World War I Standard 5 4 USHC5 4

World War I Standard 5. 4

• USHC-5. 4 Analyze the causes and consequences of United States involvement in World War I, including the failure of neutrality and the reasons for the declaration of war, the role of propaganda in creating a unified war effort, the limitation of individual liberties, and Woodrow Wilson’s leadership in the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations.

Some background info: President Woodrow Wilson (1913 -1921): • an anti-imperialist • believed democracy was essential to a nation’s stability and prosperity • believed that the U. S. should promote democracy in order to ensure a peaceful world free of revolution and war Despite 40+ years of peace, tensions among European nations were building in 1914

• The easiest way to remember the triggers that brewed a wartime atmosphere is to remember M. A. I. N. • Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism, were the causes of World War I -> M. A. I. N

Alliances • In the 1860’s the German kingdom of Prussia launched several wars to unite the many German states into the German Empire • Germany became one of the most powerful nations in the world, and changed European politics • The Prussians fought and defeated France, and forced them to give up land along the German border • Germany signed alliances with Italy and Austria-Hungary, creating the Triple Alliance • Russia and France had a common interest in opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary • They signed the Franco-Russian Alliance

Militarism • Germany began to build a navy, challenging Great Britain’s historical dominance of the sea • By the early 1900’s, an arms race had begun between Great Britain and Germany • The arms race increased tensions between Great Britain and Germany, bringing Britain closer to France and Russia • Great Britain refused to sign a formal alliance • Their new relationship with France and Russia became known as entente cordiale, or a friendly understanding • Great Britain, France and Russia became known as the Triple Entente

Nationalism • Nation—a group of people who share a common language, religion, history and traditions. • Nationalism- loyalty and devotion to a nation, sometimes can become too extreme • Many people were willing to go to war to expand their nation at the expense of others • Extremist groups grew in response to this nationalism

Imperialism • The rush of countries competing for their nation’s best interests in areas outside of their own country caused angst. • These nation’s were pitted against each other to protect their nation’s economic well-being.

The event that sparked a war… • On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was in Bosnia when he was killed by a Bosnian nationalist, led by the Black Hand. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which prompted the start of World War I • Because of the military alliances, World War I started from this confrontation between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.

• At the beginning of the war, Germany needed to move through Belgium, in order to invade France • Belgium had been guaranteed neutrality by Great Britain, so when German troops crossed the Belgium border Great Britain declared war on Germany

Allies (Triple Entente) • Great Britain • France • Italy • Russia • United States Central Powers (Triple Alliance) • • Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria

Review 1) Describe President Wilson’s ideals? 2) What caused a war to brew in Europe? List the four things and explain them! 3) What single event sparked WWI?

USHC-5. 4 cont: • US was neutral – Germany blocked ports so American trade was limited. – Germany used submarines to blow up merchant ships – US started using the Convoy System to protect merchant ships.

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania. 128 killed on board were Americans. People in America called for more action From the Government.

Still 5. 4… • The Germans were practicing unrestricted submarine warfare, and justified sinking the Lusitania because they said it was carrying ammunition and explosives to the Allies. • They suspended unrestricted submarine warfare. • Zimmerman note—a telegram sent by the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico and intercepted by British agents. • The telegram suggested an alliance between Mexico and Germany. It promised that if war with the US broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering “the lost territory in TX, NM, and AZ. ”

Support for the Central Powers • Many German Americans supported their homeland • Many Irish Americans supported the Central Powers because they’d endured centuries of British rule in Ireland Support for the Allies • In general, American public opinion favored the Allies • Many Americans valued the heritage, language, and political ideals they shared with Great Britain • American politicians, military leaders, and business men supported the Allies because of their strong ties politically and economically to the Allied powers

• Propaganda created a united war effort at the expense of individual liberties. • Americans were persuaded to plant victory gardens, enlist in the military and buy war bonds. • Wartime propaganda also characterized Germans as “Huns” and resulted in discrimination against Americans of German descent. • Americans stopped teaching German in schools, restricted the playing of German music and renamed German foods. • The passage of the Sedition Act restricted the individual liberties of Americans to voice their ideological objections to the war effort and contributed to the post-war Red Scare.

5. 4 cont. • Wilson proposed that the enemies agree to freedom of the seas, an end to secret treaties, arms reduction, selfdetermination of peoples, and an international peace organization. • As a consequence of American involvement, the last push of the Germans on the western front in France was deflected and the armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the fighting between the Allies and the Central Powers. • Wilson was in a position to take part in the peace negotiations.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND TREATY OF VERSAILLES

• A consequence of America’s involvement in the war was that Wilson took a leadership role at the Versailles Conference. • Wilson wanted to create a lasting peace based on his 14 Pointshoped would eliminate causes of the war. • But, the other allies were determined to protect their own national interests. • In order to get agreement from the Allies to support the creation of the League of Nations, Wilson made concessions to the interest of his European allies. • The treaty imposed a war guilt clause and reparations payments on Germany

• To fulfill one of Wilson’s Fourteen Points and to eliminate boundary disputes based on nationalism, new national borders were drawn at the conference based on self determination of peoples. • But the borders could not accommodate all of the complexities of ethnic diversity within Europe. • The war guilt clause, reparations and borders laid the basis for the next war.

• Draft ignored peace based upon 14 pts ØWilson forced to concede provisions to secure League of Nations ØGerman to pay reparations, accept war guilt clause, de-militarize, ØRESULT- Disillusionment of American public • League of Nations attacked by Republicans and isolationists due to break with traditional diplomacy of “entangling alliances”

Guiding Questions 1. What were the aims and motives of the victorious powers in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles? 2. Was the Treaty a fair one? Was the German response justfied?

Causalities by country 7, 020, 000 War Causalities

• USHC-5. 5 Analyze the United States rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the United States in international affairs in the 1920 s.

• According to the United States Constitution, foreign policy is the domain of the executive branch but the system of checks and balances requires that the Senate ratify all treaties; Congress must declare war

USHC-5. 5: Analyze the US rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the US in international affairs in the 1920 s. • The US was now the leading economic power: – The leading exporter of goods – A major creditor nation – The world’s financial capital

USHC-5. 5: Analyze the US rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the US in international affairs in the 1920 s. • The US never joined the League of Nations, but – They sent “observers” to League of Nations meetings to know what was going on. – Participated in international conferences to limit the size of the world’s navies.

USHC-5. 5: Analyze the US rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the US in international affairs in the 1920 s. • Through the Dawes and Young Plans , US banks loaned Germany 2. 5 billion, which Germany was able to use to pay reparations to Britain and France. (Germany’s colonial nations were taken so they could not make money from them to pay back reparations). • Britain and France would turn around and pay back their war debts to the US. • So, the US was repaid with its own money.

USHC-5. 5: Analyze the US rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the US in international affairs in the 1920 s. • Why would the US loan Germany the money? • What if the British and French do not pay it’s war debts?

USHC-5. 5: Analyze the US rejection of internationalism, including postwar disillusionment, the Senate’s refusal to ratify the Versailles Treaty, the election of 1920, and the role of the US in international affairs in the 1920 s. • The US took a hands off approach to Europe, and when the crash of 1929 happened, the US worried about domestic issues. • Congressional hearings about WWI led to the passing of neutrality acts that would later hinder the president and American involvement in WWII.