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Explore the events leading to America's involvement in World War I and the subsequent turning point of the conflict that shaped history. Learn about the significant battles, strategies, and key figures during this tumultuous time.
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“War does not determine who is right, only who is left.”- Bertrand Russell You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV.
Russia Leaves, America Enters • Until America entered, little gains were made by either side on the Western Front. • The U.S. originally pursued a policy of isolationalism, they tried to avoid conflict and broker peace. • This policy of isolationalism resulted in strained relations with Berlin and London.
America Enters the War: The Sinking of the Lusitania, 1915 • British liner sunk by a German U-Boat on the premise that it was carrying contraband items. • At this time, Germany was pursuing a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. • Of the 1,959 people aboard, 1,198 were killed. 128 of those were Americans, however, President Woodrow Wilson vowed that “America was too proud to fight.”
America Enters the War: The Sinking of the Lusitania, 1915 • Although Wilson did not declare war, he demanded that Germany stop its attacks on passenger ships; Germany complied. • After Lusitania, Wilson continued to try to broker peace, however, on January 1917, the German navy resumed its unrestricted submarine warfare. • This was done in an attempt to break the British naval blockade on Germany and to continue to stop Britain from getting supplies.
The Zimmerman Telegram • The telegram was intercepted and decrypted by British code breakers. • The British government, which wanted to expose the incriminating telegram, faced a dilemma: if it boldly produced the actual telegram, the Germans would know that their code had been broken; and if it did not, it would lose a promising opportunity to draw the US into World War I. • The message was sent after the sinking of the Luistaniawhen anti-German feeling was high in America.
The Zimmerman Telegram • The Zimmermann Telegram was from the German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador Heinrich von Eckardt in Mexico. • It contained a proposal for Mexico to invade the U.S. as a German Ally. • It also suggested that Mexico enlist Japan as an ally.
The Zimmerman Telegram • Germany sent this telegram in an attempt to delay the deployment of American troops and to give Germany more time to conduct unrestrictedsubmarine warfare on Britain. • If Mexico invaded, Germany promised to support Mexico in reclaiming Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. • Wilson declares war on April 6, 1917.
America Enters • Entered on the allied side. • Drafted4 million men and by the summer of 1918, it was sending 10,000 fresh soldiers to Fr. every day. • The U.S. Navy assisted the British navy, and Am. General John J. Pershing immediately sent Am. troops to the Front.
Turmoil in the East • Although Russia was officially out of the war, trouble still remained on the Eastern Front: • May 7, 1918: Romania signed a peace treaty with the Central Powers. • This gave up Allied control of the mouth of the Danube R. along the Black Sea Coast.
German Spring Offensive, 1918 • Germany sought to divide the Brit. and Fr. Forces with a series of feints and advances. • Germany hoped to strike a defensive blow before significant U.S. forces arrived. • Under the leadership of Germ. Gen. Erich Ludendorff, Germany launched Operation Michael on March 21, 1918.
After Michael: The Allies Strike Back • Following the unsuccessful Operation Michael, the Germans launched: Operation Georgette, Blücher, Yorck, and Marne; all were unsuccessful. • After the second Battle of the Marne, the allies launched their first successful offensive of the war in June-early July 1918: Château-Thierry, June 3, 1918.
Château-Thierry: June 6, 1918 • Allies launch a counter-attack (Fr., Brit., Italy, and the U.S.). • The Germans lost over 30,000 in 20 days. • From this point on, the demoralized and defeated Germs. were continuously pushed back by the Allies; Kaiser Wilhelm knew the end was near.
The 100 Days Offensive and the Turn of the Tide • The 2nd Battle of the Somme: August 27, 1918. • This battle formed the central part of the Allies' advance against Germany. • By September 2, the Germans were pushed back to the Hindenburg Line, their original starting point in 1914.
The 100 Days Offensive and the Turn of the Tide • The German Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff ordered the line to be built during the final stages of the First Battle of the Somme. • The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defenses in northeastern France and stretched nearly 160 km (100 miles). • The Allies began their attack against the Hindenburg Line on September 26, 1918. This line would eventually be breached.
The Rapid End • Sept. 29, 1918: Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff pressure Kaiser Wilhelm to establish a constitutional monarchy. • Oct. 3: Wilhelm relinquishes power to the new German Parliament: the Reichstag. • Oct. 7: Poland declares independence.
The Rapid End • Oct. 12: Germ. agrees to withdraw forces from Fr. and Belgium. • Oct. 14: Pro. gov. formed in Czech.; Ottoman sultan requests peace terms for Turkey. • Oct. 25: Hungarian Ntl. Council est. in Budapest; Allied leaders meet at Senlis to establish formal armistice terms.
The Rapid End • Oct. 29: Yugoslavia proclaims its independence. • Oct. 30: Germ. announces end to submarine warfare; Turkey signs armistice. • Nov. 3: Austria signs armistice, begins to withdraw forces.
The Rapid End • Nov. 9: German delegation begins formal armistice negotiations at Compiègne; Wilhelm abdicates, Germ. declares itself a republic: The Weimer Republic. • Nov. 11: Germ. signs armistice, formally ending the war. • June, 28, 1919: Treaty of Versailles signed.
The Long Road to Peace • As the end of the war drew nearer, many looked to President Woodrow Wilson for a plan for peace. • Wilson proposed 14 Points for peace which included: • 1) International recognition of freedom of the seas and trade. • 2) Limitations on arms and an end to all secret alliances. • 3) Just settlements for colonial claims. • 4) The right of self-rule for all nations. • 5) The est. of a “general assembly of nations” to settle future problems peacefully. • It was these point that Germ. thought would be the basis of peace negotiations.
The Long Road to Peace • Everyone generally agreed with Wilson’s Points, however: • Britain objected to the idea of open seas due to their protection of their empire and trade interests. • France demanded war reparations from Germany despite Wilson’s point of “no annexations, no contributions, and no punitive damages.”
The Paris Peace Conference, 1919 • Jan. 1919: delegates from 27 nations met in Paris to work out 5 separate peace treaties: the Peace of Paris. • The defeated Central Powers and Russia were not invited to the Peace Conference. • The Big 4: • President Wilson (U.S.) • Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau (Fr.) • Prime Minister David Lloyd George (Brit.) • Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando (Italy).
The Paris Peace Conference, 1919 • Despite Wilson’s efforts, there were gaps between Wilson’s idealism and the nationalistic goals of Fr., Brit., and Italy. • During the conference, Wilson’s chief goal was to win support for and est. an interntl. assembly of nations: The League of Nations. • In order to make his dream a reality, he compromised again and again with the other nations of the Big 4, much to the dismay of Germ.
