WWI: Turning Point U.S. Enters, Russia Exits

U.S. Position at Beginning of War U.S. neutral – war is a “European affair” U.S. strongest, neutral industrialized nation Major supplier of food, raw materials & munitions to belligerent (warring) nations Insists on free trade and free travel What changes to draw the U.S. into war???

Financial Interests at Stake! U.S. private banks/corporations lent money to both sides until… U.S. begins to trade more & more with Great Britain because of blockade of Germany Many goods bought on credit – wanted to insure repayment

Sinking of the Lusitania – May 1915 Germans sink British passenger ship off coast of Ireland 128 Americans killed U.S. warns Germany to back off Germany temporarily ends unrestricted submarine warfare

British Propaganda Most news about the war came from Great Britain Exaggerated German atrocities against defenseless citizens “It should be America’s duty to help us subdue the mad dog of Europe”

Zimmerman Telegram March 1917 Message from German foreign minister to German ambassador to Mexico Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for support in war

German Submarines Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare – hopes U.S. won’t enter or that they’ll defeat G.B. first German subs attacked any naval vessel, enemy or neutral, found in what Germany determined was a “war zone” Germans sink 4 American merchant ships

The “Sinking” of the U.S. Patience

“The world must be made safe for democracy” April 2, 1917 – Pres Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war April 6, 1917 – Congress votes to enter war on side of Allies

Meanwhile… Over in Russia

1 st Russian Revolution March 1917 Russian czar overthrown Leaders of revolution promised to establish a constitutional gov’t All allies now had democratic govt’s WWI became a war between democratic and non-democratic nations

Russia Before World War I 1905 Russo-Japanese War ends; Russia defeated and economy strained Czar Nicholas II calls for election of a national Duma – legislature Had little power

Russia During WWI Russia was cut off from supplies/allies because Turkey (Central Power) controlled the Dardanelles Strait which gave access to the Med. Sea However, Russia helped the war effort by diverting German troops from attack against the French and British

Russia’s Problems During the War By 1917 morale reached bottom ¼ of soldiers had no guns of their own – had to pick up dead soldiers’ guns Inadequate transport (lack of roads/railroads) Food shortages

The Fall of the Czar Czar Nicholas II – unpopular Incompetent Relied on mystic healer Rasputin Duma demands reforms in gov’t – Nicholas dissolves it

The First Russian Revolution: March 1917 Riots break out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Protested shortages of food/fuel Czar’s troops side with rioters March 15, 1917 – Czar Nicholas II abdicates Ends the 300 year old Romanov dynasty

Provisional Government Temporary gov’t – constitutional assembly Kerensky – prov gov’t prime minister Rival for power – Soviets (council of workers) Soviets – socialists - called for immediate peace, transfer of land to peasants & control of factories by workers Gov’t lost its support

Opens the Door for Revolution: Socialism Enters Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of gov’t Mensheviks (Kerensky) believed a socialist revolution would be the work of masses Bolsheviks – more radical – wanted to introduce a socialist society by force

Lenin & The Bolsheviks Lenin – Leader of Bolsheviks Returned from exile – aided by Germany to get Russia out of war Organized Bolsheviks Used slogan: “Peace, Land & Bread”

2 nd Russian Revolution Nov 1917 – Bolsheviks staged a coup d’etat in Petrograd Established socialist state Ended private ownership of property Distributed land among peasants Made Peace! March 1918 – withdraws from WWI Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany Lost much of western territory – 1/3 of pop

Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism, 1919

Russian Civil War Communists (Bolsheviks) = Reds Royalists, liberal democrats, moderate socialists = Whites Whites promise to defeat Reds and re-enter WWI Communists defeat White forces Photograph of Red Army soldier about to be executed by members of the White Army.