World War I
Germany in 1888
Leader: Otto Von Bismark -- very strong leader--Accomplished the following:Allied AustriaMade non-aggression pact with RussiaMade a pact with ItalyFriendly with Great Britain (Germany did not have a Navy)France (Anti - Germany) was isolatedGermany in 1914
Leader: Kaiser Wilhelm II -- incompetent leader-- Accomplished the following:
Kaiser refused to renew the non-aggression pact with RussiaGermany built a navy (militarism) and tried to colonize (imperialism) -- this was an insult to
Great BritainAustria remained allied --but was actually a hindrance to GermanyItaly broke alliance with GermanyResults:
1. Triple Entente (Allied Powers) -- Russia, France, and Britain2. Triple Alliance (Central Powers) -- Germany, Austria, Turkey The Powder Keg -- What caused the Explosion?
Lack of International Organization / Each side felt threatenedGermany worried about losing Austrian Alliance (their only support)Russia worried about losing Serbia (outlet to the sea) France worried about losing Russian alliance (they were tired of being isolated)
Britain worried about shift in balance of power and safety in the English Channel
Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria murdered by a Serb (what was he doing there?)
Serbia ApologizedGermany promised to help Austria (blank check) so Austria declared war on Serbia
Russia, France, and Great Britain entered the warGermany thought they could win a two front war with a special plan (Schlieffen Plan)
The war will grind to a 4 year stalemate everybody loses -- nobody wins
The Major Cause
High NationalismImperialism (creates rivalries)(What rivalries does Parkview have? Why?)Militarism (a direct result of strong Nationalism)System of AlliancesWhat is the United States Doing? Isolationism (The US will end up on the side of the Allies)
Leaders of the Central PowersAustria-Hungary ........ Franz JosefGermany ................... Kaiser Wilhelm IILeaders of the Allied PowersFrance ......................George ClemenceauGreat Britain ........... David Lloyd GeorgeItaly ..........................Vittorio Orlando ??Russia .......................WithdrawsUnited States .......... Woodrow WilsonThe War
Schlieffen Plan -- Germany planed to conquer France in 6 days
How? Thru neutral Belgium Then, by RR across Ger. and attack RussiaWhat happened?
Belgium and the British held for 18 days destroying the Schlieffen Plan.
1st Battle of the Marne -- The British and French stopped the Germans at the Marne River only 60 miles from Paris.
Results: For 3 years -- Stalemate No Man's Land
Then: In 1917, US enters war but Russia quits.
Why: Bolsheviks won Communist Revolution signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (BREST lih TOFSK) ending war on the Eastern Front.
ending war on the Eastern Front.Allows Germany to concentrate on Western Front.America entered the War AEF - American Expeditionary Force (dough boys) John J. Blackjack PershingAmerica and World War I
1914 Wilson declared that US should be, neutral in thought as well as actionWhy was this difficult for Americans to follow?Many 1st generation immigrants held strong ties to homeland8 million German-Americans and Anti-Russians Jew favored the Triple Alliance
(Central Powers)However, language and history put most Americans in a position to side with the Entente
PlusAmerica was profiting from he war!1914 = 500 million / 1917 = 3.5 billionEvents leading to American Involvement
British blockade of Germany hurt American trade to keep America neutral
England agreed to pay for American goods intended for Germany.Germany used the U-Boat (submarine) to destroy supply ships headed to Britain.
U-Boats attacks were against International Law.May 7, 1915 - HMS Lusitania struck by torpedo killing 1200 (128 Am.) Germany quickly apologized to the US. Why?Secretary of State -- William Jennings Bryan resigned over American policy allowing Americans on British ships going to Europe
March 1916, Germany sunk French ship Sussex. Fearing American intervention, Germany gave US the Sussex Pledge, stating they would follow international law.
Wilson runs for reelection on campaign promise -- He Kept us out of War
Election of 1916Candidate PartyPercentElectoralWilsonDem 49.4 % 277Hughes Rep 46.2 % 254After the election, Germany resumed submarine warfare in January, 1917 Zimmerman Telegram -- Germany sent a special telegram to Mexico and Japan encouraging them to join the Central Powers in case America joined the war. America intercepted the telegram.
April 6, 1917 -- America Entered the War
America changed the Balance of Power in the war allowing the Entente to win.
Americans were led by Gen. Blackjack Pershing
Sgt. Alvin York -- most decorated soldier. Battles of World War I (U.S. involved)
Cantigny (kahn tee nyee)Chateau-Thierry (shah TOH teh REE)Beleau Woods (BEL loh)Reims (Reemz) / Second Battle of the MarneSt. Mihiel (SAN mee YEL)Meuse-Argonne (MYOOZ ahr GUN) OffensiveArmistice
The war ended on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month of 1918
After 4 years -- 1914 to 19188,000,000 Dead / 20,000,000 WoundedThe Results:
Germany lost all of its ColoniesGermany agreed it was responsible for starting the warAlsace-Lorraine was returned to FranceThe Rhineland was controlled by France for 15 yearsGermany was DisarmedNo Air ForceVery small NavyArmy of only 100,000 menNew countries were established from the land which Russia had given up to Germany when Lenin ask for Peace
League of Nations was EstablishedPeacemaking
The Big FourWoodrow Wilson .........AmericaDavid Lloyd George ....Great BritainGeorges Clemenceau .. FranceVittorio Orlando ...........ItalyWilson wanted to avoid punishing the German people, but the other countries wanted retribution.
Wilsons plan for peace -- Fourteen Points
A League of Nations was the fourteenth point -- Wilson believed that the League would prevent war by bringing the nations together.
Henry Cabot Lodge (US) believed that Wilson had compromised Americas security just for the sake of the League of Nations.
The League of Nations failed because America would not join.Public opinion turned against Wilson
Wilson fought 3 items to get the league passed
his illnessRepublican Partypoor public opinionWilson went to the American people for grass roots support, but they were tired of the war.
Wilson was not flexible enough to compromise -- he lost the treaty.
