Causes and Actions of World War 1

Sparks of War  June 1914, Sarajevo, Bosnia – Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand  Dominion effect of Alliances– Countries come to the aid of one another. (Russia, Britain, France assisted Serbia & Germany assisted Austria-Hungary  United States continued the practice of neutrality by exercising the Monroe Doctrine

New type of War  Trench Warfare -- Strategy of defending a position by fighting from deep, protected ditches.  2 Major front systems formed in Europe –Eastern Front -- Extended from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea –Western Front -- Extended from Switzerland to the North Sea  No Man’s Land – Area seated between the trenches. Most of the fighting occurred here  With each side “dug in,” their trenches, a stalemate occurred along the western front

Causes of American Involvement  1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  2. British propaganda  3. Zimmerman Telegraph  4. Russian Revolution

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  Germany created new submarine called the ”U-Boat”  May 7 th, 1915-British passenger liner the “Lusitania” sunk off the coast of Ireland  Killed 128 Americans  The Sussex, an unarmed passenger ship is sunk  America threatens to cut off diplomatic relations

British Propaganda  The British sent news of the war to US newspapers everyday  Full of Propaganda  Led the American public to be sympathetic toward the British

British Propaganda (Use Attachment A)

Zimmerman Telegram  March 1917-British authorities gave to the US a telegram that was supposedly sent to Mexico from Germany  It had been decoded by the British  It asked Mexico to declare war on the US and they would be supported by Germany

Russian Revolution  March 1917-Russia left WWI due to a Revolution in their own country  Germany now would concentrate totally on the Western Front  Pleas from Great Britain and France to join the war effort

Declaration of War  April 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany  “The World must be made safe for Democracy”  April 6 th -Congress votes and declares war

Mobilization  Europe needed munitions and supplies-immediate action  Encouraged people to eat less meat and bread  Invented Daylight Savings to conserve fuel

Mobilization  Convinced Americans to put savings into “Liberty Bonds”  Increased income tax, business tax, and excise tax

US Propaganda (Use Attachment A)

Civil Liberties  Espionage Act of 1917-imprisoned for 20 year if caught inciting a riot or obstructing the draft  Sedition Act of 1918-Prohibited from making disloyal remarks

Minorities  Women-Entered the workforce in mass, took the jobs of soldiers fighting in Europe  Mexicans-immigrating in mass to get agricultural work in the southwest  African-Americans-400,000 volunteered for the armed services, served in non-combat roles, and in segregated units

Armistice  November 11, 1918 at 11am  “On the 11 th day of the 11 th month at the 11 th hour”  Memorialized-Veterans Day

Wilson’s Plan  Called the 14 points  Points 1-5-Remove the Causes of War  Points 6-13-Boundary Changes  Point 14-League of Nations –Most valued-heart of peace plan –Peace association-solve problems by diplomatic means instead of war

Treaty of Versailles  January 1919-Paris (Officially Will End the War)  Big Four –Woodrow Wilson-US –David Lloyd George-Great Britain –Georges Clemenceau-France –Vittorio Orlando-Italy

Wilson

Treaty of Versailles  Wilson wanted this to be the “war to end all wars”  Others wanted revenge  Wilson compromised on all of his 14 points except one

Treaty of Versailles Provisions  1. Germany was disarmed, stripped of colonies, forced to admit guilt, pay reparations (war debt) to England and France  2. Many boundary changes  3. Established a League of Nations

Boundary Changes

Weakness of Treaty  Central Powers not invited  Russia not invited-took land away  Germany blamed  Led to three wars –WWII –Cold War –Vietnam War