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WWI: Turning Point

WWI: Turning Point. U.S. Enters, Russia Exits. U.S. Position at Beginning of War. U.S. neutral – war is a “European affair” U.S. strongest, neutral industrialized nation Major supplier of food, raw materials & munitions to belligerent (warring) nations

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WWI: Turning Point

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  1. WWI: Turning Point U.S. Enters, Russia Exits

  2. U.S. Position at Beginning of War • U.S. neutral – war is a “European affair” • U.S. strongest, neutral industrialized nation • Major supplier of food, raw materials & munitions to belligerent (warring) nations • Insists on free trade and free travel What changes to draw the U.S. into war???

  3. Financial Interests at Stake! • U.S. private banks/corporations lent money to both sides until… • U.S. begins to trade more & more with Great Britain because of blockade of Germany • Many goods bought on credit – wanted to insure repayment

  4. Sinking of the Lusitania – May 1915 • Germans sink British passenger ship off coast of Ireland • 128 Americans killed • U.S. warns Germany to back off • Germany temporarily ends unrestricted submarine warfare

  5. British Propaganda • Most news about the war came from Great Britain • Exaggerated German atrocities against defenseless citizens “It should be America’s duty to help us subdue the mad dog of Europe”

  6. Zimmerman Telegram March 1917 • Message from German foreign minister to German ambassador to Mexico • Promised Mexico the return of New Mexico, Texas & Arizona in exchange for support in war

  7. German Submarines • Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare – hopes U.S. won’t enter or that they’ll defeat G.B. first • German subs attacked any naval vessel, enemy or neutral, found in what Germany determined was a “war zone” • Germans sink4 American merchant ships

  8. The “Sinking” of the U.S. Patience

  9. April 2, 1917 – Pres Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war “The world must be made safe for democracy” April 6, 1917 – Congress votes to enter war on side of Allies

  10. Meanwhile… Over in Russia

  11. 1st Russian Revolution March 1917 • Russian czar overthrown • Leaders of revolution promised to establish a constitutional gov’t • All allies now had democratic govt’s • WWI became a war between democratic and non-democratic nations

  12. Russia Before World War I • 1905 Russo-Japanese War ends; Russia defeated and economy strained • Czar Nicholas II calls for election of a national Duma – legislature • Had little power

  13. Russia During WWI • Russia was cut off from supplies/allies because Turkey (Central Power) controlled the Dardanelles • Strait which gave access to the Med. Sea • However, Russia helped the war effort by diverting German troops from attack against the French and British

  14. Russia’s Problems During the War • By 1917 morale reached bottom • ¼ of soldiers had no guns of their own – had to pick up dead soldiers’ guns • Inadequate transport (lack of roads/railroads) • Food shortages

  15. The Fall of the Czar • Czar Nicholas II – unpopular • Incompetent • Relied on mystic healer Rasputin • Duma demands reforms in gov’t – Nicholas dissolves it

  16. The First Russian Revolution: March 1917 • Riots break out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) • Protested shortages of food/fuel • Czar’s troops side with rioters • March 15, 1917 – Czar Nicholas II abdicates • Ends the 300 year old Romanov dynasty

  17. Provisional Government • Temporary gov’t – constitutional assembly • Kerensky – prov gov’t prime minister • Rival for power – Soviets (council of workers) • Soviets – socialists - called for immediate peace, transfer of land to peasants & control of factories by workers • Gov’t lost its support

  18. Opens the Door for Revolution: Socialism Enters • Revolutionary groups tried to fill the role of gov’t • Mensheviks (Kerensky) believed a socialist revolution would be the work of masses • Bolsheviks – more radical– wanted to introduce a socialist society by force

  19. Lenin & The Bolsheviks • Lenin – Leader of Bolsheviks • Returned from exile – aided by Germany to get Russia out of war • Organized Bolsheviks • Used slogan: “Peace, Land & Bread”

  20. 2nd Russian Revolution • Nov 1917 – Bolsheviks staged a coup d’etat in Petrograd • Established socialist state • Ended private ownership of property • Distributed land among peasants • Made Peace! March 1918 – withdraws from WWI • Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany • Lost much of western territory – 1/3 of pop

  21. Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism, 1919

  22. Russian Civil War • Communists (Bolsheviks) = Reds • Royalists, liberal democrats, moderate socialists = Whites • Whites promise to defeat Reds and re-enter WWI • Communists defeat White forces Photograph of Red Army soldier about to be executed by members of the White Army.

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