The Grim Cost of War “We set to work to bury people. We pushed them into the sides of the trenches but bits of them kept getting uncovered and sticking out, like people in a badly made bed. Hands were the worst; they would escape from the sand, pointing, begging—even waving! There was one which we all shook when we passed, saying, “Good morning,” in a posh voice. Everybody did it. The bottom of the trench was springy like a mattress because of all the bodies underneath…” “We set to work to bury people. We pushed them into the sides of the trenches but bits of them kept getting uncovered and sticking out, like people in a badly made bed. Hands were the worst; they would escape from the sand, pointing, begging—even waving! There was one which we all shook when we passed, saying, “Good morning,” in a posh voice. Everybody did it. The bottom of the trench was springy like a mattress because of all the bodies underneath…” Leonard Thompson, quoted in Akenfield Leonard Thompson, quoted in Akenfield

LONG-TERM CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

NATIONALISM Loyalty and pride for one’s nation People usually share common language, history or culture In Germany, many small regions united to form one country (late 1800’s)

Problem: small disputes between 2 countries can become major issues and involve many countries Austria-Hungary and Russia: Made up of many minority groups Many had a desire to unify all Slavic people (Pan-Slavism) Austrian government was loyal to Germany (Pan-Germanism)

MANY ETHNIC GROUPS FOUND WITHIN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

ALLIANCES Fear and distrust among countries led to the formation of alliances Discouraged attacks from enemies Dangers: Gave countries a sense of security A country may deal differently with another if it has support Conflict will involve numerous countries instead of the original 2

Triple Entente: Triple Alliance: Germany Austria-Hungary Italy Great Britain France Russia

IMPERIALISM Domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region (Colonies) Major European nations began dividing up Africa, Asia and the Middle East into colonies: Supply raw materials for production Larger market to sell goods More opportunities for investments

EUROPEAN COLONIES WORLDWIDE

Britain was the world’s superpower throughout most of the 1700’s and 1800’s: However: Germany began to out produce Britain by early 1900’s Also competing for colonies worldwide Created an economic rivalry

MILITARISM Glorification (build up) of the military Military leaders began to gain more influence in national policy due to rivalry among countries The public supported military build up and the use of force to achieve national goals

Kaiser Wilhelm BRITAIN: World’s best navy Began to fear Germany’s strength British Warship GERMANY: Best trained army in world Significant increase in naval power(u-boats)

American Neutrality Wilson declares the US to be neutral Wilson declares the US to be neutral Britain uses propaganda to gain US support Britain uses propaganda to gain US support Also cut transatlantic cable to limit media coverage Also cut transatlantic cable to limit media coverage US businesses and banks support Allies US businesses and banks support Allies

Lusitania May 1915 British passenger ship, Lusitania, sank by German U-Boat (128 Americans on board) May 1915 British passenger ship, Lusitania, sank by German U-Boat (128 Americans on board)

Sussex U-boat shot at French ship, Sussex U-boat shot at French ship, Sussex Results in “Sussex Pledge” Results in “Sussex Pledge” President Wilson issued Germans a warning President Wilson issued Germans a warning Germany promised not to fire on merchant ships without warning- kept US out of war for a little longer Germany promised not to fire on merchant ships without warning- kept US out of war for a little longer

Zimmermann Telegram Zimmerman Telegram Zimmerman Telegram Secret telegram from Germany to Mexico asking them to fight against the U.S.— intercepted by the British, angers the U.S. Secret telegram from Germany to Mexico asking them to fight against the U.S.— intercepted by the British, angers the U.S. US declares war on Germany

Building up the Military Building up the Military N ational Defense Act: increased the size of the army and trained officers through conscription and selective service (2.8 million drafted) N ational Defense Act: increased the size of the army and trained officers through conscription and selective service (2.8 million drafted) Women and African Americans served in the armed forces Women and African Americans served in the armed forces Women in non-combat positions Women in non-combat positions African Americans faced discriminations and prejudice African Americans faced discriminations and prejudice

War Industries Board- coordinated production of war materials War Industries Board- coordinated production of war materials Victory Gardens Victory Gardens Liberty/Victory Bonds Liberty/Victory Bonds Organizing Industry

Ensuring Public Support Set up Committee on Public Information/George Creel Set up Committee on Public Information/George Creel Hired writers to create propaganda to swing public opinion in favor of the war Hired writers to create propaganda to swing public opinion in favor of the war Espionage Act of made it illegal to spy or interfere with government Espionage Act of made it illegal to spy or interfere with government Sedition Act of no public opposition of war Sedition Act of no public opposition of war Schenck v. the United States- Supreme Court rules that a persons freedom of speech is limited when the words constitute a “clear and present danger” Schenck v. the United States- Supreme Court rules that a persons freedom of speech is limited when the words constitute a “clear and present danger” Ex.: Yelling “fire!” in a crowded theatre Ex.: Yelling “fire!” in a crowded theatre

An Industrialized War Weapons were produced with the same efficient methods of mass production that industrialists had applied to other products Weapons were produced with the same efficient methods of mass production that industrialists had applied to other products

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN WARFARE Machine Gun: Accurate and rapid fire 1 man could hold off a hundred

The Machine Gun One of the most important weapons of WWI One of the most important weapons of WWI Highly effective Highly effective Land armies often found any advance difficult and costly Land armies often found any advance difficult and costly

Machine Guns

Trench Warfare Protection from machine gun fire and artillery bombardments Protection from machine gun fire and artillery bombardments Armies dug large trenches where they might live for months Armies dug large trenches where they might live for months

British boys play acting Trench Warfare

Tanks Introduced by the British Introduced by the British An armored vehicle mounted with guns An armored vehicle mounted with guns Enabled troops to break though enemy lines Enabled troops to break though enemy lines

TANKS Armored vehicle designed to break trenches Protected advancing troops Often slow and clumsy

POISONOUS GAS Various gases caused choking, blinding, or skin blisters Used to kill or disable troops during an attack Gas masks lessened the effectiveness

Poison Gas Germans were 1 st to use chlorine gas in 1915 (Battle of Ypres) Germans were 1 st to use chlorine gas in 1915 (Battle of Ypres) Caused a burning sensation to the throat and chest pains. Painful death by suffocation Caused a burning sensation to the throat and chest pains. Painful death by suffocation Weather had to be just right—any wind could blow gas back on your own men Weather had to be just right—any wind could blow gas back on your own men Mustard gas was most deadly weapon used Mustard gas was most deadly weapon used Fired into the trenches in shells—colorless and takes 12 hours to begin working (death can take up to 5 weeks) Fired into the trenches in shells—colorless and takes 12 hours to begin working (death can take up to 5 weeks) Effects include blistering skin, vomiting, sore yes, internal and external bleeding Effects include blistering skin, vomiting, sore yes, internal and external bleeding

Poison Gas The Germans were the first to use it The Germans were the first to use it The Allies quickly followed suit The Allies quickly followed suit

American wearing a Gas MaskBritish Horse wearing a Gas Mask

American wearing a respirator Sounding the gong in preparation of a gas attack

Casualties From Gas - The Numbers Country Total CasualtiesDeath Austria-Hungary100,0003,000 British Empire188,7068,109 France190,0008,000 Germany200,0009,000 Italy60,0004,627 Russia419,34056,000 USA72,8071,462 Others10,0001,000

FLAMETHROWERS Used to clear enemy trenches Could be hazardous carrying into combat

AIRPLANES Used for observation early Later on: “dogfights” were carried out Overall, minor impact on the war

Airplanes Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither very maneuverable nor very fast Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither very maneuverable nor very fast They were used primarily for observing troop movements and for dropping explosives They were used primarily for observing troop movements and for dropping explosives

Gun on German Airplane Balloons were also used in WWI

U- BOATS (Unterseeboot) Underwater ships: launch torpedoes or bombs Used mostly by Germans to destroy Allied shipping and break blockades

Submarines/U-boats Did serious damage to Allied shipping Did serious damage to Allied shipping

Loading torpedoes into a French submarine

The Draft Most European wars before this time had been fought by professional soldiers who worked for money and rations Most European wars before this time had been fought by professional soldiers who worked for money and rations WWI was fought by armies of drafted citizens WWI was fought by armies of drafted citizens Those who could not fight worked at home to help the war effort Those who could not fight worked at home to help the war effort Many women participated in the war effort by working in factories Many women participated in the war effort by working in factories Governments made use of propaganda Governments made use of propaganda

Move Toward Peace Peace conference begins January 1919 in Paris Peace conference begins January 1919 in Paris Big Four Big Four President Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando President Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando Fourteen Points Fourteen Points President Wilson’s plan for peace President Wilson’s plan for peace League of Nations- help to prevent wars League of Nations- help to prevent wars

Fourteen Points Allies felt it was too easy on Germany Allies felt it was too easy on Germany Required Germany to disband armed forces Required Germany to disband armed forces Had to accept blame and pay reparations Had to accept blame and pay reparations Many members of Congress opposed the Treaty of Versailles (thought the League of Nations would drag the U.S. into conflict) Many members of Congress opposed the Treaty of Versailles (thought the League of Nations would drag the U.S. into conflict) Wilson suffers a stroke Wilson suffers a stroke Senate refuses Treaty of Versailles, signs individual treaties with the Central Powers Senate refuses Treaty of Versailles, signs individual treaties with the Central Powers League of Nations starts without the U.S. League of Nations starts without the U.S.

The Red Scare Strikes cause fear of Communist revolution within the U.S. Strikes cause fear of Communist revolution within the U.S. U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer’s house is damaged by a bomb (Communists are blamed) U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer’s house is damaged by a bomb (Communists are blamed) Palmer sets up General Intelligence Division, headed by J. Edgar Hoover (later became the FBI) Palmer sets up General Intelligence Division, headed by J. Edgar Hoover (later became the FBI) Palmer Raids- Raids on private homes and businesses conducted by the GIB to investigate communists Palmer Raids- Raids on private homes and businesses conducted by the GIB to investigate communists