World War I: The Great War

War Affects the World ■ World War I became more than a European conflict. ■ Australia, Japan and India joined the Allied war efforts ■ In February 1915, the Allies started the Gallipoli campaign in an effort to seize the Ottoman capital, Constantinople to establish a supply line to Russia. ■ Gallipoli turned into a stalemate of trench warfare.

War Affects the World ■ The Allied powers began to experience success by capturing German colonies. ■ Britain and France encouraged their African and Asian colonial subjects to join the war ■ Many joined the fight in the hopes of gaining independence.

War Affects the World ■ “If we would improve our status through the help and cooperation of the British, it was our duty to win their help by standing by them in their hour of need.” - Gandhi

America Joins the Fight ■ In 1915, the Germans sank the British ship, Lusitania and killed 128 American passengers. ■ After threats from Woodrow Wilson, Germany agreed to stop attacking neutral and passenger ships without warning. ■ In 1917, Germany returned to unrestricted submarine warfare, and sank 3 American ships.

America Joins the Fight ■ In February 1917, Americans intercepted the Zimmerman Telegram, sent from Germany to Mexico. ■ The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico reconquer land it lost to the U.S. if they would agree to fight. ■ With approval from Congress, Wilson declared war on Germany on April 2, 1917.

War Affects the Home Front ■ By the time America joined the war, Europe had already suffered millions of casualties. ■ WWI soon became a total war in which countries devoted all their resources to the war effort. ■ The unemployment rate significantly decreased as individuals worked in factories, shops, and fields.

War Affects the Home Front ■ Goods that were in short supply were rationed: people could only buy small amounts of items that were needed for the war effort. ■ Governments censored news about the war, fearing that honest reporting would turn people against the war efforts. ■ Governments also used propaganda, one-sided information designed to persuade, to keep up morale and support for the war.

War Affects the Home Front ■ With men away at war, thousands of women replaced them in factories, offices and shops. ■ Many also saw the horrors of war by serving as nurses in the war efforts. ■ Most women left the workforce at the end of the war, but they changed society’s view of what women are capable of

The Allies Win the War ■ Civil unrest arose in Russia due to war-related food shortages and the loss of millions of soldiers. ■ Under the new communist leadership of Vladimir Lenin, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and ended their war with Germany.

The Allies Win the War ■ With Russia out of the War, Germany made one last massive attack on the Western Front at the Second Battle of the Marne. ■ Germany came within 40 miles of Paris, but the Allies launched a counterattack using tanks and fresh American soldiers. ■ One by one, the Central Powers crumbled. ■ In November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II resigned and a German representative met with a French commander to sign an armistice – an agreement to stop fighting – bringing an end to the war.

Legacy of the War ■ World War I introduced new technologies, massive warfare and more death than ever before. ■ 8.5 million soldiers were killed and countless civilians lost their lives due to starvation, disease and slaughter. ■ The war devastated European economies and led to insecurity among survivors.

Allies Meet and Debate ■ On January 18, 1919, 32 nations met at the Palace of Versailles to hold the Paris Peace Conference. ■ 32 countries were represented, but major decisions were decided by the Big Four: United States, France, Great Britain, and Italy. ■ Neither Russia, nor the Central Powers were represented.

Allies Meet and Debate ■ American president, Woodrow Wilson drew up the Fourteen Points, a proposal for achieving a just and lasting peace. ■ The Fourteen Points called for the end of secret treaties, freedom of trade and the seas, smaller armies, border changes, and a “general association of nations” to peacefully negotiate conflicts. ■ The guiding idea behind these points were self- determination, which allowed people to decide what government they wished to live under.

Allies Meet and Debate ■ Britain and France showed little sign of agreeing to Wilson’s plan; they were concerned with national security and wanted to strip Germany of power. ■ After much arguing, the Treaty of Versailles between Germany and the Allied Powers was signed on June 28, 1919: exactly 5 years after Franz Ferdinand’s assassination.

Allies Meet and Debate ■ The treaty adopted Wilson’s idea of a League of Nations to be an international association whose goal would be to keep among nations. peace ■ The treaty caused Germany to lose substantial territory, limited their military and placed the responsibility of the war on them – forcing them to pay reparations to the Allies.

A Troubled Treaty ■ Separate treaties led to land losses of other Central Powers. ■ The Austro-Hungarian Empire was split into four independent nations ■ The Ottomans lost everything except modern- day Turkey. ■ Many Russian territories became independent states.

“A Peace Built on Quicksand” ■ The Treaty of Versailles did little to build a lasting peace. ■ The U.S. rejected the treaty because of objections to settlement and Wilson’s League of Nations ■ The majority of Americans wanted to remain isolationists and stay out of European affairs.

“A Peace Built on Quicksand” ■ The “war guilt” clause left a bitter, hateful Germany. ■ People in the mandated countries of Africa and Asia felt their desires for independence were disregarded. ■ Japan and Italy didn’t gain as much territory as they desired ■ Within two decades, the treaties’ legacy of bitterness would lead to another Great World War