World War I: 1914-1918

1. World War I: 1914-1918 The Great War Set the tone for the 20th century; murderous, chaotic, violent

2. Causes • MAIN • Militarism: policy of aggressive military preparedness • Alliances: balance of power • Imperialism: one nations political and economic dominance over a smaller, weaker nation • Nationalism: intense pride/love for one’s country

3. Background • 1860’s Prussia began a series of wars to unite German states • By 1871 Germany is united; France & Germany are enemies • Germany forms Triple Alliance with Austria Hungary & Italy

4. Background continued • Russia & France form the Franco-Russian Alliance against Germany & Austria Hungary • Great Britain remained neutral until the early 1900’s, when it began an arms race with Germany = tension. • Britain, France & Russia form the Triple Entente

5. Background Continued • Nationalism became a powerful idea in Europe in the late 1800’s. • The right to self-determination, the idea that people who belong to a nation should have their own country and government, was a basic idea of nationalism. This leads to crisis inn the Balkans where different national groups within the Ottoman & Austro-Hungarian Empires began to seek independence

6. The Start of World War I • June 1914, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was killed by a Bosnian nationalist. This set off a chain of events that led to World War I. On July 28, Austria declared war on Serbia. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. Two days later Germany declared war on France.

7. Sides… • The Allies-France, Russia, Great Britain, and later Italy-fought for the TripleEntente. Germany & Austria Hungary joined the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria to form the Central Powers.

8. Trench Warfare • Germany & France became locked in a stalemate along hundreds of miles of trenches lasting 3 years. The Central Powers had greater success on the Eastern Front, capturing hundreds of miles of territory and taking hundreds of thousands of prisoners

9. Trench Warfare photos

10. Photos

11. Trench Warfare Photos

12. WWI fought on 3 Fronts • Eastern, Western, North African

13. Role of the U.S. • U.S. proclaimed neutrality but by April of 1917 the U.S. was involved

14. 4 Factors that brought the U.S. into war on Allies side • 1. Cultural Ties: Ties of Culture, language, history that America had with Great Britain and sentimental ties with France (helped us in the Revolutionary War)

15. 2. Propaganda • Effective British propaganda in America and lack of effective German propaganda

16. 3. Economic Reason • Although the U.S. traded with both sides, the U.S. received most money from trade with allies and didn’t want to lose lucrative trade

17. 4. Submarine Warfare • Deadly German U-boats • Germany practiced unrestricted submarine warfare and began to sink “unarmed” vessels with Americans on board

18. Question • Which Cause or combination of causes do you believe to be the most pivotal in U.S. entry?

19. World War I; After the War 11/11/18 • Armistice: • Eleventh month, Eleventh day, Eleventh hour • Veterans Day

20. After the Election of 1918… • Wilson heads American Delegation To the post WWI Peace Conference

21. Wilson continued… • Decision is not well received; many thought he needed to stay in U.S. & failed to include any prominent Republicans in the American Delegation to the conference

22. Peace Conference Proceedings • Dominated by the Big Four • U.S. (Wilson) • Great Britain (David Lloyd George-Prime Minister) • France (Georges Clemenceau-Premier) • Italy (Vittorio Orlando-Premier)

23. David Lloyd George

24. Georges Clemenceau

25. Vittorio Orlando

26. Meetings: • Held in secret; bad for Wilson because he could not appeal to public opinion which violated his 14 points • However, Wilson able to force plans for a League of Nations • League failed to pass in U.S.; 39 Republican senators sign a statement opposing the League

27. Treaty of Versailles • Victor’s peace • In the Middle East, Ottoman Empire lost its territory • In Europe, Austria-Hungary was split up • Germany lost territory, was stripped of its colonies, and forced to pay for damage in Europe and repay Allies for cost of war

28. Question • Did the Treaty of Versailles pave the way for WWII? Explain in detail.

29. July 1919 Wilson returns to America • Begins traveling tour to promote League of Nations • Was gaining support but had a stroke (did not die until 1924) • Senate refused to ratify the treaty and U.S. negotiated a separate peace treaty with each of the Central Powers in 1921.

30. America’s post-war problems • 1. Demobilization of the armed forces: • Army reduced to less than 500,000 • Businesspeople left Washington and industry converted to post war time production • Cost of living doubles • Farmers hit hard and many went bankrupt

31. 2. Labor Unrest • Truce between employees and employers over • 3,600 strikes occur in 1919 Ex. Boston Police Strike: 1919 police strike for better wages and working conditions = looters and violence

32. 3. Red Scare • Communism had great appeal in war torn Europe. • Many Americans suspected labor leaders were planning revolution

33. Red Scare continued • The same laws used to quiet opposition and suppresses civil liberties during the war were now turned against radicals. Many immigrants, especially Russian, came under suspicion • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer rounded up 6,000 immigrants suspected of being communists and deported about 600; many without trials

34. 4. Racial Tension • Racial tension = high; white soldiers return from war to compete with African-Americans for jobs • Race riots in many Northern cities; Ex. Chicago nearly 40 killed and more than 500 injured • KKK spread from the South and became a national force

35. Two Amendments added to the Constitution • 1. 18th Amendment: Prohibition-prohibits manufacturing, sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages • 2. 19th Amendment: Women granted suffrage (the right to vote)

36. Photos…

37. Photos

38. Wilson’s prediction in 1923 (shortly before he died) • “I can predict with absolute certainty that within another generation there will be another World War if the nations of the world do not concert the method by which to prevent it”