The Turning Point The United States Enters, Russia Exits

When World War I began, the US remained neutral When World War I began, the US remained neutral Believed that World War I was a European affair Believed that World War I was a European affair Early US Policy

Supplied food, raw materials, weapons & money to belligerent nations Supplied food, raw materials, weapons & money to belligerent nations Insisted on free trade & travel Insisted on free trade & travel Early US Policy

Germany sunk a British ship Germany sunk a British ship Had been carrying supplies & 128 Americans Had been carrying supplies & 128 Americans The Lusitania: May1915

The US warned Germany to back off The US warned Germany to back off Germany temporarily ended unrestricted sub warfare Germany temporarily ended unrestricted sub warfare The Lusitania: May 1915

In the US most news about the war came from GB In the US most news about the war came from GB British Propaganda

Exaggerated German atrocities against British citizens Exaggerated German atrocities against British citizens Affected US public opinion Affected US public opinion

Zimmerman Telegram: March 1917 Message from German foreign minister to Mexico Message from German foreign minister to Mexico

Zimmerman Telegram: March 1917 Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for attacking US Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for attacking US The British intercepted the telegram & shared with US The British intercepted the telegram & shared with US MAD!! MAD!!

German Submarine Warfare Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare Germany sank 4 US merchant ships during the winter of 1917 Germany sank 4 US merchant ships during the winter of 1917

4/2/1917 – Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war 4/6/1917 – Congress voted to enter war on the side of Allies

Meanwhile... Meanwhile... In Russia…

Russia Before World War I Autocratic empire Autocratic empire Great poverty Great poverty Limited industry Limited industry

Russia During World War I Cut off from all supplies & allies… Cut off from all supplies & allies… However, Russia greatly aided the war effort by diverting German troops from attacking France & Great Britain However, Russia greatly aided the war effort by diverting German troops from attacking France & Great Britain

Russias Problems Morale was VERY LOW Morale was VERY LOW Over ¾ of soldiers had no gun; had to retrieve guns from dead soldiers Over ¾ of soldiers had no gun; had to retrieve guns from dead soldiers Inadequate transportation Inadequate transportation Food shortages in the cities Food shortages in the cities

The Problems of the Czar Czar Nicholas II: Czar Nicholas II: Unpopular & incompetent Unpopular & incompetent Relied on mystic healer Rasputin Relied on mystic healer Rasputin Chose NOT to reform the government Chose NOT to reform the government

1 st Russian Revolution: March 1917 Nicholas II was overthrown Nicholas II was overthrown Leaders of the revolution promised to establish a constitutional government Leaders of the revolution promised to establish a constitutional government Now all Allied Powers had democratic forms of government Now all Allied Powers had democratic forms of government

The Provisional Government Temporary Russian Government: Temporary Russian Government: Constitutional assembly Constitutional assembly

Kerensky: Kerensky: Prime Minister of the provisional government Prime Minister of the provisional government Continued to support the war effort Continued to support the war effort Rival Group – Soviets (socialist workers councils) Rival Group – Soviets (socialist workers councils) The Provisional Government

Soviets called for immediate peace, transfer of land to the peasants & control of factories by workers Soviets called for immediate peace, transfer of land to the peasants & control of factories by workers Provisional government lost its support Provisional government lost its support

Opens the Door for Revolution: Socialism Enters Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of the government Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of the government Bolsheviks: Bolsheviks: Radical group that wanted to introduce a socialist society by force Radical group that wanted to introduce a socialist society by force

Lenin & The Bolsheviks Lenin: Lenin: Leader of the Bolsheviks (communists) Leader of the Bolsheviks (communists) Germany aided Lenin in order to get Russia out of the war Germany aided Lenin in order to get Russia out of the war

2 nd Russian Revolution 1917: 1917: Bolsheviks staged a coup detat Bolsheviks staged a coup detat Established a communist state Established a communist state Ended private property Ended private property Distributed land among peasants Distributed land among peasants

Russia Withdraws from War March 1918: March 1918: Russia withdrew from WWI Russia withdrew from WWI Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia lost much of its western territory; 33% of its population Russia lost much of its western territory; 33% of its population Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine

Benefit for Germany? After Russia withdrew from the war, Germany only had to deal with a single- front war After Russia withdrew from the war, Germany only had to deal with a single- front war

Benefit for Germany? Germany hoped to launch a final offensive on the Western Front in order to force peace before the US became too involved Germany hoped to launch a final offensive on the Western Front in order to force peace before the US became too involved Spring 1918: Spring 1918: Last German offensive Last German offensive