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World War I

The Causes of World War I


- Causes can be considered both long and short term.
- Long Term
- The isms
- Militarism - European nations have dramatically expanded the size and firepower of their
armies in an ongoing arms race.
- Nationalism - European peoples have a deep pride in their nation of origin. They are also
distrustful of others, most of whom they see as inferior.
- Imperialism - European nations are constantly jockeying for position and new colonies
abroad.
- Secret Alliances - Most European nations are in mutual defense pacts, typically unannounced. This
means a small war could quickly become a big war.
Cont.
- Immediate Causes - Europe is a powder keg, all it needs is a spark to explode.
- The Spark - Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is visiting Serbia. He is attacked and assassinated
by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian Nationalist.
- This activates a number of secret alliances.
- Austria invades Serbia.
- Russia declares war on Austria
- Germany declares war on Russia
- France declares war on Germany.
- Britain declares war after German troops enter Belgium.
- Two sides form
- The Central Powers - Germany, Austria, the Ottoman Empire
- The Triple Entente - Russia, France, Britain
Meanwhile in the USA...
- The United States is officially
NEUTRAL - Wilson is a pacifist.
- HOWEVER:
- Our sympathies lie with Britain, whom we
share a cultural background.
- The United States is happy to sell weapons
to anyone though..
- The British will prevent us from
selling to the Germans by
blockading their ports.
Cont.
- To attempt to combat the British, the
Germans have deployed a new
weapon, the submarine. They are
practicing unrestricted submarine
warfare.
- Ie, any ship which attempts to enter
British waters may be torpedoed.
The Sinking of the Lusitania
- In March 1916, a German U-boat torpedoes the cruise liner RMS Lusitania, whom
they claim was carrying smuggled munitions for Britain. (it was).
- 158 Americans are killed.
- Wilson responds by issuing the Sussex Pledge
- Threatens to break all diplomatic relations with Germany.
- Germany agrees to stop unrestricted sub warfare.
Causes of the War for the US
- By February 1917, the Germans are seeking to end British involvement in the war
before an expected American entry. They resume unrestricted sub warfare,
sinking 4 neutral US merchant vessels.
- The Zimmerman Telegraph - A note from Germany promising to return the
Mexican Cession to Mexico if it entered the war on the side of Germany.
- Even with these events, the war is a hard sell to the American people.
- Wilson frames it as a war to restore democracy, not a war of conquest.
- The War to end all War.
Wilsons 14 Points
- Wilsons plan for peace after the war.
- Attempted to address the CAUSES of war.
- Free Trade
- Disarmament
- Freedom of the seas
- National Self-Determination - ie no more imperialism (Europeans laugh at this)
- Open diplomacy - ie no more secret treaties.
- Point 14 is the most important - A League of Nations
- Precursor to the modern UN.
- Gave nations a forum to work out their problems without violence.
- Provided an international peacekeeping organization to prevent war.
Preparing for War
- The United States is woefully underprepared to fight a war.
- Passes the Selective Service Act - Requires all men to register for service in the miltary.
- The United States must also mobilize.
- Production must be shifted from peacetime luxury good production to military production.
- To facilitate this Wilson creates the War Industries Board, This allows the federal
government to directly control was is being produced in the factory.
- This represents a major change in the relationship between business and government.
Cont.
- Congress will also authorize the creation of the War
Industries Board.
- This commission is designed to direct industrial mobilization - ie
changing production from luxury goods to weapons, uniforms,
warships, etc.
- The message to the American people is Work or Fight.
- They will also create the Railroad, Fuel and Food Administrations
- Promotes things like Wheatless Wednesday and Victory
gardens.
- These represent a fundamental change in the
relationship between business and government -
Government is willing to federalize business in times of
crisis.
The Espionage and Sedition Act
- The Espionage Act - Created fines and jail time for
aiding the enemy.
- This is mostly used against people protesting the draft.
- The Sedition Act
- Made it a crime to criticize the U.S. Government, the war,
uniforms and even the Red Cross during wartime.
- This will be challenged by the case of Schenck v. The
United States - arrested for handing out anti-draft
pamphlets.
- The Supreme Court upheld the power the the US
government to suspend free speech during wartime and
established the clear and present danger test.
- Action which may cause harm to another is
illegal.
Opportunities for Women and Minorities
- Wages rise, as the lack of able-bodied men increases the value of labor.
- As men leave the factories to go fight overseas opportunities open up in those
industries for women and African Americans.
- This will translate into two major movements.
- Womens Suffrage - achieve the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
- The Great Migration - the mass movement of more than 500,000 African Americans to the
deep South to the North.
- Fear over competition for jobs will lead to substantial race riots.
Americans in Europe
- The American Expeditionary Force finally arrives in Europe in mid 1918. The
French want to distribute them to fill holes in French units, the Americans refuse.
(Though they will allow African American soldiers to be provided to the French.)
- The situations for the Europeans is dire. Russia has collapsed in 1917 as the
Bolshevik revolution has caused the monarchy to collapse. This allows the
Germans to shift 1 million soldiers bock west.
Cont.
- American soldiers are known as doughboys.
- The greatest issue facing the Americans is trenchfoot
- Living in the muck and wetness of trench warfare is profoundly damaging to a soldiers feet.
The Armistice
- Unable to budge the front line the
Germans will approach Wilson about a
brokered peace.
- Wilson negotiates the end of the war on
Nov. 11. (Now Veterans Day)
- Requires the Kaiser (or German leader to
step down and be replaced with a democratic
government)
Cont.
- More than 17 MILLION
people die as a result of the
war, with more than 38
million casualties in total.
- In Europe this is referred to
as the Lost Generation.
The Treaty of Versailles
- From the start it is apparent the US and European allies have very different goals.
- The US is interested in lasting peace.
- France and Britain (among others) wanted to establish guilt and get reparations from Germany.
- They also wanted the spoils of war - LAND
- The Europeans ignore WIlsons main ideas including open democracy, free seas
and national self-determination.
- The US Congress is also no supportive of Wilsons plans and is not supportive.
Cont.
Ultimately:

- Germany
- Given total blame for the war
- Is stripped of all colonial holdings and loses land in Europe
(humiliation)
- Is given severe military restrictions.
- Is ordered to pay enormous reparations to the Allies
- This treaty effectively destroys Germany and opens the door
to extremism.
- Austria-Hungary is split
- Japan, an ally, is cut out of the bargaining table and
treated like second class citizens.
- The League of Nations is established and all signers
become members - the US is NOT a signer.
Woodrow Wilsons Plan for Peace
- Wilson abhorred war and sought a lasting peace agreement for Europe
- The Fourteen Points
- Called for the abolition of secret treaties.
- a massive reduction in armaments.
- an adjustment in colonial claims.
- freedom of the seas
- Most importantly - A League of Nations
- Idealism and a precursor to the United Nations
- designed to give nations a place to work out their differences.
- When Wilson presents this plan at the Treaty of Versailles he is undercut by
Congress and:
Undercut by Congress
U.S. SENATE Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge and the 39 Reservationists
Wrote 14 Reservations
Opposed to Art. X requirement which would morally bind them to
aid any member thats attacked
Do NOT want to join the LEAGUE OF NATIONS want to preserve
U.S. sovereignty over foreign affairs
Wilson will NOT compromise
IRRECONCILIABLES (12) wont ratify it at all .. with our without the
reservations - no compromise.
ISOLATIONISTS oppose the entangling alliances;
INTERNATIONALIST
Cont.
14 Lodge Reservations are added to the treaty
Wilson orders Democrats to vote against the treaty
Defeated twice
Wilson goes to the people for approval
Irreconcilables followed him to each city and
gave an opposing speech
Suffers a stroke in 1919 just 6 days into tour
Wife Edith acts as President
Wilson incapacitated for about eight months
The Legacy of WWI
- Government excess & threats to the civil liberties of Americans
- Organized economy
- Womens right to vote, 19th Amendment
- Return to isolationism
- End of Progressive Era
- Prohibition, 18th Am.
- Opportunities for minorities (Great Migration)
- BUT, racial problems in North
- Rise in KKK numbers

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