World War I
USII – 5c: United States involvement in WWI
ended a long tradition of avoiding involvement
in European conflicts and set the stage for the
U.S. to emerge as a global superpower later
in the 20th century.
What is going on in Europe in the
1800’s?
• Rise of Nationalism – belief that a specific
nation, language, or culture is superior to all
others
• Countries were competing to build empires
(imperialism).
• European nations were building larger militaries
then ever before (militarism).
• Germany had most powerful army and navy in
Europe.
• European countries were forming alliances to
create balances of power.
What was the spark that ignited the
war?
• Austria-Hungarian leaders did not want Slavic
independence and refused to make 2 areas
part of Serbia, which angered Serbia.
• June 28, 1914-Archduke Franz Ferdinand,
from Austria – Hungary, and his wife Sophia
were visiting Serbia
• A 19 yr. old Serbian nationalist stepped out of
crowd, shot and killed Ferdinand and wife.
• July 28, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war
on Serbia.
Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and wife Sophia
An alliance required
Russia to join forces
with Serbia and
Germany to support
Austria-Hungary.
• Aug. 5, 1914 –
Austria-Hungary
declared war on
Russia and this is the
beginning of The First
Great War (World
War I)
What was the war like for those
fighting?
• New war strategies and weapons
• Trench warfare-fought from deep ditches,
it was cold, wet, and full of disease.
• Germany used U-Boats (submarines)
– Caused heavy losses to Allied shipping
What happened in 1914 on the
Western front?
• The Western Front was in a stalemate
• Stalemate – situation in which neither side
can win clear victory.
• Britain’s navy cut off shipping supplies to
Germany (blockade).
– Germany responded by sending subs to sink
supply ships.
Dog Fights
Forward Mounted Machine Guns
• The device worked by first
loading and cocking the
gun, then pulling a handle
to enable the trigger. This
handle lowered a cam
follower onto the cam
wheel. When the follower
was pushed upward by an
asymmetric bulge in the
cam, a rod was pushed
back against a spring
enabling the trigger to fire
the gun. The bulge in the
cam was aligned such that
the trigger was only enabled
when the propeller blades
were out of the line of fire.
WWI TANKS
TRENCHES
No Mans Land
• No Man's Land is the term
used by soldiers to describe
the ground between the two
opposing trenches. Its width
along the Western Front could
vary a great deal. The average
distance in most sectors was
about 250 yards (230 metres).
However, at Guillemont it was
only 50 yards (46 metres)
whereas at Cambrai it was
over 500 yards (460 metres).
The narrowest gap was at
Zonnebeke where British and
German soldiers were only
about seven yards apart.
BARBED WIRE
U-Boats
Isolationism
• Isolationism-the policy
of avoiding political
and economic
entanglements with
other nations.
• Isolation refers to
Americas
longstanding
reluctance to become
involved in European
alliances and wars.
The Colonial Period
• The isolationist perspective dates to colonial
days. The colonies were populated by many
people who had fled from Europe, where there
was religious persecution, economic privation
and war. Their new homeland was looked upon
as a place to make things better than the old
ways. The sheer distance and rigors of the
voyage from Europe tended to accentuate the
remoteness of the New World from the Old. The
roots of isolationism were well established years
before independence.
What events push the U.S into the
war?
• 1. May 1915,
German U-boat sank
the Lusitania with 128
Americans on board.
• 2. Feb. 1917,
Germans began
unrestricted
submarine warfare.
– Pres. Wilson cut off
relations with
Germany and ordered
merchant ships fitted
with guns.
What events push the U.S into the
war?
• 3. Zimmerman Note
Secret German
telegram, proposed
an alliance with
Mexico against the
U.S.
•
Map showing Mexican territory in 1917 (dark
green), with territory promised to Mexico in
the Zimmermann telegram denoted in green.
April 6, 1917 – The U.S. declared
war on Germany.
Who served, and when did the war
end?
• There was almost 3 million draftees.
• 300,000 African Americans.
• Women served as nurses and interpreters.
• The war ended on the 11th hour of the
11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
Allies and Central Powers
• Allied Powers
–
–
–
–
–
–
Great Britain
France
Russia
Serbia
Belgium
United States
• Central Powers
–
–
–
–
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria
Ottoman Empire
What were the effects of the war?
•
•
•
•
•
Allies lost more than 5 million people.
U.S. lost more than 112,000.
Central powers lost more than 3.4 million.
The war cost about $330 billion dollars.
Germany was left with a very heavy debt.
President Wilson and the 14
Points.
• President Wilson developed 14 points to
try and keep the peace.
– Asked to end secret agreements between
nations
– 14th point-League of Nations- congress of
nations formed to settle international disputes
and maintain peace and collective security.
• Republicans in congress would not sign
with the League of Nations, they felt it
would involve the U.S. in European affairs
too often.
Treaty of Versailles
• France and Britain wanted Germany to:
–
–
–
–
Suffer
Take the blame
Pay allies war damages (REPARATIONS)
Never become a world power again.
• Germany ended up paying $33 billion in
reparations (damages and repairs).
• This treaty ended the war.
Quiz Review
Prior to the U.S entrance into
WWI, what was our policy?
• Isolationism - the U.S. wanted to remain
neutral
What were the 3 Reasons for
the U.S. to enter WWI?
• 1. Sinking of the Lusitania
• 2. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
• 3. The Zimmerman Note
Why didn’t the U.S. join the
League of Nations?
• The U.S. didn’t want to get involved in European
conflicts, we wanted to remain neutral or isolated