World War I – Causes

Unit 8 Part 5

1. The Alliance System1. The Alliance System

Triple EntenteTriple Entente::Triple EntenteTriple Entente:: Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::Triple AllianceTriple Alliance::

The Major Players: 1914-17

The Major Players: 1914-17

Nicholas II Nicholas II [Rus][Rus]

Nicholas II Nicholas II [Rus][Rus]

George V [Br]George V [Br]George V [Br]George V [Br]

Pres. Poincare Pres. Poincare [Fr][Fr]

Pres. Poincare Pres. Poincare [Fr][Fr]

Allied PowersAllied Powers::Allied PowersAllied Powers::

Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]Franz Josef [A-H]

Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]Wilhelm II [Ger]

Victor Victor Emmanuel Emmanuel

II [It]II [It]

Victor Victor Emmanuel Emmanuel

II [It]II [It]

Central PowersCentral Powers::Central PowersCentral Powers::

Enver PashaEnver Pasha[Turkey][Turkey]

Enver PashaEnver Pasha[Turkey][Turkey]

Europe in 1914Europe in 1914

2. Militarism & Arms Race2. Militarism & Arms Race

1910-1914 Increase in Defense

Expenditures

France 10%

Britain 13%

Russia 39%

Germany

73%

3. Economic & Imperial Rivalries

3. Economic & Imperial Rivalries

4. Aggressive Nationalism

4. Aggressive Nationalism

Pan-Slavism: The Balkans, 1914

Pan-Slavism: The Balkans, 1914

The“Powder

Keg”of Europe

The“Powder

Keg”of Europe

Archduke Franz Ferdinand & His Family

Archduke Franz Ferdinand & His Family

The Assassination: Sarajevo

The Assassination: Sarajevo

The Assassin: The Assassin:

GavriloPrincipGavriloPrincip

Who’s To Blame?Who’s To Blame?

Soldiers Mobilized

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

France Germany Russia Britain

Mil

lio

ns

Almost

40 Million

Activated

1914-18

A Multi-Front WarA Multi-Front War

The Western FrontThe Western Front

Overall land gains were minimal….

Limited change inposition over 4 years!!!

Neutral statusirrelevant

Trench WarfareTrench WarfarePhysical andPsychologicalOpportunities:

Long duties

Rats, Lice

Dysentery

Snipers

Artillery

Poison Gas

Machine Guns

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

““No Man’s No Man’s Land”Land”

““No Man’s No Man’s Land”Land”

Verdun – February, 1916

Verdun – February, 1916

German offensive.

Each side had 500,000 casualties.

German offensive.

Each side had 500,000 casualties.

The Somme – July, 1916

The Somme – July, 1916

60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.

Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.

60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.

Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.

War Is HELL !!War Is HELL !!

Sacrifices in WarSacrifices in War

America Enters the War

• Causes• Fourteen Points• US Propaganda• Limits on Civil

Liberties

Blood Money or Capitalism?

• Loans– Allies ($4B by 1916)

• Trade with Allies– War goods– Food

• Blockades– British– German

• Enforced by U-Boat

The Sinking of the Lusitania

The Sinking of the Lusitania

Election of 1916

Woodrow WilsonDemocrat

“He Kept Us Out of War”

Charles Evans HughesRepublican

Charles Evasive HughesDove-Hawk

Election of 1916

Socialist Candidate – 590,000

Prohibition Candidate – 221,000

The Zimmerman Telegram

The Zimmerman TelegramWilson proposes

“Peace without Victory”

German response:

Unlimited Submarinewarfare in the warzone!!!

Secret proposal toMexico

Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats

Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats

Before the US Enters the WAR

After the US Enters the WAR

The YanksAre

Coming!

The YanksAre

Coming!

1917 – Selective 1917 – Selective Service ActService Act

1917 – Selective 1917 – Selective Service ActService Act

24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918.

4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat).

400,000 African-Americansserved in segregated units.

15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units.

The Most Famous Recruitment The Most Famous Recruitment PosterPoster

The Most Famous Recruitment The Most Famous Recruitment PosterPoster

Uncle Sam—He the Uncle Sam—He the Man!Man!

Uncle Sam—He the Uncle Sam—He the Man!Man!

Don’t Mess with the U. Don’t Mess with the U. S.S.

Don’t Mess with the U. Don’t Mess with the U. S.S.

““Huns Kill Women and Huns Kill Women and Children!”Children!”

““Huns Kill Women and Huns Kill Women and Children!”Children!”

American Involvement

• Slow to build up, slow to engage– By August 1918, ten thousand American

soldiers arrive daily

• First action– Chateau-Thierry / Second Battle of the Marne–

stop German advance (last effort)

• Meuse-Argonne Offensive 9/18 – 11/18– Massive allied assault on German lines (rr)– 1.2 million Americans engaged (10% casualty)

Americans in the Trenches

Americans in the Trenches

German Cartoon:“Fit for active service!”,

1918

German Cartoon:“Fit for active service!”,

1918

Wilson Fights for Peace

• Early 1918 German military takes over the German government

• German Kaiser began peace negotiations• German army/navy mutiny• Germany surrenders 11/11/1918 @ 11:00

a.m.– Last allied offensive 9:00 a.m. – Last deaths @ 10:59 a.m.

• Wilson travels to Paris for negotiations– No Republicans invited

11 a.m., November 11, 1918

11 a.m., November 11, 1918

Consequences of the War

• Human – 10 million dead, 25 million injured• Economic - $330 billion, destruction of European

economy • Physical destruction of property• Political – End of German, Austrian, Russian, and

Ottoman Empires• Creation of weak states• Establishment of communism• Psychological – deepens and expands

nationalism, expands pessimistic view of humanity

US Consequences of WWI

• 120,000 dead – 300,000 injured

• Accelerates America’s emergence as world’s greatest industrial leader

• Relocates American population to urban areas

• Increases anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiments

10,000,00010,000,000 DeadDead10,000,00010,000,000 DeadDead

World War I CasualtiesWorld War I Casualties

01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,0007,000,0008,000,0009,000,000

10,000,000RussiaGermanyAustria-HungaryFranceGreat BritainItalyTurkeyUS

War at Home

• Expanding the Federal Government• Role of Women• Civil Liberties• Flu Epidemic

Council of National Council of National DefenseDefense

Council of National Council of National DefenseDefense

War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch

Food Administration – Herbert Hoover

Railroad Administration – William McAdoo

National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

National War Garden National War Garden CommissionCommission

National War Garden National War Garden CommissionCommission

U. S. Shipping BoardU. S. Shipping BoardU. S. Shipping BoardU. S. Shipping Board

U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Fuel U. S. Fuel AdministrationAdministration

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the

Economy?Economy?

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the

Economy?Economy?1. Unemployment virtually

disappeared.2. Expansion of “big government.”3. Excessive govt. regulations in eco.4. Some gross mismanagement

overlapping jurisdictions.5. Close cooperation between public

and private sectors.6. Unprecedented opportunities for

disadvantaged groups.

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of

AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of

AmericansAmericans

1. Espionage ActEspionage Act – 1917 - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote insubordination in the military. - ordered the Postmaster General to remove Leftist materials from the mail. - fines of up to $10,000 and/or up to 20 years in prison.

Role of Women

• Patriotism and opportunity lead to female factory workers and farmers

• Wilson endorses (finally) suffrage as a “vital necessity” for the war effort

• Economic, social, and political strength

YWCA – The Blue YWCA – The Blue TriangleTriangle

YWCA – The Blue YWCA – The Blue TriangleTriangle

Munitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions Work

The Girls They Left The Girls They Left Behind Do Their Bit!Behind Do Their Bit!The Girls They Left The Girls They Left

Behind Do Their Bit!Behind Do Their Bit!

Women Used In Women Used In RecruitmentRecruitment

Women Used In Women Used In RecruitmentRecruitment

Even Grandma Buys Even Grandma Buys Liberty Liberty BondsBonds

Even Grandma Buys Even Grandma Buys Liberty Liberty BondsBonds

The Red Cross - The Red Cross - Greatest Greatest

Mother in the WorldMother in the World

The Red Cross - The Red Cross - Greatest Greatest

Mother in the WorldMother in the World

1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies

50,000,000 – 50,000,000 – 100,000,000 died100,000,000 died

50,000,000 – 50,000,000 – 100,000,000 died100,000,000 died

Treaty of Versailles / League of Nations

• Fourteen Points vs. Treaty– Why different?

• Domestic Disputes– Public opinion– Senate issues

• Red Scare

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

2. Sedition ActSedition Act – 1918 - it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces or to willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production of things necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war.

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

3. Schenck v. USSchenck v. US – 1919 - in ordinary times the mailing of the leaflets would have been protected by the 1st Amendment. - BUT, every act of speech must be judged acc. to the circumstances in which it was spoken. -The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. [Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes] - If an act of speech posed a clear and present danger, then Congress had the power to restrain such speech.

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in

WW1WW1

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in

WW1WW1“Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919 70,000

War industries work.

Enlistment in segregated

units.

Increased Racial Tension

• African-Americans used as strike breakers

• Great Migration expands urban issues– Overcrowding– Economic competition– Segregation

• Race riots / lynching increase

Labor Issues vs. PatriotismLabor Issues vs. PatriotismLabor Issues vs. PatriotismLabor Issues vs. Patriotism

Post-war labor unrest: Coal Miners Strike of 1919.

Steel Strike of 1919.

Boston Police Strike of 1919.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

• Moral leader of the Allied Cause• KEY POINTS

– Abolish secret treaties– Freedom of the seas– End of economic sanctions– Reduction in arms– Self-determination for colonies– League of Nations (collective security)

Treaty of Versailles

• Britain and France wanted harsh conditions to insure Germany would not be a threat again

• Conditions:– Germany accepts blame for the War– Germany has to pay 132 billion in

reparations– Alsace-Lorraine returned to France– German military drastically reduced– Colonies become protectorates of Allies– Nine new nations created – Czechoslovakia,

Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland

Weaknesses of the Treaty

1. Humiliates Germany2. Ignores Russia

- Separate peace with Germany 1917- Russian Revolution

3. Reassigns colonies – not self-determination or freedom

Domestic / Political Issues

• Isolationists• Betrayal / mistreatment of immigrant

home lands…………• Henry Cabot Lodge

– Led opposition of “moral” pledge– Successfully delayed treaty hearings

• Wilson – inflexible– Who kills the treaty?

Post-War America

• Renewed isolationism– WHY?

• Increased suspicion of foreign-born people– WHY?

• Increased political conservatism– Turning away from progressive reforms

The Russian Civil War

• Communism – an economic and political system that advocates a single political party and state ownership of property

• Whites vs. Reds– Loyalists vs. Communists

• Allied Intervention (on the White side!!)– Foreign debt – Spread of communism

• Reds win!!!

The “Red Scare”The “Red Scare”The “Red Scare”The “Red Scare”

““What a Year Has Brought Forth” – What a Year Has Brought Forth” – NY NY WorldWorld

““Red Scare” -- Anti-Red Scare” -- Anti-BolshevismBolshevism

““Red Scare” -- Anti-Red Scare” -- Anti-BolshevismBolshevism

““Put Them Out & Keep Them Out” – Put Them Out & Keep Them Out” – Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia Inquirer

1919 - 3rd. International goal --> promote worldwide communism.

Attorney General, A. Mitchell Palmer (The Case Against the Reds)

Palmer Raids - 1920

“The Red Scare”:

Police Arrest “Suspected Reds’ in Police Arrest “Suspected Reds’ in Chicago, 1920Chicago, 1920

““RedRed Scare” – Palmer Scare” – Palmer RaidsRaids

““RedRed Scare” – Palmer Scare” – Palmer RaidsRaids

““RedRed Scare” – Palmer Scare” – Palmer RaidsRaids

““RedRed Scare” – Palmer Scare” – Palmer RaidsRaids

A. Mitchell Palmer’s Home Bombed, A. Mitchell Palmer’s Home Bombed, 19201920