The War to End All Wars: M.A.I.N. Causes and Modern Warfare in World War I

1. "The War to End All Wars" World War I

2. Think, Pair, Share… • "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." • H.G. Wells • Consider the following questions: • What is the meaning of this quote? • How might this quote relate to the possibility of war? • Do you agree or disagree with this quote?

3. M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War • Militarism: An aggressive build up of a nation’s armed forces in preparation for war began in the early 1900s • Military gained more power • Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, & Russia all prepared for war

4. M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War Alliances: A complicated system of alliances developed among European nations during the late 1800s • Alliances were meant to bolster national security, but also bound the great powers together to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack

5. Imperialism: The struggle for colonies took place in the late 1800s European countries competed—particularly over Africa & China European rivalries developed Japan became a player after acquiring Korea, Taiwan, & territory in China M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War

6. Nationalism: Countries acted in their own national interest Could lead to war when two separate nation’s interests were opposed Some countries had a diverse population Ethnic minority groups often desired independence Example: France wanted the Alsace-Lorraine back from Germany which was lost in 1871 M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War

8. The Alliance System Collapses As a result of alliances, nearly all nations of Europe soon were drawn into war: • Austria declares war on Serbia • Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungry) was assassinated by Serbian nationalist • Russia comes to Serbia’s aid • Germany declares war on Russia & France • Germany was between France & Russia • Decided to strike 1st with the Schlieffen Plan: • Called for quick attack on France to defeat them 1st and then race east to fight Russia • Great Britain declares war on Germany after Germany invades Belgium to get to France

9. Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire Allies Russia France Serbia Great Britain Italy Japan Mobilization: each country began to ready its troops for war after war was declared

10. A BLOODY STALEMATE ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT • Both sides were relatively equal—faced a stalemate: a situation in which neither side was able to gain an advantage • Modern weapons prevented advances • France and Britain stop Germany’s advance • Western Front - the deadlocked region in northern France.

11. Trench Warfare

12. Soldiers fought each other from trenches. Life in the trenches was misery. Men slept, washed, and ate in the mud. Trenches swarmed with rats. The space between the trenches was called “no man’s land” Life in the Trenches

16. Modern Warfare • Soldiers faced new weapons that were more efficient including: • Machine Guns • Hand Grenades • Artillery Shells • Poison Gas • Used to speed up the war, but the new technology just killed more people more effectively.

17. Poison Gas • Soldiers wore masks to protect themselves from poison gas. • Gas was introduced by the Germans but used by both sides. • Gasses caused blinding, choking, and severe blisters.

19. Machine Guns • Machine guns were much improved by the time of World War I. • Because it could wipe out waves of attackers and make it difficult for forces to advance, it helped create a stalemate.

22. An armored combat vehicle that moved on chain tracks. Introduced by the British in 1916. The early tanks were slow and clumsy. They eventually improved and helped the Allies in the war effort. TANKS

24. WWI was the first time that planes were used in a combat role. First used for taking photos of enemy lines. Soon, both sides used them to drop bombs. Guns were soon attached to the planes, and pilots fought each other in the air. AIRPLANES

26. In 1914, the Germans introduce the submarine as an effective warship. German submarines, known as U-Boats, eventually waged unrestricted warfare on Allied ships. The primary weapon was the torpedo, a self-propelled underwater missle. SUBMARINES

28. BARBED WIRE • Barbed wire was used as a military weapon. • Barbed-wire was usually placed far enough from the trenches to prevent the enemy from approaching, but close enough to lob grenades in. • Sometimes barbed-wire entanglements were set up in order to channel attacking infantry into machine-gun fire. • Barbed-wire entanglements were virtually impassable. Before a major offensive soldiers were sent out to cut a path with wire-cutters. • Another tactic was to place a Bangalore Torpedo (a long pipe filled with explosive) and detonate it under the wire

30. Casualties • The soldiers killed wounded, and missing during a war • The number mounted as the war went on because of modern weapons • Eventually reached the millions

31. The American Response American Neutrality: • Trade strongly influenced the American position on the war: • To protect shipping routes from German submarines & a British naval blockade, President Wilson declared the U.S. neutral • U.S. acted as peacemaker • Contraband: supplies captured from an enemy during wartime • International law generally allowed these goods, usually weapons and other war supplies, to be confiscated. • Britain claimed that Germany was taking noncontraband as well • Some Americans promoted “preparedness” to prepare the U.S. for war. • Other Americans supported a growing peace movement.

32. Between 1915-1917, tension increased between the U.S. & Germany Germany practiced submarine warfare with their U-boats: Changed the rules of naval warfare Depended on the element of surprise—issued no warning Passenger & merchant ships had no defense against submarines German Submarine Warfare

33. Americans viewed U-boat attacks as uncivilized In May 1915, the British passenger liner, the Lusitania was sunk by a U-boat 128 Americans were killed President Wilson demanded an end to submarine warfare Germany agreed to warn passenger ships if they could search and siege Allied ships continued to be torpedoed German Submarine Warfare

35. Sussex Pledge • The German government promised in 1916 that its ships would warn ships before attacking • Occurred after U.S. threatened to break diplomatic ties with Germany after U-boats sank the Sussex—a French passenger steamship • Because of the broken promises, Wilson began to work to prepare the U.S. to enter the war. • Germany violated pledge in February 1917 • Germany felt they could defeat the British before the U.S. entered the war • U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany • American merchant ships were armed

36. The British intercepted a German telegram from Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign secretary, that made a secret offer to Mexico: “We shall endeavor to keep the United States neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance…:Make war together, make peace together…and… Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona” - -Arthur Zimmermann The Zimmermann Note

38. By 1917, Russia faced enormous causalities: 1.5 million killed 2.5 million taken prisoner Millions wounded Germany & Austria advanced deep into Russia In March 1917, Czar Nicholas II was forced to give up power: Replaced a monarchy with a republican government Prowar Americans welcomed news—helped commit Americans to the Allies Russian Revolution

39. In March, Germany sank 3 American ships Wilson’s cabinet voted for war Wilson went before Congress and stated: “the world must be made safe for democracy” On April 6, 1917, Wilson signed the war resolution The War Resolution

41. America Enters the War • Selective Service Act: Passed in 1917, law authorized a draft of young men for military service • 24 million registered • 3 million were picked by a lottery • Others volunteered or joined the National Guard • All American troops were collectively known as American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

42. America Enters the War • Committee on Public Information: government agency created during WWI to encourage Americans to support the war. • Was its job to educate the public about the causes and nature of the war • Worked to convince Americans that the war effort was a just cause • Put out posters and held gatherings to gain support.

43. Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation, aimed at serving an agenda. Even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a complete picture. • What message is the poster trying to convey? • What is the poster implying to men if they decide NOT to join the navy? • What do you think this poster is saying to men about how women would react to a man who joins the military?

46. Women in the War • Thousands of women volunteered as nurses, drivers, clerks, & gov. workers

48. On the Home Front • Financing the War: • Liberty Bonds: special war bonds sold to support the Allies

49. On the Home Front • Managing the Economy: • Industries converted to war production • Lever Food & Fuel Control Act: Gave the President the power to manage the production & distribution of foods and fuels • Americans were encouraged to conserve— “Gospel of the Clean Plate” • Encouraged gasless days to save fuel • Began the practice of Daylight Saving Time: turning clocks ahead one hour for the summer • Less need for artificial light