A Bloody Conflict USII.7 Chapter 19 Section 3

Class Objectives Students should be able to: Describe the new technology used during World War I Describe trench warfare Explain how the war ended Explain how the peace struck at the end of the war was a failure Understand why the U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Combat in World War I Troops from the English Channel to the Swiss border dug a series of connecting trenches where opposing sides relied on the latest rifles and machine guns (latest technology). The space between both sides of trenches was known as “no man’s land.” Both sides used massive artillery fire to weed out the opposition however this strategy typically failed. Over the war several hundred thousand men died from trench warfare.

Trench Warfare

New Technology In 1915, the German used poison gas at the Second Battle of Ypres. The fumes caused vomiting, blindness, and suffocation Soon after the allies began using poison gas and gas masks become a necessary part of a soldier’s equipment. In 1916, the British introduced the tank into battle. However, there were not enough of them to make a significant impact during the war. WWI also saw the use of the airplane in combat. At first, used to spy on the opposition; they quickly were used to drop small bombs on the enemy then they attached machine guns to these aircrafts to engage in what became known as dog fighting (fights between planes).

World War I Tank

Poison Gas

Airplanes

The Americans and Victory Nearly 2 million inexperienced American soldiers or “doughboys” as they became known served during the war. No American ships were sunk on their way to Europe due to the efforts of Admiral William S. Sims, who put merchants’ ships and troop transports together and travelled across the Atlantic with protection from warships. These were called convoys. This strategy ensured that American troops and supplies would be received safely in Europe for the war effort, which were greatly needed in late 1917.

Russia Leaves the War In March 1917, war broke out in Russia over the government’s handling of the war and over the scarcity of food and fuel. In 1917, the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin overthrew the Russian government and established the Communist government. Lenin’s first act was to pull Russia out of WWI and concentrate on building the communist state in Russia. Russia gave up some land (Ukraine, and Poland and Baltic territories) and the Germans pulled out of Russian territory Germany could now focus all troops on the Western Front.

The German Offensive Falters On March 21, 1918, the Germans began a major attack along the Western Front by using gas and artillery bombing. Using the recently pulled troops from Russia, the Germans were only 40 miles from taking Paris. In a series of battles, combined American and French forces repealed the Germans in their attempt to take Paris. With the German march stalled, French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the Allied forces, ordered a massive attack along the front. American General Pershing assembled 600,000 American forces, 40,000 tons of supplies, 4,000 artillery for the most massive attack in American history. Attack (Battle of the Argonne Forest) began on September 26, 1918. As one German position fell after another, the Germans inflicted heavy casualties on the American forces; however by November the U.S. had opened a hole in the German line.

The War Ends While fighting raged on the Western Front, a revolution engulfed Austria-Hungry and the Ottoman Turks. Faced with the surrender of their allies, the German people forced the German emperor to step down. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918, the fighting stopped.

A Flawed Peace In January 1919, the “Big Four” convened in Paris to settle issue arising from World War I United States England France Italy Germany was not invited

Wilson's Fourteen Points Wilson presented his plan: Fourteen Points The first five points eliminates the causes of the war through free trade, disarmament, freedom of the seas, impartial adjustment of colonial claims, and open diplomacy instead of secret agreements. The next eight addressed the right of self-determination. Required the Central Powers to evacuate all of the countries invaded during the war including France, Belgium, and Russia. The Fourteenth Point Wilson called for the creation of a “general association of nations,” known as the League of Nations which would seek to preserve peace and prevent future wars.

The Treaty of Versailles The terms of peace were harsh towards Germany. The Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany on June 28, 1919, which discarded many of Wilson proposals in the Fourteen Points. Germany was stripped of its armed forces and forced to pay 33 billion in reparations (wartime damages). Germany had to acknowledge their responsibly for the outbreak of the war and the devastation caused by the war.

The U.S. Senate Rejects the Treaty The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations faced immediate opposition from a group of senators. They warned against what Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe called “entangled alliances.” The Senate voted in November 1919 and again in March 1920 but did not ratify the treaty. The League of Nations proposed by President Wilson took shape without United States involvement.