W ILSON, W AR, AND P EACE 19.3

O BJECTIVES Understand how the United States military contributed to the Allied victory in the war. Describe the aims of the Fourteen Points. Analyze the decisions made at the Paris Peace Conference. Explain why the United States Senate refused to ratify the treaty ending World War I.

K EY P ARTS America Gives the Allies the Edge Wilson Promotes Peace Without Victory Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference America Rejects the Treaty

I NTRODUCTION Read Section 19.3 Answer critical thinking questions 5&6.

A MERICA G IVES THE A LLIES THE E DGE The European leaders questioned whether or not the United States would actually be dedicated to help the war effort. Even if the United States was dedicated would they even be able to mobilize in time to help. This unknown worried Germany, so they began using their submarines in unrestricted warfare to try to end the war before the United States got involved.

C ONT. The Allies immediately felt the impact of the submarine warfare. The German sank merchant ships faster than the allies could build them, this destroyed the allied supply chain. The Allies tried to counteract it by traveling in convoys or groups of ships that were protected by warships.

C ONT.. This tactic worked extremely well the shipping losses from U-Boat attacks fell as sharply as they had risen. Germany’s tactic failed. On land the situation was in the favor of the Central Powers. The Allies were exhausted by years of combat. Russia was torn by revolutions, In March 1917 a moderate democratic revolution overthrew Czar Nicholas II but kept Russia in the War.

C ONT … In November 1917 radical communists led by Vladimir Lenin staged a revolution and gained control of Russia. This caused Russia to end the war between Germany in Russia on March 3, 1918 via the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. General John J. Pershing, the Commander of American forces in Europe arrived in France in June 1917, with a small American Force.

C ONT …. It wasn’t until early 1918 before American Troops began to arrive in large numbers. The American troops were called doughboys because of their Uniforms. The American Troops began to see heavy battle beginning in the spring of 1918, they battled along side the French and held off the German attacks.

C ONT ….. The US Soldiers battled violently and this gave the Allied forces hope. The bravery that the US Soldiers showed set the precedent for the remainder of the war. One of the most noted war hero was Alvin York of Tennessee. He and a group of 16 men were trapped behind enemy lines and were facing unbelievable machine gun fire.

C ONT …… Sgt. York ran out towards the machine gun as it was shooting at him and drew up his rifle and shot the machine gunner, this was his last shot. He threw down his rifle and charged the German Position with only a pistol, and his group of sixteen joined him charging up the hill and they took the German position and Sgt. York was awarded the Medal of Honor.

C ONT ……. By the end of the war more than 50,000 Americans had lost their lives and about 230,000 were wounded severely. By the fall of 1918 the German front was collapsing. Both German and Austro-Hungarian armies had had enough. On November 11, 1918 Germany surrendered to the Allies in a railway car in Compiengne, France Deaths: Allied 5million, Central 8million, Civilian 6.5 million

W ILSON P ROMOTES P EACE W ITHOUT V ICTORY Wilson’s War Aims were known as the Fourteen Points, this outlined the concept of “peace without victory” The Fourteen Points promoted openness, encouraging independence and supporting freedom. In 1919 Wilson asked for a League of Nations and traveled to France to meet with Allied leaders. He was the First President to Travel to Europe for a conference.

W ILSON AT THE P ARIS P EACE C ONFERENCE Wilson’s Ideas were not well received at the conference. The Allies wanted Germany to pay for war damages since they were a primary cause of the war and they wanted to weaken Germany so that they would never be a threat to Europe again. The only thing Wilson was able to accomplish from the Treaty was an establishment of a League of nations.

A MERICA R EJECTS THE T REATY Wilson had a very difficult time getting the Treaty of Versailles ratified. He had created enemies with in Congress and the senate. The nation was divided in many ways on the details of the treaty and the League of nations. The Treaty was voted on three times and each time it was defeated on different terms.