Download Unit 6 – World War I

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Unit 6 – World War I
I.
War Erupts in Europe
A. Tensions in Europe
 The fact that war in erupted in August 1914 did not surprise many Europeans
because tensions had worn in Europe for years.
1. Extreme Nationalism
 DEFINE nationalism



This fueled tensions in Europe because many European nationalists
demanded freedom and self government
Nationalists believed that people with a common language and culture
should throw off foreign rule and form their own country.
Examples in Europe and this era were:
 Germany and France =
 Austria-Hungary and Russia =
2. Imperialism and Militarism
 Between 1870 and 1914, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia
scrambled for colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
 How could these acts of imperialism led to conflict and war?

Militarism is the policy of building up strong armed forces to prepare for
war.
 European armies expanded their armies and navies, which could
create new stresses.
 For example, when Germany built up its navy – Britain responded by
adding more ships to its navy – and this led to rivalry between the 2.
3. Rival Alliances
 To protect themselves, European powers formed rival alliances:
Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
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
The alliance system posed a new danger – Allies agreed to help each other
in case of an attack – so one small event could drag many counties to war!
B. War Breaks Out
 That one minor event would happen on June 28, 1914 on the troubled Balkan
Peninsula in southeastern Europe.
 What power controlled the area?
1. Assassination in Serbia
 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was
visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia that was ruled by Austria-Hungary.
 What was the Black Hand?

The fateful event occurred on June 28, 1914:
 As the archduke and his wife rode through Sarajevo in an open car, a
young terrorist named Gavrilo Princip shot and killed them both.
2. Alliances lead to war
 Austria-Hungary accused the Serbian government of organizing the
archduke’s assassination and the system of alliances kicked in and led to
the start of the Great War:
When Austria-Hungary threatened war, Russia moved to
protect Serbia
Austria-Hungary declared on Serbia (July 28) Russia ordered
its forces to mobilize – prepare for war
Austria-Hungary’s ally Germany called on Russia to cancel
the order to mobilize - What happened?
Germany declared war on Russia’s ally France and sliced
through Belgium to attack France.
How did Britain get involved in the conflict?
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C. On the Battlefront
 Europeans on both sides of the conflict thought the war would end quickly, but
they were sadly mistaken.
 What did the German emperor (or Kaiser) tell his troops?
 The Great War (or World War I as it became known as) dragged on for (4)
blood soaked years from 1914 to 1918.
Central Powers
Allied Powers
 In time, 21 other nations, including Italy, joined the Allies.
 By November 1914, a German advance and an Allied counterattack had
produced nothing but a deadly stalemate.
 DEFINE stalemate =
 For three years, the two armies fought huge battles with little to show for it
except 1000s of soldiers dead.
 Trench Warfare
 Both sides dug a maze of trenches protected by mines and barbed wire.
 What was life like in the trenches?
 Between the front-line trenches of each side lay a no mans land of barbed
wire and deadly land mines
 What was the ‘strategy’ of trench warfare?
 Most of the offensives were long and deadly:
 During the Battle of Verdun in France the Germans lost 400,000 men and the
French more then that.
 On the eastern front the Russians had lost more than 1,000,000 soldiers.
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D. The United States Remains Neutral
 When the war broke out in Europe, the United States was determined to avoid
being dragged into the conflict.
 President Wilson adopted an official position of neutrality but how was
public opinion in the United States divided:
Support for Allies:
Support for Central Powers:
1. Impact of the War
 The economy of the US boomed as American farmers and manufacturers
rushed to fill orders for war goods.
 Trade with the Allies was much greater than with Central Powers
 DEFINE propaganda
2. Submarine Warfare
 In the end, it was not propaganda that brought the US into the war.
 Germany used powerful new weapons (U-boats or submarines) to enforce
its blockade around Britain.
 What was the German policy on the blockade zone?
3. Sinking of Lusitania
 On May 7, 1915 a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania (a British
passenger ship) off the coast of Ireland – 128 Americans died.
 President Wilson was outraged and Germany agreed to stop attacking
neutral ships without warning.
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II.
The United States Enters the War
A. Wilson Tries to Bring Peace
 President Wilson believed that the US, as a neutral nation, could lead warring
nations to a fair peace, one “without victory” – but he failed.
 Wilson knew that the US might be drawn into the war, so he began lobbying
Congress for a stronger army and navy.
 In the Presidential Election of 1916 – the war in Europe was a key issue:

Republicans ran Charles Evan Hughes and what was the Democrats strategy
with Hughes?

Democrat Wilson ran on the slogan – “He kept us out of war!”
The race was close, but Wilson won with help of late returns from California.

B. Moving Toward War
 Germany had decided to renew submarine warfare in February 1917 in order to
break the Allied blockade.
 Even though Germany felt this would bring the US into the war, why did they
renew this policy?
1. The Zimmerman Telegram
 Arthur Zimmerman, Germany’s foreign secretary, has sent a secret note
to the German minister in Mexico.
 What was the content of the Zimmerman telegram?

When Americans heard about this telegram (along with the sinking of
more US ships by U-boats); anti-German feelings soared.
2. The Russian Revolution
 A revolution in Russia in 1917 forced Czar (Russian emperor) Nicholas
II from power.
 The Russian people with the heavy losses from the war and also the
hardships at home (food shortages led to riots) so the czar stepped down.
 Revolutionaries then set up a provisional government and called for
 What was the impact of this change of power on Wilson and the war?
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3. Declaration of War
 On April 2, Wilson went before Congress to ask for a declaration of war
and he said ‘the world must be made safe for democracy’.
 The vote in Congress was 455 to 56 – Who was Jeannette Rankin?

In April 6, the President signed the declaration and thrust Americans into
the worst war the world had seen yet.
C. The Nation at War
 The United States had to prepare to fight, quickly.
 Their Allies needed everything from food to weapons:
 Britain and France were on the verge of collapsing.
 Russian soldiers were deserting to join the revolution.
1. Building an army
 What were the Selective Service Act and the draft?

In the next 18 months, 4 million men and women joined the armed forces.
 Many ethnic groups served; Puerto Ricans, Filipinos and Native
Americans.
 African-Americans were not allowed in combat at first, and when
they finally were they served in segregated units.
2. In training
 While men drilled for combat, women served as radio operators, clerks
and stenographers.
 At training camps, there were not always enough weapons for everyone
so some recruits used broomsticks as guns!
3. Educating the recruits
 For many recruits, especially African-Americans, southerners, and
immigrants, the Army offered several firsts – IDENTIFY

The shocking rates of illiteracy among recruits fueled a drive to reform
public education; the school day was lengthened, teachers trained better.
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D. Organizing the War Effort
 The US reorganized its economy to produce food, arms, and other goods needed
to fight the war.
 DEFINE bureaucracy
1.
“Food will win the war”
Wilson chose Herbert Hoover to head the Food Administration and boost
food production for the troops and American people.
 Hoover relied on cooperation from the American people and they
responded by sacrificing foods to help the men in the trenches

2.
Wartime Industry
What did Wilson create in order to get the necessary supplies for the
military?
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The War Labor Board settled disputes over working hours and wages
and tried to prevent strikes.
E. The Home Front
 Americans on the home front united behind the war effort:
 Liberty bonds =
 “Four minute men” =
1. Women at work
 Women assembled weapons and airplane parts, they drove trolleys and
delivered the mail.
 What happened to the gains women made in the workplace when the war
ended?
2. Anti-German feelings
 German Americans endured suspicion and intolerance during the war:
 Newspapers questioned their loyalty.
 Who was Robert Prager?
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 Some German families changed their names and schools stopped
teaching the German language
3. Other ethnic tensions
 During the war, almost 500,000 African Americans and 1000s of Mexican
Americans embarked on a great wave of migration – where did they go?

African Americans took jobs in the war industries but still encountered
prejudice and even violence. What happened in St. Louis?

In the Southwest, ranchers pressed the government to let more Mexicans
cross the border to work on farms, but after the war many wanted them
to return home.
4. Silencing Protest
 Some Americans opposed the war:
 DEFINE pacifists =
 Socialists and radical labor groups also opposed the war; they felt that
the war benefited factory owners but not the workers.
 Congress passes laws making it a crime to criticize the government or
interfere with the war.
 Who was Eugene V. Debs?

Some people questioned these laws because the violated free speech,
however most Americans felt they were necessary during wartime.
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III.
Winning the War
A. Hard Times for the Allies
 The 1st American troops reached France in June 1917 and they quickly saw the
desperate situation of the Allies.
 What was the situation like?
1. Russia withdrawals from the war
 In November 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia under the
leadership of V.I. Lenin who wanted a communist revolution.
 Lenin embraced the ideas of Karl Marx – what was Marx all about?
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In March of 1918, Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of BrestLitovsk that ended the war for those powers.
What were the (2) important factors of this treaty?
i.
ii.
2. A new German offensive
 By March 21, German forces had massed near the French town of
Amiens – the German hoped this final push would end the war.
 They were unsuccessful at Amiens, but had pushed through the Allied
lines and were 50 miles from Paris – but the Americans were arriving!
B. Americans in France
 By June 1918, American troops were pouring into France and the commander of
the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was General John J. Pershing.
 What did General Pershing want for the American forces?
1. Harlem Hell Fighters
 An African American unit attached to the French Army that fought
bravely in many battles.
2. Belleau Wood
 As the Germans rolled across the Aisne River, the French prepared to
evacuate Paris.
 In June 1918, Americans troops plunged into their first major battle in
Belleau Wood, outside of Paris.
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
A French general wanted the US Marines to set up in the rear in case
they were needed: How did US General James Harbord reply?

The battle raged for 3 weeks and the US Marine Corps took control of the
Belleau Woods.
C. Final Battles
 The Germans made another drive to Paris in mid-July but were again stopped
by the Americans.
 Marshall Ferdinand Foch, commander of the Allied forces, gave the order to go
on the offensive against the Germans everywhere.
1. Into the Argonne Forest
 1 million American soldiers pushed into the Argonne Forest in September
1918 – the Forest was home to some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
 Who was Alvin York?

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After 47 days, the Americans broke through the German defense and the
battle was over - it was costly as each side had 100,000 casualties.
British, French and Belgian troops also broke through and by November
the German forces were in retreat and the Great War was almost over.
2. The war ends
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In September, German generals told the Kaiser that the war could not be
won and the Germans contacted President Wilson for an armistice.
DEFINE armistice

What were the (2) conditions that Wilson set?

i.
ii.
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The Kaiser abdicated his throne and the new German leaders agreed to
the terms on November 11, 1918 on the 11th hour – WW I had ended.
3. The costs of the war
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Between 8 and 9 million Europeans lost their lives.
Much of northern France lay in ruins
What was the influenza epidemic of 1918?
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IV.
Wilson and the Peace
A. Wilson’s Peace Plan
 In January 1918, even before the war ended, Wilson outlined his peace plan
which became known as ‘the Fourteen Points”.
 Wilson’s 1st point called for an end to secret agreements – Why?
 Called also for freedom of seas, free trade, and a limit on arms.
 Wilson also supported the principle of self-determination – that is the right of
national groups to their own territory and forms of government.
 What was his 14th and most important point?
 Wilson was going to have trouble with his plan.
B. The Peace Treaty
 Key issues were to be decided by the Big Four – Woodrow Wilson (US), David
Lloyd George (Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France), Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
1. Conflicting Goals
 Wilson had called for a ‘peace without victory’ and he also opposed
punishing the defeated powers.
 The other Allies ached for revenge – EXPLAIN
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The Allies wanted to be sure that Germany would not be able to rebuild
its military.
Wilson had to compromise his 14 points in order to save key goals, such
as the League of Nations.
2. The Final Treaty
 By June 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was ready and none of the Allies
were satisfied with it!
 What was Germany’s punishment?
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3. Wilson’s successes
 In Eastern Europe, the Allies provided for several new nations to be
formed on the principle of self-determination: IDENTIFY

To Wilson, however, his greatest achievement was persuading the Allies
to include the League of Nations in the treaty.
 He was sure that the League would prevent future wars by allowing
nations to talk over their problems.
 What would happen if talk failed?
C. Battle over the Treaty
 When Wilson returned home, he faced a new battle – he had to persuade the
Senate to approve the Versailles Treaty.
1. Opposition to the League
 Most Americans favored the treaty, but there was a vocal minority that
was also against it.
 What are isolationists?

Henry Cabot Lodge (chairmen of powerful Senate Foreign Relations
committee) did not entirely agree with the League of Nations idea.
 What was his big problem?
 Wilson refused to compromise on the League at all.
2. A Defeat for Wilson
 In 1919, Wilson set out across the country making speeches on the treaty.
 He wanted the American people to tell their Senators to vote for the
treaty.
 What happened to Wilson on this trip?


In November 1919, the Senate rejected the treaty and the US finally
signed a peace treaty with Germany in 1921.
What was the importance of the US not joining the League of Nations?