World War I

Causes of the War Balance of Power in Europe

Franco-Prussian War (unification) German Industry

Tensions in SE Europe Sick Man of Europe Power Struggle

Balkans wanted autonomy Failed Alliance System

Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) Triple Entente (France, Russia, England)

Push into the Balkans Russia and Austria-Hungary come close to war Archduke Assassinated

The dominoes fall People believed it would be a quick war, lasts from 1914-1918

American Neutrality (1914 -1917) Americans

Some pro-German Irish

Some pro-British

Wilson issued a Proclamation of Neutrality

Important to note: Germans are not Nazis

U.S. Commercial Interests in Europe

1914 - US had 800 million dollars in trade with allies

1914 - Only 169 million dollars in trade with the central powers.

1916 – 3 billion dollars in trade with the allies. US had a financial stake in the war on the British

side.

British Propaganda British cut the Atlantic cable from

Germany to America. English dramatized German brutality

Submarines – barbaric Stealth Left survivors to die

Germans invaded neutral Belgium

German/American Tensions German U-

boats: unrestricted submarine warfare Lusitania – 128

Americans die Sussex Pledge

– Germans halt sub war

American Attitudes Some Americans -

Preparedness Neutrality

Woman’s Peace Party – 1915

William J Bryan

Wilson’s Reactions Wilson didn’t want to go to war, but he wanted

the allies to win. Campaign of 1916

Reelected on the “He kept us out of War”

“Peace Without Victory” Speech Neither side could save face

Reasons for US entry Most people were pro-allies Economic investment in the allies Unrestricted Sub Warfare Zimmerman Telegraph

Germans Resume Unrestricted Sub Warfare.

German officials believed it was their best chance for victory

They made two judgments… Cut allied supplies – 1917 offensive US couldn’t mobilize quickly

Zimmerman Telegram From Germany to Mexico. Germans invited Mexico

into war Return Mexican land

Brits intercepted this letter Outraged the US

population.

Mobilization US is pretty unprepared at start of US

involvement. Wilson centralizes economic power.

Railway Administration – standardize/prioritize railroads.

War Industry Board – fixed prices & managed production goals

Committee on Public Information – propaganda to support war effort

American Propaganda

Funding the war effort Raised income tax

Graduated rate between 2%-15%

Excess profits tax Tax on profits in excess of prewar profits

Liberty bonds 4 installments 4% - 4.5% interest

Draft May 1917 –Selective Service Act –

established conscription 24 million Americans registered for the draft 3 million entered the armed forces Drawn from a national lottery

Anti-War Dissent, Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights Suppression of Anti-War Dissent

Espionage Act - 1917 Make false reports to interfere with military

operation Cause insubordination/mutiny Fined up to $10,000 and up to 20 years in prison

Sedition Act 1918 (amendment to espionage act) crime for use of disloyal language against the US

Prosecuted dozens

Attack on all things German People of German dissent or

German names were harassed

German was once a required language

Sauerkraut was nicknamed “victory cabbage”

The U.S. Military Effort U.S. enters war

By 1917 – allies were in tough shape. Morale and economic boost.

German two front war ends Czarist Russia falls - Nov of 1917. Germany focuses on West.

Spring 1918, American Expeditionary Force in France Gen John J Pershing – commander of the Army

Americans fight in their own units Americans involved in fighting at…

Chateau-Thierry – fight back a German thrust toward Paris – June 1918 Belleau Wood – June, 1918 Second Battle of the Marne – July 1918 Rheims – July 1918 Meuse-Argonne – Sept-Nov 1918

Germany asks for Peace Nov 11, 1918 – Armistice ends the war More than 115,000 Americans were killed Peace Conference opens in Jan 1919 at

Versailles

Fourteen Points Wilson tries to define the specific war objectives of the allies.

System of secret alliance be ended Freedom of Seas for neutrals Eliminate tariff barriers – free trade Reduction of national armaments Partial adjustment of colonial claims Self-determination used in redrawing the map of Europe (Poland) Formation of League of Nations

Political independence and territorial integrity of members Vision of the 14 Points

New world order based on international law and collective security This is very idealistic and also quite visionary.

Treaty of Versailles Clemenceau (France), Lloyd-George (England) Orlando (Italy)

Pragmatic, vindictive Concerned about Germany in future

Signed by Germany under protest on June 28, 1919 War Guilt clause Germany to pay the full cost of war for themselves and enemies

Impossible number to expect Germany to pay Territorial losses as well

US & the Treaty of Versailles He fights hard to get the League of Nations (LON) included in

Treaty of Versailles US Senate has to approve the Treaty of Versailles Factions in Senate

Irreconcilables – opposed US participation in (LON) – perpetuated power of imperialists (LaFollette)

Reservationists – Felt it limited Congressional authority to declare war (now we would have to answer to an international congress, which doesn’t have American interests in mind) (Henry Cabot Lodge)

Wilson appeals to the people and campaigns for the signing of the treaty. He suffered a stroke and is disabled

US never ratifies the Treaty of Versailles. The US signed separate treaties to end the war with Germany and Austria in 1921-22.

Middle East From Dec 1917-Nov 1918, British army stormed

through the Middle East as the Ottoman Empire crumbled.

After the war, the British carved up the Middle East and created many of the nations that exist today

Saudi Arabia went to the Arabs Iraq, Palestine, Trans-Jordan became British

mandates Syria became a French mandate