1. The Great War (WWI)

2. Causes of the war European imperial competition Nationalism
Alliance system

3. Fighting Begins
Why did a Serb killing an Austrian  Germans invading Belgium?
Stalemate on Western front

4. Trench Warfare Nasty business Huge losses, for little territory
Conditions: exposure, gas, etc.

5. At first, US neutral European conflict
Sympathies, to some extent, on both sides
US not in imperial competition or alliance system
Wilson re-elected in 1916: “He kept us out of war!”

6. US drawn in German submarine warfare, including against civilian ships
Zimmerman telegram
Financial support to Allies gave US strong economic motive to see Allies win
Cultural ties to British

7. Wilson’s Rationale Fourteen Points
Make the world “safe for democracy,” end the root causes of war
Grand vision, almost entirely neglected in the Treaty of Versailles

8. A disappointing peace Wilson’s goals frustrated, except League
Senate rejected the whole treaty, refused to join League

9. Consequences
Massive casualties: 8.5 million dead, 21 million wounded, millions more missing
Embittered Europe
Communist Revolution in Russia  USSR
US determined to stay out of international disputes?
But: US now seen as a major world power, economically & militarily

10. Consequences of WWI
A punitive, shaky “peace” which Germany especially felt unfair
Germania (German political cartoon, 1919)

11. Russian Revolutions, 1917
Russia suffering from effects of war & poor leadership from Tsar
Lack of break
Military losses
Palace intrigue with Rasputin
February Rev.  Nicholas’ abdication

12. Bolsheviks Seize Power
Provisional Govt’s failures
War dragged on, unsuccessfully
Bread shortages continued
Peasants’ land hunger
October: Bolsheviks seize power with tiny group of leaders and military allies

13. Russian Civil War,
Leon Trotsky

14. US sent troops to Russia after the Communist Revolution to try to defeat the Bolsheviks

15. Images
Schlieffen Plan:
Map 1914:
Map 1919:
Trench warfare:
Black soldiers:
Old-New modes:
Wilson in Congress:
Wilson 1916:
Zimmerman:
14 Points:
Debs:
Dead Soldiers:
Russian Rev:
Germania:
Baruch:
Bling:
E. St. Louis riot 1917:
Great Migration:
“Halt the Hun!”: