2. A Global Conflict Chapter 23

3. Key Battles Marne Marne Verdun Somme Somme St. Mihiel St. Mihiel Hindenburg Line Hindenburg Line 2 British battlefield in Belgium, September 1917

4. The Germans Advance The German plan for fighting both the French and Russians was a quick attack to defeat France in the west, then fight the Russians in the east. The Germans pass through Belgium - their army fights bravely but are easily defeated by the Germans. By September, Germany is in France. The French and British troops stop the advancing Germans at the Battle of the Marne

6. Battle of the Marne September 5–9, 1914 Marne River, East of Paris Stopped Germany’s rapid advance Prevented the fall of Paris Set the stage for trench warfare 5 Second Battle of the Marne

7. TrenchWarfare TrenchWarfare By November 1914, fighting had reached a stalemate. In a stalemate, neither side is strong enough to defeat the other. Both sides dug in, creating a maze of trenches protected by mines and barbed wire. Soldiers lived in miserable discomfort spending weeks at a time in muddy, rat-infested ditches.

8. Trench Warfare Trench Warfare Soldiers spent day after day shelling the enemy. Then officers would order their men “over the top.” Soldiers crawled out of the trenches to race across “no man’s land” and attack the enemy. The Battle of Verdun lasted 10 months - German losses = 400,000 men. The French lost even more.

13. Gallipoli Campaign Begins February 1915 What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign?? To take over Constantinople, Turkey Create a supply line to Russia Failed attempt by Allies – abandoned at the end of the year

15. Battle of Verdun Feb. 21–Dec. 18, 1916 Verdun, France, 120 miles east of Paris Demoralized both sides First extensive use of the flamethrower 14 Transportation of troops during Battle of Verdun, France

16. Losses on the Eastern Front Stalemate and trench warfare brought mounting tolls on the eastern Front as well. The vast armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary faced those of Russia and Serbia. By mid 1916, the Russians had lost over 1 million soldiers. Neither side could win a decisive victory.

17. Battle of the Somme July 1–Nov. 18, 1916 Somme River, France Drew Germans away from Verdun Tactics became more sophisticated and supply lines became more efficient First use of tanks (British) 16 British troops on the front line, Somme area, 1916

18. American Neutrality American Neutrality In 1914, Americans were determined to avoid being dragged into the European war. President Woodrow Wilson had called upon Americans to “be neutral in fact as well as in name.” Officially, America was neutral - but public opinion was divided. Most Americans favored the Allies as we had long standing ties with Britain, spoke the same language & shared traditions

19. American Neutrality American Neutrality On the other hand - 8 million Americans were of German descent and felt ties to the Central Powers. Millions of Irish also supported the Central Powers - they hated being under British rule Many American Jews favored Germany over Russia - they had fled Russia fearing for their lives.

20. Freedom of the Seas Freedom of the Seas Allied propaganda did less to change American opinion than the issue of freedom of the seas. The U.S. argued that as a neutral nation it had the right to trade with either side. BUT - Britain blockaded German ports & Germany blockaded Britain.

21. Germany had warned the U.S. and other neutral nations to keep their ships out of the blockade zone. President Wilson rejected this limit on neutral shipping. He vowed to hold Germany responsible if its subs caused American to die or lose property. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

22. Under international law, a country at war can stop and search a neutral ship suspected of carrying war goods. January 1917 – Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare for a 2 nd time Vowed to sink any ship sailing near Britain without warning

23. Sinking of the Lusitania May 7, 1915: Passenger ship sunk by German submarine More than 1000 civilian deaths, including 128 Americans Germany claimed the ship was carrying munitions Incident put the U.S. one step closer to entering the war Wilson called it murder on the high seas Torpedoing of the Lusitania

24. Zimmerman Telegram Sent January 1917 by the German Foreign Secretary Proposed a German- Mexican alliance against the U.S. Telegram intercepted by the British and made public Added to the American public’s desire to enter the war 23 Coded copy of the Zimmerman Telegram

25. The U.S. Enters the War April 6, 1917: U.S. officially declares war against Germany Propaganda, submarine warfare, Zimmerman telegram erode neutrality “Peace without victory” 24

26. The Draft U.S. needed massive military force June 5, 1917 – Draft implemented Selective Service Act 1917 – Required men ages 21-30 to register for the draft 24 million men registered; 6,400,000 actually called into service 25 New York City men wait to register for the draft

27. Liberty Bonds Intended to finance the war, increase public support for the war effort Patriotic appeal Over $20 billion raised from bonds 26

28. Anti-German Sentiment Committee of Public Information Eliminating German names Attacks on people of German descent Limit freedoms (freedom of speech) & allow government to arrest opponents of the war. (Espionage & Sedition Acts) 27

29. Changing Roles of Women 1 million women joined the American workforce during the war About 25,000 volunteered as nurses, telephone operators, and ambulance drivers in Europe Some women spoke out against the war – ex. Jane Addams 28 French women assemble American airplanes

30. Labor & the War Great Migration New job opportunities encouraged Mexican- Americans & African Americans to move to Northern industrial centers – this was called the Great Migration. National War Labor Board– April 1918 – helped workers and management reach agreements without strikes.