1914-1918
M
– Militarism
 A - Anarchy -Sometimes switched to
Alliances
 I - Imperialism
 N - Nationalism - exaggerated patriotism
Militarism—nations
buildup military and plan
for war
 Alliance System—join with
other nations to increase
security
(Allies—France, Great
Britain, Russia, Serbia)
(Central Powers—Germany,
Austria Hungary, Ottoman
Empire)

 Imperialism
(competing
for economic interests
and colonies territories)
 Nationalism—protect
nations & peoples
interests (leads to
rivalries for states
between nations of
France, Germany,
Russia, and AustriaHungary )
 The
assassination
of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand in 1914
by Slavic assassin
with help from
Serbians begins
WWI




Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Russia, France and Germany begin mobilization of troops,
Germany finally declares war on Russia.
German troops moved through neutral Belgium (Britain
joins war) and invaded France, but were halted before they
could take Paris.
8
7
4
5
6 2
1
3
 Machine
Guns: make it easier to defend
positions than attack (created Trench Warfare)
 Trench Warfare—both
sides dig trenches with
mines and machines guns to hold captured
territory
 Poison
Gas
 Tanks
 Airplanes
• New Technology led to
higher battlefield
injuries and deaths



Submarines—(U-Boats), used
by Germany to break the
Allied naval blockade that
sought to starve Germany and
Austria Hungary into
submission (also stop allies
from getting supplies)
Not successful
By 1918 the war had become
deadlocked. Neither side
could overcome the other.
 When
war begins President Woodrow
Wilson follows traditional American
policy of neutrality, by not taking sides.
 Closer
ties with
Britain and
France
(traditions,
language,
political systems)
 German
actions
(invasion of
Belgium) and
propaganda
 Zimmerman
telegram (offered help to Mexico
to regain New Mexico, Arizona & Texas if they
joined war on Germany’s side)
 Sinking
of the Lusitania
(German UBoat sunk ship
killing 128 Americans)


Sussex Pledge
(Germany attempts
to avoid incidents,
but US begins to
supply Britain with
war materials)
Germany resumes
use of unrestricted
submarine warfare
and the US declares
war
 Allowed
national government to draft
men to serve in war




Pres. Wilson was given sweeping power by Congress to
regulate the US government and economy during the war
Gov controls public agencies to prepare for war
People lose civil liberties (Espionage Act & Sedition Act)
US economy benefits greatly from exports to Europe
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Charles Schenck gave out literature urging people to resist draft, convicted, but said
1st amendment rights were violated
Supreme Court said that free speech is not protected if it presents “clear and present
danger”
This decision became a guide for measuring the limits of free speech
 US
troops sent to
Europe in 1918 to
defeat Germany
 John
J Pershingcommanded
American
Expeditionary
Force during WWI



Final major battle of WWI
New US forces help to break German lines and push
them back
Germany was defeated and surrenders on Nov 11 1918
 Awarded
the
Congressional Medal of
Honor for valor

“Citation: After his platoon had suffered heavy
casualties and 3 other noncommissioned officers
had become casualties, Cpl. York assumed
command. Fearlessly leading 7 men, he charged
with great daring a machinegun nest which was
pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his
platoon. In this heroic feat the machinegun nest
was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men
and several guns.”
 US
war aims proposed by Pres. Wilson as
a basis for the peace treaty
 Reorganize Europe based on nationalism
 Break
up central powers
 Create new independent nation-states
 Removing trade barriers: Freedom of the
Seas & lowering tariffs
 Open diplomacy (No secret treaties or
alliances)
 League of Nations (international peace
keeping organization)
 Wilson
and other Allies travel to Paris Peace
Conference in 1918 to decide the peace
 Wilson has to make several concessions to get
allies to agree to League of Nations
 End result is the Treaty of Versailles




Ended World War I
Dealt harshly with Germany
Germany lost some territory (Rhineland & Poland ) and all of
its overseas colonies
Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey were broken up into
separate nation-states
 Germany
has to accept responsibility for
starting the war (War Guilt Clause)
 Germany had to pay reparations to the allies
 Germany lost its Navy & had Army reduced
ARTICLE 231.
The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts
the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss
and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and
their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war
imposed upon them by the aggression of
Germany and her allies.
Article 232.
The Allied and Associated Governments, however, require, and
Germany undertakes, that she will make compensation for all
damage done to the civilian population of the Allied and Associated
Powers and to their property
 League
of Nations was created by Pres Wilson,
who wanted the US to join to prevent future wars
 Opponents argued that it would drag US into
more wars


Henry Cabot Lodge—US Senator who led the fight
against joining the League of Nations (feared US would
lose freedom of action)
Senate refused to ratify treaty and join League of
Nations
 America
begins isolationism
 Crash
Course US History Review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59w
Erqg4Xg