Think, Pair, Share…• "Human history becomes more

and more a race between education and catastrophe."

–H.G. Wells

• Consider the following questions:– What is the meaning of this quote?– How might this quote relate to the possibility of

war?– Do you agree or disagree with this quote?

M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War

• Militarism: An aggressive build up of a nation’s armed forces in preparation for war began in the early 1900s

• Military gained more power• Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great

Britain, & Russia all prepared for war

M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great WarAlliances: A complicated system of alliances developed among European nations during the late 1800s

– Alliances were meant to bolster national security, but also bound the great powers together to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack

M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War

• Imperialism: The struggle for colonies took place in the late 1800s– European countries

competed—particularly over Africa & China

– European rivalries developed

– Japan became a player after acquiring Korea, Taiwan, & territory in China

M.A.I.N. Causes of the Great War• Nationalism: Countries

acted in their own national interest

• Could lead to war when two separate nation’s interests were opposed

• Some countries had a diverse population

• Ethnic minority groups often desired independence

• Example: France wanted the Alsace-Lorraine back from Germany which was lost in 1871

The Alliance System CollapsesAs a result of alliances, nearly all nations of Europe soon were drawn into war:

•Austria declares war on Serbia– Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-

Hungry) was assassinated by Serbian nationalist

•Russia comes to Serbia’s aid•Germany declares war on Russia & France

– Germany was between France & Russia– Decided to strike 1st with the Schlieffen Plan:

• Called for quick attack on France to defeat them 1st and then race east to fight Russia

•Great Britain declares war on Germany after Germany invades Belgium to get to France

Central PowersGermanyAustria-HungaryBulgariaOttoman Empire

AlliesRussiaFranceSerbiaGreat BritainItalyJapan

Mobilization: each country began to ready its troops for war after

war was declared

A BLOODY STALEMATE ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT

• Both sides were relatively equal—faced a stalemate: a situation in which neither side was able to gain an advantage– Modern weapons prevented

advances– France and Britain stop

Germany’s advance – Western Front - the

deadlocked region in northern France.

Trench Warfare

Life in the Trenches• Soldiers fought each

other from trenches.• Life in the trenches

was misery.• Men slept, washed,

and ate in the mud.• Trenches swarmed

with rats.• The space between

the trenches was called “no man’s land”

Modern Warfare

• Soldiers faced new weapons that were more efficient including:–Machine Guns–Hand Grenades–Artillery Shells–Poison Gas

• Used to speed up the war, but the new technology just killed more people more effectively.

Poison Gas

• Soldiers wore masks to protect themselves from poison gas.

• Gas was introduced by the Germans but used by both sides.

• Gasses caused blinding, choking, and severe blisters.

Machine Guns

• Machine guns were much improved by the time of World War I.

• Because it could wipe out waves of attackers and make it difficult for forces to advance, it helped create a stalemate.

TANKS• An armored combat

vehicle that moved on chain tracks.

• Introduced by the British in 1916.

• The early tanks were slow and clumsy.

• They eventually improved and helped the Allies in the war effort.

AIRPLANES• WWI was the first

time that planes were used in a combat role.

• First used for taking photos of enemy lines.

• Soon, both sides used them to drop bombs.

• Guns were soon attached to the planes, and pilots fought each other in the air.

SUBMARINES• In 1914, the Germans

introduce the submarine as an effective warship.

• German submarines, known as U-Boats, eventually waged unrestricted warfare on Allied ships.

• The primary weapon was the torpedo, a self-propelled underwater missle.

BARBED WIRE• Barbed wire was used as a military weapon.• Barbed-wire was usually placed far enough from the

trenches to prevent the enemy from approaching, but close enough to lob grenades in.

• Sometimes barbed-wire entanglements were set up in order to channel attacking infantry into machine-gun fire.

• Barbed-wire entanglements were virtually impassable. Before a major offensive soldiers were sent out to cut a path with wire-cutters.

• Another tactic was to place a Bangalore Torpedo (a long pipe filled with explosive) and detonate it under the wire

Casualties

• The soldiers killed wounded, and missing during a war– The number

mounted as the war went on because of modern weapons

– Eventually reached the millions

The American ResponseAmerican Neutrality:

– Trade strongly influenced the American position on the war:• To protect shipping routes from German submarines & a British

naval blockade, President Wilson declared the U.S. neutral• U.S. acted as peacemaker

– Contraband: supplies captured from an enemy during wartime

• International law generally allowed these goods, usually weapons and other war supplies, to be confiscated.

• Britain claimed that Germany was taking noncontraband as well

– Some Americans promoted “preparedness” to prepare the U.S. for war.

– Other Americans supported a growing peace movement.

German Submarine Warfare• Between 1915-1917,

tension increased between the U.S. & Germany

• Germany practiced submarine warfare with their U-boats:– Changed the rules of naval

warfare– Depended on the element

of surprise—issued no warning

– Passenger & merchant ships had no defense against submarines

German Submarine Warfare• Americans viewed U-boat

attacks as uncivilized• In May 1915, the British

passenger liner, the Lusitania was sunk by a U-boat– 128 Americans were killed

• President Wilson demanded an end to submarine warfare– Germany agreed to warn

passenger ships if they could search and siege

– Allied ships continued to be torpedoed

Sussex Pledge• The German government promised in 1916

that its ships would warn ships before attacking– Occurred after U.S. threatened to break diplomatic ties with

Germany after U-boats sank the Sussex—a French passenger steamship

• Because of the broken promises, Wilson began to work to prepare the U.S. to enter the war.

• Germany violated pledge in February 1917– Germany felt they could defeat the British before the U.S.

entered the war– U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany– American merchant ships were armed

The Zimmermann Note• The British intercepted a

German telegram from Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign secretary, that made a secret offer to Mexico:“We shall endeavor to keep the United States neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance…:Make war together, make peace together…and… Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona” -

-Arthur Zimmermann

Russian Revolution• By 1917, Russia faced

enormous causalities:– 1.5 million killed– 2.5 million taken prisoner– Millions wounded

• Germany & Austria advanced deep into Russia

• In March 1917, Czar Nicholas II was forced to give up power:– Replaced a monarchy with a

republican government– Prowar Americans welcomed

news—helped commit Americans to the Allies

The War Resolution• In March, Germany

sank 3 American ships

• Wilson’s cabinet voted for war

• Wilson went before Congress and stated:

“the world must be made safe for democracy”

• On April 6, 1917, Wilson signed the war resolution

• Selective Service Act: Passed in 1917, law authorized a draft of young men for military service– 24 million registered– 3 million were picked by a

lottery

• Others volunteered or joined the National Guard

• All American troops were collectively known as American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• Committee on Public Information: government agency created during WWI to encourage Americans to support the war.– Was its job to educate the

public about the causes and nature of the war

– Worked to convince Americans that the war effort was a just cause

– Put out posters and held gatherings to gain support.

Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation, aimed at serving an agenda. Even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a complete picture.

• What message is the poster trying to convey?

•What is the poster implying to men if they decide NOT to join the navy?

•What do you think this poster is saying to men about how women would react to a man who joins the military?

• Thousands of women volunteered as nurses, drivers, clerks, & gov. workers

On the Home Front• Financing the War:

– Liberty Bonds: special war bonds sold to support the Allies

On the Home Front

• Managing the Economy:– Industries converted to war production

– Lever Food & Fuel Control Act: Gave the President the power to manage the production & distribution of foods and fuels

• Americans were encouraged to conserve— “Gospel of the Clean Plate”

• Encouraged gasless days to save fuel• Began the practice of Daylight Saving Time: turning

clocks ahead one hour for the summer – Less need for artificial light

Enforcing Liberty

• The government imposed censorship on the press and banned some publications

• Government feared espionage (spying)

• Hostility towards immigrants & Germans grew

Turning the Tide of the War• Beginning in May 1917, all U.S. merchant &

troop ships traveled in a convoy:– Consisted of a group of unarmed ships surrounded

by a ring of destroyers, torpedo boats, & other armed vessels

• American soldiers began to arrive in France in June– American & Allied unites fought separately– African Americans fought separately from whites

• Many were assigned to minor tasks & manual labor

Turning the Tide of the War• In March 1918, Russia made peace with

Germany after the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin overthrew Russia’s government– Germany no longer had to fight a 2-front war

• U.S. troops help stop Germany’s advance on Paris

• Using tanks, Allied forces counterattacked– German army forced to retreat– Allies demand full surrender

• Armistice: cease-fire brings the war to an end on November 11, 1918

The COST of War* Killed:8,528,831 *Wounded: 21,189,154

*Prisoners & Missing: 7,750,919

*Total: 37,466,904

The Paris Peace Conference• Held in January 1919 in Paris, France• President Wilson attends for the U.S.

– Wilson wanted a lasting peace & respect for all—is forced to compromise:

• Europeans wanted the spoils or rewards of war—divide up Germany’s colonies

• France pushed for total humiliation of Germany

– League of Nations: An organization in which the nations of the world would join together to ensure security & peace for all members

• Could ensure global security• Article 10: pledged members of the league to regard an

attack on one as an attack on all—rejected by Republican senators (could bring U.S. into future wars)

The Peace Treaty: Treaty of Versailles

• “Big Four” (Britain, France, Italy, & U.S.) dominate talks:– Allies accept Wilson’s plan for League of Nations

• would be a peacekeeping organization to prevent future wars

– France insisted on German war guilt & financial responsibility:

• Reparations: Payment from an enemy for economic injury suffered during a war

– Germany ordered to pay $33 Billion—unable to pay– Left Germany humiliated

– Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28. 1919

Wilson Looks For Approval on the Home Front

• Many U.S. Senators opposed treaty because it committed the U.S. to the League of Nations– Wilson toured the nation to

gain support for the League– Congress voted against treaty

—officially declares the war over in May of 1920—ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, & Hungary

– U.S. never joins the League