THE FIRST WORLD WAR

1914-1918
 Causes of the War
M-A-N-I-A
 MILITARISM – The growth of nationalism and imperialism led to
increased military spending
 ALLIANCE SYSTEM – By 1907 Europe was divided into two
armed camps
 NATIONALISM – a devotion to the interests and culture of one’s
nation
 IMPERIALISM – Economic and political control over weaker
nations
 ASSASSINATION: assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir
to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his consort, Sophie, at
Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914 by Gavrilo Princip a member
of Black hand.
 Nationalism
 Often nationalism led
to rivalries and conflicts
between nations.
Additionally, various
ethnic groups resented
domination by others and
wanted independence.
Finally, Russia and
Austria-Hungary
Germany was allied with Austria-
disagreed over the Hungary while Russia, France and
treatment of Serbs in Britain were partners
central Europe.
Imperialism
 For many centuries,
European nations built
empires. Colonies
supplied raw materials
and provided markets for
manufactured goods. As
Germany industrialized,
she competed with other
nations and colonies
made her more
competitive.
Militarism
 Empires had to be defended and
European nations increased
military spending enormously in the
late 19th and early 20th century.
 By 1890 the strongest nation
militarily in Europe was Germany
 Germany had a strong army and
built up a navy to rival England’s
fleet.
 France, Italy, Japan and the United
States quickly joined in the naval
buildup.
Battleships were being stockpiled by European nations, Japan, and America in the late
19th and early 20th century
 Alliance System
 By 1907 there were
two major defense
alliances in Europe
 The Triple Entente,
later known as the
Allies, consisted of
France, Britain, and
Russia
 The Triple Alliance,
later known as the
Central Powers,
consisted of Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and
Italy (Soon joined by
the Ottoman Empire
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 The Spark: An Assassination
 The Balkan region was considered
“the powder keg of Europe” due to
competing interests in the area.
Russia wanted access to the
Mediterranean Sea. Germany wanted
a rail link to the Ottoman Empire.
Austria-Hungary, which had taken
control of Bosnia in 1878, accused
Serbia of subverting its rule over
Bosnia.
 Finally, in June of 1914, Archduke
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian
throne was gunned down by a Serbia
radical igniting a diplomatic crisis.
 The Fighting Begins
 The Alliance system pulled
one nation after another into
the conflict – The Great War
had begun. On August 3,
1914, Germany invaded
Belgium, following a strategy
known as the Schlieffen
Plan. This plan called for a
quick strike through Belgium
to Paris, France. Next,
Germany would attack
Russia
 The plan was designed to
prevent a two-front war for The Schliefflen Plan
Germany.
Time Line
 The War Becomes A Stalemate
 Unable to save Belgium, the Allies
retreated to the Marne River in
France where they halted the
German advance in September of
1914. Both sides dug in for a long
siege. By the spring of 1915, two
parallel systems of deep trenches
crossed France from Belgium to
Switzerland. Between enemy
trenches was “no man’s land” – an
area pockmarked with shell craters
and filled with barbed wire. British soldiers standing in mud
 German Soldiers

The conditions in these trenches were horrific. Aside from the fear of bombardment,
soldiers also had to contend with mud, flooding, lice, vermin, and disease associated
with living in such an unhealthy environment.
First Battle of The Somme
 During the First Battle of the Somme
—which began on July 1, 1916, and
lasted until mid-November—the
British suffered an enormous
number of casualties (60,000 on the
first day). Final casualties for this
phase of the war totaled 1.2 million,
yet only 7 miles of ground was
gained. This bloody trench warfare,
in which armies fought for mere
yards of ground, lasted for three
Gas attacks were common features years.
of trench life and often caused
blindness and lung disease
Americans Question Neutrality
 In 1914, most Americans saw no
reason to join a struggle 3,000
miles away – they wanted
neutrality. Some simply did not
want their sons to experience the
horror of warfare. Some German-
Americans supported Germany in
World War I. However, many
Americans felt closer to the British
because of a shared ancestry and
language. Most importantly,
American economic interests were
far stronger with the Allies.
French propaganda poster
portrayed the Germans as
inhuman.
The War Hits Home
 During the first two years of the war,
America was providing (selling) the
allied forces dynamite, cannon
powder, submarines, copper wire
and tubing and other war material.
 Both the Germans and British
imposed naval blockades on each
other. The Germans used U-boats
(submarines) to prevent shipments
to the North Atlantic. Any ship found
in the waters around Britain would
be sunk.
The Lusitania Disaster
 United States involvement in
World War I was hastened by the
Lusitania disaster. The Lusitania
was a British passenger liner that
carried 1,198 persons on a fateful
trip on May 7, 1915.
 A German U-boat sank the British
passenger liner killing all aboard
including 128 American tourists.
The Germans claimed the ship
was carrying Allied ammunition.
 Americans were outraged and
public opinion turned against
Germany and the Central
Powers.

May 7, 1915
The N.Y. Times reports on the Lusitania
 1916 Election
 The November 1916
election pitted incumbent
Democrat Woodrow
Wilson vs. Republican
candidate Supreme Court
justice Charles Evans
Hughes.
 Wilson won a close
election using the slogan,
“He kept us out of war.”
That slogan would prove
ironic because within a few
months the United States
would be embroiled in
World War I.
America Edges Closer To War
 Several factors came together to
bring the U.S. into the war:
1. Germany ignored Wilson’s plea
for peace.
2. The Zimmerman Note, a telegram
from the German foreign minister to
the German Ambassador in Mexico,
proposed an alliance with Mexico
and a return of their “lost territory” in
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
3. Next came the sinking of four
unarmed U.S. merchant ships by
German subs.

Encoded message from

Germany to Mexico
Zimmerman
note
intercepted
by a British
agent and
decoded
America Declares War
 On April 2, 1917, senators,
representatives,
ambassadors, members of
the Supreme Court, and
other guests crowded into
the Capital building to hear
Wilson deliver his
declaration of war.
 Wilson said, “The world
must be mad safe for
democracy.”
 Congress passed the
resolution a few days later.
American Power Tips the Balance
 America was not ready for
war. Only 200,000 men
were in service when war
was declared, so
Congress passed the
Selective Service Act in
May of 1917.
 By the end of 1918, 24
million had signed up and
almost 3 million were
called to duty. About 2
million American troops
reached Europe.
Fresh U.S. Soldiers Join Fight
 After 2 ½ years of fighting,
the Allied forces were
exhausted. One of the main
contributions of the
Americans was fresh and
enthusiastic troops.
American infantry were
nicknamed “doughboys”
because of their white belts.
Most doughboys had never
ventured far from the farms
or small towns they lived in
 Important New Weapons
 Machine Guns: Guns
could now fire 600 rounds
per minute.
 The Tank: New steel tanks
ran on caterpillar treads.
 Airplanes: Early dogfights
resembled duals, however
by 1918 the British had a
fleet of planes that could
deliver bombs.
 Poison Gas: Mustard gas
was used to subdue the
enemy.
Other Weapons & Equipment
 Howitzers
 Flame throwers
 Torpedoes
 U-boats
 Phosphorus grenades
 Field phones
 Search lights
 Gas masks
 Camouflage
 Railroad guns
 Blimps
German U-boat sinking a British commercial steamer
Both humans and animals were susceptible to the effects of poison gas.
Dogs were used during World War I as sentries, sled dogs, pack animals,
and messengers.
American Troops Go On the Offensive
 When Russia surrendered to
the Germans in 1917, the
Central Powers were able to
focus on the Western Front .
By May, the Germans were
within 50 miles of Paris. The
Americans arrived and
immediately played a major
Men of the 42nd Division during the role in pushing the Germans
Second Marne. These men were back. In July and August the
killed by artillery fire just 5 minutes
after this photo was taken Americans helped the Allies
win the Second Battle of the
Marne.
Germany Collapses, War Ends
 On November 3, 1918,
Germany’s partner, Austria-
Hungary, surrendered to
the Allies. That same day,
German sailors mutinied
against their government.
 Other revolts followed, and
Germany was too
exhausted to continue.
 So at the eleventh hour, on
the eleventh day, of the
eleventh month of 1918,
Germany signed a truce
ending the Great War.
War ends 11/11/18
The War At Home
 The Entire U.S. Economy
Was Focused On The War
Effort. The Shift From A
Consumer Economy To
War Economy Required A
Collaboration Between
Business And
Government.
 In The Process, The
Power Of The U.S.
Government Expanded.
Congress Gave President
Wilson Direct Control Over
The Economy.
War Industries Board
 The War Industries Board
(WIB) encouraged companies
to use mass-production
techniques. Under the WIB
industrial production and
wages increased 20% and
union membership increased
from 2.5 million to 4 million.
 To deal with disputes between
management and labor,
President Wilson set up the
National War Labor Board in
1918.
Victory Gardens
 To conserve food, Wilson set
up the Food Administration
(FA) which declared one day
a week “meatless,” another
“sweetless,” and two days
“wheatless.” Homeowners
planted “victory gardens” in
their yards and school
children worked after school
growing tomatoes and
cucumbers in public parks.
 Farmers increased
production by almost 30% by
adding 40 million acres of
farmland
Selling The War
 The U.S. had two major tasks:
raising money and convincing
the public to support the war.
 The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on
the war effort.
 The government raised about
1/3 of that through an income
tax and “sin” taxes.
 The rest was raised through
war bonds sold to the public
(Liberty Loans & Victory Loans)
 Propaganda
 To popularize the war, the
government set up the
nations first propaganda
agency called the
Committee on Public
Information (CPI)
 George Creel led the
agency and persuaded
many of the nation’s
artists to create thousands
of paintings, posters,
cartoons and sculptures to
promote the war
 Attack on Civil Liberties
 As the war progressed, Civil
Liberties were compromised.
Anti-Immigrant feelings were
openly expressed especially
anti-German and Austrian-
Hungarian.
Espionage and Sedition Acts
were passed by Congress.
These acts were designed to
prevent anti-war protests but
went against the spirit of the
First Amendment (free
speech)
Socialists and labor leaders
were targeted for disloyalty. Any anti-American sentiments were
targeted during wartime
Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan, Sign Treaty
 The Big Four leaders, Wilson
(U.S.), Clemenceau (France),
Lloyd George (England), and
Orlando (Italy), worked out the
Treaty’s details
 Wilson conceded on most of his
14 points in return for the
establishment of the League of
Nations.
 On June 28, 1919, the Big Four
and the leaders of the defeated
nations gathered in the Hall of
Mirrors at Versailles and signed
the Treaty of Versailles.

Hall of Mirrors
 WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE
 Despite the hero’s welcome he
received in Europe, Wilson’s plan
for peace would be rejected by
the Allies. Wilson’s plan was
called the “Fourteen points” and
included:
 No secret treaties
 Freedom of the Seas
 More free trade
 Reduction of arms
 Less colonialism
A League of Nations to promote
peace through collective
security. Wilson’s 14 points in his own short
hand
 TREATY OF VERSAILLES
 The Treaty established
nine new nations including
Poland, Czechoslovakia,
and Yugoslavia.
 It broke up the Austro-
Hungarian Empire and the
Ottoman Empire empires.
 It barred Germany from
maintaining an army,
required them to give
Alsace-Lorraine back to
France, and forced them
to pay $33 billion in The Big Four met at Versailles
reparations to the Allies
 WHAT HAD THE WINNERS
 Northern France
LOST?  Britain lost  USA lost
had been a 750,000 113,000
battlefield
 1,250,000 died
 Spent over  No battles
 90% of coal and $8,000,000,00 fought on US
iron industries had 0 soil
been taken and  Americans took
many were
flooded by over
Germans businesses that
 48,000 km of road Europeans
and 23,000 could no longer
factories
run
destroyed
AFTER WORLD WAR -1
 Countries were mad at other countries
People had been killed, injured, etc.
Towns had been destroyed
Land had been taken
 The leaders of these countries needed
to find a way to fix what they had broken
 They met to decide how …
WHAT WAS THE TREATY OF
VERSAILLES?
 A meeting was held in Paris, France to decide
how best to keep peace and repair the damage
 The Treaty Of Versailles was a document that
laid out the plans to do so.
 In June 1919, the Allies declared that war would
resume if the German government did not sign
the treaty they had agreed to among
themselves. The government headed by Philipp
Scheidemann was unable to agree on a
common position, and Scheidemann himself
resigned rather than agree to sign the treaty.
THE GREAT FOUR
 THE GREAT 4

Woodrow Wilson David Lloyd George Vittorio Orlando

(President of the George (Prime Clemenceau (Prime Minister of
US) Minister of Great (President of Italy)
Britain) France)
 WHAT DID THE ALLIES
WANT?
 Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Triple
Entente
France wants to make Germany weak so they can’t
attack in the future
Britain worried about Communism (from Russia)
spreading into Germany
Italy wanted land
The US wanted the 14 Points – keep peace and self-
determination
○ Peace without Victory
3 GOALS OF THE TREATY

Improve International Relations

Restoration of Territories

Restriction on Military Strengths

IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
 Fix the relationships between
countries that fought in the war
Remove trade barriers
Honor freedom of the seas (you can sail
wherever)
No secret alliances
Allow nations to rule themselves
 RESTORATION OF
TERRITORIES
 Give back certain land to
certain countries
Return to pre-war borders
Make fair changes to claims on
colonies in Africa, Asia and the
Americas
 RESTRICTION ON MILITARY
STRENGTH
 Reduce the military of each
country’s so it’s not threatening to
other countries
Reduce the size of military branches –
less people
Especially Germany – they need to
get rid of their armies and weapons
along the Rhine River
 14 Points (1-4)

1. End secret treaties

2. Freedom of the seas
3. Free trade
4. Limit military (reduce size)
 14 POINTS (5 TO 9)
5. Ask the population of colonies what
they would wish for European claims
of their land
6. Leave Russian territory
7. Leave Belgium territory
8. Leave French territory (Alsace and
Lorraine)
9. Fix Italy’s frontiers
 14 POINTS (10 TO 14)
10.Autonomy for the people of Austria
and Hungary (split them into two
countries)
11.Independence for Montenegro,
Serbia and Romania
12.End of Ottoman Empire
13.Create a country for Poland
14.Create the League of Nations
 THE WEAKNESS OF THE
TREATY
 The harsh treatment of
Germany prevented the
Treaty from creating a
lasting peace in Europe
 The Treaty humiliated the
Germans by forcing them
to admit sole responsibility
for the war (War-Guilt
Germans felt the
Clause)
Versailles Treaty was  Furthermore, Germany
unfair
would never be able to pay
$33 billion in reparations.
 DEBATE OVER TREATY AT HOME
 In the United States, the Treaty
was hotly debated especially
the League of Nations.
Conservative senators, headed
by Henry Cabot Lodge, were
suspicious of the Leagues’ joint
economic and military
commitments. Many wanted
the U.S. Congress to maintain
the right to declare war itself.
Ultimately, Congress rejected
U.S. involvement in the very
League the U.S. President had
created
The U.S. never did join the league
 The Legacy of the War
 At home, the war strengthened both the
military and the power of the
government.
 The propaganda campaign provoked
powerful fears in society.
 For many countries the war created
22 million dead, more than political instability and violence that
half civilians. An additional lasted for years
20 million wounded.
 Russia established the first Communist
state during the war
 Americans called World War I, “The
War to end all Wars” --- however
unresolved issues would eventually
drag the U.S. into an even deadlier
GERMANY, COLLISION AND
CONDITION
 THINK

What was the role of Germany in This war and

how it rewarded?

Identity of Nationalism in Germany?

Humiliation shall begin with revenge….