World War I Notes

Causes of WWI – MANIA! Militarism - policy of building up a strong military to prepare for war Alliances – agreements between nations to provide aid and protect on another Nationalism – extreme pride in one’s country Imperialism – when one country takes over another country economically and politically. Assassination – of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand

1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures Militarism 1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures France 10% Britain 13% Russia 39% Germany 73%

Alliances Triple Alliance Triple Entente

Nationalism At the settlement of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the principle of nationalism was ignored in favor of preserving the peace. Germany and Italy were left as divided states, but strong nationalist movements and revolutions led to the unification of Italy in 1861 and that of Germany in 1871. Another result was that France lost Alsace-Lorraine to Germany, and regaining it was a major goal of the French. Nationalism posed a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans, areas comprised of many conflicting national groups. The ardent Pan Slavism of Serbia and Russia's willingness to support its Slavic brother conflicted with Austria-Hungary's Pan-Germanism.

Imperialism Great Britain, Germany and France needed foreign markets after the increase in manufacturing caused by the Industrial Revolution. These countries competed for economic expansion in Africa. Although Britain and France resolved their differences in Africa, several crises foreshadowing the war involved the clash of Germany against Britain and France in North Africa. In the Middle East, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was alluring to Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia.

European Conquest of Africa

The “Spark”

Assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28th, 1914.

Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand who believed that Bosnia should belong to Serbia.

Domino Effect Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

Domino Effect Germany declares war on Russia. France pledges their support for Russia. Germany declares war on France. Germany invades Belgium on the way to France. Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.

Allied Powers Central Powers World War I

What new weapons were used in WWI? Machine gun Poison gas Submarine Airplane Tank Why these weapons? Why now? INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!

Why was WWI a Stalemate? What’s a stalemate? Neither side can make a move to win. Machine gun. How did this change war? How was it fought before? Trench Warfare = “solution”. Millions die without gaining ground.

America’s entry into WWI What were the reasons for the US to enter WWI?

Lusitania

German alliance with Mexico

Wartime Goals p.380 Based on the quote below from Woodrow Wilson, what was our goal in WWI? “Property can 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 peoples . . . The world must be made safe for democracy . . . . We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities . . . .It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war . . . . But the right is more precious than peace.”

America on the Homefront: World War I -- America on the Homefront: "The Poster War"

War Mobilization

1. Enlistment

The Most Famous Recruitment Poster

Uncle Sam—He the Man!

Don’t Mess with the U. S.

“Huns Kill Women and Children!”

The “Little Soldier”

1917 – Selective Service Act 24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918. 4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat). 400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units. 15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units.

2. Expansion of the Federal Government

Council of National Defense War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Food Administration – Herbert Hoover Fuel Administration – National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

U. S. Food Administration

U. S. Food Administration

U. S. Food Administration

National War Garden Commission

U. S. School Garden Army

U. S. Shipping Board

U. S. Fuel Administration

U. S. Fuel Administration

Results of This New Organization of the Economy? Unemployment virtually disappeared. Expansion of “big government.” Excessive govt. regulations in eco. Some gross mismanagement  overlapping jurisdictions. Close cooperation between public and private sectors. Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

New Social/Economic Opportunities

1. Women

YWCA – The Blue Triangle

Munitions Work

The Girls They Left Behind Do Their Bit!

Women Used In Recruitment

Even Grandma Buys Liberty Bonds

The Red Cross - Greatest Mother in the World

The Red Cross Nurse

2. African-Americans

Opportunities for African-Americans in WW1 “Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919  70,000 War industries work. Enlistment in segregated units.

True Sons of Freedom

African-Americans on a Troop Ship Headed for France

3. New American Immigrants

The “Flag of Liberty” Represents All of Us!

We are ALL Americans!

United War Work Campaign

Wartime Propaganda

The Committee of Public Information (George Creel) America’s “Propaganda Minister?” Anti-Germanism. Selling American Culture.

“Remember Belgium”

The “Mad Brute”

Beat Back the “Hun”

The “Menace of the Seas”

Creel Commission Film

Attacks on Civil Liberties

Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americans 1. Espionage Act – 1917 - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote insubordination in the military. - ordered the Postmaster General to remove Leftist materials from the mail. - fines of up to $10,000 and/or up to 20 years in prison.

Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americans 2. Sedition Act – 1918 - it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces or to willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production of things necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war.

Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americans 3. Schenck v. US – 1919 - in ordinary times the mailing of the leaflets would have been protected by the 1st Amendment. - BUT, every act of speech must be judged acc. to the circumstances in which it was spoken. -The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. [Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes] - If an act of speech posed a clear and present danger, then Congress had the power to restrain such speech.

Impact of the US in WWI Read the first paragraph on p. 386 to answer the following question. Once the United States entered the war, what impact did that have on the Allies of WWI? What do you think would have happened if the United States decided to stay out of the war?

Big Four Leader of the Allied countries (US, Great Britain, France and Italy) that came to decide the terms of the treaty. Wilson represented the US and he had a plan for the treaty called the 14 Points. His baby was the League of Nations.

Wilson’s 14 Points Besides the League of Nations, what were some of the other parts of his proposal?

What were the results? Germany surrendered. Allies impose Treaty of Versailles. Declares Germany guilty for war. Germany must pay reparations to Allies. This sets the stage for WWII! League of Nations formed to try to prevent war in the future.

Casualties? Total troops mobilized by all countries in WW1 65,038,810 Total troops dead from all countries in WW1 8,556,315 Total troops wounded from all countries in WW1 21,219,452 Total missing or POWs 7,750,945

Irreconcilable Senators A group of Republican senators called the irreconcilables did not vote on the Treaty because they opposed the League of Nations. Wilson, determined to get the American people behind it, went on a speaking tour to rally citizens behind it but he suffered a stroke and failed to push the agenda.

Post War Problems What did the troops experience when they returned home? Why did the citizens of the US go through a Red Scare?