23.1: Causes of World War I

Nationalism
-inspired new nations, but caused ethnic groups to break away demanding independent nations of their own / Imperial Expansion
- the desire to expand a nation’s empire and obtain colonies often led to countries competing against each other
Military Buildup
- if one nation increases military then other nations feel threatened and will do the same / Forming Alliances
- Alliance system is formed and one attack on one nation means an attack on many nations

Event: Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife (from Austria-Hungary) were assassinated by GavriloPrincip (from Serbia)

-Austria-Hungary declares war against Serbia

23.1: War in Europe (continued)

Allied Powers / Central Powers
-Great Britain
-France
-Russia
-Japan
-**Italy (left Central Powers to join the allies)
-Serbia (dropped out quickly) / -Germany
-Austria-Hungary (dropped out quickly)
-Ottoman Empire

Western Front Battles-WWI

-Germany started the fighting by: invading Belgium as part of the plan to invade France; Belgium was a neutral country

**3 Major Battles:

1. Battle of the Marne

- Launched by: Germany

- Location: France (Marne River)

- Dates: September 5 – September 12, 1914

- Countries involved: France, Great Britain, and Germany

- Outcome (who won): France (stopped Germans from capturing Paris)

2. Battle of Verdun

- Launched by: Germany

- Location: France

- Dates: 1916 (Feb-Dec)

- Countries involved: France, Great Britain, and Germany

- Outcome (who won): France and Great Britain (Allies)

3. Battle of the Somme

- Launched by: Great Britain and France

- Location: France

- Dates: July, 1916

- Countries involved: Great Britain, France, and Germany

- Outcome (who won): Great Britain and France (Allies)

**Although the allies “technically” won these battles, all were close to a stalemate

WWI Technology:

  1. improved cannons
  2. improved artillery/shells
  3. better rifles
  4. poisonous gas
  5. armored tank
  6. airplane
  7. submarine (U-Boats)
  8. barbed wire

WWI “battle vocab.”:

-stalemate: when neither side is taking action or progressing

-trenches: an elaborate network of ditches which provided protection from flying bullets and artillery shells

-offensive: launching an attack

-rival: enemy

-frontline: place on the battlefield where most action takes place

23.2 America’s Road to War

The US siding with the Allies even though they were not actually involved in the war by:

-trading with the allies (weapons and supplies for the war); they were unable to trade with Germany because of the British blockade against Germany

Submarine Warfare

Two Events that made America side with the Allies:

1. German U-Boat torpedoed British passenger liner the Lusitania, 128 US citizens were onboard

2. German U-Boat torpedoed a French passenger ship the Sussex, several Americans were injured

The Zimmermann Telegram

- Sent by:Germany

- Addressed to:Mexico

- Intercepted by:Great Britain

- Telegram said:Germany wanted Mexico to join the war and fight with the Central Powers against the US if the US joins the Allies. If Mexico would join the Central Powers, they would then get back the territories of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona—even though Germany has no influence over these states

Date US enters WWI: April 2, 1917

23.3 America Joins the Allies

Reasons why Allies needed US help:

1. years of trench warfare exhausted troops

2. starting to run out of food and war supplies (starvation)

3. German U-boats taking a deadly toll on Allied shipping

Russian Withdrawal

-Reason why Russia left the war: Lenin and the Bolsheviks wanted to end Russia’s participation in the war so they could focus their energy and resources on setting up a new Communist state.

-List 2 effects of Russia’s withdrawal:

1. Germany was able to move all troops to the Western Front.

2. Germany gained Poland, Russia, and other surrounding Russian territories.

America’s involvement

-Country the US first entered: France

-John J. Pershing: General who led the American Expeditionary Force in Europe

-Doughboys: nickname for American soldiers

-AEF: American Expeditionary Force; refers to our troops in Europe

End of the War

-October 4, 1918: Germany appealed to the US for an armistice

-What were the conditions of the armistice:

1. Germany must accept the plan for peace and not renew hostilities (not allowed to build up military)

2. All German troops must leave Belgium and France (give up any new territory gained)

3. US would only deal with civilian leaders, not with the military

- What happened to Germany’sleader? Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to give up his throne

- November 11, 1918: Germany withdrew their troops and the war was officially over

23.4: The War at Home

Workers During the War

  • Men left jobs to join military
  • Women took industrial jobs
  • Mexicans and African Americans found jobs

Paying for the War

  • War costs $32 billion; liberty Bonds were created to help pay for the war
  • Taxes increased

Producing Supplies

  • Food Administration is created
  • Price controls on food and encouraged rationing
  • War Industries Board: supervised nation’s industrial production

Mobilizing Support

  • Committee on Public Information: persuade Americans that the war represented a battle for democracy and freedom
  • Pro-war pamphlets, posters, articles, and books

African American Migration

  • Great Migration: African Americans moved north for jobs
  • Lived in crowded segregated neighborhoods
  • Race riots occurred

Controlling Public Opinion

  • Socialists and Pacifists opposed the war
  • Espionage Act and Sabotage Act were created to control opinion about the war
  • Communities prohibited German traditions and customs and some German names for items were changed
  • Many people spoke out against these actions; others believed it was necessary to control traitors and disloyal Americans

23.5: Searching for Peace

Wilson’s 14 Points

•adjusting the boundaries of certain countries in Europe

•Free trade

•Freedom of the seas

•End to secret treaties or agreements

•Reductions and limits on arms

•Peaceful settlements of disputes over colonies

League of Nations

•Nations would help preserve peace and prevent future wars:

•Respect and protect one another’s territory and political independence

Treaty of Versailles

–accept full responsibility for the war

–Pay billions of dollars in reparations to the allies

–disarm completely

–Give up overseas colonies and some territory in Europe