World War I The War to End All Wars …..until WWII

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Background Where: Europe Key players: Britain, France, Russia v. Germany & Austria-Hungary When: Impact: Millions of men killed & wounded, farms & industries destroyed

Causes Militarism - Build up of weapons Alliance System - Turned small war into major war Imperialism - Competition for colonies Nationalism - Loyalty to one’s country - Each nation thought it was the best

Immediate Cause Assassination of Austrian Archduke

The War Western Front Trench Warfare Weaponry more advanced than tactics >>>>leads to massive slaughter

U.S. Role Isolationist U.S. remains neutral but… supplies Allies + loans to allied gov’ts

Modern Warfare

Stalemate? Neither side could win or gain ground on the Western Front

U.S. Gets Drawn in…

Submarine Warfare Lusitania Americans killed by German u-boat in 1915 Germans also torpedo French liner Sussex killing more Americans >>Sussex Pledge = Germany would not attack merchant ships without warning/Allies would no longer blockade –Neither side followed through

Propaganda Allies carry out anti-German propaganda campaign over trans- Atlantic cable Once U.S. joined they began campaign of there own

Cultural Links German and Irish Americans tended to side with Central Powers Majority of Americans were pro- British and the Allies

Economics British blockade cut off U.S. trade with Germany U.S. trade with the Allies increased 4x between Wilson did not believe trade or loans to British & French violated neutrality

Zimmerman Note

Zimmerman Telegram 1917 Message from German foreign secretary to German minister in Mexico urging an alliance with Mexico –Mexico to regain “lost territories”

Mexican-American Relations Moral Diplomacy Wilson did not recognize undemocratic Huerta regime that overthrew Madero Did recognize the undemocratic regime of Carranza Pancho-Villa Raid into Mexico under John J Pershing

Russian Revolution Czar Overthrown Russian Democracy? Russia then quits the war Communist state emerges

United States enters the War in 1917

U.S. at War Revenue Act in 1916 to expand military Selective Service Act (1917) – draft of males 18 to 45 –4.8 mill served, 2.8 mill drafted AEF (American Expeditionary Force) sent France (2 million men) un John J Pershing 51,000 killed

Centralizing the Economy Gov’t agencies overseen by Council of National Defense Gov’t entered housing and labor relations Supervised public utilities including telegraph and telephone

“To Keep the World Safe for Democracy?” Liberty Bonds Victory Gardens CPI (Committee on Public Information) Liberty Cabbage Literacy tests for immigrants (Wilson’s veto overridden)

Patriotism v Dissent (Protest) Sabotage Act Espionage Act Socialists, communists and some progressives protest U.S. entry in WWI Famous socialists Schenck & Debs arrested under Espionage Act >>> Challenges in Supreme Court >>> “Clear and Present Danger” principle

Wilson’s 14 Points Speech

Armistice Day November 11, 1918 Ends hostilities between belligerent nations

Treaty of Versailles Reparations Self-determination League of Nations –Wilson for/Sen. against

Ratifying Treaty of Versailles Irreconcilables (Prog Reps) –Wm. Borah, Hiram Johnson, Rob LaFollete –Isolationists/GW Farewell address Lose sovereignty over war/peace Drawn into Euro-wars Can’t push Germany to servitude (econ)

Ratifying Treaty of Versailles Reservationists (Rep majority) –Henry Cabot Lodge, Herbert Hoover –Amend Treaty > protect Amer. Interests –U.S. must help Europe recover –Separate LON from TOV –Help avoid war, tariffs, isolationism/Monroe doctrine

Ratifying Treaty of Versailles Internationalists (Dems) Wilson Ratify it No Changes LON = Peace US must lead morally Anti-colonial/self-determination

Outcomes