Jan 13, 2016
Due to the lack of time, here is the Ppt. for the lecture on World War I (the slides left)
Exam for this unit (#8) is still Thursday for the Objective portion of the exam & Friday for the FRQ essay
Western Front: France, 1918 Spring 1918, Germany
launched massive offensive on the Western Front.
American Expeditionary Force AEF composed of soldiers and
Marines sent to France under Pershing (small initial force increased to over 2 million by Nov. 1918.)
Late May, 1918, Germany came within 40 mile of Paris. 30,000 U.S. troops thrown into
the breach at Chateau-Thierry, in the heart of the German advance. 1st significant engagement of
US troops in a European war.
U.S. headlines boasted (exaggerating) Americans had saved Paris.
By July, Germany’s drive spent and U.S. forces participated in French counteroffensive in the Second Battle of the Marne. -- Significance: Beginning of German withdrawal from France
Sept 1918, 9 U.S. divisions joined 4 French divisions to push Germans from the St. Mihiel salient, a major German stronghold in France. -- 15,000 Germans captured; set stage for Allied offensive
General John J. ("Black Jack") Pershing: head of a separate U.S. army.
Americans had been dissatisfied with merely bolstering British and French forces and demanded a separate army.
Army assigned a front of 85 miles, stretching northwestward from the Switzerland.
Pershing’s army undertook the Meuse-Argonne offensive, from Sept. to Nov., 1918. Part of last major Allied attack involving millions of men. Largest battle thus far in U.S. history: 47 days and engaged 1.2
million American soldiers; 10% casualties (112,000)
End of the war Germany suffering from
desertion of its allies, British blockade’s causing critical food shortages, and Allied assaults.
Germany’s surrender spurred by Wilson’s 14 Points German generals warned
their gov’t of their imminent defeat.
German gov’t turned to seemingly moderate Wilson in October
1918, seeking a peace based on the 14 Points.
Wilson demanded Kaiser’s removal before an armistice could be negotiated.
Nov. 11, 1918, Germany laid down her arms. Segregation in American army
Blacks initially divided on whether or not to support the war. -- W.E.B. Du Bois issued editorial in The Crisis for blacks to support the war.
Most blacks did labor duty. 400,000 black troops excluded from Paris victory parade in
1919-- Black and brown colonial troops who fought for Britain & France were allowed.
Black soldiers later lamented they had been treated with dignity by the Europeans but not by Americans back home.
Casualties Americans lost about 112,432 men total: 48,000 battle
deaths; 62,000 dead of disease; 230,000 wounded About 10 million soldiers died on all sides About 20 million civilian casualties resulted:
Most from the Russian Revolution Many as a result of influenza epidemic, over 1 million Armenians
at the hands of the Turks 750,000 German civilians starved due to Allied blockade.
Country Dead Wounded POW/MIA Total Mobilized
Austria-Hungary 1,200,000 3,620,000 2,200,000 7,020,000 7,800,000
Belgium 13,716 44,686 34,659 93,061 267,000
British Empire 908,371 2,090,212 191,652 3,190,235 8,904,467
Bulgaria 87,500 152,390 27,029 266,919 1,200,000
France 1,357,800 4,266,000 537,000 6,160,800 8,410,000
Germany 1,773,700 4,216,058 1,152,800 7,142,558 11,000,000
Greece 5,000 21,000 1,000 27,000 230,000
Italy 650,000 947,000 600,000 2,197,000 5,615,000
Japan 300 907 3 1,210 800,000
Montenegro 3,000 10,000 7,000 20,000 50,000
Portugal 7,222 13,751 12,318 33,291 100,000
Romania 335,706 120,000 80,000 535,706 750,000
Russia 1,700,000 4,950,000 2,500,000 9,150,000 12,000,000
Serbia 45,000 133,148 152,958 331,106 707,343
Turkey 325,000 400,000 250,000 975,000 2,850,000
US 116,516 204,002 0 320,518 4,734,991
TOTALS 8,528,831 21,189,154 7,746,419 37,464,404 65,418,801
Allied Powers Cost in Dollars in 1914-18
United States 22,625,253,000
Great Britain 35,334,012,000
France 24,265,583,000
Russia 22,293,950,000
Italy 12,413,998,000
Belgium 1,154,468,000
Romania 1,600,000,000
Japan 40,000,000
Serbia 399,400,000
Greece 270,000,000
Canada 1,665,576,000
Australia 1,423,208,000
New Zealand 378,750,000
India 601,279,000
South Africa 300,000,000
British Colonies 125,000,000
Others 500,000,000
Total of all Costs 125,690,477,000
Central Powers
Cost in Dollars in 1914-18
Germany 37,775,000,000
Austria-Hungary
20,622,960,000
Turkey 1,430,000,000
Bulgaria 815,200,000
Total of all Costs
60,643,160,000
THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF THE WAR
9. Wilson loses Congress at home.
Wilson’s post-war popularity in the world unprecedented-- President seen as a savior by millions in Europe.
Republican victory in Congressional election of 1918
Wilson broke the bi-partisan truce held during the war to appeal for a Democratic victory in the 1918 Congressional elections.
Move backfired; Republicans regained their majority in Congress.
Wilson returned to Europe with less political clout.
WILSON PROMOTED THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
SOME PEOPLE WERE SUSPICIOUS OF WILSON’S
IDEAS FOR PEACE
SOME BELIEVED THE LEAGUE WAS NECESSARY
OTHERS BELIEVED THE LEAGUE WOULD NOT WORK
Wilson infuriated Republicans by personally going to the Paris peace conference.
Hitherto, no president had traveled to Europe. Republican Senators excluded in the peace delegation.
10. Versailles Peace Conference (beginning Jan. 18, 1919)
Big Four: Wilson -- U.S., David Lloyd George – Britain; Georges Clemenceau – France, Vittorio Orlando – Italy
Drove the peace conference; each had his own agenda. Europeans did not embrace Wilson’s ideas despite his
popularity in Europe.
GEORGE ORLANDO CLEMENCEAU WILSON
(George)WANTED TO MAINTAIN TRADE RELATIONS WITH
GERMANY BUT WANTED COLONIES
Orlando)WANTED LAND PROMISED DURING WWI
(Clemenceau)WANTED TO PUNISH GERMANY AND PREVENT FUTURE
INVASION
(Wilson)WANTED 14 POINTS AND FAIR PEACE FOR
ALL
He might foil their imperialistic plans; get masses to demand change in gov't.
Masses also wanted Germany to be punished in the treaty.
Meanwhile, Europe seemed to be slipping into anarchy with communist threat in several countries (including Germany)
Wilson’s goal was a world parliament to be known as the League of Nations.
Wilson forced to compromise on self-determination of Central Powers’ colonies.
Mandates -- Victors would not receive conquered territory outright but only as trustees of the League of Nations (Middle East)
In reality, solution little more than old prewar colonialism. Europeans supported League Covenant, the Constitution
for League of Nations Collective security was chief aim: Called on all members to protect
the "territorial integrity" and "political independence" of all other members.
Article X of Versailles Treaty: created the League of NationsFive permanent members to be U.S., Fr. Br., It, and Japan
42 Allied and neutral countries would meet in a general assembly Germany and Russia excluded.
Versailles Treaty Article 231 of the Versailles Treaty ("war-guilt" clause)
Placed sole blame for WWI on Germany. Germany obliged to pay reparations to the Allies = $31 billion over
30 years. Germany forced to accept severe military restrictions and loss of
territory. Germany left out of League of Nations (Russia also)
Self-determination granted to Poland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia -- Self-determination failed in Africa and in India
The Allied and Associated Governments confirm and
Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the
loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated
Governments and their national have been subjected as a consequence of the war
imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her
allies. GERMAN WAR GUILT CLAUSE
TREATY OF VERSAILLES,
EUROPE
1914 1919
THE BLACK AREAS WERE CONTROLLED BY GERMANY PRIOR
TO WWI, THE TREATY MADE THEM
MANDATES OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
ONLY FOUR COUNTRIES WERE
INDEPENDENT: ETHIOPIA, LIBERIA,
EGYPT, AND MOROCCO.
ALL OTHER TERRITORY WAS
DIVIDED BETWEEN BRITAIN, FRANCE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL,
BELGIUM, AND ITALY
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE WAS
BROKEN APART AND
SEVERAL NEW INDEPENDENT
COUNTRIES EMERGED:
SYRIA, JORDAN,
SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAQ
ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC WERE ALSO DIVIDED UP
Significant opposition to treaty at home Republicans led by Henry
Cabot Lodge threatened to kill treaty if Wilson did not provide provisions for preserving Monroe Doctrine and providing a means for U.S. to leave the League if it so desired. -- "Irreconcilables": opposed League in any form.
Wilson’s Allied adversaries at Versailles now in a stronger bargaining position
Completion of treaty When Wilson returned to
France, delegates had separated the League from the Treaty due to growing unrest in Europe and certain colonial regions.
SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE LED
THE FIGHT AGAINST THE TREATY
Cabot speech against joining League
CARTOON SHOWS WILSON TRYING TO PROTECT THE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS FROM
THE SENATE.
WILSON NEGOTIATED THE TREATY OF
VERSAILLES WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE SENATE WHICH LED TO
BITTERNESS. CABOT AND OTHERS ARGUED AGAINST JOINING AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT
MIGHT HAVE VETO POWER OVER U.S.
ACTIONS.
Final signing ceremony at Hall of Mirrors at Versailles on June, 28, 1919
Germany had agreed to armistice for a peace based on the 14 Points but now forced to sign a treaty containing only about 4 of the original 14 Points. -- Cries of betrayal swept Germany.
Wilson forced to compromise away some of less cherished 14 Points in order to salvage League of Nations.
American reaction Isolationists opposed
entanglement and League of Nations (e.g. Republicans) Future role of U.S. in Latin America
created controversy.
Anti-German critics charged treaty not harsh enough against Germany.
Liberals like the New York Nation thought the treaty too harsh.
German & Italian Americans outraged the treaty unfavorable to their native lands.
Irish-Americans (many in gov’t) angry it gave Britain too much influence and felt it could force U.S. aid to Britain to crush Irish independence.
Many blacks angry peace conference dictated fate of former German African colonies without African representation.
Jews only large group that favored the treaty wholeheartedly. -- Treaty provided for eventual British control of Palestine; Zionists saw this as a step towards Jewish homeland.
11. Defeat of Versailles Treaty (1919) Americans initially favored Versailles Treaty with the
League of Nations. Republicans opposed to treaty
Senator Lodge wished to amend; no real hope of defeating it. -- Republicans could then claim political credit for the changes.
Lodge opposed treaty as infringement of the Monroe Doctrine Treaty got bogged down in the Senate
SINCE THE U.S. DID NOT JOIN, THE LEAGUE BECAME INEFFECTIVE IN
PREVENTING FUTURE WARS
Video: Defeat of Treaty in the U.S. (3:26)
Wilson’s speaking tour, Fall of 1919 Wilson feared any senatorial modification to Treaty.Wilson decided to appeal over the heads of the Senate to
the people by going on an ambitious speechmaking tour. Physicians & friends advised Wilson against it as his health was in
question. Wilson obsessed with the treaty "Irreconcilable" senators Borah & Johnson went to each city a
few days later with the Republican view; opposed treaty in any form.
Wilson collapsed in Pueblo, Colorado on September 25,1919.
Several days later, a stroke paralyzed one side of his body.
Lodge Reservations Lodge unable to amend treaty
outright; wrote 14 formal reservations to it. Reserved rights of U.S. under the
Monroe Doctrine and the Constitution and otherwise sought to protect American sovereignty.-- Focused on Article X -- Congress wanted to reserve war-declaring power for itself.
Wilson rejected the Lodge Reservations Ordered Democrats to vote
against treaty with Lodge Reservations attached.
Senate resistance to ratify the treaty
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Nov. 19, 1919, loyal Democrats in the Senate & "irreconcilables" rejected treaty, 55-39
Ironically, 4/5 of senators favored the treaty, with or without, reservations.
Wilson again urged treaty to be defeated (1920) Many historians believe Wilson’s health
made him intransigent—NEVER RATIFIED.
Separate peace with Germany ratified on 07/25/1921-- War officially ended by Congress on 07/2/1921.
World War I political results U.S became world's economic &
political leader Communism instituted in Russia.
Britain, France, Austria & Turkey went into various states of decline.
Germany devastated by Versailles Treaty-- Led to rise of Hitler
12.Election of 1920Republicans nominated Warren
G. Harding of Ohio. spoke of returning America to
"normalcy" Democrats nominated James M.
Cox of Ohio who strongly supported the League -- Running mate was Franklin D. Roosevelt
Result:
Harding defeated Cox First time full-suffrage for women in national election. End of Progressivism Isolationists turned results into a death sentence for the
League of Nations. Later, U.S. would bear part of the blame for WWII as it undercut the League
of Nations by refusing to join it. U.S. did not emerge as a world leader
Two main causes for the failure of peace after WWI: The Great Depression (precipitating cause) "War psychosis" (dubbed by Wilson and others): hatreds raised up in
Europe by a war that lasted so long that Europe’s leaders lost all perspective
13. Impact of World War I on American Society Women
Played an increased role in the economy and volunteerism for the war effort (some worked in factories)
Gained suffrage (19th Amendment in 1920) Prohibition of Alcohol (18th Amendment in 1919) Massive migration of African Americans to the North Increased nativism (severe immigration laws eventually
passed in 1921 & 1924) Civil liberties suspended during the war Red Scare in 1919: anti-communist crusade Millions of men left home to fight the war in Europe Volunteerism/patriotism during the war U.S. returned to isolationism after the war