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1914-1919
World War I
Last Surviving American World War I Veteran – Frank Buckles (1901-2011)
Life of a World War I Soldier – Officers Uniforms
Life of a WWI Soldier – Enlisted Uniforms
Equipment
Essential Question: How did militarism contribute to the outbreak
of World War I?
War in Europe
Feeling of intense loyalty to one’s country or groupEncouraged new nations like Italy and
Germany to establish their power in the worldInspired some ethnic groups to demand
independent nationsCaused much tension in Europe
Nationalism
Nations competed for colonies in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world
Expansion by one European nation brings it into conflict with others
Great Britain FranceGermany ItalyRussia
Imperial Expansion
As European nations competed for colonies, they strengthen their armies and navies to protect their interests
Bitter rivalry develops between Great Britain and Germany (arms race)
Militarism
Develops as a result of military build-ups
Triple Alliance Triple EntenteGermany Great BritainAustro Hungary FranceItaly Russia *Europe is known as a “powder keg”
Formation of Alliances
Slavic people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire want independence
Gavrilo Princep assassinates Austro Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in hopes of bringing down the empire (June 28, 1914)
Assassination destroys European stabilityAustria Hungary declares war on Serbia (June
28, 1914)
Assassination Leads to War
Allied PowersGreat Britain (UK)FranceRussiaItalyJapan
Central PowersGermanyOttoman Empire (Turkey)Austria Hungary
The “Great War” Had Begun
Germany enters France and it becomes clear that no side will win quickly
For the next three years, neither side makes any advancements
Fought through a network of deep trenches (Trench Warfare)Provide protection from flying bullets and
shellsBehind the lines – served as first aid stations,
headquarters and storage areas
Fighting on the Western Front
“Whilst asleep during the night, we were frequently awakened by rats running over us. When this happened too often for my liking, I would lie on my back and wait for a rat to linger on my legs; then violently heave my legs upwards, throwing the rat into the air. Occasionally, I would hear a grunt when the rat landed on a fellow victim.”
(R L Venables)
First Hand Account
“If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.”
(Harry Roberts)
First Hand Account
“We slept in our clothes and cut our hair short so that it would tuck inside our caps. Dressing simply meant putting on our boots. There were times when we had to scrape the lice off with the blunt edge of a knife and our underclothes stuck to us. “
(Elizabeth de T’Serclaes – a nurse on the front line)
First Hand Account
February to December, 1916 – Germany vs. France
One of the longest, bloodiest battles 750,000 casualties (both sides)
Technology of WarNew deadly weapons caused large numbers
of injuries and deaths
Battle of Verdun
New TechnologyImproved cannons, rifles and artillery
CharacteristicsCan fire shells at greater distances and can fire with greater accuracy
EffectsGreater numbers of casualties
New TechnologyPoison Gas
CharacteristicsCan seriously injure or kill anyone who
breathes it
EffectsGreater numbers of casualtiesSoldiers begin carrying gas masks
New TechnologyArmored Tanks
CharacteristicsCross battle lines by crushing barbed wireFire at close range
EffectsGreater number of casualtiesProvides route for advancing troops
New TechnologyU-Boats
CharacteristicsGerman submarines that sunk ships carrying
suppliesEffects
Eventually brings the United States into the war
TechnologyAirplane
CharacteristicsUsed for watching movements of troops,
bombing targets and “dog fights”Effects
Added a new dimension to warfare
How did militarism contribute to the outbreak of World War I?
Created need for alliances Armies built themselves up Nations looked for new kinds of
technology to defeat their enemies
Answer the Essential Question
Essential Question: Why did the United States enter World War I?
America’s Road to War
Originally most Americans thought that the war did not concern them
President Wilson declared the US would stay neutral
However, Americans eventually began to take sidesMost favored the Allied PowersBoth sides used propagandaAllied propaganda was more effective
American Neutrality
- US trades mostly with Allied Powers due to naval blockade of Germany
-1915 – Germany states they will sink any vessels that enter or leave British ports
-Wilson warns the US will blame Germany for any lives lost at sea
1915 – German U-boat torpedoed British passenger liner Lusitania carrying 128 Americans
America’s Early Involvement
United States strengthens their military but remains neutral
Germany continues attacking ships coming to or leaving from Allied PortsHopes to win the war before the US gets
involvedUS intercepts Zimmermann telegram
German offering of alliance with Mexico against the United States
Anti-German feeling in the US grows
On the Brink of War
1917 - Russian people overthrow monarchy and promise to establish free electionsWilson can now justify entering the war to fight
for democracy1917 – Germans sink 4 American
merchant shipsWilson’s cabinet members call for war
Revolution in Russia
April 6, 1917 – US declares warSelective Service Act sets up a military
draftMen aged 21-303 million drafted, 2 million volunteersWomen enlisted for the first time as radio
operators, clerks and nurses
America Enters the War
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Answer the Essential Question
Essential Question: How did the US help the Allies win the war?
Americans Join the Allies
1917 – Allies desperately needed help of American soldiersYears of trench warfare had exhausted their
armiesSome French troops refused to fight after
heavy lossesBritish were running out of food and war
suppliesGermans sank 1 out of every 4 ships leaving
British portsAmericans implemented convoys
Reduced shipping losses greatly
Supplying the Allies
1917 Russian Bolshevik RevolutionPeople upset over food shortagesCommunists overthrow democratic government
and establish a communist government led by Vladimir Lenin
Bolshevik’s pulled out of war to concentrate on setting up the new governmentSign peace treaty with Germany allowing
Germany to attack from the western frontLooked as if Germany might win the war
Russian Withdrawal
Germans advanced to within 40 miles of Paris, France
American soldiers, often known as “dough boys”, fought alongside Allied forces to break through German linesStopped German offensiveTurned the tide of the war
Dough Boys in Battle
1 million American troops joined other Allied forces in Argonne Forest
Faced harsh conditionsRugged, heavily forested terrainRain, mudBarbed wireMachine gun fireMany lives were lost
Allies pushed through German enemy lines***The End of the War: Central alliance falls apart as
countries are involved in revolutions and ethnic groups are declaring independence***
The Battle of Argonne Forest
German government appealed to President Wilson for an armistice
While deliberation took place, revolution spread in Germany and the Kaiser stepped down
Germany was declared a republic and agreed to Wilson’s termsWithdraw all land forcesWithdraw its fleet to the Baltic SeaSurrender huge amounts of equipment
The Great War had ended
Request for an Armistice
How did the United States help the Allies win the war?
US Navy helped protect the British (Convoys)
Provided more troops for the Allies Helped win significant battles and
stopped the German offensive
Answer the Essential Question
Essential Question: How did the United States mobilize its
resources to fight the war?
The War at Home
United States declared war on Germany in 1917
Americans began mobilizing Gathering resources and preparing for warAffected every part of American life
Mobilizing the Nation
Industry booms to produce war materialsLabor shortage
Men leave their jobs to fight Immigration slowsNew opportunities for women taking men’s
jobsGreat Migration: Hundreds of thousands
of African American’s come to Northern cities to find good jobs
Workers During the War
US had to produce food for the United States and the AlliesFood Administration encouraged farmers to
grow more and people to eat lessEncouraged voluntary rationingAmericans consumed less and exported more
Producing Supplies
Anti-War Sentiment was strongCommittee on Public Information
launched a massive propaganda campaignDistributed million of pro-war pamphlets,
posters, articles and booksProvided newspapers with government
accounts of the warHired speakers, writers and actors to build
support
Mobilizing Support
Espionage Act of 1917Tried to silence dissent (disagreement or
opposition)Provided stiff penalties for espionage or spyingPenalized people for interfering with military
recruitingSabatoge Act and Sedition Act
Made it a crime to say, print or write any criticism recognized as negative about the government
Controlling Public Opinion
How did World War I benefit workers?
Answer the Essential Question: How did the US mobilize its resources to fight the war?
Making Connections
Essential Question: Why did President Wilson’s Peace Plan fail?
Searching for Peace
World leaders from 27 nations met at a peace conference
Enormous problems lay aheadEurope was in ruins – landscape, towns and
farms destroyedHuman losses from war and disease were huge
(estimated at 9 million)People were homeless and hungry
Making Peace
Wilson’s Peace Plan – aimed at giving people the right to decide how they are governedAdjusted boundaries in Europe to allow for new
nationsCalled for free trade and freedom of the seasEnd to secret treaties between nationsLimits on armsFormation of the League of Nations
Member nations would help preserve peace and prevent future wars
Respect and protect one another’s independence
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Many European nations put their interests first
European powers wanted revenge while Wilson’s Fourteen Points opposed punishment for defeated nations
Believed Germany should make reparations or payment for damage done
The Allies Disagree
June 28, 1919 – Signed by Germany and the Allies
Dealt harshly with GermanyHad to accept full responsibility for the conflictHad to pay billions of dollars in reparationsHad to disarm and give up territory in EuropeHad to give up colonies
Included Wilson’s League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles
Republicans led by Henry Cabot Lodge opposed the treaty
Some Republicans wanted to embarrass Wilson
The Treaty was rejected and the US never joined the League of NationsTreaty was too tough on GermanyCommitted the US too strongly to international
affairs
Opposition at Home
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