Why was the war called WWI or the Great War???
Concentrated in Europe, but also fought in the colonies of European nations
Involved all major world powers, and their colonies
Total War: complete commitment of a nation’s people & resources to the war effort
Industries switched from peace time to war time production
Soldiers mobilized
Britain 5,000,000 France 8,200,000 Germany
13,250,000 A-H 9,000,000 Russia 13,000,000
How did WWI affect foreign Home Fronts?
New inventions (barbed wire & machine gun) switched the advantage from offensive to defensive
Trench Warfare: troops dug into the ground for defense from new weapons
Large artillery guns for bombarding enemy troops
Submarines (U-boats), Poison gas, Airplanes, Tanks
How did new military technology change war tactics?
Schlieffen Plan: Two Front Strategy◦ France gave Russia 10 billion francs◦ Battle of the Marne-France stopped Germany
(changed the war) Second Battle of the Marne-Ironically end up where
they started Battle of Ypres: Battle where poison gas is used for
the first time Battle of the Somme: 60,000 casualties in 1 hr.
◦ Elan Vitale (offensive spirit)
German War Plan
Western
Front
Eastern
Front
This front goes
away after Lenin
withdrew Russian
troops.
Which means that
Germany can focus
all of its resources
on the Western
Front.
Russia is forced to withdraw from the war as a result of the Bolshevik Revolution◦ Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
Russian Collapse
Bolshevik Revolution in Russia Vladimir Lenin staged a
successful revolution in Russia to set up a communist government
Effects on the War:1. Lenin pulled Russian
troops out of war and Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany
2. Created an unstable Europe because of the communists government
3. Now Germany was fighting a one front war with France, all resources are on France
U.S. Neutrality U.S foreign policy - neutral Immigrants – many were sympathetic to
their ethnic heritage Prospect of business interests Monroe Doctrine Representation of Peace
Allied Blockade Neutrality only works
if all parties respect it International law
prohibited blockading non-war material
Led to the sinking of the Lusitania (1915)◦ Killed 1195 (123
Americans) German blockade
threatened
US InvolvementPresident Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality…
but found this would be difficult to enforce.1) Sinking of the Lusitania-On May 7, 1915 the
British ship sank off the coast of of Scotland killing 128 Americans.
2) Unrestricted Submarine Warfare- On January 31, 1917 Germany announced its decision…
3) Zimmerman Telegram- On March 1, 1917 US newspapers reported that Germany was trying to get Mexico to invade the US… (to keep us occupied)
4) Russian Revolution- On March 15, the Bolsheviks overthrew the government of Tzar Nicholas II
The Importance of US In the War Effort
The Great War began on June 28, 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
In April 1917 the US enters the war with the mobilization of the AEF, the American Expeditionary Force.
The economic aid and technology brought into the war along with the AEF brought the needed muscle to overcome the central powers.
19 January, 1917: The Zimmerman Note to the German Minister to Mexico Berlin, January 19, 1917 On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.... 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 of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. Zimmerman (Secretary of State
Primary Source Analysis: Who is the Speaker in this note?What is the Occasion of note? (date, time)Who is the Audience of the note? (for whom is it intended)What is the Purpose of the note? (why was it written)What is the Subject of the note? (what is being written about)What is the Tone of the note? (what emotion does it carry)What is the attitude Zimmerman has about submarine warfare? How do you know?What impact may this have had on the American Public and President Wilson’s decisionto eventually enter the war?
1) What were 5 causes of WWI? (1.01)2) Who were the participants in WWI and who
did they align themselves with and what were these two sides called? (1.02)
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