World History Honors

1. World History Honors WWI—American Involvement and Aftermath

2. Germany establishes a “war zone” around Britain and threaten any ship, even neutral one, with attack • End of the United States’ Neutrality • March 28, 1915, the Irish Sea • A British passenger liner is sunk by a German U-Boat • More than 100 people are killed, including Americans—White House ponders a response • May 07, 1915, off of the Irish coast • The British passenger liner, Lusitania, is torpedoed by a German U-Boat • Killed 128 Americans • Difference of opinion(?) • Americans are outraged • Germany said they had warned Americans against traveling in a war zone • Lusitania was transporting armaments for Britain End of U.S. Neutrality

3. August 1915—Another British passenger liner is sunk (Arabic) • Killing two Americans • March 1916—French passenger liner is attacked (Sussex) • Injured several Americans • Wilson threatens to cut diplomatic ties with Germany • Germany issues the Sussex Pledge • Would not sink a liner without warning it or ensuring the passengers safety • February 01, 1917—Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare • Hoped that their U-Boats could defeat the Allies before the United States entered the war • Wilson breaks diplomatic relations • Orders the arming of American merchant ships sailing into the war zone • Germans sank five American ships

4. The Zimmerman Note • A communiqué from the German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German minister in Mexico is intercepted • Suggests an alliance between Germany and Mexico • Germany would assist Mexico in regaining land and territories taken by the United States in return for their assistance in defeating the United States • Wilson asks for a declaration of war from Congress, April 02, 1917 • Congress declared war • The Senate on April 04, 1917 • The House of Representatives on April 06, 1917

5. Pershing in charge • Refused to allow the Allies to dictate how his troops would be used • Insisted on having his men fight as a separate unit • July 04, 1917—1000’s of American soldiers (“Yanks”) marched through Paris, France • More troops arrive in France • Army engineers built… • docks, railroads, and strung up networks of telephone and telegraph lines • Ammunition depots, camps, hospitals, and storage sheds • Troops did not participate in the fighting until 1918 Americans in Europe

6. Meatless Mondays • Wheatless Wednesday • Heatless Mondays • Victory Gardens • Do NOT have to ration during WWI Americans Conserve Resources

7. Committee of Public Information (CPI) was established • Wilson’s way to encourage support of the war by Americans • Began in the spring of 1917 • Headed by George Creel • Initially put out fact-based material that presented an upbeat picture • Soon CPI turned to propaganda that showed the Germans as evil monsters • Hollywood joined CPI in their propaganda campaign • Produced films such as… • The Claws of the Hun • The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin • Pamphlets were issued warning against German spies • “Patriotic Organizations” began to emerge • Spied, tapped phones, opened others’ mail in an effort to identify “spies and traitors” Influencing Opinions

8. German-Americans had a hard time • Many lost their jobs • Subjects of interest to the “protective” leagues • German books were removed from libraries • Schools stopped teaching German language courses • German music disappeared from concert programs • People re-named German-sounding items • Sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage” • Dachshunds became “liberty pups” • Hamburger became “Salisbury steak”

9. Armistice is called November 11, 1918 • Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Nine dealt with the issue of self-determination and with the various territorial disputes • Other points focused on what Wilson considered the causes of the war • Secret diplomacy • Arms race • Violations of freedoms of the seas • Trade barriers • The final point established the “League of Nations” • International body that was designed to prevent offensive wars Aftermath

10. The Fourteen Points were readily accepted by the American people and the Congress • The Allies were not enthusiastic • The German government rejected them • Claimed that Wilson was interfering in European affairs • Peace Conference opened on January 18, 1919 • Dominated by the “Big Four” • United States President, Woodrow Wilson • British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George • French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau • Italian Prime Minister, Vittorio Orlando • British, French, and the Italians insisted that Germany bear the financial cost of the war—make reparations to the Allies • British, French and the Italians also want spoils-of-war treaties honored • Such demands violated many of the principles of Wilson’s Fourteen Points

11. Treaty of Versailles • Final agreement after months of debate • Signing took place at Versailles, just outside Paris, France on June 28, 1919 • Terms of the Treaty • Germany’s colonies and the Ottoman Empire were divided among the Allied nations • Wilson insisted that the new colonial leaders report their administration to the League of Nations • New nations were created • Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia • Re-established nations as independent nations • Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland • France reclaimed the Alsace-Lorraine region • France won control of the Saarland—industrial region of Germany, for 15 years • Germany was disarmed, forced to admit full responsibility for the war and charged billions of dollars in reparations

12. Wilson made sure that the “League of Nations” measure was included in the Treaty • Believed that it would remedy injustices of the Treaty • Agreement required member nations to try to resolve disputes, peacefully • If negotiations failed, there was to be a waiting period before war was propagated • If a nation fails to observe these procedures there were to be consequences placed on them • The executive council could apply economic pressure and/or recommend the use of force against the offender • Article10—the heart of the agreement • Required each member nations to “respect and preserve” the independence and territorial integrity of all other member nations • By the time Wilson left office the League of Nations had been established in Geneva, Switzerland—without the United States’ participation

13. Europe struggled to recover from the war • 8.5 million were killed in the war • 21 million were wounded • Industry and agriculture of much of continental Europe is in ruins • Northern France was destroyed • Businesses still in operation could not meet the demand • Rapid inflation was the result • Food shortages in Germany • Countries competed over territories that they believed the Treaty SHOULD have given to them • Middle Eastern countries supported the Allies in hopes of gaining their independence (from the Ottoman Turks) • Found themselves living under British and French authority • Tensions rose after Britain issued the Balfour Declaration • Supported the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine Global Impact of the War