The United States in WW I

The United States in WW I

From Neutrality to War

Nationalism- each European country believed they were superior to the others; overzealous patriotism

Militarism (Arms Race)- European countries glorified armed strength and war-massive and competitive arms race

Military Alliances- Europeans bound together by a series of military treaties

Imperialism (Rivalry over Colonies)- Europeans competing for colonies in Africa and Asia as a source of raw materials

INTRICATE AND SOMETIMES SECRET ALLIANCES IN EUROPE LED TO

OBLIGATIONS BUT ALSO DIVIDED LOYALTIES IF ATTACKED

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH GERMANY WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT

WITH ITALY. OTTOMAN EMPIRE WAS ALLIED WITH

GERMANY AGAINST RUSSIA.

SERBIA HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE WHO HAD AN

AGREEMENT WITH GREAT BRITAIN WHO HAD AN

AGREEMENT TO PROTECT

BELGIUM’S NEUTRALITY

The archduke and his wife Sofia assassinated by a Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip

Occurred in Sarajevo, Bosnia- resented Austria’s control

June 28, 1914

ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND AND FAMILY

THE HEIR TO THE AUSTR0-HUNGARIAN

THRONE WAS ASSASSINATED WHILE

TOURING THROUGH SERBIA BY GAVRILO

PRINCIP, A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION

CALLED BLACK HAND, WHO WANTED

INDEPENDENCE FOR THE REGION FROM AUSTRIA-

HUNGARY.

THIS ASSASSINATION HELPED LEAD TO THE WAR AS COUNTRIES

RUSHED TO AVENGE THE MURDER AND FULFILL

THEIR ALLIANCE OBLIGATIONS.

The Response (Tensions already high)1. Austria and Germany declared war on

Serbia2. Russia, an ally of Serbia, moved

troops to Serbia3. Germany declared war on Russia and its

ally France4. Britain declared war on Germany

THE WAR BEGAN WITH THE

ALLIES VERSUS THE CENTRAL POWERS AND SIX NEUTRAL

NATIONS

CENTRAL POWERS

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

GERMANY

BULGARIA

TURKEY

ALLIES

FRANCE

UNITED KINGDOM (AND ALL OF HER COLONIES)

ITALY RUSSIA

JAPAN ROMANIA

SERBIA GREECE

PORTUGAL

NEUTRAL NATIONS

SPAIN SWITZERLAND NORWAY SWEDEN BELGIUM DENMARK

HOW DID MOST AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT JOINING THE WAR IN EUROPE?

MOST PEOPLE WANTED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL BECAUSE: THEY FELT THAT IT WAS NOTNOT OUR FIGHT

EUROPE WAS TOO FAR AWAY

WAR WAS EXPENSIVE

DIVIDED LOYALTIES SINCE WE TRADED WITH BOTH GERMANY AND GREAT BRITAIN (AND FRANCE) AND DID NOT WANT TO SEVER TIES WITH EITHER ONE BY FIGHTING AGAINST THEM

Ethnic Division

POPULATION BY ETHNIC GROUP

IN MILLIONS

TOTAL U.S. POPULATION 1910: 91,972,266

U.S. POPULATION BY ETHNIC GROUP FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE WAR: 32,243,282

WW I (1914-1918) also called the Great War

Europeans thought war would be over in a few months

Germany fought a multi-front war:1. The Western Front- against Britain and France2. The Eastern Front- against the Russians

Eastern France Front’s position fluctuated little from

1914-1917 Characterized by Trench Warfare Bloody- massive amount of deaths

System of trenches dug along a 160-mile line in eastern France

Soldiers fought from and lived in the trenches

Bloody, muddy and unsanitary

Consisted of long artillery bombardments followed by infantry charges

Havens of disease, dead bodies, rats, flies and trench foot

MOST OF THE TIME IN THE TRENCHES

WAS SPENT WAITING FOR THE

FIGHTING TO BEGIN

SLEEPING TOOK PLACE IN SHIFTS

SO SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS

WATCHING THE ENEMY

“OVER THE TOP”

The Machine Gun Modern Cannon Chemical warfare- mustard and chlorine gas Flame Thrower Tanks- could break over the trenches and

barbed wire Airplanes- The Red Baron- famous German

pilot-downed many Allied planes U-boat Warfare- “unterseeboots” (submarines)

AIRPLANES ENTERED THE SCENE

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED

CANNONS-BIG BERTHA

TANKS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED

SUBMARINES, CALLED “U-BOATS” BY THE GERMANS, WERE USED TO SINK SUPPLY

SHIPS

POISONOUS GAS

ANIMALS AT WAR

Verdun (680,000 killed in 6 Months)

Somne (1 million killed in 6 months)

Argonne Forest (decisive, but costly victory for the allies)

VERDUN WAS A MAJOR BATTLEGROUND

1. The sinking of the luxury liner Lusitania by a German u-boat

2. German U-boats violate International Law- continued to sink American merchant vessels

3. The Zimmerman Telegram- “the icing on the cake”

May 7, 1915- sunk in 18 minutes Torpedoed off the Irish coast 1,200 dead out of 2000, including 128

Americans and 125 children Contained a secret cargo –4200 cases of

guns for the British and French Outraged America….Germany apologized

and pledged not to sink any more civilian vessels-Sussex Pledge of 1916

<>           

ALTHOUGH THIS EVENT ANGERED MANY AMERICANS, THE U.S. DID NOT JOIN THE WAR

FOR 2 MORE YEARS

GERMANY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD RESUME THEIR U-BOAT CAMPAIGN AND SINK ALL (INCLUDING

AMERICAN) SHIPS IN THE WAR ZONE. MANY GERMANS WERE STARVING FROM THE BRITISH BLOCKADE AND

THE GERMAN MILITARY BELIEVED THEY COULD FORCE THE BRITISH TO SURRENDER IN A FEW MONTHS,

BEFORE THE U.S. WOULD ENTER, AND WIN THE WAR.

WILSON CLUNG TO THE HOPE THAT GERMANY WOULD NOT ACTUALLY ATTACK U.S. SHIPS, HOWEVER IN MARCH FOUR UNARMED MERCHANT SHIPS WERE SUNK, WITH

36 LIVES LOST.

2. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

1916-17

The “icing on the cake” (January 1917) Sent to the German ambassador in Mexico from

Arthur von Zimmerman Called for Mexico to invade the US to keep the US

from sending troops to Europe Promised to Mexico Texas, Arizona and New

Mexico “Intercepted” by the British On April 6, 1917, President Wilson convinced

Congress to declare war on Germany

ZIMMERMANN Telegram(1917)

On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our

intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.

If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace.

We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The

details are left to you for settlement. . . . You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico

of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the

United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate

with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany

and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a

few months.

Alfred Zimmermann, German Foreign Minister 1916

POLITICAL CARTOON ON

THE ZIMMERMAN

NOTE

Quakers, Mennonites and Amish (pacifists) Socialists like Eugene Debs-argued that America

was in the war to help out big business Women’s Peace Party People who opposed the war were branded as

“traitors” and “wrongdoers” Thousands of anti-war persons were imprisoned

under the Espionage Act (1917) and the Sedition Act (1918) for “inciting treason or Insurrection” against the government and US Military

Selective Service Act: Draft was instituted- 9.5 million men drafted, 5 million men enlisted on their own

Industrial production increased for weapons and other war supplies

Agricultural production increased to help feed troops

Women, African Americans and Mexicans went to work in the factories to help w/ the labor shortage

War Labor Board-Women paid equal to men

DRAFTED MEN REPORTED FOR SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

WAR PROPAGANDA POSTERS

Soldiers arrived in June1917

2 million by end of the war-Nov. 1918

American soldiers called the “Doughboys”

Brave and tough, but not well trained at first

Boosted the morale of the Allied forces in Europe

Helped the allied navy and air forces

AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS SERVED IN SEGREGATED UNITS

HENRY JOHNSON, LEFT, AND NEADHAM

ROBERTS, RIGHT RECEIVED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE, AN AWARD CREATED TO RECOGNIZE BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF AN

ENEMY

ALTHOUGH AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE USED MOSTLY FOR LABOR, THE FRENCH HIRED SOME

INFANTRY THAT FOUGHT ALONGSIDE FRENCH WHITE SOLDIERS. THESE EXPERIENCES CONTRIBUTED TO THE SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT EXPRESSED BY THE BLACK

COMMUNITY IN THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE IN THE 1920s.

BUILDING RAILROADS IN FRANCE

CUTTING DOWN TREES

American commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)

“When you hit, hit hard and don’t stop hitting”

Intensified troop training

Led the Allies to decisive victories

War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch

Food Administration – Herbert Hoover

Railroad Administration – William McAdoo

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

1. INCOME TAX CREATED IN 1913

16th Amendemnt

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without

apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

2. BONDS and LIBERTY LOANS: THE GOVERNMENT BORROWS MONEY

3. WAR SAVING STAMPS: COST BETWEEN 25 CENTS

AND $5, THE GOVERNMENT PRINTED BOOKLETS AND WHEN THEY WERE FULL THEY COULD BE

TURNED IN FOR BONDS

HOW DID THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PAY FOR THE WAR?

Americans were encouraged by the government to reject anything German

Boycotts on German beer and music; names of foods changed- sauerkraut to “liberty cabbage”; hamburgers to “liberty sausage”

German-Americans discriminated against Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Acts of

1918- restricted the lives and movement of German-Americans

Schenck Schenck v. USv. 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.

EXAMPLES OF ANTI-GERMAN SENTIMENT DURING WWI

•MANY AMERICAN SCHOOLS STOPPED OFFERING INSTRUCTION IN THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.  •CALIFORNIA'S STATE EDUCATION BOARD CALLED GERMAN A LANGUAGE OF "AUTOCRACY, BRUTALITY, AND HATRED”.•SAUERKRAUT BECAME "LIBERTY CABBAGE" •SALOONKEEPERS REMOVED PRETZELS FROM THE BAR •ORCHESTRAL WORKS BY BACH, BEETHOVEN, AND BRAHMS VANISHED FROM MUSIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THAT OF THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC •MANY GERMAN AMERICANS WERE BADGERED, BEATEN, AND SOMETIMES KILLED.

WOMEN TOOK THE JOBS LEFT BEHIND BY THE MEN

NURSES CONTRIBUTED TO THE WAR

EFFORT

The End of the War The Russians pulled out of the war due to the

Communist revolution in 1917 The Allies, led by the US, repelled one last German

offensive and pushed the Germans through the Argonne Forest and out of France back east into Germany by October 1918

1918- Austro-Hungarian ethnic groups rebelled Nov. 11th, 1918- Germany signs an armistice-fighting

ceases The German/Austro-Hungarian empire crumbles from

within Major offensive against Germans in The Argonne led

by American Major Charles Whittlesey- commander of the “Lost Battalion”

Sergeant Alvin C. York, 328th Infantry, who with aid of 17 men, captured 132 German prisoners; shows hill on which raid took place [October 8, 1918]. Argonne Forest, near Cornay, France.,

02/07/1919

AN AMERICAN HERO

ARMISTICE SIGNED:

“AT THE 11TH HOUR, OF THE 11TH MONTH, ON THE 11TH DAY”

NOVEMBER 11, 1918 WWI ENDS

THE UNITED STATES CELEBRATED

10 million soldiers killed, 20 million wounded in battle (worldwide)

10 million civilians killed-many due to worldwide influenza epidemic

112,000 US soldiers killed in action; 290,000 wounded ( in only 1 year of action)

Women gain the right to vote in US and other parts of Europe

Worldwide Influenza Outbreak-600,000 Americans died from the flu

INFLUENZA, 1918•SOLDIERS NEAR BOSTON SUDDENLY STARTED DYING

•THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS IDENTIFIED AS INFLUENZA, BUT IT WAS UNLIKE ANY STRAIN EVER SEEN

•AS THE KILLER VIRUS SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOSPITALS OVERFILLED, DEATH CARTS ROAMED THE STREETS AND HELPLESS CITY OFFICIALS DUG MASS GRAVES

•IT WAS THE WORST EPIDEMIC IN AMERICAN HISTORY, KILLING OVER 600,000, FIVE TIMES THE DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE WAR. IT DISAPPEARED AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS IT HAD BEGUN.

PARADES QUICKLY SPREAD THE DISEASE

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 2,773,700 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 2,700,000 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 110,516 204,002 0 320,518 4,734,991

TOTALS 10,528,831 21,189,154 7,746,419 37,464,404 65,418,801

The Treaty of Versailles (1919)- designed to punish Germany for the war

President Wilson did not want to punish Germany, but to allow for all countries to determine their own fate-espec. SELF-DETERMINATION (14 points)

Germany had no say in the Treaty-War Guilt Clause (Germany would accept responsibility to the war

Beaten, stripped of her pride, some of her territory and colonial possessions, Germany plunged into economic depression setting the stage for the rise of Nazism and Adolph Hitler

• Isolationist sentiment in Congress

• Efforts of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge who tried to revise the treaty

• Wilson’s idea of a League of Nations (pre-United Nations) heavily rejected by the isolationists

• Wilson had a stroke in 1919 hampering his efforts to further lobby support

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE “BIG FOUR”

GEORGE ORLANDO CLEMENCEAU WILSON

WANTED TO MAINTAIN TRADE RELATIONS WITH

GERMANY BUT WANTED COLONIES

WANTED LAND

PROMISED DURING

WWI

WANTED TO PUNISH

GERMANY AND PREVENT

FUTURE INVASION

WANTED 14 POINTS AND FAIR PEACE

FOR ALL

TREATY OF VERSAILLES,

EUROPE

1914 1919

WHAT WERE THE EFFECTS OF WWI IN AMERICA?

•U.S. BECAME A WORLD SUPERPOWER

•U.S. ECONOMY GREW DURING THE WAR, ALTHOUGH IT DID GO INTO A RECESSION SHORTLY THEREAFTER

•BIRTH OF AN ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

•BIRTH OF ANTI-AMERICANISM WITHIN THE COUNTRY

•U.S. CULTURE WAS STARTING TO SPREAD ABROAD

•BIRTH OF BLACK EMPOWERMENT MOVEMENT

•WOMEN WORKED OUTSIDE THE HOME IN HUGE NUMBERS

•BIRTH OF ANTI-COMMUNISM