I. World War I: Isolationist US looks on as Europe careens towards war. A. Europe divided into alliances. Each builds up a huge military force. Central.

WORLD WAR II. World War I: Isolationist US looks on as

Europe careens towards war. A. Europe divided into alliances. Each builds up a huge military force. Central Powers(Germany, Austria/Hung.) VS Allied Powers (Eng, France, Russia)

B. Colonialism, nationalism, and a growing arms race raise tensions between European powers

MAIN

WORLD WAR I Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (heir to

throne) is shot in Serbia in 1914. Black Hand – Gavrilo Princip – to unite all

Serbs

Within months, this event has both sides (& colonies) mobilized and fighting on several fronts. Russia allied with Serbs; Germany with A-HGermany declared war on France; GB

declared war on Germany and A-H

WORLD WAR I3. The war is intensely bloody. New weapons and

strategy force both sides into a deadly stalemate trench war – trench foot, mouth Barbed wire; machine gun; poison gas; tank Airplane, U – Boat; zeppelin Trench full of disease, rats, mice, human waste,

bodies; little protection

4. Schlieffen Plan – hold line with Russia; drive through Belgium to get to Paris France falls then two armies fight Russia Begins August 14, 1914 France, Great Britain stop Germany at the Marne; trench

warfare begins Battle of Marne; Somme; Verdun

WORLD WAR IC. The US/Wilson, shocked by the horror of this

war, declares Neutrality in 1914. We feel our oceans will protect us from this conflict1. Gradually, the US people begin to support the Allied powers. Why? a. We speak English, our trade is imbalanced towards England (they blockaded German ports!),

The media also played up German atrocities…painting the E/F as the good guys.

WORLD WAR I2. Germany to uses the Subs (U- boat) to

stop Allied shipping and try to break British blockade.

100’s of ships sunk in the Atlantic. a. May 1915, German U-boat sinks the British liner "Lusitania" 1200 die (128 Americans)

- The sinking shocks and outrages the US people. Germany had warned us not to travel into war zones, but Wilson did not take legal steps to stop Americans. Arabic, Sussex Pledge

WORLD WAR ID. Wilson quietly preps the US for possible entry into the

war, enlarging the tiny US army to 200,000.

E. As war in Europe rages, Wilson is forced to deal with events in Mexico. A revolution there topples a pro-US gov't. The military dictator Huerta takes control1. Wilson uses the military to topple the Huerta gov’t. Mexico descends into Civil War.

2. Huerta loyalist Pancho Villa to attacks Columbus, New Mexico in 1916.

3. Wilson sends an army led by Gen John Pershing to track down Villa. The mission fails.

US - Mexico relations are the worst since the 1840’s.

WORLD WAR III. The US Enters the War. The “Great War” begins to

draw in the United States.

A. The Election of 1916 sees Wilson run on issue of staying out of the war & more reform. Wilson continues to act more like TR, who is still a political threat in 1916. 1. Wilson wins a very close election in 1916. TR, in ill health, begins to fade politically

B. Germany starts unrestricted sub warfare in 1917. Any ship heading to England/France is a target1. The Zimmermann Note is published. Germany offers Mexico their old territory in SW USA back if they help Germany in war. This shocks/angers the US people

WORLD WAR I2. The US breaks off diplomatic ties with

Germany in 1917. 5 US ships sunk by German U-boats. Wilson war with Germany is now unavoidable

C. Bolshevik Revolution - Soviet Union

D. American business investments – arms and munitions; bankers

WORLD WAR IE. To make the world “Safe for

Democracy”, Wilson declares War on the Central Powers, April 1917. 1. Wilson must immediately deal with a divided nation. The US people are not clearly on one side. a. The Creel Committee is formed to issue propaganda for the war effort. Their goal is to portray the German gov’t as barbarian. Anti-German & immigrant fever grows in US.

WORLD WAR I2. A series of acts (similar to Adams in

1790’s) passed to control those not supporting the war. a. The Espionage Act punished those who supported the enemy, even slightly.

b. The Sedition Act prohibited disloyal speech/writing (Debs 10 years! 2,000+ arrest

US ENTERS WARIII. The US in World War I.

A. Raising the Army. The US is in poor shape militarily. Large #’s of troops are needed quickly.

1. Selective Service Act- Our first national draft is passes. Almost 3,000,000 men are drafted to serve in the war; ages 18-45, most unmarried

US ENTERS WAR2. The US has few combat-veteran

officers. Troops were poorly trained and equipped at first

- Blacks served in the US military, but served in segregated units led by white officers.- 369th; 92nd Division served in trenches for 191 days

Women – navy used for non-combat positions; Red Cross, hospitals

US ENTERS WAR B. The war had become a bloody stalemate by

1917. Fresh US troops could mean the difference. 1. Pershing, commander of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force), insists that US soldiers stay together in units and not be split up in the trenches (E/F wanted that)

2. First US soldiers see significant action by Spring 1918. The Germans mount a huge attack hoping to end war before USA can really help out.

a. US troops perform well at Belleau Wood and Chateau Tierry. An All-American unit over 500,000 strong defeats Germans at St Mihiel in Fall 1918

END OF WARC. By the Fall of 1918, Germany is exhausted. The British

blockade is creating a starvation crisis in Germany. The pressure of the war is pushing the German gov’t to near collapse.

1. The Germans call for an armistice in Nov. 1918. The War is over.

D. In general, the US troops did well. Allies remarked on our ability to quickly bring so many men into the conflict so quickly and efficiently. They gave us grudging praise for combat. 1. 48,000 die. 100,000+ wounded. Our losses are slight compared to the rest in war. 2. Our late entry into the war, couple with our relatively few losses of men, will be a significant factor at the Treaty of Versailles. (US in war 1917-1918, war goes 1914-18)

END OF WARIV. The War At Home. The war changed

the United States into a much more modern nation.

B. War costs: $33 billion for conflict. Add interest and vet benefits: over $100 billion1. War "Liberty" Bonds were sold to raise funds from citizens. Rallies + Patriotism2. Taxes are raised, especially on the wealthy. The War Revenue Act will anger rich.

END OF WARC. Wilson also had to mobilize the

economy into wartime setting. 1. Wilson appoints Herbert Hoover to lead effort to save food: meatless/wheatless days. 2. The US gov't actually gets into industrial production: Building ships, running railroads a. Bernard Baruch heads War Industry Board: allocate scarce resources/control prices.

END OF WAR3. The National War Labor Board protected

workers rights, kept factories at full capacity a. The gov't is forced to deal with the AFL to maximize production (not the IWW (too rad). Labor unions become more powerful due to the war. b. The shortage of white males opens up temporary slots for both Blacks and Women.

1. A huge migration of blacks begins from the South to the Northern cities aka “GREAT MIGRATION”

END OF WARD. Contributions to the war effort by

women, plus a very powerful women’s suffrage movement, force a reluctant Wilson to move on women’s rights.

1. Women's suffrage. Wilson offers public support in Fall, 1918. Congress votes in favor by early 1919. It is then sent to the states for ratification. (by 1921 it is)

TREATY OF VERSAILLESV. The Treaty of Versailles officially ends the

“Great War”A. Wilson leads the US delegation (no Republicans invited!) to the peace conference in France. He brings his famous "14 Point Peace Plan”. It’s Wilson’s vision for a peaceful post-war world. 1. The plan calls for limits on colonial power, freedom of seas, self-determination and a "league of nations" to deal with worldwide crisis.

2. Wilson's idealism is popular with the people of Europe, but he does not grasp the bitter anger England and France feel towards Germany. His “14 Points” will be politely ignored.

TREATY OF VERSAILLES B. The terms of the resulting treaty are very

harsh to Germany. The Treaty of Versailles will throw a bitter and angry Germany into economic disaster in the 1920’s. The terms include…1. They are forced to pay reparations (costs) for the war. $56 Billion!2. They are forced to publicly apologize for the war. They must give up control of their colonies to France and England (no self-deter!)3. Nine new nations; other boundaries shift

4. Bolsheviks feel ignored by treaty; lost more territory than Germany

5. Vietnam

TREATY AT HOMEC. Wilson’s "League of Nations" concept is part of

the final treaty. Wilson wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. But Republicans back at home (like Henry Cabot Lodge)do not support him. 1. Republicans feel slighted and are wary of the “League” concept. They rally to defeat Congress’sratification of the Treaty of Versailles (Henry Cabot Lodge)

- They are troubled by Article 10 in the League charter, It would lock member nations into sending troops to in cases of aggression. It would get us into another war! 

TREATY AT HOME2. An angry Wilson goes on a cross

country campaign to sell the League to the US people. He suffers a massive stroke in 1919, and spends the rest of his term bed-ridden and incapacitated.

D. The League of Nations is voted down in March 1920. The League forms without US, and operates until replaced by the United Nations after WWII.

TREATY AT HOME1. The US ratifies its own peace treaty

with the Central Powers…and enters into a 20 year era of Isolationism. The US people want no part of any more European wars; desired “Return to Normalcy”

LEGACY OF WWIE. War Legacy –

1. Kaiser censored media, Germans didn’t know Germans were being pushed back; citizens were angry over treaty and armistice

2. Post-war economic chaos in Germanya. Severe depressionb. Burned money for fuelc. Rise of Hitler