World War I

The Great War Begins Austria declares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914 causing: 1) Russia to mobilize against Austria-Hungary and Germany 2) Germany to declare war on Russia and France #2 #3 #3 #2 #1

Allied vs. Central Powers Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ottoman Empire Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan Great Britain entered when Germany stormed through neutral Belgium

A Bloody Stalemate Western Front: deadlocked region in Northern France Schlieffen Plan: German plan to attack France first and then move to Russia They decided to go through neutral Belgium and then into the less protected border between France and Belgium Plan worked until Battle of the Marne in September of 1914: Battle turned Western Front into stalemate It also meant that Germany would have to fight a two front war

Trench Warfare Soldiers dug massive trenches from which they fought No Man’s Land: land between opposing trenches Little land gains with this type of fighting Ex: Battle of Verdun – Germans gained 4 miles and lost 300,000 men Ex. Battle of the Somme – Britain gained 5 miles and lost 500,000 men

New Technology Poison gas Armored tanks Machine guns Airplanes Did not deliver face-paced war it just brought more death

Eastern Front Battlefield along the German and Russian border Russia was struggling along the front Why? Not industrialized Short on food, clothes, guns, boots, ammo Could not receive supplies because German controlled Baltic and North Sea Russia was still important Why? Large population kept army in full force Germany could not move more troops to Western front

Fight Spread to South Asia and Africa Allies attacked the Dardanelles Allies thought they could take the Ottoman capital of Constantinople Gallipoli campaign turned into stalemate with the allies eventually giving up after 250,000 casualties

British helped Arabs rise up against Turkish rulers Lawrence of Arabia (British soldier) lead guerilla raids against Turks Allies took over Baghdad, Jerusalem, and Damascus French and British seized 3 of 4 German colonies in Africa Japan took over German posts in China and colonies in Pacific

US Enters the War – April 2, 1917 Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Submarines would sink any ship without warning Started policy in 1915 when German sub sank the British passenger ship Lusitania (128 Americans died Sussex pledge: Germany agreed to stop attacking passenger ships 1917 Germany returned to unrestricted sub warfare Set up blockade around Britain to strike back against British naval blockade of Germany Hoped they would starve Britain into defeat before US entered war

US Enters War Zimmerman Note – telegram from German foreign secretary to German ambassador in Mexico Stated that Germany would help Mexico ‘reconquer’ the land they lost to the US if Mexico allied themselves with Germany Note intercepted and decoded by British Duty to honor ties with Allies Bond to England – similar language and ancestry Economic ties – traded more with France and Britain

War on the Home Front WWI became a total war meaning that countries devoted all resources to winning the war Liberty Bonds – money lent to government that would be repaid with interest Short supply of goods led to rationing at home Ex: Wheatless Mondays, Meatless Tuesdays Ex: Victory gardens – grow own vegetables

Government Intervention Censored news of war Schenck vs. US – Charles Schenck convicted of violating Espionage Act by mailing pamphlets to draftees telling them the draft was wrong Created propaganda – one-sided information designed to persuade, keep up morale and support for war, and to recruit soldiers Committee on Public Information

Allies win the war Russia withdraws from war in March of 1918 Civil unrest due to food and fuel shortages 5.5 million soldiers wounded or killed so many refused to fight any longer Communist regime led by Lenin comes to power and signs truce with Germany giving up several countries which eventually would gain their independence Brest-Litovsk Treaty

German’s Last Offensive Germany led massive attack in France until they reached the Marne Second Battle of Marne led by 2 million fresh American troops led to the crumble of Central Powers Food riots and strikes in Germany, revolution in Austria-Hungary combined with difficulty encouraging soldiers to fight led to Central Powers surrender

Legacy of War Loss of civilian and soldier lives – 14 million Economic devastations Cost over 280 billion Farms and homes destroyed US became world’s leading economic power due to devastation of European economies Sense of insecurity Led to overthrow of monarchies and rise of Bolsheviks in Russia Flawed peace treaty – unresolved issues and hostility still lingered

Legacy continued Passage of the 19th amendment African Americans moved North to work in factories during the war