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WWI. 2013-14. Why did Europe go to war in 1914?. Power Struggles- Germany versus France for control over Europe, Russia versus Austria over influence in the Balkans. Imperialism Secret Alliance System Britain, France, Russia Germany, Austria, Italy.
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WWI 2013-14
Why did Europe go to war in 1914? • Power Struggles- Germany versus France for control over Europe, Russia versus Austria over influence in the Balkans. • Imperialism • Secret Alliance System • Britain, France, Russia • Germany, Austria, Italy
Why did the United States stay out of WWI? • Neutrality was seen as the way to achieve U.S goals. • U.S. goal- Allow U.S trade, Keep world safe for democracy. • To ensure that the Germans would not win the war, U.S. trade to the Allies increased from about $825 million in 1914 to $3.2 billion in 1916. • U.S. also allowed the Allies to borrow $2.3 billion by 1917.
Why did the U.S. decide to enter WWI? • German Unrestricted Submarine Warfare-threatened U.S. goals: its commerce, its concept of neutral rights, its security, and its ability to dictate peace. • Zimmerman Telegram • Germany threatens America’s goal for Europe. • America declares war on Germany April 6, 1917
America Mobilizes for War • American Government mobilizes American Industry for war. • Committee on Public Information flooded America with propaganda. • Espionage Act of 1917 and Sabotage and Sedition Acts of 1918- silenced opponents of the war 900 were imprisoned • Opponents of the war lost their civil liberties
Consequences of WWI • Communist gain power in Russian in November of 1917, create the Soviet Union • Americans join the fight in May 1918 • November 11, 1918 war comes to an end • 10 million dead, 20 million wounded • Germany-1.8 million, Russia 1.7 million, France 1.4 million Austria Hungary 1.2 million, UK 1 million, U.S. 115,000
Consequences (continued) • Europe's economy was damaged • Total War • Europe was deprived of hegemony • U.S. became the West’s most powerful nation • Life was cheap…/demoralized
Treaty of Versailles • U.S. (Wilson), Great Britain (George), France (Clemenceau), Italy (Orlando). • Two approaches to the treaty- Hard line advocated by the French and the soft line advocated by the U.S. • Wilson proposes 14 Points to make the world safe for democracy. • Enemy evacuation of all Allied territory • Alsace-Lorraine to France • Self determination of peoples • No more secret treaties • Freedom of the seas • Reduction of armaments • “fair” adjustment of colonial claims • League of Nations
The Treaty • Public sentiments won out • Provisions of the Versailles Treaty 1919 • Germany surrendered Alsace- Lorraine • Rhineland is demilitarized • Germany gave land to Poland • Germany lost its colonies • German military is restricted • Germany must pay Allies $33 billion in war reparations • Germany must accept responsibility for starting the war. • Austria and Turkey lost territory • League of Nations is created
U.S. Senate refused to rarify the Treaty • Wilson isolated the republican controlled Senate • Senate was led by Wilson’s enemy Henry Cabot Lodge • Irreconcilables- wanted nothing to do with the League • Mild Reservationists-membership with some minor changes • Strong Reservationists- Major changes (Lodge) • Democrats- supported the President