world war i world war i “the great war” u.s. history & government
TRANSCRIPT
World War I“The Great War”
World War I“The Great War”
U.S. History & Government
Causes of WWICauses of WWI• Nationalism – Strong
pride/belief in your country
• Imperialism – Quest for colonial empires
• Militarism – Glorification of military strength– Arms race
• Alliances – Promise to aid each other– Central Powers: Germany,
Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria
– Triple Entente/Allied Powers: France, Russia, Great Britain
• Nationalism – Strong pride/belief in your country
• Imperialism – Quest for colonial empires
• Militarism – Glorification of military strength– Arms race
• Alliances – Promise to aid each other– Central Powers: Germany,
Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria
– Triple Entente/Allied Powers: France, Russia, Great Britain
The Beginnings in Europe
The Beginnings in Europe• Balkan feuds• June 28, 1914
Austrian Archduke assassinated
• Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary
• Alliances bring war
• Balkan feuds• June 28, 1914
Austrian Archduke assassinated
• Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary
• Alliances bring war
The European WarThe European War• Stalemate on the Western
Front – Trenches
• Networks of supply & command trenches
– Machine Gun– Poison Gas– (Tanks & Airplanes)
• North Atlantic Deadlock– Submarines– Mines
• Surrender on the Eastern Front– Russia nearly “unarmed”– Revolution = Russian surrender– Germans sense victory
• Stalemate on the Western Front – Trenches
• Networks of supply & command trenches
– Machine Gun– Poison Gas– (Tanks & Airplanes)
• North Atlantic Deadlock– Submarines– Mines
• Surrender on the Eastern Front– Russia nearly “unarmed”– Revolution = Russian surrender– Germans sense victory
Trench Warfare
Why did the US Enter WWI?
Document A
Why did the US Enter WWI?
Document A
• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1• Discuss with your table partner &
record your answer:1. Did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.
• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #1• Discuss with your table partner &
record your answer:1. Did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.
US Neutrality in WWI?US Neutrality in WWI?
• Not our war• But tied to Europe anyway…• Problems with neutrality
– Trade– Freedom of the Seas
• Lusitania, 1915• Arabic & Sussex Pledges• US Prepares…for war or peace?
– Army & Naval buildup– Negotiations…
• Not our war• But tied to Europe anyway…• Problems with neutrality
– Trade– Freedom of the Seas
• Lusitania, 1915• Arabic & Sussex Pledges• US Prepares…for war or peace?
– Army & Naval buildup– Negotiations…
Document BDocument B• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #2• Discuss with your table partner & record
your answers. Be sure to provide evidence to support your answers:2. By 1917, did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not?3. What did Wilson accuse Germany of doing?4. Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? Explain.5. Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?
• Read Woodrow Wilson’s Speech #2• Discuss with your table partner & record
your answers. Be sure to provide evidence to support your answers:2. By 1917, did Wilson think the US should enter WWI? Why or why not?3. What did Wilson accuse Germany of doing?4. Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? Explain.5. Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?
The US Goes to
War
The US Goes to
War
• US Declaration of War…– Make the world safe for
democracy– For the rights & liberties of small
nations– A war to end all wars– Strengthen GB’s navy (a la
Monroe Doctrine )• Turning the Tide
– AEF arrives summer 1917 (American Expeditionary Force)– “Over There”
• US Declaration of War…– Make the world safe for
democracy– For the rights & liberties of small
nations– A war to end all wars– Strengthen GB’s navy (a la
Monroe Doctrine )• Turning the Tide
– AEF arrives summer 1917 (American Expeditionary Force)– “Over There”
Pulling the
US into War
Pulling the
US into War
• Why else did the US go to war?– Zimmerman Note – Return to Unrestricted
Submarine warfare– GB broke– Chaos in Russia
• Discuss with your table partner:6. What do you think are the TWO biggest reasons why the US entered the war?7. Based on the reasons in Wilson’s 1917 speech and those given above, do you think the US had good reasons for entering the war? Explain.
• Why else did the US go to war?– Zimmerman Note – Return to Unrestricted
Submarine warfare– GB broke– Chaos in Russia
• Discuss with your table partner:6. What do you think are the TWO biggest reasons why the US entered the war?7. Based on the reasons in Wilson’s 1917 speech and those given above, do you think the US had good reasons for entering the war? Explain.
A Little Bit about Historian Howard Zinn
A Little Bit about Historian Howard Zinn
• Howard Zinn was a historian and activist who was best known for his 1980 book, A People’s History of the United States. His book tells American history from the perspective of minorities, women and poor people. He was very critical of the United States government.
• Howard Zinn was a historian and activist who was best known for his 1980 book, A People’s History of the United States. His book tells American history from the perspective of minorities, women and poor people. He was very critical of the United States government.
Document CDocument C• Read the excerpt from Howard Zinn • Discuss with your table partner
8. Why did Zinn claim that Wilson made a “flimsy
argument?”9. What did Zinn suggest were the real reasons
the US entered the war?10. What evidence did Zinn provide to support
his claims that the US was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks of US ships)?11. Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
• Read the excerpt from Howard Zinn • Discuss with your table partner
8. Why did Zinn claim that Wilson made a “flimsy
argument?”9. What did Zinn suggest were the real reasons
the US entered the war?10. What evidence did Zinn provide to support
his claims that the US was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks of US ships)?11. Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
The Home Front…The Home Front…• Wilson’s Preparedness
Program– “Mobilization of men, money,
machines & minds”• Men
– Selective Service Act, 1917• Money
– Liberty Bonds & Victory Loans• Machines
– Ships, Guns, Jeeps…• Minds
– Opposition to the war– Committee on Public
Information
• Wilson’s Preparedness Program– “Mobilization of men, money,
machines & minds”• Men
– Selective Service Act, 1917• Money
– Liberty Bonds & Victory Loans• Machines
– Ships, Guns, Jeeps…• Minds
– Opposition to the war– Committee on Public
Information
Woodrow Wilson
Over ThereOver There
• In 1917, George M. Cohen, wrote the song, Over There. The 1942 movie Yankee Doodle Dandy used the song to help tell its story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5oWH6JWBJY
– 12. How is the song useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWI? Explain.
– 13. How is this movie clip useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWII? Explain.
– 14. Which is more useful, the song for WWI or the video clip for WWII? Explain
• In 1917, George M. Cohen, wrote the song, Over There. The 1942 movie Yankee Doodle Dandy used the song to help tell its story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5oWH6JWBJY
– 12. How is the song useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWI? Explain.
– 13. How is this movie clip useful as evidence of American life and attitudes during WWII? Explain.
– 14. Which is more useful, the song for WWI or the video clip for WWII? Explain
Fighting the War at Home
Fighting the War at Home
• Conversion to Full Wartime Economy– War Industries Board– Council of Defense
• Food Administration• Fuel Administration
– The Labor Force• National War Labor
Board
• Attack on Civil Liberties
• Espionage Act, 1917• Trading with the Enemies
Act, 1917• Sedition Act, 1918
• Conversion to Full Wartime Economy– War Industries Board– Council of Defense
• Food Administration• Fuel Administration
– The Labor Force• National War Labor
Board
• Attack on Civil Liberties
• Espionage Act, 1917• Trading with the Enemies
Act, 1917• Sedition Act, 1918
WWI US Propaganda Poster
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points• Wilson’s Plan for World Peace• 9 Points – Self Determination
– The right of people to govern themselves
– Settles territorial disputes• 4 Points – Causes of War
– No more secret diplomacy– No more arms race– No more violation of
freedom of the seas– No more trade barriers
• 1 Point – League of Nations– Set up an international
body designed to prevent offensive wars
• Wilson’s Plan for World Peace• 9 Points – Self Determination
– The right of people to govern themselves
– Settles territorial disputes• 4 Points – Causes of War
– No more secret diplomacy– No more arms race– No more violation of
freedom of the seas– No more trade barriers
• 1 Point – League of Nations– Set up an international
body designed to prevent offensive wars
Death and Destruction:Before WWI
Death and Destruction:Before WWI
Death and DestructionAfter
Death and DestructionAfter
BeforeBefore
AfterAfter
BeforeBefore
AfterAfter
WWI CasualtiesWWI Casualties
The SurrenderThe Surrender
• German generals decide to surrender– Can’t win with US entry into the war– Hope the treaty will be based on the
14 Points– Kaiser abdicates
• The cease fire goes into place at 11 AM on 11/11/1918 (Armistice Day)– Peace Conference set for January
1919 in Paris
• German generals decide to surrender– Can’t win with US entry into the war– Hope the treaty will be based on the
14 Points– Kaiser abdicates
• The cease fire goes into place at 11 AM on 11/11/1918 (Armistice Day)– Peace Conference set for January
1919 in Paris
Paris Peace ConferenceParis Peace Conference• Wilson leads US
delegation– Wants to “end all wars”
• Big Three (from L to R)– David Lloyd George –
Great Britain• Couldn’t be trusted
– Georges Clemenceau – France
• Wanted revenge– Vittorio Orlando – Italy
• Demanded new ports– + Woodrow Wilson – U.S.– Other nations were there
too• Six months of debate
until decision reached
• Wilson leads US delegation– Wants to “end all wars”
• Big Three (from L to R)– David Lloyd George –
Great Britain• Couldn’t be trusted
– Georges Clemenceau – France
• Wanted revenge– Vittorio Orlando – Italy
• Demanded new ports– + Woodrow Wilson – U.S.– Other nations were there
too• Six months of debate
until decision reached
The “Big Four”
Treaty of Versailles“Harsh and Humiliating”
Terms
Treaty of Versailles“Harsh and Humiliating”
Terms• Europeans wanted as much as possible
from the treaty• Treaty provisions
– Each victor received land as promised in secret treaties
– Germany disarmed & colonies parceled out– Meant to weaken communist Russia– New Countries formed– Rejected claims for independence outside of
Europe– Germany forced to admit full responsibility for
the War– Germany charged billions of dollars in
reparations– League of Nations established…
• Europeans wanted as much as possible from the treaty
• Treaty provisions– Each victor received land as promised in secret
treaties– Germany disarmed & colonies parceled out– Meant to weaken communist Russia– New Countries formed– Rejected claims for independence outside of
Europe– Germany forced to admit full responsibility for
the War– Germany charged billions of dollars in
reparations– League of Nations established…
League of NationsLeague of Nations
• League covenant embedded in the Treaty– Article X
• Purpose– To resolve disputes
peacefully– To “respect and
preserve” all other member nations
– Established a waiting/cooling off period
– Economic pressure to be used
– Use of force only if necessary
• League covenant embedded in the Treaty– Article X
• Purpose– To resolve disputes
peacefully– To “respect and
preserve” all other member nations
– Established a waiting/cooling off period
– Economic pressure to be used
– Use of force only if necessary
1914: Before the Great War
1914: Before the Great War
Great Empires:
• Russia
• Austria-Hungary
• Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
After the Great War: by 1924
After the Great War: by 1924
New Countries: • Finland• Estonia• Latvia• Lithuania• Poland• Czechoslovakia
• Yugoslavia• Syria• Trans-Jordan• Iraq
Fight Over the TreatyFight Over the Treaty• Wilson triumphantly returns to US• Problem: Senate has to approve
treaty• US fearful of treaty “alliances”
– The U.S. would be forced to go to war in defense of any League member
• No compromise: Wilson vs. Congress
• League – set up in Geneva, Switzerland without the U.S.
• Wilson triumphantly returns to US• Problem: Senate has to approve
treaty• US fearful of treaty “alliances”
– The U.S. would be forced to go to war in defense of any League member
• No compromise: Wilson vs. Congress
• League – set up in Geneva, Switzerland without the U.S.
Reflection QuestionsReflection Questions
• 15. What do you think was the biggest reason why Europe erupted into war?
• 16. What provisions would you have put in the treaty of Versailles? What would you have excluded?
• 17. What are two things that were new, interesting, or you know that you will (or should) remember a month from now?
• 15. What do you think was the biggest reason why Europe erupted into war?
• 16. What provisions would you have put in the treaty of Versailles? What would you have excluded?
• 17. What are two things that were new, interesting, or you know that you will (or should) remember a month from now?