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WWI: Turning Point
U.S. Enters,Russia Exits
U.S. Position at Beginning of War
U.S. neutral – war is a “European affair” U.S. strongest, neutral industrialized
nation Major supplier of food, raw materials &
munitions to belligerent (warring) nations Insists on free trade and free travel
What changes to draw the U.S. into war???
Financial Interests at Stake!
U.S. private banks/corporations lent money to both sides until…
U.S. begins to trade more & more with Great Britain because of blockade of Germany
Many goods bought on credit – wanted to insure repayment
Sinking of the Lusitania – May 1915
Germans sink British passenger ship off coast of Ireland
128 Americans killed U.S. warns Germany to
back off Germany temporarily
ends unrestricted submarine warfare
British Propaganda
Most news about the war came from Great Britain
Exaggerated German atrocities against defenseless citizens
“It should be America’s duty to help us subdue the mad dog of Europe”
Zimmerman Telegram March 1917 Message from
German foreign minister to German ambassador to Mexico
Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for support in war
German Submarines
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare – hopes U.S. won’t enter or that they’ll defeat G.B. first
German subs attacked any naval vessel, enemy or neutral, found in what Germany determined was a “war zone”
Germans sink 4 American merchant ships
The “Sinking” of the U.S. Patience
“The world must be made safe for democracy”
April 2, 1917 – Pres Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war
April 6, 1917 – Congress votes to enter war on side of Allies
Meanwhile…
Over in Russia
1st Russian Revolution March 1917
Russian czar overthrown Leaders of revolution promised to
establish a constitutional gov’t All allies now had democratic govt’s WWI became a war between
democratic and non-democratic nations
Russia Before World War I
1905 Russo-Japanese War ends; Russia defeated and economy strained
Czar Nicholas II calls for election of a national Duma – legislature Had little power
Russia During WWI
Russia was cut off from supplies/allies because Turkey (Central Power) controlled the Dardanelles Strait which gave access to the Med. Sea
However, Russia helped the war effort by diverting German troops from attack against the French and British
Russia’s Problems During the War
By 1917 morale reached bottom ¼ of soldiers had no guns of their
own – had to pick up dead soldiers’ guns
Inadequate transport (lack of roads/railroads)
Food shortages
The Fall of the Czar
Czar Nicholas II – unpopular
Incompetent Relied on mystic
healer Rasputin Duma demands
reforms in gov’t – Nicholas dissolves it
The First Russian Revolution: March 1917
Riots break out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg)
Protested shortages of food/fuel Czar’s troops side with rioters March 15, 1917 – Czar Nicholas II
abdicates Ends the 300 year old Romanov dynasty
Provisional Government
Temporary gov’t – constitutional assembly Kerensky – prov gov’t prime minister Rival for power – Soviets (council of
workers) Soviets – socialists - called for immediate
peace, transfer of land to peasants & control of factories by workers
Gov’t lost its support
Opens the Door for Revolution: Socialism Enters
Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of gov’t
Mensheviks (Kerensky) believed a socialist revolution would be the work of masses
Bolsheviks – more radical – wanted to introduce a socialist society by force
Lenin & The Bolsheviks
Lenin – Leader of Bolsheviks
Returned from exile – aided by Germany to get Russia out of war
Organized Bolsheviks Used slogan: “Peace,
Land & Bread”
2nd Russian Revolution
Nov 1917 – Bolsheviks staged a coup d’etat in Petrograd
Established socialist state Ended private ownership of property Distributed land among peasants Made Peace! March 1918 – withdraws
from WWI Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with
Germany Lost much of western territory – 1/3 of pop
Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism, 1919
Russian Civil War
Communists (Bolsheviks) = Reds
Royalists, liberal democrats, moderate socialists = Whites
Whites promise to defeat Reds and re-enter WWI
Communists defeat White forces
Photograph of Red Army
soldier about to be
executed by members of the White
Army.