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The Great War American involvement in World War I

The Great War American involvement in World War I. America prior to WWI. Wilson is president. Moralist and idealist. Geographically isolated, but technology and foreign diplomacy changed that Begin hearing “promote democracy”. Wilson's Foreign Policy. Mexico

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The Great War American involvement in World War I

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  1. The Great War American involvement in World War I

  2. America prior to WWI • Wilson is president. Moralist and idealist. • Geographically isolated, but technology and foreign diplomacy changed that • Begin hearing “promote democracy”

  3. Wilson's Foreign Policy • Mexico • 1876 – 1910 run by dictator Porforio Diaz • 1911-1913, revolts and rebellion • American involvement in Veracruz, Carranza • Pancho Villa & John Pershing • Latin America – Dollar diplomacy

  4. Meanwhile in Europe...

  5. Balance of Power • Europe had seemed to resolve their differences • However-industrialization, alliances, and mobilization

  6. Alliances • Europe tried to stay out of conflict through series of alliances • Former enemies soon became allies, such as England and France • Industrialization led to an arms race • Still, nobody wanted a war

  7. The Balkans • Tensions arose between different ethnic groups and powers in the Balkans • Austria-Hungary, Ottomans, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Russians • June 28, 1914 Gavrilo Princip (Bosnian-Serb) assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo. • Chain-reaction triggering World War I.

  8. The Avalanche • Austria-Hungary planned to invade Serbia • Russia mobilized against A-H • Germany mobilized against Russia • France, still bitter, joined in against Germany • The UK declared war against Germany • Italy, originally allied with Germany, remained neutral then joined with UK, France, & Russia

  9. The Two Sides

  10. A Different Kind of War • World War I took place on multiple fronts, Schlieffen Plan • Bogged down into trench warfare • New weapons- gas, machine gun, improved artillery, tank

  11. U-boats and Tanks

  12. Russian Revolution, 1917 • Tsarist overthrow and led to the creation of the Soviet Union • Vladimir Lenin (Bolshevik) took power in the chaos after the overthrow • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918- took Russia out of the war

  13. Casualties of War • Over 65 million served • Over 9 million killed in action • Over 19 million wounded • During the Battle of Verdun alone, 32 million artillery shells were fired. 1,500 per square meter

  14. Back in the States • Wilson called for America to “remain neutral in thought and action” • Immigrants? • Who sided with whom?

  15. American Neutrality? • W.J. Bryan professed that America would not loan money or aid to any of the European nations • Wilson however secretly funded Great Britain and France- $2 billion • Why?

  16. War at Sea • In response to naval losses, Britain blockaded much of Europe. • German U-boats patrolled the seas • Germany declared that the area around Great Britain was a “war zone.” • Subs really can't stop and patrol ships

  17. Lusitania • The US warned Germany about further u-boat attacks • May 7, 1915 Germans torpedoed the British passenger-liner Lusitania • 128 Americans of the 1,198 lost • Americans were outraged • W. J. Bryan did not want to go to war. Strongly worded ultimatum.

  18. Last Chances for Peace • Wilson called for the European powers to make peace • Too late. Germans resumed unrestricted sub warfare in the Atlantic. “All vessels sunk without warning.” • US broke diplomatic relations, but still no war

  19. The Zimmerman Note • March 1, 1917 the British intercepted a telegram directed to the German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmerman to the German ambassador in Mexico • Called for Mexico to attack the US if war between Germany and the US started. • Offered territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona • More outrage

  20. America Enters • Adding to the fervor caused by the Zimmerman Note, German u-boats sank 5 more American merchant ships in March • April 6, 1917 US declared war on Germany. “The world must be made safe for democracy.”

  21. US military at the start of WWI • Small, not equipped • Escorting merchant ships, sending aid • June 1917, 14,500 men under Gen. John Pershing landed in France • Pershing requests 1,000,000 more troops • Selective Service- The draft. All men 18-45 had to register • 1.4 million US troops crossed the Atlantic

  22. The War in 1918 • With Russia out of the war, Germany turned its full attention to the western front • French Premier Georges Clemenceau urged the US to send troops quickly • By 1918, 1 million new US troops arrived • Still a stalemate though

  23. Second Battle of the Marne • July 1918 • Germany launched a massive assault • Turned back at the 2nd Marne • Allowed the Allied forces to launch their own offensive

  24. The end nears, now what? • What was to be gained/lost? • Wilson stated that the US wanted “no conquest, no dominion,” but what about the European powers? • The Fourteen Points • Open diplomacy, shipping, arms reduction, etc. • Colonial adjustment • Point 14- “league of nations” to promote global peace

  25. Peace • Allies accepted the 14 points, but also wanted war reparations • Nov. 9, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated • German Republic (later Weimar Republic) founded • Nov. 11, 1918 at 11am, armistice.

  26. Effects of World War I • As Europe headed into peace talks, its future, and America's interest in its future, remained unsure • Huge loss of life • Violence and cynicism • Power vacuum created

  27. American Homefront during WWI “Victory Gardens and the Great Migration”

  28. America's Domestic Response • America had a large immigrant population • Needed money to finance the war • Needed troops • Business had to increase • Food

  29. Americanization • Campaign to speak English • Increased patriotism • Anti-German measures

  30. “Beat the Hun” • Anti-German propaganda • Sauerkraut & Hamburgers? = “Liberty Cabbage and Liberty Sandwiches” • Town names changed • Some states removed German from courses • German lynch mobs • Prohibition

  31. Paying for the War • The US government grew significantly during WWI • $35 billion • How to raise that money? • Sec. of Treasury William McAdoo

  32. Tax and Bonds • Raised the income tax (63% for the top bracket) • War Bonds. Accounted for 2/3 of American funds • Victory Gardens

  33. Committee for Public Information • American Advertisement • 1917 George Creel founded the CPI • Promoted support for America • Espionage and Sedition Act 1917

  34. American Business • WWI created a “business boom” • Manufacturing increased by 33% • Wages increased • Prices, particularly in agriculture, increased as well

  35. The “Great Migration” • About 2 million African Americans moved North from WWI to 1930 • Racial problems • Drastically changed US demographics

  36. Couple of Cities Chicago- Added 1 million residents during WWI. Many of them black. Detroit- in 1910 Detroit's total population was 80,000. By 1920 the African American pop. alone was 120,000. First cases of redlining

  37. Working Women • Encouraged women to enter the workforce • 11,000 served in the Navy • Higher wages • Led to 19th Amendment

  38. In the Navy Loretta Perfectus Walsh – First American active-duty/non-nurse. Petty Officer. 13,000 others followed. Once the war ended some women did not want to return to the “domestic sphere.” First and Second Wave Feminism

  39. Paris Peace Talks and the League of Nations

  40. Paris Peace Conference The Big Four Britain, France, Italy, and the US Included other delegates US “utopian zeal” not well-received

  41. League of Nations Wilson insisted that the LofN be the main topic of discussion. Self-determination. Sanctions, consultation, military as a last resort Permanent Council – Britain, France, Italy, USA, Japan Rotating 4 other members World Court

  42. Treaty of Versailles, 1919 French- Bulk of the fighting on their land. Wanted reparations and land. Empires disappeared- Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman. Had to be re-organized. Ethnic tensions England & France wanted Germany to pay for ALL the war Germany forced to sign

  43. Meanwhile in the USA Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge rallied Congress to block the treaty and the LofN. Wilson went on a whirlwind tour to drum up support. Stroke. Lodge sought compromise, but Wilson wouldn't budge Technically the US was still at war until 1921.

  44. League of Nations, Notable Absences

  45. Flu, Labor, and Race Riots The Spanish Flu – Swept through America in 1918. 22 million deaths worldwide, 1 million in the US. Labor- Prices were rising. Able to unionize again. Strikes. Race Riots- Chicago Riot, 1919. 38 dead, nearly 600 injured, over 1,000 homeless. Red Scare- Americans alarmed by Bolshevism. Mail bombs.

  46. Moving Forward into the 20s WWI shattered the illusion that Western culture was progressing. “Modernism” The Roaring 20s. Turmoil, turbulence, and flappers

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