World War I

What Empires Wanted in 1914 British wanted to keep control of the sea lanes for its vast world empire French wanted control of North Africa, and they wanted back Alsace-Lorraine, lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 Germany wanted parts of the Ottoman Empire, and wanted to challenge Britain on the seas

Austria-Hungary wanted ports on the Aegean Sea, which would mean controlling the Balkan Peninsula Russia wanted control of the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, so they would have access to the Mediterranean Sea for its naval forces. It also wanted back Manchuria, lost to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 Ottoman Empire was called the “Sick Man of Europe.” She had lasted 700 years as an empire, but was extremely weak and vulnerable. This empire just wanted to survive.

Alliances: 1) Central Powers - Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy 2) Allied Powers - Great Britain, France, and Russia Militarism- glorification of the military: the increasing of the sizes of armies in multiple countries

Alliances Germany, AH, Italy formed Triple Alliance in 1882 Britain, France, Russia formed Triple Entente in 1907

Immediate Cause of War Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, with his wife, Sophia on June 28, 1914. Complicated systems of alliances

'A Chain of Friendship' - appeared in the American newspaper in July 1914.   The caption read: “If Austria attacks Serbia, Russia will fall upon Austria, Germany upon Russia, and France and England upon Germany.”

The Great War World War I 1914-1918

Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire

Allied Powers Great Britain France Russia Serbia Belgium LATER- Japan, Montenegro, Italy and the United States

The Schlieffen Plan Schlieffen’s Plan Main threat to Germany in 1914? Fighting on two fronts Schlieffen’s Plan 1) Russia would be slow to mobilize 2) Attack and defeat France on the Western Front 3) Put most of armies on the Eastern Front to overrun Russia

Weakness with the Schlieffen Plan 1) The Russian army mobilized much quicker than Germany has expected them to do so. 2) Since the French border with Germany heavily armed, the German army planned to invade through neutral Belgium. This created two problems for Germany:

#1- Belgium had signed an agreement with Great Britain in 1839 where Britain promised to come to its defense if ever attacked, so Germany attacking Belgium brought the British into the war. #2- Little Belgium fought much harder Germany expected, slowing up its attack on France itself.

German success on the Eastern Front Battle of Tannenberg in Poland- 1) Russian army surrounded and destroyed 2) 30,000 Russian soldiers killed and 92,000 captured

Trench Warfare and Stalemate By November 1914- stalemate Trench Warfare- 1) Trenches 500 miles long, from Switzerland to the North Sea 2) Trench Mouth, Trench Foot, Rats 3) “No Man’s Land”

New Weapons of War Poison Gas 1) First used at the Battle of Ypres by the Germans 2) Blindness, choking, vomiting up one’s insides, torn lungs, and death

Submarine (U-Boat) 1) First introduced by the Germans to break the British blockade of the continent 2) Use of this weapon would bring the United States into the war.

Planes

Machine guns

Tank First used at the Battle of Somme by British. 2,000,000 soldiers in this battle and 750,000 killed. Broke the stalemate

Factors that Brought U.S. Into War

Sinking of the “Lusitania”- May 1915 Resumption of German Submarine warfare Zimmerman Telegram Sinking of four U.S. merchant ships U.S. loaned over $2,000,000,000 to Great Britain April 1917- U.S. declares war on Central Powers

The US Preparing for War The US army was comprised of only 200,000 men in 1917. Congress passed the Selective Service Act to draft young men between the ages of 18 and 45 into the army. 2.8 million men were drafted into the army. 400,000 black soldiers were drafted but served in segregated units.

With the military and economy mobilized for war, the first U. S With the military and economy mobilized for war, the first U.S. troops were sent to Europe in 1918

The arrival of fresh American soldiers and war supplies helped the Allies at a crucial time via convoy in June 1917 but did not see action until early 1918

Food Administration Herbert Hoover, the Director Created to encourage Americans to ration food and grow “victory gardens”. There were such days as “Wheatless Wednesdays” for the purpose of saving food for the war at home, and supporting our Allies.

Fuel Administration

Committee on Public Information (CPI) George Creel (Director) Purpose? To create propaganda to encourage support for the war effort The CPI created posters, movies, speeches and censored the press It encouraged bond drives to raise money for the war effort.

Restrictions of Personal Liberties Congress passed the Espionage and Seditions Acts that made it illegal to interfere with the war effort or saying anything disloyal about the war effort. During the war, over 20,000 citizens were prosecuted including newspaper editors, union leaders, critics of the draft, etc. Schenk v. US (1919)- During a war, the Supreme Court ruled that speech that presents a “clear and present danger” is not protected.

Civil Liberties During WWI: “ Protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting ‘Fire!’ in a theatre and causing a panic” —Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in Schenck v US (1919), a case about government restrictions on free speech during World War I

WW I’s Impact on the United States Accelerated our emergence as the world’s greatest industrial power. Contributed to the “Great Migration” Intensified anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiments among many Americans. Brought over one million women into the work force

Changing roles of women during the War Did “men’s work” on railroad, in coal mines, shipbuilding, etc For the first time in the military in noncombat roles

African-Americans in WWI

African-Americans in WWI

Almost 400,000 African Americans were drafted but only 10% served in combat duty. Most served as laborers in units. The 40,000 that saw combat served in segregated divisions. Over 600 black soldiers were commissioned as officers in the army. In Europe, black men will be accepted as heroes of America, making it very difficult to accept the racism of their own army, and then coming back to it in the States.

WW I and the US Economy The average household income nearly doubled from 1916-1919. Before the war, the USA owed $3 billion to foreign nations; at the end of the war, foreign nations owed us $13 billion. When WW I ended the US was the wealthiest nation in the world.

WWI and the US Economy U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 1914-1920 GDP is an indicator of economic health because it is the value of all goods and services made in the USA Annual GDP 1914 $36.5 1915 $38.7 1916 $49.6 1917 $59.7 1918 $75.8 1919 $78.3 1920 $88.4 America began preparing for war WWI comes to an end Outbreak of WWI in Europe US declaration of war

On Nov 9, German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne By October 1918, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire surrendered On Nov 9, German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne via convoy in June 1917 but did not see action until early 1918

On November 11, 1918 Germany signed an armistice with the Allies and World War I came to an end

America fought for only 8 months (not 4 years) and had 7% casualties (not 52% like most Allied Powers)