Download Unit 3 – World War I (1914

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Unit 3 – World War I (1914-1919)
I. The Road to War
 June 28, 1914 the Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the throne of AustroHungarian Empire) was assassinated a Serbian plotter (terrorist)
o This act of terrorism sparked what would become known as “The Great
War” and later World War I.
A. Causes of World War I
1. Imperialism
 European countries rushed to claim uncolonized areas of the world;
particularly in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
 Some countries realized the only way to expand was to take colonies away
from other nations.
2. Militarism
 Policy of aggressively building up a nation’s armed forces in preparation for
war.
 What weapon was a key for all nations in the early 1900s?
3. Nationalism
 Two kinds of nationalism helped start WW I:
i.
nations acting in their own self interest
ii. nations with diverse ethnic populations – EXPLAIN
4. Alliances
 Nations would join alliances (groups of friends) and promised to protect each
other if any part of the alliance was attacked.
i.
Triple Alliance =
ii.
Triple Entente =
B. The Conflict Expands
 The assassination of the Archduke set off a series of events that quickly engulfed
most of Europe in war:
Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia  Russia mobilized to protect Serbia 
Germany (ally of Austria) demanded Russia stand down  France (ally of Russia)
began to mobilize  Germany declared war on Russia; but attacked France first
through neutral Belgium  Great Britain (ally of Belgium) joins war against Germany
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o What was the Schlieffen Plan?
o The Great War became a conflict between the Central Powers (Germany
and Austria-Hungary) and the Allies (Russia, France, Serbia, and Great
Britain.
1. Stalemate
 Each side felt comfortable of a quick victory – WHY?


Using the Schlieffen Plan, Germany swept through northern France and drove
within 30 miles of Paris but were stopped by a combined French/British force
DEFINE stalemate
2. Modern Warfare
 World War I was the 1st major conflict to use modern weapons such as
machine guns, rapid fire artillery, poison gas and tanks.
C.
The American Response
 Some Americans favored the Central Powers (German + Irish Americans); some
favored the Allies (ties with British culture)
 What is propaganda?
1. American Neutrality

On August 4, 1914 President Wilson officially proclaimed the US a neutral
country – a major reason for this position was to protect American
investments in Europe.
2. The Preparedness Movement
 Some Americans felt that the US military should become “prepared” to help
Great Britain if necessary and the wanted US forces increased.
3. The Peace Movement
 As soon as war broke out in Europe, a peace movement began in the US that
wanted the US to stay out of Europe’s problems.
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II. The United States Declares War
 Many Americans hoped to stay out of the war, but actions by the Central Powers
would push President Wilson into entering the war on the side of the Allies.
A. German Submarine Warfare
 The German U-Boat (unterseeboot) was a terrifying weapon that changed the
rules of naval warfare.
 What was the goal of the Germans in using U-boats?

At the start of the war, the German would allow crews and passengers to
abandon ship before sinking the vessel.
o Why did they change this policy?

Sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex
o The British passenger ship Lusitania (which was secretly carrying
weapons) was sunk by a U-boat and 1200 passengers were killed
o Why were Americans outraged by this?
o The Germans promised to stop sinking passenger ships, but a U-boat
sunk the French passenger ship Sussex a year later; killing 80.
o What was the Sussex Pledge?
B.
Moving Toward War
 In the Presidential election of 1916, Wilson ran on the slogan “He kept us out of
the war!” and won a narrow victory over Charles Even Hughes (R)
 However, in 1917 the Germans announced they would resume unrestricted
submarine warfare – why were they not worried about the US entering the war?
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1. The Zimmerman Note
 In February of 1917, the British announced that they had intercepted a secret
German telegram to the Mexican government.
 What were the controversial contents of the telegram?

Americans were outraged and war with Germany seemed eminent.
2. Revolution in Russia
 By early 1917, the Russians had suffered unbelievable losses: 1.5 million
dead and 2.5 million soldiers taken prisoner.
 Russian Czar Nicholas II (who ruled as an autocrat – absolute power) was
forced to give up his throne.
o Why did this make Wilson’s decision to go to war easier?
3. The War Resolution
 Germany continued to sink American ships in early 1917.
 President Wilson told Congress that America must join the war so “the world
would be made safe for democracy”.
 Congress passed the war resolution and the US officially entered World War I
on April 6, 1917 when the president signed the resolution.
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III. Americans on the European Front
 In April 1917, the US was far from ready to send an army to the European Front
 Who was to lead to American forces in Europe?
A. Preparing for War
1. Draftees and Volunteers
 Congress passed a Selective Service Act in May 1917 which authorized a
draft of young men for military service.
o 24 million registered and 3 million eventually served in the war
 Who else made up the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)?
2. Training for War
 The military trained the draftees both physically (use bayonet and rifle) and
mentally (Germans were committing atrocities)
3. The Convoy System
 The War Department had to worry about transporting troops and materials
across the Atlantic with the German U-boat threat.
 The answer was the convoy system EXPLAIN
4. American Soldiers in Europe
 General Pershing insisted that US troops were kept independent and
commanded by American officers only.
 What big advantage did American troops have?

Many African-Americas served in Europe, but often performed manual labor
jobs for the military.
o One exception was the Harlem Hell Fighters – a unit who fought with
the French and received honors.
B. Turning the Tide of War
 What happened in Russia in November of 1917 that greatly helped the Germans?
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1. Americans Save Paris
 The Germans launched a major offensive in March 1918 and successfully
broke through the Allied lines and come within 50 miles of Paris.
 American forces came to the rescue and turned back the German offensive.
2. Allied Counterattacks
 About 250,000 new American soldiers were arriving each month.
 What new weapon helped with the Allied attack?

In September 1918 500,000 American troops attack the last German
stronghold in France during the Meuse- Argonne Offensive.
3. War in the Air
 Airplanes were relatively new in the world at the start of the war and did not
really play a major role in the war.
 However, the war in the air provided some interesting events and would play a
major role in future wars:
o Scouting = planes would observe enemy troop movement
o Dog fighting =
o Zeppelins =
C. Ending the War
 The Allies continued the attack on the Central Powers who began to collapse one
by one.
 As the pressured on the German homeland increased, Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
his throne.
o A new republic was established and they signed an armistice
o The agreement ended the fighting at 11:00am on November 11, 1918.
1. The Influenza Epidemic
 The last months of the war were darkened by an epidemic that killed more
people than all of the wartime battles.
 About 30,000,000 people world wide died.
 How was this flu strain spread all over?
2. Results of the War
 Estimated 8,000,000 dead (50,000 American combat deaths)
 Also, there were millions of civilian deaths
o What happened in Armenia?
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IV. Americans on the Home Front
A. Financing the War
 The government launched a vigorous campaign to raise money from the
American people – What were Liberty Bonds?
 Four - minutemen gave speeches (4 minutes long) before movies, plays and
school meetings trying to persuade Americans to buy bonds.
B. Managing the Economy
 The government also called on industry to switch from producing commercial
goods to war goods.
1. New Agencies
 A War Industries Board was created to oversee war-related production
o What powers did the Board have?
2. Regulating Food and Fuel Consumption
 Using the slogan “Food will win the war!” the government began to
manage how much food and goods people bought.
o What were price controls?
o What was rationing?

Daylights Saving Time was also established in order to save fuel
consumption and give workers another hour of day light.
C. Enforcing Loyalty
 News and information also come under federal control during World War I.
 What was George Creel’s job?
1. Fear of Foreigners
 As in all wars, the fear of espionage (spying) was widespread and many
called for restrictions on immigrants – who were feared to be spies.
 The National Security League began to preach “100% Americanism” and
got Congress to pass a literacy test for immigrants.
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2. “Hate the Hun!
 The war spurred open hostility towards German-Americans.
 IDENTIFY some examples
3. Repression of Civil Liberties
 In 1917 Congress passed in Espionage Act which made it illegal to
interfere with draft.
 A sedition element was added to the Act in 1918 – EXPLAIN
4. Controlling Political Radicals
 These attacks on civil liberties led to antiwar sentiment which in turn led
to political gains for the radical Socialist party.
 Another group was the IWW – Industrial Workers of the World - who
wanted to overthrow capitalism were attacked by vigilantes DEFINE
D. Changing People’s Lives
 African-Americans, around 500,000, left the South to work in northern factories
and this became known as the Great Migration
 Women also began to enter the industrial workforce for the first time.
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V. Global Peacemaker
 When America got involved in the war, President Wilson began working on a
program of peace that would eventually be known as the “Fourteen Points”
o removal of trade barriers, reduction of military forces
o no secret treaties or alliances
o DEFINE self determination
 The big problem would be if European leaders would agree with these points.
A. The Paris Peace Conference
 In January 1919, an international peace conference convened in Paris.
 President Wilson led the US delegation with 2 main ideas:
i. No spoils of war for US (EXPLAIN)
ii.
1. Wilson Forced to Compromise
 The peace conference was dominated by the Big Four: Wilson (USA),
Lloyd George (Britain), Clemenceau (France), Orlando (Italy)
 What was the big difference that the other 3 disagreed with Wilson on?

Another big issue was Russia, which was in the midst of a civil war between
communists led by VI Lenin and armies loyal to the old government.
2. The League of Nations
 This would be an organization in which the nations of the world would join
together to ensure security and peace for all its members.
 The heart of this proposal was the controversial Article 10 (EXPLAIN)
B. The Peace Treaty
1. Redrawing the Map of Europe
 The conference created 9 new nations out of the territory of Russia, Germany,
and Austria-Hungary
 In the Middle East, the Allies ripped apart the Ottoman Empire and Britain
(Palestine, Iraq. Jordan) and France (Syria., Lebanon) acquired lands
 Which member of the Big Four left the conference when their territorial
claims were denied?
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2. War Guilt and Reparations
 Wilson met his greatest defeat on the issue of German war guilt and financial
responsibility. DEFINE reparations

Significance: Germany would never forget this humiliation.
3. Signing the Treaty
 The Germans were presented with the Versailles Treaty on May 7, 1919 and
refused to sign it because it violated Wilson’s 14 points.
 What forced the Germans to eventually sign the treaty on June 28?
C. Reactions at Home
 Back in the US, the treaty still had to be approved by the Senate.
 Many Senators were against the treaty because of Article 10
1. Wilson Tours the Country
 Determined to win approval for the treaty, Wilson went across the US to get
the American people behind the Versailles Treaty.
 What happened during his trip?

The Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty and Wilson presidency ended.
2. A Formal End to Hostilities
 Finally, during the Presidency of Warren Harding, Congress passed a joint
resolution to end the war on July 2, 1921.
 Congress then ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and
Hungary in October of 1921.
3. Difficult Postwar Adjustments
 The United States was now the world’s largest creditor nation.
o European nations owed the US $11.5 billion.
 The US economy, which boomed during the war, faced uncertain times as
thousands of soldiers reentered the workforce monthly.
 What were the major European nations like after the war?
England
France
Germany