America in World War I

Causes of the War in Europe Nationalism: rivalries; several nationalities wanted to create their own states Imperialism: competing colonial claims in Africa Alliance System: Europe divided into two major alliances Germany and Austria Russia, France, Great Britain Militarism: Powerful military systems dominated European life; better to be attacked than wait to be attacked

The Spark Assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, in 1914 was the immediate cause of the war. Austria (encouraged by their ally Germany) invaded Serbia to avenge the assassination.

A New Kind of War Trenches Weapons made it easier to defend a position rather than attack Led to men spending years in trenches Hundreds of miles “Western Front” Since neither side could advance, fighting lines became stationary Trenches separated by fields of barbed wire and land mines known as “no man’s land”

A New Kind of War New and improved weapons Poison gas Tanks Airplanes Submarines German U-boats used to attack large ships Britain placed a blockade around Germany to attempt to starve them

Question: Think-Pair-Share With the people sitting next to you, discuss the following question. Be prepared to share your discussion with the class. During WWI, many new and deadly weapons were used, such as airplanes, machine guns, submarines, tanks and poison gas. What impact did these have on the nature of war?

America Intervenes: Reasons the U.S. enters WWI Despite trying neutrality, America gets pulled into WWI Closer ties with the allies British ancestry Shared the same political system as Great Britain and France German actions and allied propaganda American newspaper ran stories of German atrocities during against civilians Zimmerman Telegram Secret message from Germany to Mexico promising to give Mexico U.S. territories if Mexico helped Germany during the war Telegram was discovered and printed in newspapers.

America Intervenes: Reasons the U.S. enters WWI Sinking of the Lusitania British ship carrying American citizens and munitions for Great Britain German U-boat sank the Lusitania killing 128 Americans Sussex Pledge After Germany sank the French ship the Sussex, President Wilson threatened to break off all relations with Germany. Germany pledged not to sink any more ocean liners w/o prior warning Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare Announce they would sink all ships in the British blockade areas Violated “freedom of the seas” principle (right of neutral nations to ship non-military goods to nations at war) U.S. declares war after German U-boats sink American merchant ships

Highlights of the War American Expeditionary Force (AEF)- ordered to be sent to Europe under command of General John J. Pershing Pershing required AEF forces to be well trained- led to few American troops arriving early in fighting. African Americans were restricted from serving in AEF. Two regiments served under French

Highlights of the War Battle of Argonne Forest Medal of Honor Northeastern France near Belgium border AEF assembled 60,000 men and fought through the hilly terrain Opened a hole in German defenses One of the greatest American battles and victories of the war Medal of Honor Created during Civil War to honor distinguished soldiers Alvin York receives Medal of Honor for killing 25 Germans with only his pistol and rifle. He also captured 132 Germans

Acting as an amateur historian: The passage below is from The Diary of Alvin York. York was born in a two-person log cabin in the hills of Tennessee: “My little old mother and Pastor Pile wanted to get me out [of the army]. Pastor Pile put in a plea to the government that it was against the religion of our church to fight. He filled the papers out and sent them to me to sign. The army told me all I had to do was to sign them. I refused. My mother, too, put in a plea to get me out as her sole support. My father was dead and I was supporting my family. I had brothers [in Tennessee] that could look after my mother. So I never asked for an exemption from service. I never was a conscientious objector. I didn’t want to fight and kill. But I had to answer the call of my country.” Imagine you are Sargent York or some other soldier in the American Expeditionary Force on the Western Front during WWI. Write a letter to your family at home describing your experiences.

The Home Front 1917-1918 President Wilson was given sweeping powers by Congress during the war Railroads place under government control Selective Service Act Military draft 2 Million troops to Europe African Americans and women filled jobs at home High taxes and war bonds paid for the war ($30 Billion) War benefitted the American economy since exports increased Civil liberties suppressed Espionage Act- made it a crime to criticize the war effort

Propaganda helps support the war effort

Schenck v. U.S. 1919 Charles Schenck was a member of the Socialist Party who felt that drafting men was an unfair use of government authority. During WWI, Schenck was convicted for distributing literature that encouraged men to resist the draft. Schenck claimed his First Amendment right to freedom of speech had been violated. His case turned on whether the First Amendment was violated if Congress passed a law punishing dissent at wartime. In Schenck v. U.S., the Supreme Court ruled that there were limits to free speech. The Court ruled that free speech is not protected from falsely “shouting fire in a crowded theater and causing panic.: The First Amendment did not protect words that create a “clear and present danger.” This decision became a guide for measuring the limits of free speech.

Question Think-Pair-Share Do you think the government has the right to limit free speech in times of war? Do they have a right to limit free speech in times of peace? Could this happen today? Ebola Scare: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Man-on-Bus-Said- He-Had-Ebola-279072531.html Should this person face criminal charges?

Wilson’s Fourteen Points Wilson makes the aim of the war to “make the world safe for democracy” Wilson delivers his Fourteen Points in a speech Wilson considered his most important point to be the creation of The League of Nations Organization of nations that would mediate international disputes and act against aggression

Acting as an amateur historian 1. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, with no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy… in the public view. 2. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas 3. The removal of all economic barriers and establishment of equality of trade 4. National armaments will be reduced to the lowest point. 5. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, 10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, should be accorded the freest opportunity to autonomous development 13.An independent Polish state should be created 14. A general association of nations should be formed Which of the Fourteen Points would you consider as most essential to peace? Why?

Treaty of Versailles Germany surrenders November 1918. Peace terms ending WWI Germany territorial losses Poland created; Germany losses land to France and all of its overseas colonies Austria-Hungary and Turkey Austrian-Hungary empire divided into smaller national states Turkey lost territories in Middle East Punishing Germany Lost its navy Army reduced to small police force Forced to accept blame for war Pay huge reparations (payments for damages to allies) League of Nations Created to defend members against aggressors Weak b/c US and Russia do not join

The US Senate rejects the Treaty Wilson’s opponents in Congress were afraid joining the League of Nations would drag the US into future military problems. Wilson needed two-thirds of Senate to ratify the treaty but also rejected any compromise with the Senate Henry Cabot Lodge- strongest Senate opponent of the League of Nations Senate refuses to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and the US never joins the League of Nations

America retreats into isolationism The small gains the US made in the war came at a huge cost. Many Americans disillusioned from the war Americans retreat into isolationism and focus on the well- being at home