29. II. War Begins: The American Response:
-some Americans felt personally involved – Why? 1/3 were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants
-most Americans wanted to Allies to win – Why?
Cultural ties with England
Most of the news from the war came from England
Kaiser Wilhelm II, German leader, was an autocrat (ruler with unlimited power)

30. II. War Begins:
The U.S. remained neutral at first and continued to trade with both sides
-we were an isolated country at that time

31. III. U.S. Declares War:
3 Major Events led the U.S. to join the Allies:
Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare – Ex:
a. Sinking of the Lusitania (May 7, 1915) – British passenger liner sunk by a German u-boat because it was secretly carrying weapons for the Allies – 1,200 died (128 Americans)

34. III. U.S. Declares War:
b. Sinking of the Sussex (March 24, 1916) – French passenger liner sunk by a u-boat – the Germans later agreed to the Sussex Pledge (promised to warn ships before attacking) – kept the U.S. out of the war

35. III. U.S. Declares War:
Election of 1916 – Pres. Wilson ran under the slogan “He kept us out of the war” and was re-elected
Feb. 1, 1917: Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare – thought they could defeat the British and win the war before the U.S. could make a difference

36. III. U.S. Declares War:
Feb. 3, 1917: Wilson ended Am. neutrality by arming merchant ships – “armed neutrality”

37. III. U.S. Declares War:
Zimmerman Note / Telegram – German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, made a secret offer to Mexico
-if they would attack the U.S., then they would be given back the lost territory in TX, AZ, and NM
-the note was intercepted by the British
-neither Wilson nor Mexico took the note seriously
-however, the American public called for war

38. Zimmerman Note

40. III. U.S. Declares War:
Revolution in Russia – March 1917, Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and replaced by a republican (democratic) gov’t
-since a czar was no longer in power, the U.S. viewed Russia as an acceptable ally
-this was the last stumbling block to a full Am. commitment to the Allies

41. III. U.S. Declares War:
Pres. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany saying…
“The world must be made safe for democracy.”
War was declared on April 6, 1917

42. V. Americans on the European Front:
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) – led by Gen. John J. Pershing – arrived in Paris on June 14, 1917 – provided reinforcements to British and French troops
-U.S. soldiers nicknamed doughboys

44. V. Americans on the European Front:
The first job of the doughboys was to help England attack the German u-boats – Americans thought they would only provide naval assistance at first
Convoy system – began in May 1917 – group of unarmed merchant ships surrounded by armed naval ships – reduced number of ships sunk

46. V. Americans on the European Front:
The Bolshevik Revolution (communist revolution in Russia – Oct. 1917) changed the involvement of Am. soldiers
-led by Vladimir Lenin
-Russia signed a treaty with Germany in March 1918 to drop out of the war
-allowed Germany to send all troops to the Western Front
-forced U.S. to send in more foot soldiers to help Allies

47. V. Americans on the European Front:
Battle of Chateau-Thierry (June 1918) – major turning point in the war – U.S. helped French save Paris and began to push German lines back towards Germany
Battle of Argonne Forest (Sept.-Nov. 1918) – last critical battle of the war – 47 day battle – 1.2 million Allied troops began to push German lines back and eventually broke through

48. VI. Postwar:
An armistice (cease fire) was signed on Nov. 11, 1918 (11th hour, 11th day, 11th month)
WWI Casualties:
-Russia – 9 million Germany – 7 million
-France – 6 million A-H – 7 million
-England – 4 million
-U.S. – 364,000

49. VI. Postwar:
WWI’s Impact on U.S.:
-lost 116,000 young men
-created a distrust of foreigners
-created new opportunities for women and Afr. Am’s.
-higher wages
-booming economy – richest nation in world

50. VI. Postwar: Pres. Wilson’s Plan for Peace:
-to prevent future world wars he outlined his goals in his “Fourteen Points” speech before Congress – included:
Ban on secret treaties / alliances
Freedom of the seas
Reduction of arms

51. VI. Postwar:
self-determination, or power to make decisions about one’s own future, for all A-H’s ethnic groups
League of Nations – international org. that would help keep world peace and maintain order

52. VI. Postwar:
Paris Peace Conference (Jan. 1919) – attended by the “Big 4” (leaders of the 4 major Allied powers):
Woodrow Wilson (U.S.)
David Lloyd George (G.B.)
George Clemenceau (France)
Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

53. The Big Four

54. VI. Postwar:
-remember: Russia had dropped out of the war in 1917 and Italy joined Allies in 1915
-Goals – Wilson concerned about world peace – brought 14 Points with him – the other 3 leaders wanted to punish Germany (esp. France)

55. VI. Postwar:
-Treaty of Versailles – officially ended WWI – compromise – included:
War Guilt Clause – forced Germany to take the blame for starting the war (big mistake!)
Germany stripped of all colonies
Germany forced to pay reparations (payment for damages) to Allies - $33 billion total

56. VI. Postwar: League of Nations created
Created new countries based on self-determination:
-Poland Austria
-Finland Estonia
-Czechoslovakia -Latvia
-Yugoslavia Lithuania
-Hungary

58. VI. Postwar:
Germany refused to sign treaty at first (too hard on them) – they eventually did sign it on June 28, 1919
Republicans in Congress were upset that they were not represented in Versailles (Wilson was a Dem.), so they refused to approve the treaty – never joined League of Nations (very weak without U.S.)