1. 19.1: World War I Begins Objectives: 1. Identify the causes of WWI
2. Be able to explain why the US abandoned neutrality

2. THE CONTEXT: Europe is a “powder-keg” (Long-Term Causes of WWI)
NATIONALISM: National interests placed ahead of global cooperation
IMPERIALISM: Industrialization demands more resources and new markets, leading to colonization
MILITARISM: the development of armed forces as a tool of foreign policy and as a tool of diplomacy
ALLIANCES: Central Powers = Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire Allied Powers = France, England, Russia

4. The First Shot… The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Balkans = “powder keg of Europe”
Each system of alliances had interests here
June 28, 1914 Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austrian throne, assassinated by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princep

5. CHAIN REACTION:
Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated
Austria attacks Serbia
Russia defends Serbia and attacks Austria
Germany defends Austria, attacks Russia
Germany attacks France, Russia’s ally
Great Britain defends France, attacks Germany
Germany declares war on Britain
Fighting in Europe spreads to their colonies
World War I begins
THE SYSTEM OF ALLIANCES FAILS TO PROTECT – RATHER, IT PROVOKES!!!

6. REFLECT:
Which of the four long-term causes was most responsible for WWI?
Were they all necessary?
Could this happen today? Where?

8. War Strategy The Reality: The German Plan:
Belgium does not fall easily, and British and French lines hold at the Marne. Two fronts form.
Fighting stabilizes around “no man’s land.”
No quick victory.
Trench warfare instead. Opponents deadlocked. Millions die for mere miles of land.
The German Plan:
A QUICK strike west through Belgium to capture Paris. Then swing forces east to knock out Russia.
Germany DOES NOT want to fight a war on TWO FRONTS.

10. Neutrality…Between a rock and a hard place. US “tries” to stay neutral.
Not so Neutral…
Loans to Allies
Supply arms and munitions primarily only to Allies b/c of British Blockade
Sussex ultimatum
Zimmerman Note
Neutral…
US has immigrants and bonds with both Central Powers and Allies
German saboteurs
Restraint after Lusitania

11. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the
19 January, 1917: The Zimmerman Note to the German Minister to Mexico
On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted.
In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the
United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an
alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war
together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support,
and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in
New Mexico, Texas, & Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement....
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the
greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak
of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico,
on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting
adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between
Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico
that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to
compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmerman (Secretary of State)

12. Hun poster
Hun poster
This poster encouraged Americans to buy Liberty bonds (that is, loan money to the government) by emphasizing the image of the vicious and brutal Hun. This was part of a larger process of demonizing the people of the Central Powers that extended to condemning the music of Beethoven and the writings of Goethe. (Collection of Robert Cherny)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

13. Unterseeboot

15. Lusitania warning
Lusitania warning
Though New York newspapers carried warnings from the German embassy about the dangers of transatlantic travel, the passengers who boarded the Lusitania on May 1, 1915, probably did not imagine themselves in serious danger from submarine attack. The ship was sunk on May 7. Of the 1,959 passengers and crewmembers, 1,198 died, including 128 Americans. (Cobb Heritage Centre, England; photo by Larry O. Nighswander/NGS)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

16. Lusitania sketch of disaster
Though New York newspapers carried warnings from the German embassy about the dangers of transatlantic travel, the passengers who boarded the Lusitania on May 1, 1915, probably did not imagine themselves in serious danger from submarine attack. The ship was sunk on May 7. Of the 1,959 passengers and crewmembers, 1,198 died, including 128 Americans. (Culver Pictures)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

17. Was war inevitable? OR How could war have been avoided?
REFLECT:
Was war inevitable? OR
How could war have been avoided?

18. ELECTION OF 1916 TR does not run – Progressive Rep. Party fades away
Wilson runs on record of progressive reform and neutrality
Rep. candidate Charles Hughes flops – cold fish that he was.

19. http://fisher. lib. virginia

20. 19.2: American Power Tips the Balance
OBEJCTIVE: Understand the US’s
contribution to Allied victory

21. Franz Ferdinand
Assassinated
April, 6, 1917
US declares war
on Germany

22. The election of 1916 was a (landslide, close-shave, terrible loss) for Wilson.
One of the reasons that the US finally went to war with Germany was the ______________ ______, that encouraged Mexico to wage war the US.
Germany’s decision in January 1917 to wage unlimited submarine warfare violated the ____________ pledge.
WWI was triggered by the assassination of _____________.
The Four causes of WWI were:

23. US Goes to War: CONTEXT
Jan. 31, 1917: Germany declares unlimited submarine warfare – Sussex Pledge void.
US arms merchant marine
Mar. 1, 1917: Zimmerman note discovered
April 6, 1917: US declares war
Jan. 8, 1918: Wilson’s Fourteen Points Address
WILSON’s IDEAL: “war to end war” and “to make the world safe for democracy,” makes an appeal for a new world order of collective security. It would have to be a “peace without victory…a peace among equals.”

24. SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT PROBLEM: Only 200,000 men in uniform
SOLUTION: DRAFT OR CONSCRIPT
HOW? Selective Service Act of 1917
3 million men drafted
2 million serve
¾ see combat
ONLY 9 MONTHS OF TRAINING!!!

25. Parade of recruits WWI, photo by Harry M. Rhodes
In Denver, automobiles carrying young army recruits parade through the city. (Denver Public Library, Western History Division)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

26. Blacks at the front
Blacks at the front
Black troops of the 369th Infantry Regiment in the trenches near Maffrecourt, France, in Most African American soldiers were assigned to noncombat duty, such as unloading supplies and equipment. ()
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

27. "Hell Fighters" From Harlem - the 369th Infantry Division
 Meuse-Argonne, September 26-October 1, On 29 September, the Regiment ". . . stormed powerful enemy positions, took, after heavy fighting, the town of Sechault; captured prisoners and brought back six cannons and a great number of machine guns." Despite heavy casualties, the 369th, called "Hell Fighters" by the French and Germans, relentlessly continued the attack at dawn. Raked by enemy machine guns, they assaulted into the woods northeast of Sechault, flanking and overwhelming enemy machine gun positions. The "Le's Go!" elan and indomitable fighting spirit of the 369th Infantry was illustrated throughout the battle action. Their initiative, leadership and gallantry won for their entire Regiment the French Croix de Guerre.

28. AMERICA GETS TO THE FIGHT
PROBLEM: How to get the troops to Europe
SOLUTION:
Expand shipbuilding
Use the convoy system against subs
Mine the North Sea
OUTCOME:
1. Only 100 soldiers lost to u-boats
2. Convoys cut Allied losses in half!

29. http://go. hrw. com/ndNSAPI. nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults

31. AMERICA GETS IN THE FIGHT
Gen. John J. (Blackjack) Pershing in command of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force)
“doughboys”
Pershing resists using AEF as replacements
Pershing wants to fight aggressive war
Does not want to fight “trench warfare”

32. http://www. bbc. co. uk/history/war/wwone/launch_ani_western_front

35. Fighting…”Over there…”
1917 Russian Revolution w/d from fight in 1918
Germany focuses on EASTERN FRONT
Spring 1918: Germans w/in 40 miles of Paris
30,000 US troops turn tide at Chateau-Thierry
Pershing directs US forces in Meuse-Argonne offensive
Argonne Forest: 120,000 KIA/casualties
US “tactics” lead to high casualties

36. THE TIDE TURNS
AEF arrives just in time to stop German advance on Paris (after defeating Russia)
AEF CASUALTIES:
48,000 killed
62,000 die of disease
200,000 wounded

37. TRENCH WARFARE
noviomagus.tripod.com

39. MACHINE GUN

40. THE TANK http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/wfront2_02.shtml

41. ARTILLERY

42. 14 inch US naval guns, mounted on railcar to silence “Big Bertha”

43. GAS TYPES: Germans first use gas at Ypres in 1915 Allies retaliate
Delivered by artillery
TYPES:
Chlorine Gas
Mustard Gas

44. WAR IN THE AIR: Zeppelins & Biplanes

45. LEADERS AND HEREOS Alvin York Eddie Rickenbacker
US’s WWI Ace: shot down 26 planes
York and 17 other men captured 132 German prisoners on October 8, 1918
“Red Baron”
von Richthofen
German Ace:
Shot down
80 planes

46. Company K
Company K
A U.S. soldier of Company K, 110th Infantry Regiment, receives aid during fighting at Verennes, France. (National Archives)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

48. "The Prisoners and the Wounded," October, 1918 by Harvey Dunn
Harvey Dunn's 1918 painting (detail) of weary soldiers in the First World War captures the misery of frontline battle. (Smithsonian Institute, Division of Political History, Washington, D.C.)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

49. MEDICAL CARE
Dirt, mud, filth
Lice, rats, dirty water
Poison gas
Decaying bodies
“shell shock”
Trench foot
Great Flu Pandemic of 1918
(20-40 million dead world-wide)

50. THE COLLAPSE OF GERMANY
Nov. 3, 1918: German sailors mutiny
Nov : Berlin rebels
The Kaiser flees to the Netherlands
CEASEFIRE: 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month
FINAL TOLL:
4 years of fighting, involving 30 nations
26 million dead ( half are civilians)
20 million wounded
10 million refugees
COST= $350,000,000,000