American History II - Unit 3 World War I American History II - Unit 3

Review How did the Roosevelt Corollary reflect Roosevelt’s Big Stick diplomacy? Speak softly = Roosevelt Corollary declaration Carry a big stick = Roosevelt’s intent to use military force to “aid” Latin American countries and prevent European intervention, would use force against European powers if necessary How was Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy different than Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy? Taft focused less on immediate military intervention, and focused more on financial intervention (ex: loans, bail-out packages) so Latin American countries would not default on loans. How was Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy different than Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy and Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy? Wilson, unlike Taft and Roosevelt, refused to recognize governments that were undemocratic and/or hostile to US interests. Wilson would wait for provocation and then retaliate with military force.

3.5 – World War I Abroad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFB04VMpA4&list=PLDyAuMyhVKYcoGg0V3twTnah0WLzQHdVE&index=1

Long-Term Causes of WWI: M.A.I.N. Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism The development of armed forces and their use as a tool of diplomacy. Increased military spending and stockpiling of weapons across Europe/Asia Allies: France, GB, and Russia (later US) Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire For centuries, European countries had been competitively building empires and spreading their economic/political influence. A devotion to the interests and culture of one’s country. Can lead to ethnocentrism and aggression. An extreme form of patriotism. COMPETITION & RIVALRIES

EUROPE 1914 What are advantages and disadvantages of belonging to an alliance system?

Immediate Cause of WWI Preexisting tensions between European countries  Balkan Peninsula = “powder keg of Europe” June 1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian activist  Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia Alliance system domino effect Germany (allied with Austria-Hungary) declared war on Russia (supported Serbia) and France (Russia’s ally) Germany invaded Belgium (member of the Allies)  GB declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary

World War Erupts August 1914 - Germany’s Schlieffen Plan Drive through Belgium into France, defeat both Move on to defeating Russia Attacks on two fronts: Western front: France/Germany border Eastern Front: Russia/Germany border Belgium overrun, but France halted Schlieffen Plan stalemate in trench warfare

Trench Warfare Trench warfare – military operations in which the opposing forces attack and counterattack from systems of fortified ditches characteristic of the Western Front gained little ground per time spent in trenches terrible conditions “no man’s land” – the area between trenches, barren land marked by bodies, shell craters, and barbed wire Stalemate: neither side making progress

Trench Warfare Battle of the Somme July – Nov 1916 1.2 million deaths Only 7 miles gained

American Sentiments Toward WWI Wilson desired US neutrality – over 3,000 miles away Immigrants generally supported their homelands’ respective alliances (German-Americans support Germany, etc) Some Americans wanted isolation Some Americans supported the Allies GB ‘s common culture/ancestry Germany’s brutal destruction of Belgium More economic ties to Allies compared to Central Powers US Exports to Europe (by the $millions)

US Involvement Looms By 1915, US favored an Allied win to ensure that the Allies repaid war debts to US BUT still didn’t want to get involved. BG naval blockade of Germany – 2 results US ships carrying goods for Germany did not challenge the British blockade  US goods rarely made it to German destinations, originally angered US (can’t make $) Many Germans died of starvation

2 Events that Led to US Entrance into WWI Germany sinks Lusitania Germany fought GB blockade with U-boats (submarines) – any ship in water around GB would be sunk May 7, 1915 – German U-boat sunk GB’s passenger ship Lusitania with 128 Americans on board Germany claimed boat carried ammunition  US outraged with Germany and Central Powers Wilson – no military action, but threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany if they didn’t stop using “unrestricted submarine warfare” Germany – agreed only if the US could persuade BG to lift blockade, if not warfare would continue

2 Events that Led to US Entrance into WWI The Zimmermann Note Wilson reelected in 1916 – still advocated for US neutrality and peace between nations at war. Zimmermann Note - Jan. 1917, telegram from the German foreign minister to a German ambassador in Mexico, intercepted by British Proposed a German-Mexican alliance Should the US enter the war, Germany would support Mexico in regaining land in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Proved Germany was hostile towards the US…

US Enters WWI April 2, 1917 – Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, Congress agreed “Property cannot be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind… We are glad… to fight… for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its people… The world must be made safe for democracy… We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no domination. We week no indemnities… It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war… But the right is more precious than its people.” -Woodrow Wilson, 1917

Green – Allies Orange – Central Powers

US Naval Success German U-boat attacks threatened US supply and merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Convoy system – a heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups  cut US shipping losses in half 230 mile barrier of mines across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway 1918 – German difficulty to replace losses and man U-boats, while only 637 of 2 million Americans died in U-boat attacks

US in Europe “I have never seen or heard of such an elaborate, complete line of defense as the British had built at this point. There was a trench with dugouts every three hundred yards from the front line… Everything was fronted with barbed wire and other entanglements. Artillery was concealed everywhere. Railroad tracks, narrow and standard gauge, reached from the trenches back into the one of supply. Nothing had been neglected to hold this like, save only one important thing, enthusiasm among the troops, and that was the purpose of our presence.” Joseph Lawrence, US solider in the AEF Allies benefited from US soldiers’ enthusiasm and freshness  boosted morale in trenches General John Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force (AEF – armed forces fighting in Europe) US soldiers shocked by warfare conditions and new technology

New Technologies Change Warfare New technology – “mechanized warfare” Improved machine gun Airplanes Tanks Poison gas Observation balloons

New Hazards Caused by War Trenches – lice, rats, trench foot, trench mouth, disease, consumption of polluted water, stench of decaying bodies, poison gas inhalation, lack of sleep “shell shock” – battle fatigue, term coined during WWI to describe a complete emotional collapse from which many men never recovered (precursor to PTSD)

War Comes to a Close 1917 - Russia exits war Russian Revolution – communist Lenin comes to power Germany and Central Powers wearing thin Nov. 3, 1918 – Austria-Hungary surrendered to Allies Nov. 9, 1918 – socialist leaders in Germany rebel against kaiser and set up German republic Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 am (11/11 at 11) – Germany agrees to an armistice (agreement to end fighting) US and Allies relieved bloodiest war by 1918 Over 110,000 American lives lost, 20,000 Americans wounded

Armistice (Veterans) Day Nov. 11, 1919 – Wilson declares “Armistice Day” “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.“ – Wilson, 1919 Changed by Congress to “Veterans Day” in 1954

Did You Know… The NCSU Bell Tower is actually called the Memorial Bell Tower (WWI Memorial) Completed in 1937, the tower serves to remember the 33 NCSU alumni that perished in WWI The door reads, “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares” – a reference to the Book of Isaiah in which the world is peaceful and weapons are converted to prosperous and useful tools. Play Soundscape