The Great War
1914-1918 – AP Notes
What were the causes of World War I?
 Militarism
 Alliances
 Imperialism
 Nationalism
What were the chain of events that led to the Great War?
 Austria received a “blank check” from Germany
 Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia
 Serbia accepted all terms except the last one
 Austria declared war against Serbia – July 28, 1914
 Russia began to mobilize on Germany’s border
 Germany declared war on Russia and then on France
 Germany invaded Belgium
 Britain declared war against Germany
New Alliances?
 Allies ______________________________________________________
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Central Powers ______________________________________________
How did the standards of warfare change?
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What was the American response?
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How did Americans feel about the war?
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What does neutrality mean?
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What was the tone of American neutrality?
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How did the British use propaganda to their advantage?
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What were America’s economic ties with the Allies?
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How did Germany violate American neutral rights?
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What was the significance of the Lusitania?
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What was the significance of the Sussex Pledge?
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What was Germany’s defense for submarine warfare?
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Who advocated U.S. preparedness?
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Who opposed American involvement in the war?
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Why did the U.S. enter the war?
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What were the 14 Points?
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How were the hearts and minds of the American people mobilized?
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What was the consequence of American propaganda?
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How did the Espionage Act control dissent?
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How did the Sedition Act control dissent?
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Were these acts constitutional?
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How did the U.S. government encourage vigilante activity?
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How did the National War Labor Board prevent labor discord?
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Samuel Gompers ____________________________________________
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Industrial Workers of the World ________________________________
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How did war change conditions at home?
 Overcrowding
 Rapid workforce turnover
 High inflation
 Labor shortage
 Allowed increasedd Mexican immigration
 Increased intolerance
How did the Great Migration increase racial tensions?
 300,000 to 500,000 African Americans moved to northern cities
 Labor shortages in the North
 Better economic opportunity
 Less racial violence
Race Riots
 East St. Louis – 1917
o Whites attacked blacks
o 200 blacks killed
o Black labor had been recruited to keep union demands down
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Chicago – 1919
o White gangs hunted African Americans
o 2 weeks
o 23 African Americans killed – 15 whites
What were African Americans expectations?
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Black disillusionment _______________________________________
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How did the war affect women?
 Women in industry Service – Mary Van Kleeck
 Formulated standard for treatment of females
o 8 hours day
o Equal pay for equal work
o Rest periods and meal breaks
o Restrooms
o No night work
o Minimum wage
What was the reality of women’s work?
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accepted goals – not enforced
received roughly ½ the pay as men for the same work
lost jobs at the end of the war
accelerated women’s work in traditional fields
led Congress to establish the Woman’s Bureau in the Department of
Labor
What new opportunities did the war offer women?
 Women moved into jobs previously held by men….
 Continued traditional jobs ….
 Red cross volunteers
 Bolstered support for women’s suffrage amendment
 19th Amendment - 1920
How did women earn the right to vote?
 Battle for the vote prior to WWI…
 National American Women’s Suffrage Association – Carrie Chapman
Catt…
 Alice Paul – National Women’s Party ….
 “the fight for democracy must begin at home”
 1917 Wilson – suffrage amendment “vital to the winning of the war.”
Why did the 18th Amendment pass?
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How did the power of the government expand?
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What was the function of the War Industries Board?
 Increase production….
 Reduce waste…..
 Set production quotas
 Allocate raw materials
 Barnard Baruch
What was the function of the Fuel Administration?
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Monitored coal supplies
Rationed gasoline and heating oil
o Gasless Sundays
o Lightless nights
o Daylight savings time
What was the function of the Food Administration?
 Herbert Hoover
 Encourage greater food production
 Reduce consumption
 Voluntary
o Meatless days
o Wheatless days
o Porkless days
o Sweetless days
How did the government finance the war?
 US spent $33 billion
 1/3 taxes
o Progressive income tax
o War profits tax
o Excise tax
 Liberty Bonds - $23 billion
 Reserve banks expanded $ supply
 Debt $1 billion  $20 billion
What was the initial intent of U.S. involvement?
 At first didn’t want to be equal partners
 Congress authorized $3 billion in loans and supplies
 Allies needed Am. troops to boost morale
 Gen. Pershing went with 14,500 men – realized we needed more
What was the role of American troops in Europe?
 Doughboys
 General John J. Pershing
o Did not want to integrate with European forces
o Thought Europeans were too accustomed to defensive action
o Wanted to save his troops for offensive action
How did the U.S. raise an army?
 1917 - only 200,000 men in the service
 Selective Service Act – May, 1917
o Required men 18 to 45 to register
o 24 million registered
o 2 million  Europe
 Wide acceptance – believed this was the “war to end al wars”
How did the US transport troops to Europe safely?
 Convoy system – heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships
 230 mile barrier of mines in the North Sea – kept U-boats out of the
Atlantic
 Only 637 Americans lost to U-boat attacks during transport to Europe
 Losses went from 900,000 tons/month to 200,000
How did the Russian Revolution affect the war?
 1917 – Lenin took control of the Russian government
 Promised to make peace with Germany
 Civil war broke out
 March 3, 1918 signed treaty with Germany
 Allowed Germany to concentrate on the Western Front
 June 3, German forces were within 56 miles of Paris
How did American troops help win the war?
 Am. stopped the German advance at Cantigny
 Fought at Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, and Second Battle of the
Marne
 September offensive at Saint-Mihiel and Meusse-Argonne area
What caused the collapse of Germany?
 Nov.3, 1918 Austria Hungary surrendered
 Critical food shortages and prospect of U.S. reinforcements for the allies
 14 Points …
 Nov. 9, socialist leaders in Berlin established the German Republic
 Kaiser abdicated
 November 11,1918 – cease-fire – armistice
What was the cost of the war?
 Europe
o 22 million – more than ½ civilians
o 20 million wounded
o 10 million refugees
 U.S.
o 52,000 died in battle
o 62,000 died of disease
o 200,000 wounded
Who attended/controlled the peace conference?
 David Lloyd George – Great Britain
 Woodrow Wilson – U.S.
 Georges Clemenceau – France
 Vittorio Orlando – Italy
 Russia and Central Powers were not invited
What were Allied motives?
 Clemenceau wanted to make sure Germany never invaded France again
 David Lloyd George wanted revenge
 Orlando wanted land from Austria
How were the 14 Points received in Paris?
 Germany had surrendered on the basis of the 14 Points
 At first accepted – then ignored
o Self-determination was limited
o Mandate system of protectorates gave Britain and France control of
old German and Turkish colonies
o Japan controlled former German colonies
o War guilt and reparations…
o Won commitment to the League of Nations
o Only 4 of 23 points and principles honored
What were some of the main provisions of the Treaty?
 Established 9 new nations
 Barred Germany from maintaining an army
 Returned Alsace Lorraine to France
 Demilitarized the Rhineland
 France gained control of the mineral rights of the Saar Valley for 15 years
 Germany had to pay $33 billion in reparations
What were Wilson’s mistakes in this process?
 1st President to travel to Europe during his presidency – can’t control
public opinion
 Campaigned for a Democratic victory in 1918 – When he doesn’t get it, it
appears that he lacks public support
 Failed to take any prominent Republicans with him to the peace
conference
 Underestimated the Europeans
Who was Wilson’s opposition at home?
 Irreconcilables – 16 Senators who opposed the treaty in any form
 Reservationists – Led by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge – had reservations
about the treaty….
How did Wilson respond to his opposition?
 Took the Treaty and the League to the American people
 8,000 mile speaking tour Midwest PacificEast
 36 speeches in 23 days
 Sept. 25 – collapsed in Pueblo, Colorado
 Suffered a stroke – partially paralyzed
Did we sign the Treaty of Versailles?
 In November, Lodge brought treaty with reservations to a vote
 Wilson told Dems to vote against it
 39 for and 55 against
 Congress considered Wilson’s treaty – 38 for and 53 against
 March 19, 1920 – Lodge treaty – 49 for and 35 against – 7 short of the
necessary 2/3
What were the results of the Election of 1920?
 Wilson wanted a “solemn referendum” on the League
 Democrats – James Cox (running mate was Franklin D. Roosevelt)
 Republicans – Senator Warren G. Harding – called for a retreat from
idealism
 “return to normalcy”