ 10:59 a.m.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

1. No secret treaties between nations2. Freedom of the seas for all3. Lower tariffs to encourage free trade4. Reduce ‘arms’ race and stockpiles5. Colonies should be allowed self-determination6-13 Boundary changes14. Creation of an international organization for

diplomatic crisis – League of Nations THIS IS WHAT HE WANTED FOR THE PEACE

TREATY!!!

Treaty of Versailles

Britain and France wanted harsh conditions to insure Germany would not be a threat againConditions:– Germany accepts blame for the War– Germany has to pay 132 billion in reparations– German military drastically reduced– Colonies become protectorates of Allies– Nine new nations created – Czechoslovakia,

Hungary, Romania, Serbia,Poland,Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland

Weaknesses of the Treaty

1. Humiliates Germany

2. Ignores Russia

3. Reassigns colonies – not self-determination or freedom

U.S. Senate rejects Treaty and League of Nations

Consequences of the War

Human – 10 million dead, 20 million injuredEconomic - $330 billion, destruction of European economy Physical destruction of propertyPolitical – End of German, Austrian, Russian, and Ottoman EmpiresCreation of weak statesEstablishment of communismPsychological – deepens and expands nationalism, expands pessimistic view of humanity

US Consequences of WWI

120,000 dead – 300,000 injured

Accelerates America’s emergence as world’s greatest industrial leader

Relocates American population to urban areas

Increases anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiments