World War I: The Great War
The following document is designed to be a quick reference for teaching and learning about World War I. For greater detail, visit the resources section at the end of this document. A fill-in-the-blank worksheet is available for use with these lecture notes.
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Table of Contents |
WORLD WAR I: Causes
From 1871 to 1914, these factors led to war in Europe:
1) NATIONALISM: exaggerated patriotism.
2) IMPERIALISM esp. colonialism in Asia and Africa.
3) MILITARISM: A build-up of armies and weapons.
4) ANARCHY: Lack of international control to prevent armed conflict.
5) The ALLIANCE SYSTEM:
Allowed a chain-reaction to take place.
As the 19th century closed, Britain, France, & Russia formed the TRIPLE ENTENTE. Germany, Austria-Hungary, & ITALY formed the TRIPLE ALLIANCE (w/ OTTOMAN EMPIRE). These forces would become the ALLIED and CENTRAL POWERS.
EVENTS: A number of wars in the Balkan nations
and in Morocco during the early years of the 20th
C. increased tensions in Europe.
June 28, 1914:
The Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was
assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. Austria-Hungary declared
war on Serbia. Russia came to Serbia’s defense.
Germany backed its Germanic ally and went to war
against Russia & Serbia. France & Britain then went
to war against the monarchies of Germany & Austria-Hungary.
THE US TRIES TO STAY NEUTRAL: Wilson asked the American people not to take sides, but most Americans supported the ALLIES. Many German-Americans and Irish-Americans were anti-British, supporting the CENTRAL powers. Britain’s navy was the strongest in the world. Its stopped all shipping on the seas carrying weapons to Europe.
WORLD WAR I: US NEUTRALITY
Later, Britain stopped all trade with nations on the
European continent. The US protested, but Britain
remained careful in its relations with the US.
Germany tried to break the British blockade by
using the submarine, called U-BOAT. In May, 1915,
Germany sank the British liner LUSITANIA. 1198
died, including. 128 Americans. As Wilson campaigned for
re-election, he began a naval rearmament program.
Germany sank all ships in the waters around Britain.
This UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE made
Wilson break off diplomatic relations with Germany.
When Britain intercepted the ZIMMERMAN NOTE,
Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war,
which he got on April 6, 1917.
MOBILIZATION: Wilson was given full power to direct the war. The US Navy joined Britain against the U-boats. A draft of men 18 to 45 years of age was started.
Wilson’s WARTIME AGENCIES:
1) the WAR INDUSTRIES
BOARD: Produced war materials. It was run by
banker Bernard Baruch.
2) The FOOD ADMIN.: Set
rationing with "Wheatless Mondays" and "Meatless
Thursdays." Run by Herbert Hoover.
3) RAILROADS:
Nationalized along with communications.
4) COUNCIL of NATIONAL SECURITY: Run by Samuel
Gompers.
5) COMMITTEE on PUBLIC INFORMATION: Put out
PROPAGANDA against Germany.
6) SHIPPING
BOARD: Had to replace sunken vessels.
RESTRICTING WARTIME FREEDOM: Laws were
passed to put down opposition to the war.
1) The
ESPIONAGE ACT of 1917: Jailed or fined those who
interfered with the draft or who encouraged disloyal
actions.
2) The SEDITION ACT of 1918: Jailed anyone who criticized the govt. Since the SOCIALIST
Party opposed the war, EUGENE V. DEBS was put
in jail for fighting the draft. The govt. also moved
against the IWW, arresting over 100 of its leaders.
These violations of the Constitution led to the 1920
creation of the ACLU to protect the Bill of Rights.
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THE US FIGHTS TO VICTORY: American DOUGH BOYS began fighting in Europe in 1918 under Gen. John J. Pershing, who led the AEF, a force of 1 mil lion men. 1918: Russia pulls out of the war after the Communists take power. In Belgium and France, TRENCH WARFARE led to stalemate. Germany first used POISON GAS in 1915, and Britain introduced the tank in 1916. The turning point came in mid- 1918 in favor of the Allies. Germany signed an ARM ISTICE on Nov. 11, 1918, which ended the fighting. The 14 POINTS: Wilson presented his peace plan of 14 major ideals in Jan., 1918. These ideals included freedom of the seas, disarmament, national self- determination, and territorial changes. The 14th point was a LEAGUE of NATIONS: an international congress where nations could prevent war through negotiation. Left: An example of trench warfare |
Wilson went to Paris to attend the peace conference. There he made up the Big 4: with England’s David Lloyd George, France’s Georges Clemenceau, and Italy’s Vittorio Orlando. Wilson demanded that the LEAGUE of NATIONS be included within the peace treaty. The TREATY of VERSAILLES contained an agreement to form the League, part of which was called ARTICLE 10, which stated that a member nation must help defend another nation that was attacked. This is called COLLECTIVE SECURITY. The treaty included other changes:
1) Germany gave up territory to France
2) Germany
was forced to pay huge REPARATIONS
3) It had to
admit to ‘WAR GUILT’
4) and give up its colonies,
5) recognize new European nations,
6) limit the size
of its armed forces.
Wilson faced OPPOSITION TO THE TREATY IN THE SENATE: Most Americans were in favor of the treaty, but it was opposed by Sen. HENRY CABOT LODGE of Mass. He led a group of senators called RESERVATIONISTS’ who were willing to accept the treaty with changes, especially Article 10. Another senator, William. F. Borah of Idaho led a group of 16 isolationist senators called the IRRECONCILABLES, who opposed the League of Nations in any form. In order to gain support for the treaty and the League, Wilson toured the West and Midwest in 1919. While in Colorado, Wilson suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. WORLD WAR I: WILSON vs. The SENATE. While recovering, Wilson refused to accept Lodge’s changes to the treaty. The Senate voted in 1919 and 1920 on the treaty, and it was defeated twice. The Democrats lost the election of 1920 when Warren G. Harding defeated James Cox. This ended the fight over the Treaty of Versailles. In a joint resolution, Congress officially declared the war over on July 2, 1921. The US signed separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria-Hungary was broken up, Yugoslavia was created, and the League of Nation never included the US, which made it a weak and ineffective body.