World War

Global Conflict Battles took place in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and on Atlantic and Pacific Oceans New weapons – machine gun, airplane, the tank, and poison gas – killed millions of people

The Western Front Most important battles were fought in France German armies went through Belgium and invaded France The German armies were stopped at the Marne River in Sept 1914 From , French & British troops fought the Germans in countless battles

Trench Warfare Both Allied and Central Powers dug trenches stretching for miles Troops lived and fought in the trenches enduring filth, dampness, lice, and disease Very little territory changed hands on the Western Front PfyF8 PfyF8

The Eastern Front Forces of Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria defeated and occupied Serbia in 1915 In 1915, Ottoman Turks stopped British troops attempt to capture the Dardanelles and invade Turkey = disaster for Allies

Russia German and Austrian armies invaded Russia Russians losses were so great that in 1917 the Russian people led a revolution to overthrow the czar March 1918 – Russia signed a treaty with Germany and withdrew from the war Germany gained Russian territory & natural resources and no longer had to fight on 2 fronts

Africa and the Middle East 1914 – Allies occupied all German colonies, except German East Africa Egypt – British defended Suez Canal from attacks by Turks 1917 – Arab nationalist forces were able to weaken Ottoman control of the Middle East, with British support by attacking Turkish forts in modern-day Saudi Arabia & Israel British victory = taking over cities of Jerusalem, Baghdad, and Damascus

War at Sea British blockaded German coast to cripple economy, seizing all cargo ships = food shortage in Germany German submarines were able to slip past blockade and raid Allied shipping 1917 – Britain also suffer food shortages

United States and the War In the beginning, the U.S. tried to stay neutral, but favored and helped the Allies German submarine warfare, the Zimmerman note, and sympathy for democracies will lead to the United States getting involved in WWI

German Submarine Warfare Attacks by German submarines on U.S. ships took many American lives President Woodrow Wilson warned the German gov’t to respect United States’ neutrality Jan – Germany turned to a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare to cripple the Allies = increase in Anti-German feelings

Zimmerman Note Jan 1917 – Arthur Zimmerman (German foreign secretary) sent a telegram to Mexican gov’t The note asked for Mexican help if Germany and the U.S. went to war and Germany would help Mexico conquer Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico The British found the note & told the U.S. March 1917 – U.S. newspapers printed the note

Sympathy for Democracies Major concern for Americans: whether democracy could survive in Europe if Allies lost Central Powers regarded as undemocratic & militaristic President Wilson believed helping Allies would make the world “safe for democracy” April 6, Congress declared war on Germany

Matching From Column A, select the German action that is the main reason why the U.S. entered WW1. Column A 1.Unrestricted submarine warfare 2.Zimmerman note 3.Militaristic government Column B a.Americans feared for the future of democracy b.American lives and property were lost c.Americans were angered by a threat to the SW states d.Americans wanted to colonize German lands e.Americans wanted Germany’s natural resources

End of the War June 1917, American Expeditionary Force began arriving in France Fresh fighting men and increasing quantities of supplies lifted spirits of French and British soldiers June 1918, U.S. forces helped British and French stop the last great German offensive of the war and pushed the Germans out of St. Mihiel

German Revolution Discouraged by losses, the German people revolt against their gov’t Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to Holland and Germany becomes a republic Armistice (agreement to stop fighting) of November 11, 1918 ended World War I

Peace Conference January 1919, Allied leaders met in France to draw up the Treaty of Versailles Important leaders at peace conference included Woodrow Wilson (U.S), David Lloyd George (Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

“Fourteen Points” President Wilson’s famous speech, “Fourteen Points”called for: – “peace without victory” – End to secret treaties – Freedom of the seas – Reduction of weapons – League of Nations However, the other Allied Leaders wanted revenge & Germany’s punishment

Treaty of Versailles Included a war guilt clause Germany had to accept Germany held responsible for starting WWI pay huge reparations ($$$ for damage done during the war) Lost land, all colonies, industrial areas & mineral resources military reduced

Separate Treaties Split up Austro-Hungarian Empire into new nations New independent countries: Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia Establishment of a League of Nations (international peacekeeping organization) U.S. Senate rejected Treaty of Versailles & League of Nations The peace agreements didn’t solve the problems, but created new tensions in Europe