CHAPTER 19:THE WORLD WAR 1 ERA

Section 1 The Road to War4 Main Causes

Militarism policy of aggressive military preparedness Alliances organization of countries involved in pacts or treatiesImperialism stronger nations taking control of weaker nationsNationalism pride or devotion to ones country

Mobilization getting forces ready for war

Central Powers alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and BulgariaThey were referred to as the Central Powers because geographically the rested between the Russian Empire in the east and France and the United Kingdom in the west.Allied Forces (Triple Entente) alliance of France, Russian Empire (including Serbia), British Empire, the United States and Italy

The Schlieffen PlanGerman plan of attack against France It was Schlieffens belief that Russia could not mobilize troops before France was taken over and a battle would not have to be fought on two frontsThis plan failed as Russian forces were mobilized in a few weeks forcing war on two fronts

Stalemate when neither side has an advantage - this was due to the increased use of Trench warfare

Trench Warfare - a type of armed combat in which the opposing troops fight from trenches that face each other

No-Mans Land - The area between the allied and enemy trenches. So called because nobody was supposed to be able to survive in this territory because it was swept constantly by machine gun and sniper fire.

Autocrat a ruler with unlimited power Most Americans believed Kaiser Wilhelm II was an autocrat.

Propaganda information intended to influence public opinion - In America much of the propaganda used was negative representation of Germany/Germans

Neutral - not supporting or favoring either side in a war, dispute, or contest at the beginning of the war President Wilson declared the USA neutral and worked toward a peace settlement

Section 2 The United States Declares WarTensions between USA and German increaseU-Boat German submarine that changed the rules of naval warfare. U-Boats were used by Germany to hide under water and fire on ships without warning Lusitania - British passenger ship that Germany believed was transporting weapons to the allied forces German U-Boat fired upon this ship killing majority of passengers including the 128 Americans

Sussex Pledge a promise not to attack ships without warning President Wilson demanded that Germany agree to this - in 1917 Germany withdrew its agreement and began unrestricted warfare again.

Zimmerman Telegram telegram sent to Mexico by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman telegram promised Mexico the American southwest if it would declare war on the United States the telegram was intercepted by British intelligence.Bolshevik Revolution in Russia,1917, led by Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, revolutionaries overthrew the non-democratic Czar of Russia with him out of the way USA was more willing to join the allies in war.

WWI TimelineJuly 1914 WWI begins in EuropeMay 1915 German sub sinks LusitaniaMarch 1916 German sub sinks the Sussex French passenger shipFebruary 1917 Zimmerman note interceptedMarch 1917 Russian Revolution brings republican government to Russia & German sub sinks 3 U.S. shipsApril 1917 United states declares war against Germany

Section 3 Americans on the European FrontSelective Service Act the selective service act instituted the draft system to increase size of Americas active military services.Because this was believed to be the war to end all wars, American people supported the draft in hopes of ending the war swiftly. 24 million men registered and from that pool 3 million were chosen to go to war on behalf of America and the allies. Volunteers and National Guardsmen made up the remainder of what was to become the AEF

American Expeditionary Force (AEF) name of the troops the 3 million men served in during WWI thousands of women volunteered as nurses, clerks, and drivers 400,000 African Americans served in segregated units, but few saw combat

Harlem Hell Fighters Despite the racial tension still existing in America, over 300,000 African Americans either volunteered or were drafted to serve in segregated units. The 369th Regiment consisted of men eager to fight in the war, so eager in fact that they convinced their white officers to lend them out to the French to fight. The French were quick to integrate the regiment into their army. Their performance was so admirable that the entire regiment was awarded the highest combat medal the French had the Croix de Guerre.

Convoy Due to the unrestricted warfare tactics of German submarines; in May 1917, all merchant and troop ships traveled in a convoy. A convoy consists of destroyers, torpedo boats, and other naval vessels that were equipped with hydrophones used to track and destroy submarines. It was necessary to travel in this fashion in order to get the American troops overseas as quickly as possible so they may come to the aid of the allies and defeat the Germans.

John J. Pershing In June of 1917, President Wilson had agreed to send a small force of American troops to Europe. Not properly trained, Wilson gave command of this force to General John J. Pershing. Gen. Pershing was a veteran of the Spanish-American and a former teacher at West Point Military Academy. His experiences and skills were needed to lead the troops successfully against the strong German forces.

Commander-in-Chief John Joseph (blackjack) PershingHe got his nickname serving with a black regiment in the Russo-Japanese War

Vladimir Lenin signed a truce with Germany on December 15, 1917 This leads to an armistice between Russia and Germany allowing for the Germans to rally all troops to the western front before American troops could arrive

Upon arrival the AEF fought German forces along the western front deep into allied territory turning the Germans back near Paris

The allies counter attacked German troops and in July of 1918, the Germans were pushed back off the western front

The War EndsArmistice ceasefire

On November 11, 1918 both sides agreed to an armistice at 11am (11-11-11)

This war also witnessed the 1st genocide when the Turkish (Ottoman) government wiped out the Armenians

Section 4 &5 - Americans on the Home FrontTo maintain support of the people and raise funds for war efforts - the US government enforced many new programs. (Propaganda)

Liberty Bonds special war bonds sold to Americans to raise money

Price Control government managed the production and distribution of food through setting food prices.

Rationing Government controlled the distribution of foods to consumers in fixed amounts. People would also agree to NOT eat certain foods on different days of the week in order to conserve rations.

Daylight Savings turning the clocks ahead one hour in the summer to increase the number of daylight hours for work.

The Committee on Public Information (CPI)To enforce loyalty to the Allied cause, the government regulated news and information by censoring the press. They also rallied support through films, pamphlets, and posters.Muckraking journalist George Creel was put in charge of leading this committee The committee was responsible for issuing pro- war propaganda; however, Creel merely succeeded in spreading an already growing anti-German hysteria

Fear of ForeignersEspionage Act of 1917 - June 15, 1917, which made it a crime for a person to convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies

Sedition Act of 1918- The passing of this act forbade Americans to use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during war. The act also allowed the Postmaster General to deny mail delivery to dissenters of government policy during wartime.

It was an attempt by the United States government to limit freedom of speech during a time of war

Eugene V. DebsSocialist Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison under this law. U.S. citizens including members of the Industrial Workers of the World union were also imprisoned during World War I for their anti-war dissent under the provisions of the Sedition Act. Anti-war protesters were arrested by the hundreds as speaking out against the draft and the war became illegal under this law.

Immigration Act of 1917 - The most controversial aspect to the act was the proposal to exclude all "aliens over sixteen years of age, physically capable of reading, who cannot read the English language, or some other language or dialect, including Hebrew or Yiddish."

Literacy tests for immigrants forcing immigrants to prove they can read before entering country. Law leads to nativism and increased anti-German feelings. It also excludes Asian immigrants from entering country.

Vigilantes groups of people who took the law into their own hands to harass and even murder radicals and German immigrants.

Foreign fears effect MilitaryJoseph Wehner resident of Everett, MA. promptly enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps in June 1917 and developed an interest in flying. While undergoing training Wehner was briefly arrested by the Secret Service on suspicion of treason on account of his German background.He was a successful American 'balloon buster' of World War One, with six victories to his credit prior to his death in action on 18 September 1918.

President Wilson as a Global Peacemaker14 Points program presented by the President as a means to make the world safe from war. It included: an end to alliancesRemoval of trade barriers among nationsReduction of military forcesRight of ethnic groups to Self-determination make decisions about their own futures.

Paris Peace Conference 1919Spoils of War rewards of war such as land, riches, personal belongings France, Italy, and Britain wanted these Wilson did not.

League of Nations organization of all the nations to work for worldwide security and peace Allies would not agree to this Congress also did not agree especially because Wilson did not invite republican representation to the conference.

Reparations payment to allies for economic sufferings due to war B, I, and F want Germany to pay

As a result of the conference 9 new nations of the territory of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Germany

several of these nations formed to serve as a buffer between Europe and Bolshevik Russia. Millions of Germans and Hungarians became residents of Poland, Czechoslovakia, or Romania, thus creating more ethnic tensions.

The Versailles Treatyon May 7, 1919 Germany was given the treaty to sign at first they refused to sign it arguing that it violated the 14 points presented at the peace conference. France threatened Germany with an invasion if they would not sign and on June 28, 1919 all the great powers signed the treaty in the former home of King Louis XIV the palace of Versailles hence the name Treaty of Versailles

War Guilt Clause France and Britain wanted to cripple Germany they insisted that Germany provide reparations payment for economic injury suffered during a war. In 1921, a Reparations Committee ruled that Germany owed the allies $33 billion dollars.