World War IChapter 10

The Great WarThe War to End All Wars

Causes of World War I• Militarism• Naval arms race between Britain and Germany• Glorification of the military

• Alliances• Triple Entente = Allies• Russia, France, Great Britain

• Triple Alliance = Central Powers• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

• Imperialism• Nationalism• The European kind – by ethnicity• The Balkans

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

“The Most Terrible and Disastrous of All Wars”

• Trench Warfare• No Man’s Land• Over the Top• Horrible living conditions

• New, Modern, Efficient Weapons• New technology + old tactics = deadlock and

horrifying casualty numbers• Western Front• Stalemate due to trench warfare• Neither side could advance

Causes of US Entry into WWI

• Wilson wanted to stay neutral- didn’t work• Britain blockaded Germany to keep goods from

reaching the other country• Germany began using u-boats to blockade Britain-

sunk ships carrying war supplies• The Lusitania • Germany sunk the American passenger ship• Most important reason US entered WWI

Causes of US Entry into WWI• The Zimmermann Note• German foreign minister sent a note to Mexico• If the US declared war on Germany, Mexico should

declare war on US• Mexico would get back the land they lost in the

Mexican-American War• The Sussex Pledge• Germany promised not to sink any more passenger

liners• Didn’t keep promise

America Mobilizes• Selective Service Act• Draft of young men for military service in Europe• Conscientious objectors- people whose moral or

religious beliefs forbid them to fight in wars• Government determined what crops were grown,

what products were produced, how supplies moved• Everything needed to go to the war effort• Committee on Public Information• Educate public about the causes and nature of the war

• War Industries Board• Determined what products were made, where they

went and how much they cost

War changes society• Espionage and Sedition Acts• Ban treasonable or seditious newspapers, magazines,

or printed materials by mail• Some felt it violated the 1st amendment• The court ruled there are times when freedom of

speech does not apply (Schenck v. US)• Women filled jobs that men left to go fight• Factory workers, trolley conductors, farmers, nurses

• Great Migration• African Americans move from South to North• Racial tension increased in North

Allies Struggle

• Communists led by Vladimir Lenin• Gained control of Russia

• 1918- War ended between Russia and Germany• Germany sent more troops to the western front

and the Allies began to struggle• General John J Pershing led American forces to

France

Western Front

Wilson Promotes Peace Without Victory

• Nov. 11, 1918- Germany surrenders• Wilson felt the terms of peace should not punish the

defeated nations• Outlined America’s war goals• Fourteen Points• Promote openness, encourage independence,

support freedom• Self-determination- right of people to choose their

own government• League of nations secure political independence and

territorial integrity

The Treaty of Versailles• Germany• Loses territory in Europe (Alsace-Lorraine)• Must pay reparations to the Allies• Must allow France the use of the Saar region• Loses all overseas colonies• Limitations on arms

• Austria-Hungary• Dissolved into Austria, Hungary, and various other new states

• Ottoman Empire• Broken into Turkey and several “mandates” managed by

France or Britain• League of Nations- promote peaceful cooperation

between countries

The Battle Over the Treaty• Article 10- US could go into war without the consent of

congress• Reservationists – led by Henry Cabot Lodge (Rep.

senator) and opposed the treaty• Irreconcilables- wanted changes to the treaty• Wilson’s appeal to the people- vote against it• Outcome- treaty defeated

The Demobilization Blues• Unemployment and economic downturn• Increase in strikes• Seattle General Strike• Steel Strike• Boston Police Strike

• Race riots• Flu epidemic• The Red Scare- anticommunist hysteria• Palmer raids-arrest thousands thought to be radicals• Sacco & Vanzetti Trial

• 2 Italian immigrants and known anarchists• Charged with murdering 2 men at a shoe factory• Little evidence of their guilt