American HistoryUnit 4: World War OneOverview and Insights

Mr. ChortanoffChapter 22

Why was the leader of WWI France buried standing up facing east toward Germany?

Big Idea:1. WWI advanced modern warfare and became the

starting point for future conflict in Europe.2. The American Home Front contribute to the war

effort, and the American people simultaneously struggled with many domestic issues centered on

race, gender, economics, culture, and social standards.

Unit Essential Question:3. How did WWI advance modern warfare and elevate

the status of the US as a world power?4. What were the contributions and conflicts at the

American Home Front?

3 ConceptsWW

I

Prewar Conflicts and Causes of WWI

WW

I

America’s role in WWI (aka the “Great War"

WW

I

The Effects of the WWI/the “Great War”

1. How would you summarize the causes of WWI and America’s entry?

2. How would you compare and contrast the Allies and the Central Powers?

1. How would you describe the American Home Front? (mobilization, financing, women’s role, leadership)

2. How would you describe the nature of the fighting in WWI? What was the basic strategy, tactics, and weaponry of the men at arms?

1. What were the short term effects of WWI on the world?

2. What do you predict were the important long term effects of WWI on the world?

3. How would you summarize the conclusion of the war and the Versailles Peace Treaty?

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Europe on the eve of World War I (1914-1918)

Europe Goes

to War: US not until April of

1917

Yellow: Central PowersBlue: AlliesGrey: Neutral

Causes of World War I

Long Term:

Militarism/Arms Race

Alliance System

Imperialism

Industrialization/Global Competition

Assassination of Austrian Heir to the

throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Poor Communication

Systems / Diplomacy

Mobilizations of Armies and

Declarations of War

WAR

Causes of WWI

Short Term:

Staying Neutral in a World Conflict• Neutrality is

hard to maintain with many Americans choosing sides

• Germany’s actions turn America toward Britain

• Americans debate their nation’s role in world affairs and the country’s preparedness

Wilson issues a final plea for peace

Germany renews its submarine warfare

Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

Americans learn of the Zimmerman Telegram

Germans sink several American merchant ships and the Lusitania

Russian Revolution drives the czar from power and the Communists start a civil war in Russia

America enters

the WWI

Nature of Fighting in WWI• BASIC STRATEGY: CONQUER LAND, DESTROY ENEMY

ARMY, AND HOME FRONT• BRUTAL LAND BATTLES; ONE MAJOR NAVAL BATTLE

(JUTLAND, near Denmark)• NATIONALISTIC/RACIST/ETHNIC TENSION• MASSIVE, CONSCRIPTED ARMIES• MILLION MEN ARMIES FIGHT BLOODY BATTLES• FOUGHT IN EUROPE, ALL OCEANS, MIDDLE EAST• NEW/MODERN WEAPONS, BUT USED OLD TACTICS =

SLAUGHTER OF TRENCH WARFARE.• SUBS, BATTLESHIPS, TANKS, PLANES, BARBED WIRE,

ARTILLARY, GAS, MACHINE GUNS, TELEGRAPH, WIRELESS TELEGRAPH (RADIO)

Nature of the HOME FRONT:Social Change During the Period of Neutrality

• Blacks move North lured by defense jobs, but face continued discrimination

• Motion pictures attract large audiences and turn actors into “Movie Stars.”

• Victorian Age is ending. Sexual attitudes undergo change; many conservatives are concerned about liberal dress, conduct of women and men. Teenagers are recognized.

• Wilson calls on Europeans to achieve “Peace Without Victory”German resumption of unrestricted warfare pulls America into warCongress declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917

• Reality dashes hopes of sending aid but not troops, and Selective Service Act is passed

• Training of troops and implementation of convoy system begin

Continued: A Nation at War

• Taxes and Liberty Bond sales finance war• Herbert Hoover runs program to supply food to Allies and farm prices

increase• Prohibition becomes law amidst war (Progressives also push for

suffrage)• Federal government forms business-government partnership to manage

war and keep Americans behind war effort• Racial tensions increase, but African Americans fully support war effort• Women fill jobs in defense industries and finally gain right to vote• Wilson supports laws that curtail rights• Animosity toward German Americans increases

– (change names of food –”Liberty Cabbage”, not sauerkraut), ban on school teaching German, towns change names…

• Liberty Bonds were sold to pay for the war….not like today!

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March of Woman Suffrage. Before 1920: Women’s Suffrage by State: Green = No SuffrageRed = Complete Suffrage (national, state, local)Orange = Suffrage in primariesPurple = Suffrage only in Presidential Election

Election of 1916

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Candidates for 1916 Election:Wilson (Dem) 277 Electoral Votes, 9.1 Million Popular VotesHughes (Rep) 254 Electoral Votes, 8.5 Million Popular Votes

Conclusion• Wilson proposes Fourteen Points in hopes of bringing permanent peace to

Europe• Wilson is re-elected but distances himself from Republicans• Wilson travels to Europe to participate in peace negotiations himself, but

Russians are absent due to civil war at home

• Wilson is unhappy with harshness of terms for Germany, but gives in to obtain League of Nations

• President tours country to gain support for treaty, but suffers massive stroke

• Senate Republicans block treaty, both because of Wilson’s obstinance and because of fear of League of Nations

• Adjusting to peace is difficult, with labor unrest, inflation, and influenza (world wide problem!)

• Progressivism declines after woman suffrage and prohibition become law (did our job!?)

• Racial violence and a Red Scare contribute to unrest• Warren G. Harding wins 1920 election by promising a “return to normalcy”

FYI: Russian Revolution

• How does Russia makes a separate peace with the Central Powers?– The Bolsheviks (Reds Army) seize power (win)– Kill the Royal (White Army) family– V.I. Lenin opposes the war– Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ends Russia’s participation– Germany moves all of its armies to the Western

Front to overwhelm the Allies– Civil War ensues for years, killing millions

Effects of WWIShort Term:

1. New World Order replaces the ( Old World Order of post-Napoleonic generation of international relations)

2. 9 Million men die in battle3. Millions of civilians die4. Northern France, Belgium, Netherlands in ruins5. Many people lose faith in humanity to peacefully co-exist 6. American are praised as heroes/liberators/powerful7. American Expeditionary Force (AEF) prove their worth in battle 8. Harlem Hell Fighters do, too (African Americans, too)9. Federal Government regulates much of the war time economy10. Federal Government and others raise Patriotism via cartoons and

posters to purchase war bonds, encourage conservation, growing a “Victory garden,” and enlisting in the military.

Long Term: You tell me.

Paris Peace Conference:

1919

Wilson’s Peace Goals:

1. Fourteen Points

2. “Peace Without Victory!”

Other Allies’ Goals:

1. Large German Reparations

2. War Guilt Clause for Germany

3. Disarm Germany

1. Congress rejects the Versailles Treaty and opposes the League or Nations

Treaty of Versailles:1. Harsh terms for

Germany2. Self-determination

for Eastern Europe3. League of Nations

BIG FOUR decide key issues:1. America’s Woodrow Wilson2. Britain’s David Lloyd George3. France’s George Clemenceau4. Italy’s Vittorio Orlando

Europe after the Peace Conference,

1920

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American Participation on the Western Front

Allies

C.P.

Europe and the Near East After the First World

War