Download Course of the War

USHC Standard 5: The student will demonstrate an
understanding of domestic and foreign developments that
contributed to the emergence of the United States as a
world power in the twentieth century.
USHC 5.4: Analyze the causes and consequences of United
States involvement in WWI, including the failure of
neutrality and the reasons for the declaration of war, the
role of propaganda in creating a unified war effort, the
limitation of individual liberties, and Woodrow Wilson’s
leadership in the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the
League of Nations.
Created by Mrs.
Magyar! Ed by
Persinski!
Course of the War
• Despite Great Britain’s declaration of war on
Germany, Germany was still able to move
quickly through Belgium, pushing back French
and British forces
• Then, to Germany’s surprise, Russia invaded
Germany
• Germany was not prepared for Russia to
mobilize so quickly, and this weakened them
enough for the Allies to stop their advance
Course of the War
• Because the swift German attack failed to
defeat the French, both sides became locked
in a bloody stalemate along hundreds of miles
of trenches
• This stalemate was in place for 3 years;
neither side was able to advance
The Central Powers had greater success on the
Eastern Front
• German and Austrian forces stopped the
Russian attack and went on the offensive
• Russia suffered 2 million killed, wounded or
captured in 1915 alone
When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, Europe had
already been bleeding for three years
WWI
New technologies significantly transformed
warfare, and leaders on both sides great
difficulty adjusting to new tactics
• Airplane
• Machine guns
• Hand grenades
• Mustard (poison) gas
• Trench warfare
Machine Gun
Hand Grenades
Mustard (Poison) Gas
What is this like? Let’s find out!
Trench Warfare
What was “noman’s land?”
The U.S. was not completely
prepared to send troops to Europe
• Selective Service Act
• Many of these draftees, as well as
volunteers, went overseas to fight
as part of the American
Expeditiary Force (AEF) and
became known as “dough boys”
Among their number was the 369th Infantry
Regiment
• Known as the “Harlem Hellfighters”, they
were an all African American unit that served
admirably in combat and were given France’s
highest medal for bravery and distinguished
service during war
Harlem Hellfighters
Government Propaganda
War Industries
Board!—Liberty
Bonds/Victory Bonds,
Rationing, Victory
Gardens, Daylight
Savings
National War Labor
Board—Mexicans,
African Americans
(Great Migration)
Anti-German propaganda—
discrimination spreads!
Ensuring Public Support
Committee on Public Information (CPI), was a new government
agency that
attempted to “sell” the idea of war to the American people. Pamphlets
and speeches helped deliver patriotic messages.
Espionage, or spying to acquire secret government information, was
addressed in the Espionage Act of 1917. It set up consequences for
people who aided the enemy. The Sedition Act of 1918 went a step
further by making it illegal to criticize the president or the government.
Anyone appearing disloyal also came under attack.
In the case of Schenck v. the United States (1919), the Supreme Court
ruling limited an individual’s freedom of speech if the words spoken
constituted a “clear and present
danger.”
“Over There”
How did government get the citizens
to “buy in” to the war? + or -?
Method
Method
Method
Gov
“buy-in”
methods
Method
Method
The beginning of the End
• Who won the war? How? What were the
results?
The Russian Revolution
• By early 1917, the Russians were tired of
fighting.
• In March, 1917, the Russian Revolution took
place, overthrowing Czar Nicholas II and
putting a democratic government into power
The Russian Revolution
• By November, with help from Germany, the
Bolsheviks, under the leadership of Vladimir
Lenin, had taken over the country and
established a communist regime
• The Bolsheviks pulled Russia out of the war, as
repayment to Germany for their help in the
revolution
• Germany could now concentrate on their
enemies in the West
Bolshevik Revolution
Turning Point
• Germany concentrated all of its efforts on taking Paris
– Within 2 months, German forces were within 50 miles of
the French capital
• U.S. Marines helped fight off the advancing Germans,
and turned the tide of the war
• With Paris saved; the Allies used a new weapon, the
tank, to move through German lines
• German forces had no choice but to seek terms of
peace, once the war had turned against them
• November 11, 1918, they signed an armistice (ceasefire agreement to stop fighting) ending the war.
Peace? Self-determination?
A. In January 1919, leaders of the victorious Allied nations met to
resolve the issues caused by the war. Wilson’s plan, called the Fourteen
Points, addressed “the principle of justice to all people and
nationalities.” The points proposed by Wilson included eliminating the
general causes of the war through free trade and disarmament, open
diplomacy instead of secret agreements, and the right to selfdetermination. The points required the evacuation of the Central
Powers from all countries invaded during the war. The fourteenth point,
known as the League of Nations, called for member nations to help
preserve peace and prevent future wars.
B. The other Allied governments felt that Wilson’s plan was too lenient
toward Germany. The Treaty of Versailles, signed by Germany,
weakened Wilson’s proposal. The treaty stripped Germany of its armed
forces and made it pay reparations, or war damages to the Allies.
14 Points
1. No more secret agreements ("Open covenants openly arrived at").
2. Free navigation of all seas.
3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.
4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers.
5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial
6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to develop
her own political set-up.
7. Belgium should be independent like before the war.
8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine
9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy's borders are to "along
clearly recognizable lines of nationality."
10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.
11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed for
the Balkan states.
12. The Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. Non-Turks in
the old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.
13. An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the sea.
14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial
independence of all states.
Political Stalemate
The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
were opposed by many United States lawmakers.
Wilson tried to “sell” his proposal to the American
public, however, he suffered a stroke. The Senate
refused to ratify the treaty for fear of becoming
entangled in European affairs; politics between a
Republican Senate and the Democrat Wilson
refused to compromise, as well! Instead, the United
States negotiated separate peace treaties with each
of the Central Powers.
Flanders Fields by John McCrae
• In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
• We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
• Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
14 Points and a League of Nations?
Yes or No? Pick a side!
YES!
No!
How did the war change America?
A War to End All Wars?
Election of 1920—Should we join the League of Nations?
Harding (R) said NO— “A Return to Normalcy” vs. Cox (D)
supported internationalism and Wilson’s “Make the world
safe for democracy”
Results—disillusionment from the war led to the
overwhelming support for Harding’s Normalcy. Focus on
BUSINESS—we’ll still trade. No politics, just business. 
Observed, attended conferences, loans, but “hands-off”.