The Road to War n Causes of World War I 1. Imperialism 1. Militarism 1. Nationalism 1. Alliances.

The Road to War

Causes of World War I1. Imperialism

2. Militarism

3. Nationalism

4. Alliances

The Road to War

Imperialism– Search for new colonies in Africa, Asia, and the

Pacific– France & United Kingdom - prime colonies – Japan - newcomer but colonized Korea, Taiwan, &

parts of China– Italy – new but lacking in strength– Germany, youngest country, trying to establish an

empire

The Road to War

MilitarismBelief that a countries problems can be solved with military action

Buildup of military forces

Military has control over the gov’t and/or industry

Industrial revolution - as countries industrialized they began to see themselves as invincible

The Road to War

NationalismDefined simply as pride in one’s countryPatriotism to the ‘nth’ degreeCountries acted solely in their own self-interestPride in country centered around 1 ethnicity;

other groups were inferiorGroups that want their own country’s (Kurds)

The Road to War

Alliances– European powers that pledged mutual

protection– Took what should have been an isolated

incident and expanded it into a global conflict– Countries thought they are invincible because

of their alliances

The Road to War

Balkan Peninsula

1908

The Road to War

Bosnia was a province of the Austrian-Hungarian empire

Archduke Ferdinand visited Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia on June 28, 1914

Assassinated by Gavrilo Princip July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on

Serbia

The spark that ignited the powder keg:

The Road to War Serbia’s ally, Russia, prepared for war against

Austria-Hungary

Russia’s ally, France, followed suit

Austria-Hungary’s ally, Germany, joined them

Belgium remained neutral until invaded by Germany

Belgium and its ally, U.K., joined with France

Serbian killed F.F.

Russia allied w

/ Serbia

France allied w

/ Russia

Germ

any alliedw

/ A-H

Germany invaded France through Belgium

U.K

. allied w

/ Belgium

A-H declared war on Serbia

World War I

The Road to War

Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, and later the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria

Allied Powers - Serbia, Russia, France, Belgium, U.K., and later Italy, Romania, Japan and the USA

Queen Victoria’s grandchildren included:– King George V of

England– Tsarina Alexandra of

Russia– Kaiser Wilhelm II of

Germany– Queens of Spain,

Romania, Norway and Greece

The Road to War

The Great War beginsThe Schlieffen Plan:

Germany invaded France via Belgium

Came within 30 miles of Paris

Offensive by French & British held them back at the Marne

Trench warfare began in September of 1914

The Great War

New weapons - machine guns, poison gas, airplanes, Big Bertha and submarines made warfare deadlier than ever

The Great War

Germans reached a stalemate in France

Russians invaded to their east - became a two front war for the Germans

Germans used u-boats to try to cut-off supplies and troop movements from the U.K.

British blockaded the North Sea and created severe food shortages in Germany

The Great War

North Sea

Irish Sea

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http://www.briardsdartagnon.de/english/Home.htm

http://www.briardsdartagnon.de/german/Home.htm







OffensesVerdun – German offensive Feb. 24, 1916 – Dec. 18, 1916Germans used poison gas on the FrenchNo strategic gain for either sideCasualties

French -550,000German -434,000

Total casualties almost 1 million, with over ½ K.I.A.

The Great War

Somme – offensive by French/British forces July 1, 1916 to November 18,1916Used tanks in battle (with little effect)Offensive ended with Allied Forces gaining a total of 18 kilometersCasualties

British - 420,000French - 200,000Germans - 500,000

Total – over 1 million casualties

The Great War

America declared it neutrality and continued to trade with both sides

1/3 of the American population was made up of 1st generation immigrants

Irish immigrants initially side with the Central Powers

Many Americans oppose warfare and militarism on principle and want to stay out of the war

The Great War

Gradually public opinion shifted toward the Allied Powers

Propaganda played a major role in this shift

Business leaders pressured Congress to prepare for war to protect their trade and assets in the U.K. and France

The Great War

Propaganda

“Gentlemen’s War” ended when the British began arming merchant ships

Early in 1915 Germany advised Americans not to travel on British liners

Lusitania traveled from New York to the U.K. in May, 1915 with over 1200 passengers and miscellaneous cargo

The United States Declares War

German U-boat encountered the Lusitania in the Irish Sea

Fired a torpedo and the Lusitania sank within a few minutes

Over 1200 people, including 128 Americans, died

German claimed the Lusitania was transporting weapons


Immediate demands were made to declare war on Germany

President Wilson urged patience

Germans pledged to stop shooting unarmed vessels

War was averted in 1915 Wilson vowed in 1916 to

stay out of the war


American industries continued to do business with the British

U-boats were not very effective Cut off from Germany by British

blockade American banks lent France and Britain

millions of dollars during the war


The Russian Revolution began in February, 1917.

Overthrew the monarchy and soldiers mutinied

Allied position weakened – fighting shifted to the Western front

USA had been reluctant to support Tsar Nicholas


While General Pershing continued to chase Pancho Villa around Mexico…..

The Zimmerman Note was intercepted and made public


Note was intercepted by the British and turned over to the Americans in March, 1917

From German Foreign Minister to German Ambassador to Mexico

Proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany


Text of Decoded message:"We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN.

Zimmerman Note

Early in 1917 Germans reneged on their pledge and began sinking merchant vessels

Under pressure from the USA they made the Sussex Pledge, promising not to shoot on unarmed vessels without warning

Within weeks they reneged on their pledge


American bankers and industrialists pressured Wilson to declare war

Russian Revolution put pressure on the Allies

Zimmerman note built resentment toward Germany

Reneging of the Sussex Pledge signaled the end of negotiations


On April 2, 1917

President Wilson

asked Congress for a

declaration of war

against Germany.

Congress quickly

complied

American Joins the Great War

Every good war needs a good name– “War to make the world safe for

democracy”– “War to end all wars”

Propaganda encourages men to enlist and Americans to make sacrifices

Propaganda Helps the War Effort

Americans on the European Front


America needs time to prepare for war

American troops help turn the tide in Europe

Conditions in Europe are horrendous


Selective Service Act - May 1917– Males age 21-30 required to register– By wars end, 2,800,000 were actually drafted

Thousands of women volunteered to serve as nurses, drivers, and clerks

General Pershing is the commander of US troops in Europe

Troops were strictly segregated - African Americans and Latinos served in separate units with ‘white’ officers

Millions of troops needed to be trained and shipped to Europe

Men were trained in the use of rifles, bayonets, gas masks, and grenades

Ships used the convoy system to reduce losses

American Expeditionary Force - called doughboys


1917

Trench warfare continued in France Germany signed a separate peace with

Russia in March, 1918 Germany immediately began new

offensives along the western front The Allied Powers struggled to hold the

lines - Germans were within 50 miles of Paris (again)


1917-1918

In May of 1918 the Americans entered the fighting in force


Throughout France, fresh American troops helped to turn back the German offensive

By September of 1918 the Germans were in full retreat


Aircraft were successfully utilized in World War I by both sides

Bi-planes engaged in dogfights, reconnaissance missions, and bombing raids

Both sides had heroes - aces that shot down enemy planes

Zeppelins and hot air balloons were also used


Heroes in the Air

Manfred von Richthofen Edward Rickenbacker

African American units segregated– not allowed to serve in marines– kept out of combat in navy and army– 369th infantry

Harlem Hell Fighters lent to the French distinguished in battle won the Croix de Guerre


Ending the War Bulgaria and the

Ottoman Empire made a separate peace with the Allies in the autumn of 1918

Austrian-Hungarian Empires collapsed as Poles, Czechs, and Slovaks, declared their independence

The Germans ordered their fleet in Kiel to leave and confront the British

Instead, on October 29th they mutinied

Kaiser fled to Holland on November 10th

Armistice

is signed on

Nov. 11, 1918

Influenza Outbreak Influenza virus was introduced to Europe

by Americans in 1918 Within months, it spread around the

world Viruses flourish in unsanitary conditions

and are easily spread by people in close proximity

Approximately 500,000 Americans and 30 million worldwide died from Influenza

Final Tallies Americans lost 117,000 soldiers in a little over

a year of fighting (53,500KIA;63,000other) Russia, Germany, France, and Austria-

Hungary each lost over 1,000,000 British lost 900,000 Total 16 Million (8,500,000 KIA + 7,500,000

other) Civilians died from disease and starvation

during and after the war

Note: Germany had the most casualties of the

Central Powers, with a total of 7,142,558 Russia had the most casualties of the allies,

with a total of 9,150,000 USA had 7.1% casualties, lowest of the major

countries Austria-Hungary had 90% casualties, largest

of the major countries

Lasting Effects

Map of Europe was redrawn - entire countries disappeared and new ones emerged

Genocide was committed by the Ottomans toward the Armenians

Imperial Russia was lost and the Soviet Union was born

Lost generation - so many young men died or were maimed that their losses effected their countries for many years

Americans on the Home Front

Mobilizing the nation

– finance the war– conserve scarce resources– redirect industry– increase wartime production– organize a propaganda campaign


Increased taxes – raised 15 billion dollars directly from people

Liberty Bonds Raised more than 20 billion dollars Propaganda posters related buying bonds to

patriotism and/or saving our soldiers lives


Financing the war:

Campaign for Liberty Bonds

“Hate the Hun”– Stopped teaching German in schools– Renamed hamburgers - Salisbury steaks– German Shepherds became police dogs– German born citizens were discriminated

against and even lynched


War Industries Board allocated scarce resources established production priorities set prices asked business leaders to comply but threatened

them with Nationalizing their industry if they refused.

most complied and made huge profits off of the wartime production.


Food Administration

guaranteed high prices to farmers

asked Americans to voluntarily conserve meat and wheat

Victory Gardens rationed meat,

sugar, and other scarce products

Fuel Administration asked Americans to

conserve coal and oil

closed factories due to coal shortages

Forbid coal miners from going on strike


Lever Food & Fuel Control Act - 1917

Food Administration

Enforcing Loyalty– Committee on Public Information– Focus was propaganda for the war effort– Movies and newspapers were censored


Suppressing opposition• Espionage Act (1917) – became a crime to

utter, print, write, or publish....(anything negative about) the government, the flag, the military, the draft, war bonds, or the arms industry.


•Sedition Act (1918) strengthened the Espionage Act

•Schenck V. United States (1919) the supreme court upheld these acts because words could represent a clear and present danger in times of war


Over 1000 dissenters were imprisoned, including Eugene Debs and members of the IWW

Others were attacked by vigilantes and beaten or lynched

Personal freedoms and the Bill of Rights were seen as secondary to the war effort


Great Migration - 500,000 African Americans migrated north for factory jobs

After the war, most of them remained in the north but struggled to keep their jobs


Social Mobility for Women & Minorities


Over 400,000 women took care of the farms, ran small businesses, and worked in factories

Social Mobility for Women & Minorities

Butler's Brewery

Global Peacemaker

Treaty Of Versailles

Armistice of November 11, 1918 simply ended the war

The Big Four - France, England, USA, and Italy - met in Paris in January 1919 to discuss the actual peace treaty

President Wilson arrived with his 14 points for peace

The other 3 were more interested in spoils


Treaty was finally signed at Versailles in May of 1919

Germany admitted responsibility for the war.

War reparations due from Germany (32 billion)

League of Nations was formed


Rhineland became a DMZ, up to 31 miles past the Rhine

Saar Basin occupied by the Allies for 15 years

Alsace-Lorraine (a disputed territory between France and Germany) was returned to France

German port of Danzig would be open to Poland

Map of German Cessions - 1919


Czechoslovakia was created out of the Sudetenland and part of Austria-Hungary

Yugoslavia was created from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzogenia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia

Germany’s military was disarmed


Germany lost all of her colonies in Africa to the League of Nations, to be administered by the British and French

Germany lost all of her colonies in Asia to the League of Nations, to be administered by Australia, New Zealand, and Japan

Germany’s new Republic would have democratic elections

Re-establish independent states of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia


President Wilson agreed to the treaty, even though he opposed many of the provisions

Treaties in the USA have to be ratified by the Senate

The Senate refused to ratify the treaty They eventually wrote their own treaty

declaring the war over


President Wilson toured the USA trying to summon support for the League of Nations

He had a stroke and was incapacitated in September, 1919 until March, 1920

Unbeknown to the American people, his wife Edith ran the country for over six months


The War Finally Ends

Americans were tired of European problems and wanted to remain isolated from future problems

America entered the “roaring 20’s” soon after and put the war behind them

In spite of American’s willingness to forget it, the world changed forever due to this war

Ways that the world changed?

The Road to War n Causes of World War I 1. Imperialism 1. Militarism 1. Nationalism 1. Alliances.

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