THE GREAT WAR

CAUSES “smoking gun” – assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (heir to the throne, Austria-Hungary) by Serbian nationalists June 28, 1914.

UNDERLYING CAUSES  IMPERIALISM? –Needed foreign market to sell increased production –Competed for expansion in Africa & Asia  NATIONALISM? –Unified Germany in 1871 after Prussian War –France mad over loss of Alsace-Lorraine –Austria-Hungary & Balkans had many national groups  ALLIANCES? –Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy –Triple Entente – G.B., France, Russia  MILITARISM? –Arms race; both sides escalating –Schleiffen Plan – “Paris for lunch; St. Petersburg for dinner” – led to stalemate

TRENCH WARFARE New styles of warfare (gas & heavy artillery) – massive deaths Germany couldn’t take Paris – dug in Estimated 12,000 miles of trenches throughout war Millions of men; 1 per every 4 inches Death & disease

New Military Technology The new industrialism meant new advances in the science of warfare Rapid-firing rifles, improved explosives, motorized Gatlin guns, and enormous artillery pieces Airplanes, poison gas and trench warfare strategies

Neutrality Despite President Wilson’s call for American neutrality (“peace without victory”), more citizen’s ancestry called for loyalty to Allies Most Americans believed that France and England were fighting to preserve human culture against barbarians (communication across seas controlled by British); remaining neutral would not happen.

The United States Enters the War

Deciding for War British naval blockade so successful – Germany responded with U-boats –Sank Lusitania; “unrestricted submarine warfare” –US furious – Sussex pledge Cultural bond with Allies; had stated impartial “in thoughts & actions”; no more –Trade affected as well –British controlled telegraphs; German atrocities (the Hun)

The Zimmerman Telegram Interception of the Zimmerman telegram virtually guaranteed the entry of America into the war

A Patriotic Crusade George Creel headed a Committee of Public Information designed to flood American with nationalistic propaganda about the seriousness of the situation in an anti-German context The Espionage, Sedition, and Trading With the Enemy Acts limited the freedoms of Americans Prompted the early Civil Liberties Bureau

Over There The United States entered WWI - spring of 1917 after 3 years of European fighting General “Black Jack” Pershing insisted American troops be segregated from French and British divisions The U.S. entered the war late and had lost little compared to Britain and France

Finances and the Federal Government World War I cost the United States over $33 billion in 1918 dollars Americans were disgruntled to learn that their liberty bonds had lost 20 percent of their face value; a War Revenue Act of 1917 had boosted the tax rate The Federal government was organized to combat food shortages, promote scientific advancement, and take over operation of the railroads