Chapter 12

1. Chapter 12 World War I The Road to War The United States Declares War Americans on the European Front Americans on the Home Front Global Peacemaker

2. The Road to war • Causes of World War I • Imperialism – European powers scrabble for territory brought tensions • By 1910, most territory was claimed. Countries started fighting over resource rich lands • Militarism – Policy of aggressively building up military in preparation for war • Great powers of Europe were all armed for battle and were looking for an excuse to use • Nationalism- Believing your country was the best and acting in own self interest • When acting in own best interest went against the interests of another, it could lead to war • Another type of “NATIONALISM” was seen in countries with different ethnic groups • The group in power would discriminate (often brutally) against the minority group • Minority group would eventually fight back (wanting to control the power) • Alliances – Countries allied with others for protection, SECRETLY • Smaller countries were emboldened when they believed they had a powerful ally behind them

3. The Conflict expands • Assassination of Austria-Hungary’s Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand will set off a series of overreactions • War was declared after Serbia did not meet demands • As a result, Austria-Hungary (and their ally Germany) and Serbia (and their ally Russia) began World War I • Germany declared war on Russia using a strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan • To avoid a 2 front war, Germany planned to sweep through France quickly, then turn and fight Russia • To reach France quickly, Germany cut through Belgium. England was allied with Belgium so they declared war on Germany • One week after it started, the great powers of Europe were at war

4. Allied powers & Central powers Allies Central/Axis Serbia Austria-Hungary Russia Germany France Italy England Ottoman Empire Belgium Later Italy United States

5. Map of Early Alliances

6. Stalemate • Each side felt they would win quickly. Both were very wrong • Germany quickly invaded France, but were stopped • Both sides dug in and a STALEMATE followed • TRENCH WARFARE – “No Mans Land” – In France, miles of trenches were dug to protect the troops. Warfare became a series of stalemate attacks, gaining little ground but costing lives with every attack

8. Many Fronts • With the original battlegrounds of France in stalemate, other fronts opened • Russia – Germany had to send valuable troops from France to Russia when Russia began to make headway in the battles • Italy – When Italy changed sides, war broke out in Italy • Turkey – The Allies attacked and gained ground at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire • The pattern of trench warfare was used in each new front of the war, with devastating effects

9. Modern warfare • 1914 – youth of Europe marched off for glory and adventure • New technologies made the battlefields of World War I ruinous Machine Guns Rapid Fire Artillery Hand Grenades Tanks Poison Gas Airplanes Submarines • Generals used old style tactics against new weapons, millions will die • Moral will sink as death rate rises

10. The american response • People in US watched at Europe sank into war • Loyalties split – 1/3 of US were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants with ties to countries now at war • German and Irish immigrants felt hostility towards England • Most Americans favored the Allies. Their roots traced to British, French backgrounds • Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was an autocrat and militaristic • British news used propaganda to sway US opinion – it worked

11. Preparedness vs. Peace Movements • Use your books (p.419) to do the following • Explain what the PREPAREDNESS MOVEMENT was • Explain what the PEACE MOVEMENT was • How did Congress react to these two sides when it comes to American involvement in World War I?

12. The american response • American Neutrality • Trade strongly set US policy – the US traded with both sides at first • Trade to Germany will decline as war went on • On August 4, 1914, President Wilson officially declared the US NEUTRAL • The Preparedness Movement • American business leaders welcomed neutrality, believing they could profit by provided goods to both sides • Those with stronger commercial ties to GB urged US to prepare • National Security League formed to promote “patriotic education and national sentiment and service among the people of the United States • The Peace Movement • Progressives pushed for PEACE “American Union Against Militarism” • Congress, which was controlled by Progressives, insisted on paying for preparedness with income taxes, believing this would make such programs very unpopular

13. The United States Declares war • German Submarine Warfare • Very effective military tactic cost Germany US support • U-Boats changed the rules of naval warfare – blocked British ports, sank Allied ships • Passenger & merchant ships had NO defense, were easy targets • American sentiment grew against barbaric German attacks • LUSITANIA – British luxury liner sank – 1,200 killed (128 Americans) • American press wildly denounced German attack • Wilson urged patience, but the call for retaliation rose • Germany promised to stop sinking non-military ships (Sussex Pledge) • Wilson still held hopes of keeping the US out of the war, but began to back preparedness

14. Moving towards war • President Wilson ran and won election on the promise he would keep the United States out of the war, but shortly after the election, Germany announced they would resume unrestricted submarine warfare – the US broke off diplomatic relations with Germany • Zimmermann Note – England revealed an intercepted message to US from Germany to Mexico. Germany would reward Mexico with lands in SW United States if they would declare war on the US • No one took note seriously, especially Mexico. But release of content of note to press brought outrage in the US

15. Moving towards war • Russian Revolution • By 1917, Russia had already suffered huge losses (1.5 M dead, 2.5 M captured) • German forces were advancing thru Russia, with Czar in command of military • Fear of allying with an AUTOCRAT, US delayed entry as ally with Russia • Czar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate the throne and Russia pulled out of war • Year long civil war ends in Communist government in control of Russia, led by Lenin • The War Resolution • Germany continued to sink ships, including US ships Memphis, Illinois and Vigilancia • Wilson finally asked Congress to declare war in April of 1917, to cheering politicians

16. Quick Review • What were to 4 causes of World War I? • Name the 2 sides and give 3 countries that belonged to each side • What was a STALEMENT? • Why did the US choose to remain neutral? • How did U-Boats change the war? • What was the Zimmermann Note and how did it impact US neutrality?

17. Americans on the European front • Preparing for WAR • Draftees and Volunteers • Congress sent Allies loans and supplies at first • A token force of 14, 500 sent under command of General Pershing • Pershing found the situation dire and demanded more troops be sent • By 1918, more than 1 million US soldiers in Europe. By 1919, 3 million • Selective Service Act instituted a DRAFT. By end of 1918 more than 24 million had registered • Lottery picked 3 million draftees • American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) – volunteers • Women also volunteered to serve as nurses, drivers and clerks

18. Americans on the European front • Training for War • Soldiers learned how to use a bayonet and rifle, dig a trench, put on a gas mask and throw a grenade • Training cut short, trained on ships on way to war • The Convoy System • Needed to create a plan to protect ships, soldiers and supplies from Uboats • Unarmed ships surrounded by destroyers, torpedo boats, etc • So successful that Uboats did not sink a single ship from US to Europe

19. Americans on the european front • American Soldiers in Europe “Doughboys” • American troops kept separate from Allied troops (angering Alliies) • Allies surprised by the fighting attitude and skills of US soldiers • More than 300,000 African Americans served thou saw little combat • One segregated regiment, the Hell Fighters, were loaned to the French. They fought so well that they received the French Croix de Guerre

20. Turning the tide of war • Russia and Germany signed a peace treaty in March 1918, allowing Germany to turn its entire force towards France • About the same time, American troops were reinforcing the French and GB • Germany broke through lines and began marching towards Paris • American Troops save Paris • Pershing ordered troops to stop German advance, and they did • This turned the tide of the war • Allied Counter Attack • With Germans in retreat, 250,0000 more American troops arrived with fresh supplies • The Tank is used as an overwhelming force, breaking the stalemate of trench warfare • In September 1918 – 500,000 American troops and Allied troops hit the German lines. German troops began their retreat

21. Turning the tide of the war • War in the Air • America began WWI with only 55 planes • US Industry quickly set about building planes, more advanced than any seen to that point • First used to scout enemy positions, but soon “dogfights” with pistons, then machine guns • American Captain Eddie Rickenbacker downed 26 German planes, 1st ACE • Zeppelins also used as bombers and scouts • Planes as bombers minimally effective, but terrorized troops on the ground

22. Ending the war • Central Powers collapsed – partners made separate peace leaving Germany all alone • Germany begged for peace, hoping to control the aftermath some • Allies refused, demanding complete surrender • Kaiser Wilhelm fled to Holland, Germany surrenders • Armistice signed November 11, 1918 at 11 AM (11-11-11) • “All Quiet on the Western Front”

23. Ending the war • Influenza Epidemic • Worldwide Influenza Epidemic begins in 1918. War-torn Europe ripe for spread • First wave sickened 500,000 Germans during spring/summer push • Second, deadlier wave hit in the fall. Third wave in the winter • This strain sickened and killed within a few days • US hit hard as well, particularly military bases • Overall, 500,000 Americans died from Influenza in the US • 30 million world wide died before the epidemic ended

24. Results of the war • 50,000 Americans died in battle, many more from disease • Toll would have been much higher except for improved medical care • European losses = over 8 million (average of 5,000 per day of war) • World War I killed an entire generation in Europe • For every country, the sick and wounded outnumbered the dead • Better medical care meant more survivors. Amputees, Shell Shock, those disabled by gas attacks • Civilian losses were huge. Not only deaths, but homes, livelihoods • Starvation, disease ravaged Europe for years to come • Genocide (Ottoman Empire against the Armenians)

25. Quick Review • What were 5 new war technologies and how did they change how war was fought? • What was the CONVOY SYSTEM? • In what ways was the US unprepared for war? • What did they do to get ready for war? • Why did Germany agree to the ARMISTICE in 1918?

26. Americans on the home front • Waging war required sacrifices at home • The American economy WAS NOT ready for the demands of wartime • FINANCING THE WAR • Liberty Bonds: special war bonds to help pay for the war ($20Billion raised) • People could “do their part” by buying bonds. • Most Americans saved their pennies to buy bonds. • “Every Scot to Save a Soldier” • Booths set up on street corners to sell bonds

27. Managing the Economy • New Agencies • War industry Board: far reaching powers to use economic power to create war supplies • War Trade Board: foreign trade (punished firms doing business with the enemy) • War Labor Board: settled labor disputes than might interrupt war productions • War labor Policies Board: set wages, hours, working conditions • Regulating Food and Fuel Consumption • Level Food and Fuel Control Act: President had power to manage production and distribution of food and fuel vital to war efforts • Food Administration: worked to increase food production and reduce waste. Price controls instituted • Rationing – distributing goods to consumers in fixed amounts • Daylight Savings Time – instituted to increase number of hours of daylight for working. It also lowered fuel consumption

28. Enforcing loyalty • Government imposed censorship, banned publications. Wanted to use media to encourage support for the war effort • Fear of Foreigners: Espionage suspected from foreigners • Limits on immigration (nativism) • “Hate the Hun” (derisive term for German) • Disloyalty would be dealt with harshly, general anti-german feelings ran HIGH • German things renamed, banned • Hot dogs (frankfurters), Liberty Measles (German Measles), Police Dogs (German Shepards) • Stopped teaching German in schools, banned concert • People of german decent often changed their names to more american sounding versions

29. Anti-German Propaganda

30. Enforcing loyalty • Repression of Civil Liberties • Espionage Act – illegal to interfere with the draft • Sedition Act – illegal to discuss anything “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive about America’s government, Constitution, Army or Navy • TOTALLY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION • Prosecuted more than 1,500, convictions for over 1,000 • Eugene V. Debs convicted (10 years) for urging people to “resist militarism” • Controlling Political Radicals • International Workers of the World (Wobblies) goal of a world wide overthrow of capitalism put them at odds with the government. Police hounded IWW, as they tried to disrupt mining operations • Several violent confrontations occurred. Groups of VIGILANTES attacked, beat members of the IWW

31. Centralia massacre • The Centralia Massacre was a violent and bloody incident that occurred in Centralia, Washingtonon November 11, 1919, during a parade celebrating the first anniversary of Armistice Day. This conflict between the American Legion and workers who were members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or "Wobblies") resulted in six deaths, additional wounded, multiple prison terms, and an ongoing and especially bitter dispute over the motivations and events that precipitated the massacre. It was the culmination of years of bad blood between members of the local Legion and members of the IWW. Both Centralia and the neighboring town of Chehalis had a large number of World War I veterans, with robust chapters of the Legion, as well as a large number of IWW members, some also war veterans.

32. Changing people’s lives • American patriotism and war fever made military style dress and activities the norm at home – Boy Scouts, Marching (military style) in school • Social Mobility for Minorities and Women • Flow of immigration virtually stopped • Minorities and Women filled in at work, proving themselves capable of anything • Businesses who had blatantly discriminated against people of color now recruited them for their workforce • Pay for minorities and women rose during the war • Work that had been denied to women now available • 400,000 women joined the workforce during the war years • Hope was that these advancements would continue after the war. SADLY not true

33. Global Peacemaker • Wilson, during the war, created what he believed would be a peace plan that would create a world where war would be much less likely to reoccur • 14 Points • Removal of Trade Barriers • Reduction of Military Forces • Right of Self-Determination (right to make decisions about one’s own future) • Wilson traveled to Europe after the war to help negotiate the peace treaty • Allies discarded Wilson’s plan, point by point. THEY WANTED REVENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

34. The Paris Peace Conference • Wilson headed US team • Team did not include any Republicans (will come back to haunt him) • Wilson declared US not interested in the SPOILS OF WAR • Wilson forced to compromise • Other leaders did not agree. They wanted to make Germany pay for war • Wanted to divide up Germany’s colonial holdings • Russia was a big concern to all – would Lenin’s new government survive, would they support the peace treaty? • Wilson had to make deals with the other leaders to get a treaty signed • One of the big concessions was that native people have rights in their own countries that were colonized by Germany (other countries feared they would be expected to do the same in the areas they colonized)

35. The League of Nations • Proposed an organization In which the nations of the world would join together to ensure security and peace for all members • All member nations agreed that an attack on one would be an attack on all • Republicans, angry about being left off the team sent to the peace conference, rejected the plan. They feared it would drag the US into another unwanted war

36. The Peace Treaty (Wilson had to compromise with Big 4) • Redrawing the map of Europe • Self Determination hard to apply to all nations • Most borders drawn created new ethnic majorities/minorities • Czechoslovakia, Middle East created more problems • War Guilt and Reparations • Germany forced to admit fault and accept financial responsibility • Reparation payments of $33 Billion • Germany would never forget or forgive the humiliation of the peace treaty • Signing the Treaty • Germany refused to sign, at first – threatened with invasion • Versailles Treaty signed in rail car outside palace

37. Pre and Post World War I Europe

38. Public Reaction to the Peace Treaty • Wilson returned, with Peace Treaty in hand • Various groups opposed the Peace Treaty, in particular the League of Nations • Would draw US into War • Would accept League of Nations with restrictions allowing the US to opt out • Wanted US to live up to Monroe Doctrine, not League of Nations • WILSON TOURS COUNTRY • Wilson was determined to convince the people of the US to back the Treaty • Went on 23 day train trip to sell the Treaty • Had a stroke, remained paralyzed/invalid the rest of his life • Because of illness, Wilson became rigid and unworkable with others • Senate voted, rejected Treaty 39-55 in March 1920 • A FORMAL END TO HOSTILITIES • Congress voted to declare war officially over • Wilson VETOED, in retaliation for Senate rejection of Treaty • New president, Warren Harding, will sign • Congress will ratify separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria & Hungary

39. Post War Adjustments • US had to switch back to a peace time economy, it would take time • War spurred US economy as we supplied countries ruined by war • In 1922, the Senate determined that European countries owed the US over $11 billion • US now THE powerful country, owed by the past powerful countries • Returning troops (millions) needed jobs, economy did not meet their needs well. Women expected to quit and go home • Troops of color returned to being treated horridly • Many artists/intellectuals found the world after the war to be depressing and gloomy. There art reflected that • The 20’s would be a fast paced, growth decade but it started out very slow after the war

40. Ch 12 Essays • 1) What role did public opinion play in the US decision to enter World War 1? • 2) How were CIVIL LIBERTIES restricted during the war? What were some of the responses to these restrictions? • 3) Why did the Senate reject the Treaty of Versailles? How did the US officially end World War I?