9. America in World War I

Terms: World War I Zimmerman Telegram Freedom of the Seas Lusitania Sussex Pledge Submarine Warfare Selective Service Act Trench Warfare U-Boats

War in Europe 1914-1918

Nationalism: Patriotic pride led to rivalries between existing nations and many ethnic groups wanted to form their own country.

Imperialism: The more colonies controlled the more powerful the country was.

System of Alliances: By the 1890’s Europe was divided into two alliances. Germany and Austria on one side / Russia, France and Great Britain on the other. Any dispute would involve all the others.

Militarism: Powerful military establishments dominated European life.

Underlying Causes of the War

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austrian throne) by a Serbian national.

Austria felt that the assassination was backed by the government of Serbia and declared war.

In a matter of weeks, most of Europe had declared war on each other.

Spark That Set It Off

World War I was a global war fought with new destructive technologies. It was far more destructive than any previous armed conflict.

New weaponry Machine gun Poison gas Submarines Airplanes.

Fought in trenches that extended for hundreds of miles.

Trenches were separated by fields of barbed wire and mines known as “no man’s land.”

War of Technology

Tanks were first used, but still primitive Airplanes were used to see what was going

on across enemy lines. German’s developed the submarine (U-

Boats) and were so small there was no room for survivors (Battleships always rescued survivors when they attacked.

Developing Technologies

Terms: Neutrality Allies Central Powers Propaganda Zimmerman Telegram Unrestricted Submarine Warfare American Expeditionary Force John J. Pershing Battle of Argonne Forest Alvin York Espionage Act of 1917

America Intervenes

President Wilson tried to maintain neutrality. Won reelection in 1916 based on keeping us

out of war. However, there was no doubt that we had

closer ties with the Allies Americans were shocked by the German

invasion of Belgium (a neutral country) A secret message from the German Foreign

Minister was sent to Mexico promising the return of US territories to Mexico if Mexico would help Germany fight the US. (Zimmerman Telegram)

America Intervenes

British blockade of Germany kept food and supplies from getting to the people.

Only way to break the blockade was to use submarines.

German U-Boats sink the Lusitania (British passenger ship)1000 passengers killed with 128 Americans

French ship Sussex was sunk and 50 people killed. Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic ties.

At first Germany promised not to do it any more then announced they were resuming unrestricted submarine warfare.

Freedom of the Seas is Compromised

The American Expeditionary Force under the command of General John J. Pershing (same guys as those sent to Mexico) was sent to Europe.

Pershing demanded that the American forces fight together and not just be used to fill gaps in the French and British armies

About ¼ of the 1 million men lost their lives. President Wilson would not allow African

Americans to serve in the AEF, but two regiments served directly under French command.

Highlights of the War

1918 in Northeastern France near the Belgian border.

Germans had spent four years building their defenses in that area.

Pershing assembled 600,000 soldiers and 40,000 pieces of equipment and shattered the German army

Alvin York is the most decorated of American soldiers in WWI. Could have qualified as a conscientious

objector In the Argonne Forest with nothing more than

his rifle and pistol, he reportedly killed 15 Germans and captured 132 prisoners.

Battle of Argonne forest

President Wilson established several agencies to regulate the economy

Congress passed the Selective Service Act and millions of American men registered for the draft.

2 million American troops eventually reached Europe.

Women and African Americans filled many of the jobs left vacant by the soldiers.

Higher taxes and war bonds paid for the $30 billion cost. American economy benefited since exports to the Allied powers greatly increased.

The Home Front, 1917-1918

Read “Schenck v. U.S. (1919) and complete the following Who are the two sides of the court case? What was the issue? What was the decision? What is the significance of this decision?

Writing Assignment

Terms: Woodrow Wilson Fourteen Points Versailles Treaty Reparations League of Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Isolationism

Establishing the Peace

Wilson goes to the treaty table with a list of 14 items that needed to be addressed to avoid another war.

Immediately in trouble as he did not take any Senators with him

At odds with other Allied leaders at the Paris Peace Conference who wanted to impose harsh penalties on the Germans

Gives up most of his 14 points except the creation of the League of Nations

Peace Negotiations

Germany loses territory to France and Poland as well as overseas colonies.

Austria-Hungary is divided into several new national states.

Turkey lost its territories in the Middle East Germany had to reduce their military

strength, forced to accept blame for starting the war and to pay reparations to the Allies.

League of Nations was created to serve as a forum to settle disputes before it came to war. The U.S. and Russia failed to join it.

Treaty of Versailles, 1918

Senate was concerned that it would lead the U.S. into unnecessary military commitments.

Wilson refused to compromise Henry Cabot Lodge led the opposition. He

was a strong supporter of imperialism and he wanted the U.S. to be free to pursue that goal.

Wilson takes his case directly to the American people.

Wilson suffered a stroke and the treaty is not accepted.

The Senate Refuses to Accept the Treaty of Versailles

America returns to its more traditional policy of isolationism

After the War

On a separate sheet of paper, complete the “Checking Your Understanding” as a review activity for your test.

Review