ImperialismNationalism
Leads to competition, antagonism between nations
Various ethnic groups resent domination, want independence
MilitarismAlliances
Long-term Causes of World War I
Triple Entente (Allies)—France, Britain, Russia*
Triple Alliance (Central Powers) --Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy**
*Russia drops out before the war is over.
**Italy changed sides at the beginning of the war.
Original Alliances
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalistGavrilo PrincipBlack Hand
Alliance system pulls one nation after another into war
Immediate Cause of the War
Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and wife Duchess Sophie
1. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
2. Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary
3. Germany declares war on Russia & France
4. Britain declares war on Germany
War Declaration Sequence
Germany’s Schlieffen Plan: hold Russia, defeat France, then Russia
German troops sweep through Belgium (neutral)
The Fighting Starts
2 parallel systems of trenches cross France – leads to stalemate during early yrs.
Armies fight to gain only yards of ground
“No man’s land”
Trench Warfare
Illustration from Neil Demarco's The Great War
Socialists, pacifists, many ordinary people against U.S. in war
Naturalized citizens concerned about effect on country of birth
Many feel ties to British ancestry, language, democracy, legal system
U.S. has stronger economic ties with Allies than with Central Powers
U.S. Anti-war Sentiment
Anti-immigrant feelingFear spies (espionage) and sabotageSuppression of German culture—
music, language, literature, name changes
U.S. continues to practice isolationism
Wilson re-elected in 1916 on slogan “He kept us out of war”
Effects of Propaganda
British blockade & mine North Sea, stop war supplies reaching Germany
Germany has difficulty importing food, fertilizer; by 1917, famine
The British Blockade
Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare.
U-boat sinks British liner Lusitania; 128 Americans among the deadU.S. public opinion turns against
GermanyPresident Wilson protests – gets
Germany to agree to Sussex Pledge, must warn ships first
German U-Boat Response
NOTICE! Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk. IMPERIAL GERMAN EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 22, 1915.
German WWI U Boat
By 1917, U.S. has mobilized for war against Central Powers to:ensure Allied repayment of debtsprevent German threat to U.S.
shipping
The War Hits Home
Germany resumes unrestricted sub warfare
Zimmerman note - proposes alliance of Germany, Mexico against U.S.
Russian monarchy replaced with representative governmentWar of Democracies against
Monarchies
Reasons U.S. Enters War
Wilson calls for war to “make world safe for democracy”
Says this will be the “war to end all wars”
Arguments for War
Tanks break trench stalemateEarly planes flimsy, only do scouting;
later ones stronger, fastercarry machine guns, heavy bomb
loadsPoison GasHand grenadesMachine guns
New Weapons and Technology
World War I British Tank
WW I French Airplane with Machine Guns
World War I Observation Balloons
Captain Eddie RickenbackerFirst US Ace
Dogfighter26 Aerial Victories
New weapons and tactics lead to horrific injuries, hazards
Troops amidst filth, pests, polluted water, poison gas, dead bodies
Constant bombardment, battle fatigue produce “shell shock”
Physical problems include dysentery, trench foot, trench mouth
New Hazards
Aerial View of Gas Attack
German Flame Thrower
After 2 1/2 years fighting, Allied forces are exhausted, demoralized
American troops bring numbers, freshness, enthusiasm
America Turns the Tide
Selective Service Act—men register, randomly chosen for service
African Americans in segregated units, excluded from navy, marines
Women in army, navy, marines as nurses secretaries, phone operators
America Mobilizes
DoughboysGeneral John J. Pershing
leads American Expeditionary Force
Convoy SystemU.S. mines North Sea to
stop U-boats
America Turns the Tide
General John J Pershing1860 - 1948
Russia pulls out of war 1917; Germans shift armies to western frontcome within 50 miles of Paris
Americans help stop German advance, turn tide against Central Powers
America Goes on the Offensive
German sailors, soldiers rebel; socialists establish German republicKaiser gives up throne
Germans exhausted; armistice, or truce, signed November 11, 1918
The Collapse of Germany
Kaiser Wilhelm II 1859 - 1941
World War I bloodiest war in history to date more than half of 22 million dead
are civilians20 million more are wounded
10 million people become refugees
The Final Toll
WWI Russian Refugees
WWI French Refugees
WWI Belgian Refugees
World War I spurs social, political, and economic change in the United States.
The War at Home
U.S. spends $35.5 billion on war effort
1/3 paid through taxes, 2/3 borrowed through sale of war bonds
Selling the War
Economy shifts from producing consumer goods to war supplies
Congress gives president direct control of much of the economy
War Industries Board is main regulatory bodyurges mass-production,
standardizing productsBernard M. Baruch is head of
board
Gov’t Bureaucracy in the U.S.
Woodrow Wilson28th President of the United
States
Bernard BaruchChairman of War Industries
Board
Wilson creates National War Labor Board to settle disputes
Food Administration under Herbert Hoover works to produce, save food (rationing is voluntary)
Encourages public conservation, increase of farm production
War Economy
Railroad Administration, Fuel Administration also control industries
Conservation measures adopted by public, nation
War Economy (cont.)
Industrial wages rise; offset by rising costs of food, housing
Large corporations make enormous profits
Unions boom from dangerous conditions, child labor, unfair pay
War Economy (cont.)
George Creel heads Committee on Public Information
Produces visual works, printed matter to promote war
Volunteers speak about war, distribute materials
Propaganda
Many women take jobs in heavy industry previously held by men
Many do volunteer work for war effort
Some active in peace movementWomen’s effort bolsters support for
suffrage; 19th Amendment passes
Women in the War
Women in World War I
Du Bois urges support for war to strengthen call for racial justice
Most African Americans support warSome think victims of racism should
not support racist government
Social Change
Black Doughboys of the 368th Infantry
Great Migrationescape racial discriminationtake up new job opportunities
Press of new migrants intensifies racial tensions in North
The Great Migration
The Great MigrationBlack Families Move North
Espionage and Sedition Acts—person can be fined, imprisoned for:interfering with war effort, speaking
against governmentViolate 1st amendment; prosecute
loosely defined antiwar activitiestarget socialists, labor leaders
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Eugene V. Debs – Socialist – was arrested for violating Espionage and Sedition Acts and sent to prison.
IWW was targeted because of its socialist members.
Schenk v. United States – freedom of speech is limited when it represents a “clear and present danger”
Restrictions of Civil Liberties
International flu epidemic of 1918 has devastating effect on economy
As many as 30 million people die worldwide
1918 Influenza Epidemic
Wilson’s plan for world peace known as Fourteen Points
Some examples: (1) Remove trade barriers, (2) Arms reductions, (3) Self-determination, (4) Freedom of the Seas, (5) No secret treaties.
The last point calls for international organization or League of Nations
League to enable nations to discuss, settle problems without war
Wilson Fights for Peace
European leaders oppose most of Wilson’s peace plan, and the U.S. Senate fails to ratify the peace treaty.
Wilson (cont.)
Wilson fails to grasp anger of Allied leaders against Germany
Conference excludes Central Powers, Russia, small Allied nations
Wilson gives up most of his points in return for League of Nations
The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan
Creates 9 new nationsPlaces various conditions on Germany:
Demilitarized: army no larger than 100,000, little navy and no airforce
Loss of Land: Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
Loss of Money: pay reparations, or war damages ($33 billion)
Loss of Pride: War-guilt clause—Germany must accept sole responsibility for war
The Treaty of Versailles
When we have paid one hundred billion marks then I can give you something to eat'
Some think treaty too harsh, fear economic effects
Some feel treaty exchanged one group of colonial rulers for another
Some ethnic groups not satisfied with new national borders
Opposition to the Treaty In U.S.
Some think League threatens U.S. foreign policy of isolation
Senators like Henry Cabot Lodge mistrust provision for joint action
Debate over the League of Nations
Lodge introduces amendments to treatyWilson refuses to compromise
Goes on speaking tour to convince nation to support League
has stroke, is temporarily disabledNeither amendments nor treaty approvedU.S. never signs Treaty of Versailles
U.S. & Germany sign separate treaty U.S. never joins League of Nations
Debate Over Treaty of Versailles
In U.S., war strengthens military, increases power of government
Accelerates social change for African Americans, women
Fears & antagonisms provoked by propaganda remain
In Europe, destruction, loss of life damage social, political systemsCommunist, fascist governments form
Treaty does not settle conflicts in Europe
The Legacy of the War