The End of WWI 100210 100210 1917 proved

The End of WWI

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10/02/10

1917 proved to be a pivotal year for the Allies for two main reasons: The United States declared war on Germany on April 2, 1917 Tsar Nicholas II of Russia was forced to abdicate in March 1917 and a Provisional Government was established.

American Neutrality • Officially, the U. S. was a neutral country. • However, it traded food, weapons, oil, steel, and other goods far more with the Allied Powers than with the Central Powers.

Freedom of the Seas · The U. S. , as a neutral nation, claimed the right to trade with either side in the war. · However, Britain and Germany set up blockades around the British and German coasts.

· German submarines, called U-boats, torpedoed enemy ships and neutral ships trading with the enemy. 10/02/10

A German U-boat Torpedoes a Steamer, circa 1916

The USA entered the war for three main reasons: 1. The 1915 sinking of the Lusitania 2. Policy of unrestricted submarine warfare made US ships targets

· In 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, killing approximately 1, 200 people, 10/02/10 including 128 Americans.

· Americans were infuriated with the destruction of the Lusitania.

3. The Zimmerman Telegram British codebreakers intercepted a German message encouraging Mexico to attack the USA.

Moving Toward War Zimmermann telegram: – secret message from Germany to Mexico urging Mexico to attack the U. S. if the U. S. declared war on Germany – Germany promised to help Mexico regain land it lost to the U. S. in the Mexican War. * The U. S. declared war on the Central Powers in 1917.

Russia’s Tsar is forced to abdicate in February, 1917. A provisional government led by Kerensky is established. The Bolshevik Revolution occurs in October of 1917, Lenin and the communists take control of Russia.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk gives Germany all of Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Germany now only has a one-front war.

Austria-Hungary and Turkey were on the brink of collapse by 1917. Germany forces make one last push on the Western Front to win before the Americans arrive. – It is not successful. Canadians, under General Arthur Currie, were in the front lines and led most of the charges in the last 100 days of war.

Central Powers Collapse The Central Powers collapsed one by one The German Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland An armistice was finally signed in a railway car in France The fighting ended at 11: 00 am on November 11 th, 1918

U. S. President Woodrow Wilson informs Germany that they will be treated fairly at the Paris Peace Conference if they agree to an armistice and surrender. At the conference, PM Borden fights for Canada to have its own seat in the League of Nations rather than be represented by Britain

MAIN POINTS OF THE TREATY • Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war War Guilt Clause the • Germany had to pay £ 6, 600 million, called reparations, for the damage done during the war. • Military Restrictions - Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. She could have a navy of only six battleships. An army of just 100, 000 men. • Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France.

• Territorial losses – Poland, Polish Corridor, Alsace-Lorraine, all colonies, Sudeten Land to Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania • Germany could not join the League of Nations.

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Germany is forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, even though they provided no input Most angering was Article 231 – the War Guilt Clause – where Germany was forced to take the entire blame for the war This meant that they would be forced to pay for all damages from the war

President Woodrow Wilson had the idea of creating an international body that would work to prevent a war such as WWI from ever breaking out again. This was the beginning of the League of Nations and Canada had its own seat Though an American idea, it never joined.

What do the following quotes tell you about the Versailles Treaty? “A peace built on quicksand” “Diktat” of Versailles 10/02/10

After the war Germany was: politically unstable (Kaiser Wilhelm flees country) poor (reparations payments were 4 oo billion and they were expected to pay it back by 1988) angry and betrayed looking for a hero