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United States home front during World War I wikipedia , lookup
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World War I Causes of World War I • Near the beginning of the 20th century, there were many calls for long term peace. • The first Olympic games held in 1896, the Nobel Peace Prize was established. • However, there were even stronger forces pushing the world to widespread war. Causes of World War I • Intense nationalism was growing between countries like France and Germany. • France was still bitter at the harsh ways that the Germans ended the Franco-Prussian War. • France desired to regain it’s power in Europe and the world. Causes of World War I • Nationalism also ran high for the Slavic people – Russia was the largest Slavic country. • Another Slavic area called Serbia dreamed of having their own nation. • Austria-Hungary however controlled many Serbians in their empire and this made many Slavs unhappy. Causes of World War I • The competition for power around the world through imperialism was also causing tension. • European countries began fighting each other in Africa to control more land. • This was an economic problem – more land meant more money for your country. Causes of World War I • Militarism was also a cause of World War I – countries tried building the best military. • Germany began building a strong navy to rival the British navy – British became suspicious. • In order to keep up with other European countries – each of them built strong militaries. Causes of World War I • Distrust and suspicion between the European countries led to a tangle of alliances. • Alliances were agreements between two or more countries. • Idea was to make your alliance big and strong enough that no other country would attack you. Causes of World War I • The Triple Alliance was formed – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (until war started). • The Triple Entente – France, Great Britain and Russia. • If any of the countries in each of the alliances started fighting, then they all would help fight. Causes of World War I • All of this competition and suspicion of one another served as the “firewood” to the camp fire. • But in order to light the fire – or start the war – there needs to be a spark. • The spark was the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Causes of World War I • Archduke means he is the heir to the throne – Francis Ferdinand was the nephew of Francis Joseph the leader of Austria-Hungary. • Ferdinand visited Bosnia on political business there were many Serbians in Bosnia. • Remember – Serbians do not like AustriaHungary – viewed them as foreign oppressors. Causes of World War I • A Serbian nationalist by the name of Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Ferdinand as he was riding in his car. • Princip was a member of the Black Hand – a Serbian terrorist group. • Austria-Hungary is outraged and demands Serbia pay for the murder. Causes of World War I • Serbia did not agree to all of Austria-Hungary’s demands – and asked Russia to protect them. • Russia agrees and warns Austria-Hungary – so Austria-Hungary asks Germany (alliance) for help. • Germany agrees and declares war on Russia – France comes to help Russia (alliance) and war begins. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • Explain how each of the following are considered causes of World War I. – Nationalism – Imperialism – Militarism – Alliances – Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand A New Kind of War • As war began, Germany knew they could not win a “two-front war”. • They had to fight France to the west of them, and Russia to the east – means dividing their army. • To prevent a two-front war Germany had a plan called The Schlieffen Plan. A New Kind of War • The Schlieffen Plan called for a quick knock out blow to France. • One problem of Schlieffen Plan – to invade France, Germans had to cross Belgium. • Belgium was supported by Great Britain and when Germans entered Belgium – British declared war on Germany. A New Kind of War • Germans were advancing quickly into France – but British came to help and stopped German advance at the Battle of the Marne. • This caused both sides to stop and dig in for the winter – causing a long stalemate. • Stalemate is a deadlock where neither side is able to defeat the other. A New Kind of War • On the Western Front (Germans vs. French and British) both sides dug elaborate trenches. • Trenches protected the soldiers from gun fire, and it was difficult to successfully attack your enemy’s trench. • For the next four years, the trench lines changed less than 10 miles. A New Kind of War • The land between the trenches was called “no man’s land” because no man wanted to be there. • There were craters from artillery explosions, trees and grass were destroyed. • Barbed wire was also in front of the trenches to slow down any attackers. A New Kind of War • Each side kept trying to advance – command would be heard “over the top” and soldiers charged at the enemy trench. • After the attack failed, the other side would counterattack – but that failed too. • Reinforcements would then be called in to replace the dead and wounded. A New Kind of War • Soldiers lived in the trenches and the conditions were far from nice. • Trenches were muddy, infested with rats, wounded and dead were near. • Constant explosions from artillery caused “shell shock” for many troops. A New Kind of War • Advancements in weapons also led to the stalemate and high death rate. • Machine guns – could fire a rapid, continuous stream of bullets – could kill waves of soldiers. • Flame throwers – soldiers had tanks of gas on their back and fired stream of fire – good to “clear” out trenches. A New Kind of War • Improved artillery – fire shells into your enemy’s trenches from long distances. • Tanks – first introduced by British to move across “no man’s land” – largely ineffective. • Airplanes – first used to observe enemy troop movement – later used mounted machine guns and fought in the air and bomb the trenches. A New Kind of War • Poison gas – loaded into artillery shells and fired at enemy trenches. • Gas was intended to disorient the enemy and then attack them while they were unorganized. • Mustard gas became the worst – blindness, internal bleeding, large blisters on skin. A New Kind of War • The war on the Eastern front was no better – masses of Russian peasants were killed but still hardly any advancement. • Italy backed out of the Triple Alliance and helped fight the Germans and Austrians. • Japan sided with Britain and attacked German territories in China. A New Kind of War • The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) sided with Germany and helped fight the war. • The main sides were: – The Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire – The Allies: France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan…..and the United States later on. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • Why did the war on the Western Front turn into a stalemate? • Describe three ways in which new technology affected the war. The War Drags On • As the war dragged on nations realized to win they had to fight a total war. • A total war caused each nation to channel all of their resources together to win. • Countries required all eligible men to serve in the war and used taxes and rationing to fund the war. The War Drags On • Total war also meant controlling public opinion – especially news from the press. • Both sides also issued a propaganda war to promote their cause. • England told stories of German atrocities in Belgium and Germany promoted anti-English songs. The War Drags On • Women played a critical role in total war – as men went to fight women filled the jobs and kept economy going. • Many women worked as nurses caring for the wounded on the front lines. • The war gave women a new sense of pride and accomplishment as well. The War Drags On • As the war dragged on the morale on both sides began to fall. • Stalemate, food shortages and heavy casualties caused the low morale. • Russia was especially hard hit by the effects of the war. The War Drags On • Russians were growing tired of the tsars and food shortages and high death rate was the final straw. • Bread riots in 1917 led to a full scale revolution. • Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and Russia became the first communist nation in the world. The War Drags On • The new Russian government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. • This treaty ended Russia’s role in the war – faced a harsh terms of surrender from Germany. • Germans now did not have to fight a two-front war and could focus forces on Western Front. The War Drags On • Even though the United States remained neutral at beginning of the war they still “sided” with Great Britain and France. • The U.S. sent supplies, weapons and money to British and French armies. • Germany tried to counter this through submarine warfare – using U-Boats. The War Drags On • On May 15, 1915 a German U-Boat attacked and sunk the Lusitania a British passenger ship. • 1,200 passengers were killed – including 128 Americans. • U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was furious – demanded that U.S. have freedom of the seas. The War Drags On • In early 1917 British intelligence intercepted a message from Germany to Mexico. • British revealed the message to the U.S. – it showed Germans trying to persuade Mexico into attacking U.S. and joining Central Powers. • This message was called the Zimmerman Note – and the U.S. declared war on Germany. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • What impact did the war have on women around the world? • What impact did the war have on Russia? • What were the reasons why the United States declared war on Germany? The War Ends • Once the United States entered the war it took them several months to recruit an army and train them. • But U.S. troops served as a great morale boost to Allied soldiers (France and Britain). • Germans planned to make one final push to win the war in early 1918. The War Ends • Germany launched a huge attack that pushed the Allies 40 miles back into France. • With the help of fresh American troops, the Allies counterattacked and pushed the exhausted Germans back. • German generals informed Kaiser Wilhelm II that the war could not be won. The War Ends • Citizens of Germany were becoming angry – demanded that Kaiser Wilhelm II step down. • Austria-Hungary was also facing collapse from angry citizens. • Kaiser Wilhelm II scared for his life flees Germany and the new German government seeks peace and an armistice. The War Ends • On November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. the Great War came to an end. • President Wilson wanted to be the world’s leader for world peace. • Gave a speech in which he outlined 14-points for peace. The War Ends • Wilson called for no secret treaties, freedom of the seas, and reduction in arms. • Wilson traveled to Paris to discuss the terms of the peace with the other Allied leaders. • The devastation in Europe from the war was shocking. The War Ends • More than 8.5 million people were killed. • More than 16 million people were wounded – handicapped for life. • Famine threatened many areas. • Flu pandemic spread killing 20 million people. The War Ends • From France to Russia, homes, farms, factories, roads, and churches had been shelled into rubble. • Citizens were bitter about the war – and the winners were looking for payment from the losers for damages. • This is called reparations, or payments for war damage. The War Ends • Great Britain and France were looking to punish Germany because they blamed them for the war and destruction. • The Germans were forced to sign a harsh treaty at Versailles – The Treaty of Versailles. • Germans had no choice but to sign even though they were being severely punished. The War Ends • The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to take total blame for the war. • Germany was forced to pay over $30 billion dollars for reparations. • There were also restrictions put on the size of the German military, and returned bordering lands back to France. The War Ends • Italy was also left dissatisfied because they were not given the lands in Austria that they wanted. • Japan was also not allowed to keep the lands they fought for in China. • Former lands controlled by Russia and AustriaHungary became independent nations. The War Ends • The Paris Peace Conference also established the League of Nations. • More than 40 nations joined it with the goal to negotiate disputes rather than go to war. • The U.S. however did not join the league and it proved to be powerless to stop war. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • What were some parts to President Wilson’s Fourteen Points? • Why was the Treaty of Versailles harsh to Germany? • Describe Europe after World War I.