WORLD WAR I

1. WORLD WAR I “War is no longer Samson with his shield and spear and sword, and David with his sling. It is the conflict of smokestacks now, the combat of the driving wheel and the engine.”

2. MILITARISM • Empires were less expensive to build and defend • Growth of nationalism and imperialism led to increased military spending • The imperial powers followed a policy of militarism—the development of armed forces and their use as a diplomacy tool • 1890—Germany was the strongest European nation • They wanted to compete as a Naval Power—pretty soon they were competing with Britain’s naval power

3. ALLIANCE SYSTEM • 1907—Two major defense alliances in Europe • The Triple Entente (Allies)—France, Britain, and Russia • The Triple Alliance (Central Powers)—Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy—eventually the Ottoman Empire • The alliances provided a measure of international security because nations were reluctant to disturb the balance of power

4. IMPERIALISM • European nations had been building empires • Colonies supplied the European powers with raw materials and markets for goods • As Germany industrialized, it competed with France and Britain in the contest for colonies

5. NATIONALISM • Politics in the Western World was deeply influenced by nationalism during the 19th century • In this atmosphere, competition soared and many feared Germany’s growing power in Europe • Ethnic groups also resented domination by others and wanted independence • Many looked to the larger nations for protection

7. ASSASSINATION = WAR • The spark that started the war began in “the powder keg of Europe”—Balkan Peninsula • Ethnic rivalries and leading powers’ interests there created a problem between Bosnia and Serbia • In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, visited the Bosnian capital Sarajevo • He and his wife were shot by Gavrilo Princip while they were driving down the streets • Princip was a member of the Black Hand-an organization promoting Serbian Nationalism

8. ASSASSINATION = WAR • On June 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia • The Alliance System pulled one nation after another into the conflict • Germany, obligated by treaty, declared war on Russia to protect A-H on August 1 • On August 3, Germany declared war on France • After Germany invaded Belgium (a neutral country), Britain declared war on Germany • The Great War had begun

9. THE FIGHTING STARTS • August 3, 1914—Germany enacted the Schlieffen Plan • This plan called for: • a holding action against Russia • A quick drive through Belgium to Paris • Then the two German armies would defeat Russia • Unable to save Belgium, the Allies retreated to the Marne River in France, where they halted the advance in September 1914

10. TRENCH WARFARE • Both sides dug in for a long seige • By 1915, trenches outlined the border between France and Germany • There were three main trenches: • Front line • Support • Reserve • Each trench had several dugouts—underground rooms used as officers’ quarters and command posts

12. TRENCH WARFARE • Between the trench complexes lay “no man’s land”—a barren expanse of mud pockmarked with shell craters and filled with barbed wire • Soldiers who charged the lines were mowed down by machine guns

14. TRENCH WARFARE • July 1, 1916—the Battle of the Somme • The British suffered 60,000 casualties in the first day alone • Final casualties totaled about 1.2 million • Only 7 miles of land had changed hands • The Trench Warfare, in which armies fought for mere yards, continued for over three years

15. DIVIDED LOYALTIES • In 1914, Americans saw no reason to join a struggle 3,000 miles away • Socialists criticized the war as a capitalist and imperialist struggle between Germany and England to control markets and colonies in China, Africa, and the Middle East • Pacifists, like William Jennings Bryan, believed that war was evil and that the U.S. should set an example of peace to the world

16. DIVIDED LOYALTIES • Many Americans simply did not want their sons to experience the horrors of war • Millions of naturalized citizens followed the war closely because they still had ties to the nations from which they had emigrated • The sympathies increased for both sides as the war continued • However, Germany’s aggressive behavior towards innocent civilians in Belgium made many Americans side with Britain

17. DIVIDED LOYALTIES • Germany became “the bully of Europe” • Propaganda provided by Britain—eventually proven false—created this sense of anger towards Germany • America’s economic ties were much stronger with the Allies than the Central Powers • The Allies flooded American manufacturers with orders with supplies for the war, and this helped to separate America and Germany even more

18. DIVIDED LOYALTIES • The U.S. shipped millions of dollars of war supplies to the Allies, but requests kept coming • By 1915, the U.S. was experiencing a labor shortage • From 1914 on, trade with the Allies nearly quadrupled while trade with Germany fell to almost zero • By 1917, many Americans felt that prosperity depended upon an Allied victory

19. THE WAR HITS HOME • British blockade • Britain made use of its navy with a blockade of Germany • At first they prevented only military supplies and weapons from getting through—but eventually expanded to include food • They also extended the blockade to neutral ports and mined the entire North Sea • American ships could not reach Germany • 750,000 Germans died of starvation as a result of the blockade

20. THE WAR HITS HOME • Americans had been angry with the blockade-until Germany reacted • Germany responded with a counter blockade by U-boats (submarines) • Any British or Allied ship found in the waters around Britain would be sunk—and it was not always possible to warn crews and passengers of an attack

21. THE WAR HITS HOME • One of the worst disasters occurred on May 7, 1915 when a U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland • Of the 1198 persons lost, 128 were Americans • Germany justified their actions by stating the ship was carrying munitions • American public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers

23. THE WAR HITS HOME • Despite the disaster, Wilson ruled out a military response in favor of a sharp protest against Germany • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare continued • Germany sank the Arabic (British liner) and two Americans were killed • Again, the U.S. protested—Germany promised to stop sinking liners • They broke their promise by sinking the Sussex (French liner) in March 1916—more American lives were lost

24. THE WAR HITS HOME • The U.S. warned it would cut off all diplomatic relations with Germany if they did not cease unrestricted submarine warfare • They promised to do so if the U.S. would urge Britain to allow food to reach the German coast

25. 1916 ELECTION • The Democrats re-nominated Wilson • Republicans nominated Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes • Wilson ran on the slogan “He Kept Us Out of War” • Hughes pledged to uphold America’s right to freedom

27. 1916 ELECTION • The election returns shifted from hour to hour • Hughes went to bed believing he had won • When a reporter tried to reach him to inform him Wilson had won, an aide stated “the President cannot be disturbed.” “Well then,” replied the reporter, “when he wakes up, tell him he’s no longer president.”

28. GERMAN PROVOCATION • The German’s ignored Wilson’s calls for peace • Germany hoped to defeat Britain by using unrestricted sub warfare • On January 31-the Kaiser announced that all ships-neutral or hostile-on sight • Again, the U.S. held back until “actual overt acts” of war were committed

29. GERMAN PROVOCATION • The Overt Acts Came: • First, the Zimmermann note—a telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents • The telegram proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany and promised that if war with the U.S. broke out, Germany would protect Mexico in recovering lost territory • Next came the sinking of four unarmed American merchant ships

31. GERMAN PROVOCATION • Finally, events in Russia removed the last significant obstacle to direct U.S. involvement in the war • The Russian Monarchy was replaced with a representative government • Now supporters of American entry into the war could claim that this was a war of democracies against brutal monarchies • April, 1917—America declared war on Germany

32. MOBILIZATION • The U.S. was not prepared for war • Only 200,000 men were in service and only a few officers had combat experience • Drastic measures were taken in order to prepare for a modern war in Europe

34. Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1917 This required men to register the government in order to be randomly selected for military service By 1918, 24 million had signed up—about 3 million were sent—2 million before the truce was signed—3/4th’s saw actual combat MOBILIZATION

35. MOBILIZATION • About 400,000 African Americans served in the armed forces • More than half of them in France • African Americans served in segregated units and were excluded from the anvy and marines • Most were assigned to non-combat duties—although there were a few exceptions

36. MOBILIZATION • The all-black 369th Infantry saw more continuous duty on the front lines than any other American regiment • Two soldiers of the 369th, Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts, were the first Americans to receive France’s highest military honor, the “cross of war”

37. MOBILIZATION • Training: • 17 hour days in both Europe and the U.S. • Target practice, bayonet drill, kitchen duty, and cleaning up the grounds were all included • Real weapons were in short supply, so fake ones were used in most practice drills • Rocks instead of grenades, or wooden poles instead of rifles • Women: • Although not allowed to enlist, the army accepted women in the Corps of Nurses, but denied them army rank, pay and benefits • Some 13,000 women committed themselves to service

38. MASS PRODUCTION • In addition to the vast army, the U.S. had to find a way to transport all the supplies and men across the ocean • This was made difficult by the submarine warfare by the Germans • To solve this problem the government took four crucial steps

40. MASS PRODUCTION • First • The government exempted many shipyard workers from draft and gave others a “deferred” classification • Second • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined in a public relations campaign to emphasize the importance of shipyard work • They distributed service flags to families of shipyard workers • They also urged automobile owners to give shipyard employees rides to and from work since streetcars were so crowded

41. MASS PRODUCTION • Third • Shipyards used fabrication techniques—instead of building an entire ship in the yard, standardized parts were built elsewhere and then assembled at the yard • This method reduced construction time drastically • Fourth • The government took over commercial private ships and converted them for transatlantic war use

42. AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE • U-boats were a major threat • Vice Admiral William S. Sims convinced the British to use the Convoy System—a heavy guard of destroyers escorting merchant ships across the ocean in groups • By fall of 1917, shipping losses had been cut in half

44. AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE • The U.S. also helped to lay a 230-mile barrier of mines across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway • The barrier was designed to bottle up the U-boats • By early 1918, the Germans found it increasingly difficult to replace staff and submariners lost in this barrier • Of the 2 million Americans sent to Europe, only 637 were killed by U-boats

45. FIGHTING IN EUROPE • After 2 ½ years of fighting, the allies were tired and demoralized • Americans offered numbers and a freshness and enthusiasm • The AEF (American Expeditionary Force) led by General John J. Pershing, led the forces in Europe • They were nicknamed “doughboys” because of the white belts they wore—which they cleaned with pipe clay, or “dough”

46. NEW WEAPONS • The new weapons of the Great War changed the nature of warfare • The two most innovative weapons were the tank and the airplane • Together they heralded mechanized warfare—warfare that relies on gas powered machines • Tanks were first used the 1916 at the Battle of the Somme (not very effectively) • By 1917, they knew how to plow through barbed wire to clear paths for infantry

48. NEW WEAPONS • Airplanes were first used to scout • Eventually, tanks were shooting down planes • Early dogfights were fought by pilots with pistols—firing at one another as they flew by • Eventually planes began carrying mounted machine guns due to the difficulty of flying and shooting • The blades of the propeller kept getting in the way of the bullets—the Germans introduced a interrupter gear that permitted the stream of bullets to avoid the whirring blades

49. NEW WEAPONS • By 1918, airplanes were being built stronger and faster • The British had built up a strategic bomber force of 22,000 planes to attack the Germans • Observation balloons were used extensively by both sides—they were protected by aircraft flying close