Standard 6.4

World War I

Leading to the WWI Era

Teddy Roosevelt in office in 1900Taft 1908Wilson 1912

Elected because Taft and Roosevelt fought over the same votes

Wilson in office during the build-up to WWI

World War I in Europe – M.A.I.N. causesWorld War I in Europe – M.A.I.N. causes

MMilitarism Each country built huge militaries

AAlliances (secret) Triple Alliance (Central Powers) – Germany, Austria-

Hungary, Italy Triple Entente (Allies) – Britain, France, Russia

IImperialism The Euro Countries fought over new colonies in Africa

and AsiaNNationalism

The key to WWI, we will discuss more later

WWI Imperialism

Nationalism “Nation” – a group of people

who share a common language, religion, history, traditions

“State” – a political border States can have many

nations in their borders Not all nations have their own

state Think of “Ethnicities” and

different “beliefs” in the U.S. Differences between nations

lead to conflicts

Nationalism leads to internationalinternational conflict

Competition around size of military Russia, France, England, Germany, A-H all

build military

Less powerful nations ally with bigger nations

Leads to a series of complex secret alliances

Nationalism leads to internalinternal conflict

Austria-Hungary is made of many “nations”

Each want to be independent

Each resents the Austrian overlords

Many ‘terror’ groups form

The Catalyst of World War I

Archduke of Austria – Franz Ferdinand tours Bosnia (controls Serbs)

Serbian nationalist assassinates Franz

Austria-Hungary decides to punish Bosnia

Triggers the alliance system

The US Reaction to WWI

The US declared neutralityFactors led to US involvement on the side

of the Triple Entente (Allies) Traditionally traded with Great Britain

Remember Hamilton wanted it in 1790 Britain blocked German ports which led to more

trade with Britain Germans blocked the sea with U-Boats

(Submarines)

The U-Boat – Death from nowhere

Germany had the submarine

Subs couldn’t follow the “rule of engagement” Cost innocent’s to lose

lives

1915 LusitaniaLusitania sunkU.S. and Wilson angry

but didn’t immediately declare war Got Germany to promise

not to do it again

In fact, Wilson ran for re-election in 1916

His Campaign speech was “He kept us out of War”

The Zimmerman Telegram Germany promised Mexico

U.S. territory if they attacked U.S.

Meant to keep US busy and not go to Europe

Irritated the Americans and pushed them to war

The U.S. fights for DEMOCRACY!

Social Darwinism suggests we need to teach people the “right way to govern” This includes democracy and constitutions

Russia had an absolute monarch & part of the allies it was tough to join the allies and say we were

“protecting democracy”Luckily, Russia overthrew their monarch in

1917 (Russian Revolution) Now we could join the allies to promote democacy by

fighting the German Kaiser!

The German Mistake

Germany ends ban on unrestricted submarine war

Wilson irritated Also wants to be part of the

peace treaty delegation

declares war in 1917 Joins the allies To “make world safe for

democacy”

The American Expeditionary Force (Army)

Deflects the last push of the Germans on the “western front” of France

Armistice declared on 11/11/18 Ended the fighting

Mobilizing the Home frontCaused ethnic conflict

Propaganda used German slurs German-American

discriminationCaused ideological

Conflict Sedition Act limited

objection to the war Schenck v. US

limitation on free speech

Remember Wilson wanted to influence the peace treaty?

Took leadership role in Versailles First president to travel over seas on

business

Issued the 14 Points Eliminate many causes of the war

No secret alliances A “League of Nations” Independence for nations (within

states)

He didn’t understand the mindset of Europe

Europe wanted to PUNISH!

Who started WWI? A Serbian killed an Austrian Archduke and a

series of military alliances kicked inWho was forced to take blame?

Germany Called the War Guilt Clause

Germany PAID Forced to pay about $32 billion (roughly

equivalent to $393.6 Billion US Dollars as of 2005)

Wilson’s 14 points

Most were included Nations broken into separate

states Could accommodate all of them Ex. Jewish state not created

Part of reason for WWII

US senate not willing to accept League of Nations Refused to sign the Treaty of

Versailles Had to sign a separate peace

with Germany