Over there4 1

Quick Class Quick Class Discussion: Discussion:

What Caused the What Caused the “Great War”?“Great War”?

Europe before the war

MMILITARISMILITARISM

AALLIANCESLLIANCES

IIMPERIALISMMPERIALISM

NNATIONALISM ATIONALISM

What caused the war?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance

England, France, & Russia made up the

Triple Entente

Europe during the war

The Western Front

The Eastern FrontThe Allied Powers

The Central Powers

How was WW1 a “world war”?How was WW1 a “world war”?

►Essential QuestionEssential Question:: What was the role of the U.S. in World What was the role of the U.S. in World

War I?War I?►Warm-Up QuestionWarm-Up Question::

Which foreign policy would have been Which foreign policy would have been most appropriate for the U.S. from 1914 most appropriate for the U.S. from 1914 to 1917 given the outbreak of war in to 1917 given the outbreak of war in Europe?: TR’s “Big Stick Diplomacy,” Europe?: TR’s “Big Stick Diplomacy,”

Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy,”Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy,”

or Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”or Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”

American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality►When war was declared in Europe in July When war was declared in Europe in July

1914, Wilson proclaimed American 1914, Wilson proclaimed American neutrality due to: neutrality due to: Tradition of non-involvement Tradition of non-involvement Progressives & women organized against warProgressives & women organized against war America as a land of immigrants should not America as a land of immigrants should not

take sides in Europetake sides in Europe►The majority of the U.S. supported the The majority of the U.S. supported the

Allies but wanted to avoid warAllies but wanted to avoid war

Threats to American Threats to American NeutralityNeutrality

►U.S. neutrality was threatened from the U.S. neutrality was threatened from the very beginning:very beginning: England & Germany appealed to the U.S. to England & Germany appealed to the U.S. to

enter on their side enter on their side U.S. trade with England & France provided a U.S. trade with England & France provided a

strong bond strong bond The most serious threat proved to be The most serious threat proved to be

Germany’s violation of the right to “freedom of Germany’s violation of the right to “freedom of the seas”the seas”

England appealed to cultural ties & propaganda

of Germans atrocities

Germany blamed the war on

Russian expansion & French revenge

Freedom of the SeasFreedom of the Seas

►England began a blockade around England began a blockade around Germany to cut off war supplies:Germany to cut off war supplies: Wilson protested that the blockade infringed Wilson protested that the blockade infringed

on America’s right to trade as a neutral nation on America’s right to trade as a neutral nation But the flood of Allied war orders helped fuel But the flood of Allied war orders helped fuel

the U.S. economythe U.S. economy Loans & trade drew the U.S. closer to the Loans & trade drew the U.S. closer to the

Allies while trade with Germany all but endedAllies while trade with Germany all but ended

By 1916, the U.S. was a “neutral” nation in name only

The U.S. gave $2.5 billion in loans to the Allies, but only $27 million to the Central Powers

Trade with the Allies caused U.S. trade to jump from $2 billion to $6 billion from 1913 to 1916

The U-Boat ThreatThe U-Boat Threat►Germany’s response to the British Germany’s response to the British

blockade was blockade was unrestricted submarine unrestricted submarine warfare warfare in 1915:in 1915: Americans died during u-boat attacks on the Americans died during u-boat attacks on the

LusitaniaLusitania, , Arabic, & Sussex Arabic, & Sussex fromfrom 1915 to 19161915 to 1916 In the In the Sussex PledgeSussex Pledge, Germany agreed to limit , Germany agreed to limit

attacks if the U.S. helped end England’s attacks if the U.S. helped end England’s blockadeblockade

Despite the Sussex Pledge, Congress passed the National Defense Act in 1916 that

increased the size of the U.S. army & navy

Germany used u-boats to create a naval blockade of England

Election of 1916Election of 1916► In the 1916 election, Wilson balanced In the 1916 election, Wilson balanced

contrasting stances:contrasting stances: He appealed to progressives & anti-war He appealed to progressives & anti-war

voters with the slogan “voters with the slogan “He kept us out of warHe kept us out of war”” But argued for “preparedness” by building up But argued for “preparedness” by building up

the military in case the U.S. joins the warthe military in case the U.S. joins the war►Wilson won by affirming 2 goals: freedom Wilson won by affirming 2 goals: freedom

of the seas & neutrality of the seas & neutrality

America Joins the AlliesAmerica Joins the Allies► In December 1916, Germany led a In December 1916, Germany led a

massive European offensive & resumed massive European offensive & resumed unrestricted submarine warfare to win the unrestricted submarine warfare to win the warwar

► In 1917, Wilson hoped for a “peace In 1917, Wilson hoped for a “peace without victory” but key eventswithout victory” but key events mademade

neutralityneutrality impossible: impossible: German subs sunk 5 U.S. shipsGerman subs sunk 5 U.S. ships The interception of The interception of Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

fueled U.S. anger fueled U.S. anger

German leaders knew this might entice the USA to enter the war…but did it anyway

U.S. Losses to German U.S. Losses to German Submarines, 1916-1918Submarines, 1916-1918

Rationale behind the Zimmerman Note: The U.S. & Mexico almost went to war in

June 1916 over events related to the Mexican Revolution (Huerta, Carranza, Pancho Villa)

April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war to “make the

world safe for democracy”

What really What really brought the U.S. brought the U.S.

into WWI?into WWI?

““Over ThereOver There” ” American American

Military Military Participation in Participation in

WWIWWI

WWI Alliances & Battlefronts, WWI Alliances & Battlefronts, 1914-19171914-1917

When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, the Allies were on the brink of defeat

U-boats effectively

limited Allied

suppliesThe Russian armistice in 1917

allowed Germany to move its full army to the western front

Mutinies were common in the French army & the British lost at Flanders, Belgium

MobilizationMobilization►Wilson named Wilson named John PershingJohn Pershing to head the to head the

American Expeditionary ForceAmerican Expeditionary Force (AEF), but (AEF), but despite Wilson’s preparedness campaign, despite Wilson’s preparedness campaign, the U.S. was not prepared for full scale warthe U.S. was not prepared for full scale war

►Many wanted a volunteer army, but Wilson Many wanted a volunteer army, but Wilson pressed Congress to pass a pressed Congress to pass a Selective Selective Service ActService Act (24 million registered & 2.8 (24 million registered & 2.8 million were drafted to fight in Europe)million were drafted to fight in Europe)

The army & navy increased in size but military leaders had not prepared a plan for war (“To plan

for war is to violate the terms of neutrality”)

African-Americans were subject to the draft & fought during WWI in segregated units

American PropagandaAmerican Propaganda: George : George Creel’s Committee on Public Creel’s Committee on Public

Information (CPI)Information (CPI)

The 1The 1stst U.S. troops arrived via convoy in U.S. troops arrived via convoy in June 1917 but did not see action until early June 1917 but did not see action until early

19181918

The The U.S. on U.S. on

the the WesterWestern Front, n Front,

19181918

American soldiers saw their 1st action in May 1918 at Chateau Thierry outside

Paris & helped resist a last-ditch German offensive

The Allied counter-attack led by the U.S. & France pushed into Germany

War in the TrenchesWar in the Trenches►TheThe arrival of fresh American soldiers & arrival of fresh American soldiers &

war supplies raised Allied morale at a war supplies raised Allied morale at a crucial time:crucial time: By October 1918, the German gov’t knew the By October 1918, the German gov’t knew the

war was overwar was over Turkey, Austria-Hungary, & Bulgaria were all Turkey, Austria-Hungary, & Bulgaria were all

out of the warout of the war Nov 11, 1918 Germany signed an armistice Nov 11, 1918 Germany signed an armistice

with the Allieswith the Allies

ConclusionsConclusions

►The “Great War” was a The “Great War” was a total wartotal war but the but the U.S. effort paled in comparison to other U.S. effort paled in comparison to other Allied forces:Allied forces: The U.S. reluctantly entered WWI after 3 The U.S. reluctantly entered WWI after 3

years of neutrality & played a supportive (not years of neutrality & played a supportive (not a central) military role in the wara central) military role in the war

But, WWI had a huge impact on the American But, WWI had a huge impact on the American economic, political, & cultural homefronteconomic, political, & cultural homefront

9 million soldiers & 5 million civilians died

Artillery, poison gas, grenades, machine guns led to trench warfare & war of attrition

American soldiers were only engaged in battle for 8 months

U.S. had only 320,000 casualties (6.8%)

The Allies had 52% casualties; the Central

Powers had 57%

Why Did We Go “Over Why Did We Go “Over There”? There”?

► Wilson was re-elected in 1916 largely due to Wilson was re-elected in 1916 largely due to his campaign rhetoric “his campaign rhetoric “HeHe keptkept usus outout ofof thethe

warwar.”.” ByBy 1917,1917, thethe U.S.U.S. joinedjoined thethe Allies.Allies. Why?Why?► Examine the reasons for U.S. entry into WWI Examine the reasons for U.S. entry into WWI

& rank each as to which were the most & rank each as to which were the most powerful forces in causing the USA to join the powerful forces in causing the USA to join the Allied cause.Allied cause.