Words to Define in Notes MilitarismAlliances ImperialismIsolationism NeutralityPropaganda StalemateWestern Front ReparationsU-Boat Nationalism Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Ch 12.1 Notes “The Road to War”

Imperialism Countries were competing for natural resources, and the most desirable colonies were already under control of major European Powers. Other European countries realized that the only way to gain control of resource rich countries was to take them from other Europeans

Militarism European Powers had begun to buildup their armies in preparation for war. Also, military factions were gaining more and more influence in European government

Nationalism (A) countries were acting in their own self interest out of national pride, and (B), many ethnic groups in Europe were longing for countries that reflected their own ethnic heritage

Alliances in order to promote national security, many nations signed treaties that bound them to other nations in case of war. If one nation was attacked, then the others would automatically help.

The assassination of Francis Ferdinand caused Austria- Hungary to attack Serbia

Allied PowersCentral Powers Great Britain France Serbia Russia (until 1917) United States (after 1917) Japan Germany Austria Hungary Italy

Modern Warfare Machine guns Rapid fire artillery Poison gas shells Tanks Submarines Airplanes

Early Stages of the War Germany wins quick victories in the west vs France and Britain Russia attacks Germany from the east, diverting troops from the Western Front (two front war)

Stalemate Lack of manpower causes Germany’s attack to bog down in the West This stalemate leads to Trench Warfare

“Somme. The whole history of the world cannot contain a more ghastly word.” — Friedrich Steinbrecher

Trench Warfare

British Poet Wilfred Owen - KIA "“No Man's Land is pocketmarked like the body of foulest disease and its odour is the breath of cancer...No Man's Land under snow is like the face of the moon, chaotic, crater-ridden, uninhabitable, awful, the abode of madness. Hideous landscapes, vile noises....everything unnatural, broken, blastered; the distortion of the dead, whose unburiable bodies sit outside the dug-outs all day, all night, the most execrable sights on earth."

Civilian Impact Soldiers were still fighting with 18th century military techniques, (using new modern weapons) which caused incredibly high casualty rates. Civilians were impacted because of naval blockades that cut off food supplies to entire countries

American Sentiments… –Many Irish and German immigrants had strong anti-British feelings –Americans of English descent opposed the Germans

–Most Americans opposed the autocratic Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, because they saw his rule as an affront to democracy

Foreign investments Americans had billions of dollars in foreign investments, and entering the war would endanger their money

Preparedness Movement The idea that America remain neutral while building up its armed forces (militarism)

The Peace Movement Former Populists, Progressives, Social Reformers, Suffragists, and Women

Goodbye Teddy… The Preparedness Movement and the call to arms for WWI is the last we hear of the great Theodore Roosevelt. After this he has one last adventure…

The River of Doubt After losing the Election of 1912 to Wilson, Teddy has the brilliant idea to explore previously unknown parts of the Amazon River called The River of Doubt. He is now 55 years old, overweight and out of shape, but he says that this is “…his last chance to be a boy.”

The area is so vast and unknown that the 500 mile long river had only recently been discovered. During the 7 month expedition, 3 of the 19 members of the group were lost, and Teddy nearly died himself. Teddy lost nearly 50 lbs. due to sickness and malnutrition, and his health never really recovered. He died less than 5 years later at the age of 60.