World War I 1914-1918
Long Term Causes 1) Militarism 2) Alliances Allies: France, GB, Russia Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy 3) Imperialism 4) Nationalism
Immediate Cause Austrian Archduke (Franz Ferdinand) assassinated by a Serb June 28, 1914
Fighting Starts July 28, 1914: A-H declares war on Serbia Alliance system pulled other countries into war Germans advancing quickly to the east and west Trench warfare begins “no man’s land” led to 2 year stalemate
US Neutrality Opposition to war Sympathy for Allies
Neutrality Tested British and German blockades hurt US trade German U-boats Lusitania Sussex pledge Zimmerman Note German attempt to get Mexican support Germany would help get Mexico it’s land back
US Goes to War German submarine warfare resumes April 6, 1917- US declares war on Germany
America Mobilizes Selective Service Act (draft) Increased military production Breaking the blockade- convoy system
US in Battle Main contribution: freshness and enthusiasm Filled in the gaps on the front lines American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by Pershing Commander of ALL Allied forces- Ferdinand Foch
Tide Turns 1917: Russian Revolution (Russia w/drew from war) By 1918 Germany was advancing into France Stopped Germany: Battles of Chateau-Thierry/Belleau Wood Started pushing the Germans back into Germany
Characteristics of War New Weapons Big Bertha (cannon) Zeppelin (gas-filled airship) Poison gas, tank, airplane Hazards Dirty conditions Lack of sleep Trench foot/trench mouth
End of Germany German soldiers tired of fighting Mutiny spread throughout Germany & Kaiser forced out
Final Toll Involved 60 nations 22 million killed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties
Industrial Changes War Industries Board (WIB) Railroad Industry Led by Bernard Baruch Set production quotas and allocated raw materials Railroad Industry Fuel Administration Rationed gas Daylight savings time
Cont. National War Labor Board Food Administration Settled labor disputes Food Administration Led by H. Hoover Encouraged conservation (ration books) Victory gardens
Getting Support Raising money (income taxes and bonds) Getting public support (Committee on Public Information)
Attacks on Civil Rights Anti-immigration hysteria (towards Germans) Espionage and Sedition Acts Jail time and fines for dodging draft, obstruction of selling bonds, saying anything disloyal about the US
Social Changes The Great Migration (African Americans moving north for jobs) Women (jobs and 19th amendment) Flu epidemic
Peace Conference Versailles, France Wilson’s Fourteen Points Eliminate general causes of war League of Nations Rejected by Allies (felt it was too nice)
Treaty of Versailles Created new nations Punished Germany Dismantled military Lost territory Had to pay for war Accept blame for war League of Nations (international peacekeeping org) New Nations Poland, Yugoslavia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia
Weaknesses of the Treaty Humiliated Germany Russia felt ignored and lost territory Unstable colonies
American Opposition Too harsh Didn’t like the League Wilson went to the people for support but suffered a stroke US signed separate treaty with Germany