Topic 5 Part 1 – World War I 1914-1919
5.1 America Enters World War I
The Causes of World War I – During the late 1800s Prussia in an effort to unify the German states set in motion a
series of events and wars that causes tension to grow in Europe. Causes: (1) System of Alliances, (2) Militarism, (3)
Imperialism, and (4) Nationalism. Trigger: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Militarism and Alliances:
Militarism – the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military
capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
Alliance – a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.
Alliance shift prior to 1914:
o France loses land (Alsace-Lorraine) along the border to Germany and quickly become enemies.
o Triple Alliance – Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary become allies.
o Franco-Russia Alliance – Russia fearful of Germany and already in conflict with Austria-Hungary allies with
France
Alliances carry the expectation of military aid, which fostered militarism.
o Germany became the strongest nation in Europe by building a large modern navy.
o Great Britain fearful of this growing threat begins to build warships.
o Triple Entente – Great Britain, France, and Russia have an unofficial alliance.
Imperialism and Nationalism:
Imperialism – when a stronger nation imposes on a weaker nation its political and economic policies resulting in
social and cultural influences.
Nationalism – a feeling of intense pride in one’s homeland. (Germany and Italy becoming countries/Other groups
wishing for independence: Hungarians, Czech, Poles, Slavs – Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, and Slovenes)
People with a unifying culture (language, history, and customs) and interests should have their own country
(sovereignty).
o Balkan Crisis – Ottoman Empire and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire had controlled this area. This area was
home to many national groups such as the Slavs. Serbs gained their independence and wanted to unite other
Slavic groups.
o Russia supports the Serbian state
o Austria-Hungary tried to limit the growth of Serbia and annexed Bosnia from the Ottoman Empire.
o An Assassination Begins WWI - June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian-Hungarian
throne, was visiting Sarajevo when he was assassinated by a Bosnian national.
Everything was in place for the Great War – nationalist, imperialistic agendas, military build-up, and alliances.
Alliances Cause a Chain Reaction
o Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia triggering the alliances (Austria-Hungary with Germany against
Serbia and Russia (subsequently France).
o Russia mobilized its army along German border – Germany declares war on Russia and France – World War
I begins.
o Germany invades France, by way of Belgium, which had signed a treaty with Great Britain, forcing Great
Britain to declare war on Germany.
o Italy joined the Entente Powers (Allies) in 1915.
o Germany and Austria-Hungary joined by the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria become the Central Powers.
War arenas: Eastern Front (Germany against Russia), Western Front, which became the bloody stalemate of trench
warfare in France (Germany against France and Britain), Middle East (Ottoman Empire against Britain and their
colonies)
Technological Innovations Lead to Stalemate – 450 miles of trenches stretch from Belgium coast to border of
Switzerland. The war dragged on for years with soldiers thrown in assaults against artillery, machine gun, rifle,
barbed wire protected trenches (No Man’s Land). Millions of men on both sides die in horrific conditions.
New Technology
o Poison Gas (Mustard Gas) caused vomiting, blindness, and suffocation was first introduced by Germans.
o British introduced the armored tanks, but they were too slow and scarce.
o Aircrafts – Germany’s Zeppelins were giant balloons used to drop bombs on British warships. Allies use
airplanes to spy, but later equip them with machine guns and rockets to attack the Zeppelins. Early military
aircrafts were difficult to fly and easy to destroy.
o U-boats or submarines
The United States Remains Neutral
Many Americans Choose Sides
In 1914, 1/3 of Americans were foreign-born. German-Americans in Midwest and Irish-Americans on East Coast felt
Central Powers were justified. Jewish-Americans hoped for Russia’s defeat for Progroms.
Most Americans side with Great Britain and France.
U. S. Opinion Solidifies
Germany violates Belgium’s neutrality and commit atrocities on unarmed civilians.
3 distinct positions: (1) isolationists – the war was none of America’s business, (2) interventionists – the war did
affect American interests and the US should intervene in the conflict on the side of Allies, (3) internationalists – the
US should play an active role in world affairs and work toward achieving a just peace but not enter the war.
British officials wanted America to join on their side and they used propaganda, or information designed to influence
opinion. After the British cut the transatlantic telegraph cable Americans received their news from British reports.
Reasons for US Entry into the War
Britain Blockades German Ports – Britain blockades Germany and confiscates both contraband (weapons) and
non-contraband (food) items ignoring international law. This forced neutral merchant ships to stop in Britain to be
checked for weapons that might aid the Central Powers.
Passenger Ships Fall Victim to the War at Sea – Germany, unable to blockade Great Britain, begins to sink allied
ships using U-boats, or submarines in 2/1915 without warning around Britain. In 5/1915 the Lusitania, a cruise liner,
was sunk by U-boat killing 121 Americans. Germans correctly claimed that the ship was also transporting
ammunition. Germany promises not sink any more passenger ships, however, in 1916, Germany sinks the Sussex.
Again Germany promises not to sink unarmed ships – called Sussex Pledge.
Preparations for War – Congress passes two laws: (1) National Defense Act expanding the size of the army and (2)
Naval Construction Act ordering the building of more warships.
Wilson runs for re-election on slogan “He kept us out of war.”
The United States Is Neutral No Longer – in 1917, two events occurred that push the US to war: (1) Germany
suffering from British blockade took action and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare on all vessels, sinking six
American ships from February 3 to March 21 and (2) the Zimmerman Telegram – a telegram intercepted by British
intelligence proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico and enticing Mexico to declare war on the US with
the promise of regaining land lost in the Mexican-American War for.
5.2 The Home Front During World War I
Mobilizing for War
Expanding the Army
Selective Service Act – authorized a draft of young men for military service in Europe. 2.8 million men were
drafted and 2 million volunteered. More than 4 million were sent to France. Florida – year round training climate.
Managing Economic Effects
Creation of the War Industries Board (WIB) – regulated all industries engaged in the war effort by determining what
was produced and how much it would cost. Heatless Mondays and Daylight savings time.
Food administration (headed by Hoover) – set prices high for wheat and other food to encourage farmers to increase
production. Hoover encouraged Americans to consume less and grow their own food – Victory Gardens. Also,
wheatless Mon. and Wed., meatless Tues., and porkless Thur. and Sat.
Victory/Liberty Bonds (government bonds) were sold to fund the war – this and taxes paid for the war.
Convincing the American People
The Committee on Public Information (CPI) was created to educate the public about the causes and nature of the war
by using pamphlets and 6,000 press releases. 75,000 speakers were hired to give 4 minute brief speeches in towns to
inform the public.
Opposition to the War
Opposition to the Draft
12% of the men never responded to draft, some were court-martialed and imprisoned. Some were conscientious
objectors – people whose moral or religious beliefs forbid them to fight in wars.
Women Oppose the War
Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in House of Representatives voted against the war. Jane Addams formed
the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
The Federal Government Stifles Dissent
Espionage Act – allowing postal authorities to ban treasonable or seditious newspapers, magazines, or printed
materials from the mail. It also enacted severe penalties for anyone engaged in disloyal or treasonable activities
including but not limited to: obstructing army recruiters, aiding the enemy, or generally interfering with the war
effort could be fined up to $10,000 and 20 years imprisonment.
Sedition Act – made it illegal to use “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the American form of
government, the Constitution, or the military forces. This law allowed for the targeting of socialists, radicals, and
pacifist.
Eugene V. Debs, the president of the Socialist Party, was arrested for an anti-war speech and sentenced to 10 years.
The Supreme Court upheld the Sedition Act in Schenck v. US – set up the Clear and Present Danger test.
Prejudice Against German Americans
Americans stopped teaching German in schools, discontinued playing Beethoven and Brahms, renamed German
measles “liberty measles,” hamburgers to “liberty steaks,” dachshunds to “liberty pups.” Germans were harassed,
beaten, and a few were even killed.
The War Changes American Society
Women Welcome New Opportunities
As men enter armed forces women fill jobs in munitions factories, railroads, as telegraph operators, trolley
conductors, and other jobs open only to men. Red Cross of the America sent women overseas as doctors, nurses, and
ambulance drivers.
Thousands joined the Army Nurse Corps. The Navy allowed women to enlist and they had veteran status following
war. The Marines allowed women to join to free up men to fight.
African Americans and the Great Migration
African American soldiers fought in segregated units led by white officers – 367,000 served and 50,000 in combat.
Henry Johnson, one of the Harlem Hellfighters, was the first American soldier to receive the French Croix de Guerre
for killing 24 German soldiers and saving his men while sustaining 21 wounds. He has been awarded the Purple
Heart and Medal of Honor posthumously. The Harlem Hellfighters along with other all black units were placed
under French command rather than fighting along white Americans. The Harlem Hellfighters spent more time in
continuous combat than any other American unit. Gen. Pershing issues Secret Information Concerning Black
American Troops, a warning of black inferiority and their constant menace to American society.
Jobs vacated by white men led to advertisements in southern newspapers enticing African Americans to move into
northern cities for factory work. This migration shift changed the demographic makeup of several northern cities like
Chicago, NY, Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. In 1928, Oscar De Priest became the first African American
elected to Congress in the north.
Mexicans Move North
Increased wartime demands for food and decrease in American farmworkers (fighting in the war) created jobs that
Mexican migrants filled. Some returned back to Mexico, others stayed in the Southwest, others moved to northern
factory jobs.
5.3 The End of World War I
America Joins the Fighting
The Convoy System – (Germany renews its unrestricted submarine warfare) groups of merchant ships sailed
together, protected by warships. This provided mutual safety. Ship losses from U-boat attacks falls.
The War Ends on the Eastern Front – Russia, a monarchy at the beginning of the war, experiences a revolution in
March of 1917 that removed the czar from power and set up a military provisional government. Russians still angry
that the provisional government kept fighting have another revolution in November (Bolshevik) that puts Vladimir
Lenin in power and makes Russia a communist nation: Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR – Soviet Union).
Russia stops fighting and signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk giving up much of its western lands (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine).
Gen. John J. Pershing and the AEF – In the spring of 1918 the German forces launched 5 massive offensive
attacks (artillery, gas, machine guns) gaining miles. The US forces enter the fight and help the allies push back.
American Troops in Battle – “doughboys” Americans fought in the Battle of Marne, Battle of Chateau Thierry,
Battle of Saint Mihiel, Battle of Meuse-Argonne, and Battle of Belleau Wood.
Germany Surrenders – Under allied continued fighting Germany was weakened and agreed to an armistice (stop
fighting/truce) on November 11, 1918.
1.4 million Americans served on the front, more than 50,000 died, and 230,000 wounded.
Wilson’s 14 Points
Lenin exposed that the allied powers had made secret agreements to divide their enemies land.
The Fourteen Points – the first 5 (open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, free trade, disarmament, self-determination),
the 6-13 (colonial adjustments and ending empires), and 14 called for an international organization committed to
avoiding war called the League of Nations. Self-determination – or the right of people to choose their own form of
government.
Wilson Travels to Paris – Wilson goes to the Paris Peace Conference without taking leading Republicans and leaves
Henry Cabot Lodge, an expert on foreign policy. Lodge will campaign against approving the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles (Paris Peace Conference)
The Big Four – David Lloyd George (PM of Great Britain), Georges Clemenceau (P of France), Vittorio Orlando (P
of Italy), and Woodrow Wilson (P of US). Allied forces blame Germany for starting war and demand reparations.
All of Wilson’s 14 points rejected except Alsace-Lorraine and the League of Nations.
Conditions – war guilt clause (took blame of the war), Germany to be disarmed, Germany to pay reparations 30
billion, Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, and the League of Nations formed.
Several treaties signed with individual Central Powers: Ottoman Empire dismantled (Turkey and Saudi Arabia
independent; French mandate of Syria and Jordan; British mandate of Palestine, Iraq, and Iran) creating several
countries and creating Palestine (British territory) and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire dismantled (Austria, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia). Several countries formed after WWI.
America Rejects the Treaty of Versailles
The Flu Pandemic – 1918 and 1919 as many as 50 million people died among them 675,000 Americans.
Wilson Faces Opposition at Home – irreconcilables were isolationist senators opposing the treaty because of the
League of Nations and reservationists were opposed the way it was written. Senate did not approve the treaty and
signed a separate treaty later on with Germany.
The US will not join the League of Nations and will not succeed.
