World War I

“The Great War”World War I

(WWI)

Key Objectives Identify 4 main causes of World

War I (WWI).

Identify 3 causes for United States involvement in World War I.

Identify the change in United States foreign policy.

Europe

Four (4) Main Causes of World

War I MAIN

M - Militarism A - Alliance System I - Imperialism N - Nationalism

Nationalism devotion and

loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism.

Excessive patriotism

Militarism a strong military spirit or policy.

Triple Entente

United States Foreign Policy What was the U.S. policy on

European Affairs?

What was this policy called?

Who initially promoted this policy?

Isolationism – Why abandon? What caused the United States to

abandon isolationism and get involved in World War I?

Why did the U.S. get involved?

Reasons for U.S. Involvement 3 MAJOR REASONS

1) German unrestricted submarine warfare

2) Zimmermann Telegram 3) Economic/Moral Interests of the

United States

Lusitania

I. Submarine Warfare The German U-Boat

Underwasser Boat

Submarine Warfare

Sinking of the RMS Lusitania May 7, 1915 SUNK WITHOUT WARNING

British luxury ocean liner A passenger ship

Had been carrying military cargo Deck had structural changes for gun decks

128 Americans killed What did Americans think of this?

Submarine Warfare German Warnings

Were the Germans wrong?

Germans apologize Paid reparations

Reparation

Reparation monetary compensation intended

to cover damage or injury during a war.

President Woodrow Wilson Wanted to protect the rights of

Americans to travel safely on belligerent ships Belligerent

Was this realistic?

Arabic Pledge Arabic British Passenger Liner

Attacked and sunk by German U-Boat 2 Americans killed

U.S. threatened war

Germany would warn non-military ships 30 minutes before they sank them to make sure the passengers and crew got out safely.

Sussex

French Passenger Ferry Sank March 24, 1916

What did this violate? Some American injuries

No deaths President Wilson threatened to cut

diplomatic relations with Germany Germany announces its Sussex Pledge

Germany did not want U.S. entering war. Realized U.S. had industrial power and man power

Sussex Pledge Germans Promise:

Passenger ships would not be targeted;

Merchant ships would not be sunk until the presence of boats had been established, if necessary by a search of the ship;

Merchant ships would not be sunk without provision for the safety of passengers and crew.

British took FULL advantage of this pledge.

Germans Break Sussex Pledge January 31, 1917 Germans rescind Sussex Pledge Germany declared unrestricted

submarine warfare Why?

Convinced they could defeat Allied Forces before United States would be involved.

Made a proposal to Mexico thinking Mexico could keep the United States occupied.

II. Zimmermann Telegram February 1, 1917 (Importance?)

Note from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to German Ambassador in the U.S.A. Johann von Berstoff.

Zimmermann requested the note be forwarded to the German ambassador in Mexico.

Zimmermann Telegram To Mexico

Proposed: Mexican-German Alliance Reclamation of territory

lost in Mexican American War

Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona

British Interception British intercept the note Decoded the note Alerted U.S. Telegram inflamed U.S.

public Why does Britain do this?

Mexico President Carranza declines

the note. Not feasible

III. Moral/Economic Interest United States made loans to allies.

President Wilson viewed unrestricted submarine warfare as terrorism

Wilson said “the world must be made safe for democracy”

Drawing a Parallel to Today Think about Wilson’s feelings on

submarine warfare and democracy. How are his thoughts similar to some of those in our recent past? Consider the spread of American ideals

Think - write some thoughts down on a sheet of

looseleaf. Discuss with a neighbor Class discussion

Review 3 Main Causes U-Boat RMS Lusitania Two pledges designed to protect

passenger ships? Moral reason for involvement Economic reason for involvement

Formal Declaration of War Woodrow Wilson “the world must be made safe for

democracy”

Congress Declares war April 4, 1917

Selective Service Act Instituted a draft to recruit an

army.

Ages 18-45 (male) 24 million men registered. 2.8 million drafted.

Convoy System German U-Boats Sunk merchant ships

Problem: How to get supplies across Atlantic.

Answer: Merchant ships would be accompanied by a

convoy of war ships (group of warships) on their journey across the Atlantic.

Financing the War Liberty Bonds Victory Bonds

People bought bonds

Bond – a loan to the government. Government pays interest

In other words, it is as if the individual was the bank, lending the government money.

Conserving Resources Food Administration Goals:

Conserve existing food Increase agricultural production

In charge of this campaign: Herbert Hoover

Conserving Resources Fuel Administration

Harry Garfield (son of James Garfield)

“Heatless Mondays”

USED FORCE – U.S. ran short on coal in 1918 so for several

days all factories east of the Mississippi were shut down.

Organizing Industry War Industries Board (WIB)

Determined how scarce resources would be used.

Established priorities for production (war materials)

Set prices

National War Labor Board Workers went on strike. Realized how much they were

needed. Strikes hurt the war effort.

The NWLB was formed to resolve disputes and often sided with laborers.

Influencing Attitudes Committee of Public Information

Propaganda to get Americans to support the war.

Propaganda information, ideas, or rumors deliberately

spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

Quieting Opposition Espionage Act Sedition Act

Outlawed treason Treason

Illegal to “utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal… or abusive language” criticizing the government, the flag, or the military.

Schenck v. United States Charles Schenck Protested the draft by sending leaflets

in the mail.

"Do not submit to intimidation"

"Assert your rights"

"If you do not assert and support your rights, you are helping to deny or disparage rights which it is the solemn duty of all citizens and residents of the United States to retain."

Schenck v. United States Question:

whether the defendant possessed a First Amendment right to free speech against the draft during World War I.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

Decision: “Clear and Present Danger”

if it can be shown that the language it prohibits poses a "clear and present danger.”

The War’s End The Russian Revolution

Russians wanted a change in government and an end to the war. (overthrow the czar)

Russians were hungry

Bolsheviks Radical Russian socialists Opposed the war Led by Vladimir Lenin

SIGN A SEPARATE TREATY with CENTRAL POWERS ENDING RUSSIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN WWI

General John J. Pershing

German Offensive Headed toward Paris

Pershing agrees to allow French command to take control of American troops to defend France.

U.S.A. helps save Paris from the Germans.

U.S.A and Allies begin to push Germans back.

Allied Victory Germans

Rioting streets Hungry for food German mutinies

Kaiser realized the war was lost. Armistice Signed November 11, 1918.

Peace conference set for 1919

World War I Deaths

(Central Powers)

Bulgaria - Green

World War I

Triple Entente Deaths (Allies)

U.S. (Blue)

2%

Wilson’s 14 Points A program for world peace.

9 Points – Self Determination Self Determination – the right for a country to

govern itself.

4 Points – Causes of modern war Secret diplomacy; arms race; violations of

freedom of the seas; trade barriers.

Final Point – The League of Nations

The League of Nations An international body designed to

prevent OFFENSIVE wars.

Germans believed program was interfering with European affairs

Received warmly by others.

The Paris Peace Conference

“The BIG FOUR” Woodrow Wilson – U.S.A. David Lloyd George – Britain George Clemenceau - France Vittorio Orlando – Italy

WHAT IMPORTANT COUNTRY IS NOT REPRESENTED?

Reparations Orlando, George, Clemenceau

Wanted to PUNISH Germany for “starting” the war.

Must bear the financial cost of the war. Force Germany to pay reparations*.

* this will be a major CAUSE FOR WWII

DEMANDS VIOLATED what Wilson called for in his 14 Points.

Treaty of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

U.S. Secretary of State Lansing commented:

“The terms of the peace appear immeasurably harsh and humiliating.”

Treaty of Versailles

Germany Forced to disarm. Admit full responsibility for the war. Charged billions of dollars in

reparations.

Wilson’s Influence Created the League of Nations

Harsh treatment of Germany would have been MUCH worse had Wilson not been present.

Ratifying the Treaty Key Issue: The League of Nations

Ratification: 2/3 Majority for Approval of a treaty Which House of Congress approves

treaties?

Article 10 of the Treaty ARTICLE 10: the "covenant" clause

The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all Members of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression the Council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.

Article 10 Problem with the Treaty

Senators believed it committed the U.S. to going to war in defense of any League member that was attacked.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Senator Massachusetts Premier opponent to the Treaty. Presented “14 Reservations”

Purpose: modifying the treaty What was Lodge mocking?

Treaty of Versailles Never ratified by U.S. Senate

The very country who promoted the creation of the League, failed to join it. Major Implication:

The League would fail.

Global Impact of the War Europe destroyed. Boundary lines created by the treaty

were blurred and confusion existed.

Germany Uncontrollable inflation in Germany Germans resented the Treaty of Versailles. Created a breeding ground for the rise of

Hitler

Essay Question What are the three reasons for U.S.

involvement in World War I? Explain how each contributed to the United States entering World War I.