World War I The Great War

Fundamental Causes M ilitarism A lliances I mperialism N ationalism – 2 kinds

Militarism Conscription (draft), training, build-up – each sought military superiority German military tradition (Prussia) Armament manufacturers increased supply German naval build-up

Alliances Triple Alliance –Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy –Central Powers – added Turkey and Bulgaria Triple Entente –France, Russia, Britain –France desired Alsace Lorraine back (Franco Prussian War) –England threatened by German naval build-up

Imperialism - Examples Russia and Austria-Hungary – rivals in the Balkans France and Germany clashed over Morocco England and Germany (highly industrialized) competed for colonies in Africa and Middle East

Nationalism Intense (1) patriotism fueled war France wanted Alsace Lorraine Serbia wanted Austria-Hungarian territory inhabited by Yugoslav peoples (2) Subject nationalities sought independence (Czechs, Yugoslavs, Slovaks, Poles)

Immediate Cause Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo Gavrilo Princip – Serbian nationalist The Black Hand

The First World War: Why? Long term - 1. Alliance system 2. Imperialist Competition 3. Stockpiling of Weapons Short term - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro- Hungarian Empire Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his Wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg one hour before their deaths, June 28, 1914

Assassination and War Austria – war against Serbia Russia mobilizes to help Serbia Germany declares war on Russia & France; through neutral Belgium (“atrocities”) England – war against Germany

Other Nations Join Central Powers –Germany –Austria- Hungary –Turkey –Bulgaria Allied Powers –GB, France and Russia –Serbia –Belgium –Italy (changed sides) –Japan –U.S

Countries Joining Allies Australia Brazil Canada China Costa Rica Cuba Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras Japan Liberia Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua Panama Portugal Romania San Marino Siam (Thailand)

Von Schlieffen Plan Quick, decisive attack Through Belgium (neutral) Destroy France quickly Fails; First Battle of the Marne; stalemate 600 mile Western Front is established

Western Front Trenches – unaccustomed to this Mud, filth, lice, rats, trench foot, disease “No man’s land” – between trenches “Over the top” – suicidal charges into machine guns, barbed wire Deadly battles for small pieces of land War of attrition – wear the enemy down

New Weapons of War Machine guns Tanks Flame Throwers Airplanes Zeppelins Poison Gas Barbed Wire Grenades Torpedoes Submarines Trench Warfare Giant Artillery

-firsts

War in the East – 2 front war More mobile Russians defeated at Tannenburg and Galicia; almost out of the war Italy changes sides – 1915 (Allies) Germany turned back to the West

Battles War of attrition – wear enemy down Verdun – 1916 – 700,000 died over a few miles of land Gallipoli – Dardanelles (Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire w/Central Powers) Disastrous defeat of British and Australian troops on the beaches

Battles cont. British forces under Lawrence of Arabia urged Arabs to revolt against Ottomans Somme – Allied forces helped by US stopped Germans (first battle to use tanks) Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel – aided by US under (John J. Pershing ) American Expeditionary Force – AEF– key allied victories

Reasons for U.S. Entry Pres. Woodrow Wilson – neutrality “Unrestricted submarine warfare” –U- Boats –Lusitania – British, 128 Americans died Hostility toward Germany –Invasion through neutral Belgium –Zimmerman note – Germans promised Mexico U.S. territory if they attacked U.S.

U.S. Entry cont. Idealism – “the world must be made safe for democracy” Kinship with democratic allies Security – feared autocratic and militaristic Germany in Europe Significance: –Turned tide of battle towards Allies –Broke policy of isolation –America emerges as a world leader

Home Front – Impact Total War – involving complete mobilization of resources and people 1. Increased government power 2. Economic controls 3. Manipulation of public opinion (propaganda) to keep war effort going

Home Front cont. Gov’t. increases power during war – conscription – Selective Service Act Free market capitalism temporarily put aside – price, wage, rent controls, rationing of food and supplies, regulation of imports, control of transportation – planned economies WIB – War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch CPI – Committee of Public Information – George Creel All citizens were made part of the war –Victory gardens, Liberty bonds

Home Front cont. Enthusiasm weakens as war drags on Censorship of press, civil liberties suspended Espionage Act – silence criticism of war Eugene V. Debs – Socialist leader imprisoned Schenk v. U.S. – “clear and present danger” Conscientious objectors – moral or religious opposition to war Intense propaganda (started w/Belgium – “Germans cut off hands of Belgian children!”) U.S. propaganda strong also (see PP)

Home Front cont. Women took jobs men left behind Lower wages, no job security Most lost jobs as men returned Overall, gave boost to women’s movement and status Great Migration – many African Americans move north for opportunities