Chapter 11
The First World War
Section 1
World War I Begins
A devotion to the interests and culture of
one’s nation (We are better than everyone and only we matter)
This will lead to competition and rivalry Increases resentment from ethnic groups that
are dominated by others and want their own country
Many ethnic groups look to larger nations for protection like the Slavs looking to Russia (Serbs in Serbia AND Austria-Hungary)
Nationalism
Been practiced by European countries for a
very long time as the extended their political and economic control over others
The ruling countries use the raw materials of a colony to create goods to then sell back to the colonies so the fatherland makes money
Germany industrializes and now competes with England and France for colonies
Imperialism
Empires are expensive to build and defend so
nationalism and imperialism lead to increased military spending which can be seen as a threat
Competitors for empires develop armed forces and use them as a tool of diplomacy
Germany’s army grows, then they decide to expand their navy to compete with Great Britain. France, Italy, Japan and the U.S. then join the competition
Militarism
Pledge of “I’ve got your back” before there is
a fight Triple Entente: France, Britain and Russia Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Ottoman Empire Is okay for awhile as people are afraid to
disturb the balance of power, but once a conflict arises it means EVERYONE’S involved.
Alliance System
Assassination
Balkan Peninsula (powder-keg of Europe) is fought over by stronger countries all for different reasons
June 28, 1914 Archduke Fran-Ferdinand (heir to Austrian throne) visited Bosnia capital of Sarajevo, Gavrilo Princip (a Serbian nationalist) shot him and his wife
One month later Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Could have been a quick war with a decisive winner, but wasn’t because of the Alliance System
Because of a treaty Germany is obligated to
back-up Austria-Hungary so they declare war on Russia (which supports Serbs) on August 1, then on France on August 3 (because France and Russia are allies)
Germany then invades Belgium so Great Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary
Alliances Complicate the War
August 3, 1914 Germany invades Belgium with the
Schlieffen Plan Hold against Russia, then quick drive through Belgium
to Paris then combine and defeat Russia Allies deserted Belgium but stopped the advance at
the Marne River in France Neither side could outflank the other so they both dug
trenches instead Two lines of trenches cross France, rat-infested, cold,
disgusting, fighting for yards of land each day and mowed down by machine gun fire
The Fighting Starts
Trench Warfare
Socialists: it is an imperialist & capitalist
struggle to control foreign markets, do not get involved
Pacifists: war is evil & the U.S. should be an example
Naturalized citizens want their birth country to win
Most Americans feel the strongest ties to England, and don’t like the stories of “the bully of Europe”
Most importantly economic ties strongest with the Allies (they buy more of our stuff so support them)
Divided Loyalties
Britain blockades German coast, includes food
as contraband, extends the blockade to neutral ports and mines the entire North Sea
American stuff going to Germany gives up and goes home, Germany can’t import food or fertilizer, 750,000 Germans die from the resulting famine
Americans didn’t like the British blockade, but they liked Germany’s response even less
British Blockade
Counter blockade of U-boats, any Allied boat in the
waters around Britain would be sunk May 7, 1915 U-boat sunk the Lusitania (a British
cruise ship), 128 Americans die (boat WAS also carrying ammunition)
Germany sank another cruise liner and 2 Americans before agreeing not to sink any more liners, broke promise and offered new promise IF America could convince Britain to end the blockade of food and fertilizer, otherwise Germany would resume unrestricted submarine warfare
German U-boat Response
1916 Election
Wilson ran for reelection on the slogan “He kept us out of war”
His opponent went to bed believing he would be elected
When Wilson wins he tries to negotiate a peace without a winner
Resume unrestricted warfare, this means
America cannot stay neutral, but they wait Zimmerman Note, from Germany to Mexico
pledging mutual defense and support Sinking of 4 unarmed American ships No more Russian Monarchy so we can pretend
we are joining the “right” side
German Provocation
April 2, 1917 Wilson asks Congress to declare
war They agree a few days later Wilson’s purpose is to “make the world safe
for democracy”
America Acts
Section 2
American Power Tips the Balance
Selective Service Act (draft) 3 million called up, 2 million actually make it
to Europe and ¾ see combat Blacks serve in segregated army units, mostly
non-combat duties, not allowed in navy or marines
Women no allowed to serve in army except as volunteer nurses, can serve in noncombat positions in navy and marines
Raising an Army
Exempted shipyard workers from the draft, ran
campaign emphasizing importance, gave flags to families, encouraged car owners to give them rides to work
Used fabrication techniques, parts built elsewhere and assembled in the shipyard (launched 95 in one day)
Government took over ships for private use and militarized them for war use
Mass Production
Convoy System
Destroyers escort merchant ships across the Atlantic
Cuts ship loss in half 230 mile barrier of
mines across the North Sea
Germans had a hard time replacing subs and submariners
Fighting in Europe
After 2 ½ years, exhausted and demoralized
Americans contribute numbers, freshness and enthusiasm
American Expeditionary Force led by General Pershing, nicknamed “doughboys” were from small towns and culture shocked by Paris and then war
New Weapons
Machine guns, tanks, airplanes…
Tanks: bullets bounce off, drive through barbed wire, clear a path for infantry, shoot down scouting planes
Airplanes: flimsy and first used solely for scouting, later used for dogfights, then mounted machine guns make them real weapons of war, then start carrying bombs and escorting observation balloons
New Hazards
Dysentery, poison gas, dead bodies, rats, lice, polluted water, lack of sleep, battle fatigue, “shell shock”, trench foot, trench mouth…
Russia withdraws, Germany can concentrate
on France Get within 50 miles of Paris U.S. arrive, help stop the advance and push
back the Germans all the way to the 2nd battle of the Marne
American Offensive
Alvin York
One of many war heroes Was once a conscientious
objector (Thou shalt not kill), joined the army because he felt the cause was just
In one day killed 25 Germans by himself and captured 132 prisoners with the help of 6 other doughboys
Made a sergeant, and an instant celebrity upon returning home
November 3, 1918 Austria-Hungary surrenders German sailors mutiny against government,
revolution spreads, Socialists take over, Kaiser gives up the throne
Germans were too exhausted to continue and agree to an armistice
11th hour, 11th day, 11th month peace will reign in 1918
The Collapse of Germany
Bloodiest war in history to date 22 million dead, 20 million wounded, 10
millions refugees, $338 billion U.S. lost 48,000 in battle 65,000 of disease,
200,000 wounded
The Final Toll
Section 3
The War at Home
Main regulatory body established in 1917 Urges mass production, efficiency, eliminate waste,
standardize parts Set production quotas, allocate raw materials Production increases by 20% Inflation also increases since they only controlled
wholesale prices, profits also skyrocketed Railroad and Fuel Administration also existed to
regulate wartime economy and conserve “gasless Sundays”, “lightless nights”, Daylight Savings Time
War Industries Board
Wages increased, but so did food and housing costs Companies and stockholders made millions Huge gap in pay, long hours, dangerous “sped up”
conditions, child labor all forced unions to grow 6,000 strikes broke out so Wilson organizes National
War Labor Board If workers refused board decisions they lost their
draft exemption (“work or fight”) Board improves conditions, hours, safety and child
labor
War Economy
Food Administration
Set up to conserve food, follow gospel of the clean plate
One meatless, one sweetless, two wheatless, two porkless
Victory gardens and 40 million extra acres into production help triple food exports to Allies
War Financing
$35.5 billion of war effort 1/3 through taxes
(progressive income tax, war-profits tax, higher tax on tobacco, liquor and luxury goods)
2/3 through war bonds, thousands of volunteers sold them and even movie star encouraged those who weren’t “friends of Germany” to buy them
Propaganda
Biased communication designed to influence actions
Draft, rationing, war bonds, victory gardens, purpose, “How the War Came to America”…
Boy Scouts distribute the literature which encourages patriotism (and also racism)
Mostly against German immigrants and
descendants (beaten, tarred & feathered, lynched…)
Germans names lost jobs No Mozart, Bach, Beethoven… No more
teaching German in schools, no reading German authors
Liberty measles, Salisbury Steak or Liberty Sandwiches, Liberty cabbage, Liberty pups…
Anti-Immigrant Hysteria
Fined or imprisoned for interfering with the
war effort or saying anything disloyal, profane or abusive against the government or the war
2,000 prosecutions, ½ convictions Newspapers and magazines lost mailing
privileges Senator refused seat, professor fired, labor
leaders jailed and fined…
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Blacks and the War
DuBois said blacks should support the war (have to be seen as human when fighting…)
Trotter said blacks should not support a racist government
Most backed the war
Large scale movement of hundreds of
thousands of Southern blacks to the cities in the North
Escape racial discrimination; boll weevil infestation, floods and droughts meant less crops; factory jobs open in the North as soldiers leave
Migration actually increases racial tension in the North
The Great Migration
Start working “men-only” jobs because they
are needed (railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers, shipbuilders, miners…)
Volunteered with Red Cross, bonds sales, victory gardens…
Some joined the Peace Movement Gained support for suffrage, 19th amendment
passed in 1919
Women in the War
The Flu Epidemic
1918-1919 ¼ of U.S. population affected
Also affected economy (mines closed, telephone service cut in half, staggered working hours to avoid contagion, coffin shortage left poor dead unburied for a week…
Spread by soldiers, ½ million Americans die (30 million worldwide)
Section 4Wilson Fights for Peace
First Five: No secret treaties, Freedom of the
seas, Low tariffs for free trade, Arms reduced, Consider people when colonizing.
Next Eight: Base country boundary lines along “historically established lines of nationality”.
Point 14: *League of Nations*, an international organization to address diplomatic crises. That way countries could discuss and solve problems before jumping straight to war.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Big Four
Peace talks did not include Central Powers, now Communist Russia, and small Allied Nations.
Big Four: France: Clemenceau,
prevent German Invasions Great Britain: Lloyd George,
make Germany pay Italy: Orlando, gain
Austrian-held territory United States: Wilson,
Fourteen Points
June 28, 1919. Created 9 new nations and redrew boundaries. Lets winners take over Ottoman Empire as
colonies until they are ready for self-rule. Germany not allowed to maintain an army. Germany must return Alsace-Lorraine to
France. Germany must pay war reparations of $33
billion to the Allies.
Treaty Provisions
War-guilt clause: humiliate Germany by forcing
them to accept full responsibility for starting the war.
War reparations: There is no way that Germany can pay back this huge debt. Their money-making colonies were taken away from them.
Russia: even though they were on the winning side for most of the war and suffered the most casualties they were not included in the peace talks and had more territory taken away than the loser: Germany.
Treaty Weaknesses
Too harsh Too imperialistic New boundaries don’t allow sufficient self-rule
League of Nations threatens isolationism and infringes on Congress’s right to declare war.
Opposition to Treaty
Wilson speaks all over the country trying to
get support for the treaty, but fails. It is voted on twice in the Senate and not ratified either time so U.S. eventually signs a separate treaty with Germany after Wilson is no longer president.
Also Congress refuses to allow Wilson to join the newly formed League of Nations because they do not want the League to shape our foreign policy.
Treaty Ratification?
Accelerated social change for African
Americans and women Leftover resentment for immigrants in U.S. Leftover political instability and violence in
Europe Leftover desire for vengeance in Germany.
Legacy of the War