Download The Great War

The Great War
1914 – 1918
Causes of WWI
• the “MAIN” long-term causes of the First World War
– militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism
• Europe had become tangled in a web of military alliances
– resulted in Triple Alliance (“Central Powers” & Italy) vs. Triple Entente (Allies)
• outbreak of war sparked by assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
– Wilson immediately declared U.S. neutrality  upheld tradition of isolationism
– naval blockades by both sides made U.S. neutrality difficult
Background Info
• several names used at the time to describe World War One
– “The Great War” / “World War” / “The War to End All Wars”
• Western Front became bloody stalemate defined by trench warfare
– characterized by “no mans land” and charging “over the top”
• several new weapons emerged that still influence modern warfare
–
–
–
–
–
modernized machine guns and artillery
advanced submarines—especially German U-boats
airplanes engaged in recon and “dogfights”
extensive chemical warfare—chlorine & mustard gas
British developed armored tank
• more than 9 million military personnel killed during conflict
– overall death toll estimates range from 15 to 65 million
Long-range causes of U.S. Involvement
• sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 outraged the American public
– British passenger ship carrying 128 Americans—sunk by German U-boat
– sinking of Arabic (1915) killed 2 Americans—Germany agreed to restrict attacks
• Germany practiced restricted sub warfare until 1916 sinking of Sussex
– threats by Wilson resulted in Sussex Pledge [M] (honored by Germany until 1917)
• most Americans sympathized with Britain and France
– economic/political ties and fear of German naval power
• conflict caused humanitarian conditions to decline across Europe
– many Americans felt obligated to help end starvation & disease
Debate about America’s Role
• Lusitania crisis led some Republicans (TR) to call for U.S. entry
– but majority of Americans opposed U.S. involvement
• Eastern Reps (TR) worried about the condition of the Army and Navy
– sparked calls for “preparedness”  greater defense expenditures
– business leaders organized National Security League {preparedness campaign}
• Wilson opposed the calls for preparedness at first
– changed policy in late 1915 and got Congress to pass National Defense Act
• Populists, Progressives, and Socialists led anti-war campaign
– leading peace-minded Progressives = W.J. Bryan, Jane Addams, Jeanette Rankin
– Jeanette Rankin became first woman to be elected to Congress in 1916
Immediate Causes of U.S. Involvement
• Germans resumed unrestricted sub warfare in January 1917
– Wilson immediately broke diplomatic relations—but hesitated to declare war
• German Foreign Secretary Zimmerman asked Mexico to attack U.S.
– the Zimmerman Telegram represented direct threat to American public
– 1917 Russian Revolution also made war a “fight to save democracy”
• Wilson asked Congress to declare war in April 1917
– despite “He kept us out war” 1916 re-election campaign slogan
U.S. Mobilization
• U.S. created Committee on Public Info to inspire the “Home Front”
– War Industries Board created to coordinate industrial and ag production
– women and minorities replaced white male factory workers
• 1917 Selective Service Act passed to authorize conscription
– all adult males had to register for a military draft
• CPI propaganda (G. Creel) encouraged public to conserve resources
– people planted “victory gardens” and participated in “Meatless Mondays”
– daylight savings time established to conserve energy
Constitutional Issues
• federal government expanded its power—similar to previous wars
– large bureaucracy controlled communication, railroads, and industry
• opposition to involvement led to restrictions on civil liberties
– 1917 Espionage Act prevented use of mail system to interfere with war effort
– 1918 Sedition Act made it illegal to speak out against any aspect of U.S. govt
• Supreme Court upheld Espionage Act in Schenck v United States
– Schenck was a prominent socialist that had mailed leaflets opposing draft
– Justice Oliver Holmes said “clear and present danger” could suspend liberties
• paranoia had increased after 1917 communist revolution in Russia
– Radical labor unions (I.W.W.) and socialists (Debs) were branded as enemies
– FBI created to prevent radicals from taking over
America in WWI
• Gen John J. Pershing led American Expeditionary Force to France
– European Allies called them “doughboys” at first—due to inexperience
– but the fresh, strong, & energized U.S. troops helped the Allies win WWI
• U.S. troops played role in turning back the German advance on Paris
– early contributions in battles of Château-Thierry and Belleau Wood
– and a victory in the Argonne Forest helped force a massive German retreat
• each side agreed to an Armistice in November 1918
– 11/11 became “Armistice Day”— later changed to “Veterans Day”
The “Convoy System”
• German U-boats were sinking hundreds of Allied supply ships
• the U.S. used the convoy system for protection
– warships and supply ships traveled together in large groups
Wilson’s Post-war Vision
• most of The Big Four sought revenge and to punish Germany
– David Lloyd George (GB), Georges Clemenceau (FR), Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
– in contrast, Wilson desired a “peace without victory”
• Wilson had announced his “Fourteen Points” for peace in 1918
– end to secret treaties, freedom of the seas, and weapons reduction
– new management of European colonies and self determination
– also called for creation of a League of Nations  caused controversy in U.S.
Forging a Treaty
• the Treaty of Versailles ended WWI by humiliating Germany
– Allies forced Germany to accept full blame, forfeit land, and pay reparations
– but they did create the League of Nations—that Wilson had envisioned
• Versailles Treaty caused intense debate and division in Congress
–
–
–
–
conflict fueled primarily by League of Nations, particularly Article X
Senate split into 3 groups  Dems, “Irreconcilables” and “Reservationists”
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (Reservationists) became loudest opposition
U.S. didn’t sign the treaty or join the league  renewed isolationism