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Chapter 14 World War I and Its Aftermath. Section 1 The United States Enters World War I Section 3 A Bloody Conflict. Alliances. Nationalism was very powerful in Europe in the late 1800s.
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Chapter 14World War I and Its Aftermath Section 1 The United States Enters World War I Section 3 A Bloody Conflict
Nationalism was very powerful in Europe in the late 1800s. • The right to self-determination, the idea that people who belong to a nation should have their own country and government, was a basic idea of nationalism. • This led to the crisis in the Balkans where different groups within the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires began to seek independence.
A Continent Goes To War • June 1914 – the heir to the Austo-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand visits Bosnian city of Sarajevo with his wife Sophia. • He is assassinated by Gavrilio Princip, a terrorist from the Black Hand (group that wants to rid itself of Austrian rule) • Ferdinand and his wife are killed
A Continent Goes to War • Chain of events that starts WWI: (1914) • July 28 – Austria declared war on Serbia. • August 1 – Germany declared war on Russia. • August 3 – Germany declared war on France.
The Allies • France, Russia, Great Britain, and later Italy – fought for the Triple Entente. • Germany and Austria-Hungary joined the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria to form the Central Powers.
Germany’s plan • German is trying to avoid fighting a war on two fronts. • Comes up with Schlieffen Plan (France first , then Russia) • Knock out France in first 6 weeks, then hit Russia (take Russia some time to mobilize)
Germany’s Plan Fails • Germany and France became locked in a stalemate along hundreds of miles of trenches. • Stalemate lasted 3 years. • Central Powers had greater success on the Eastern Front, capturing hundreds of miles of territory and hundreds of thousands of prisoners.
New Weapons of war • Machine gun • Barbwire • Tanks • Airplanes • Submarines • Poison gas
Trench Warfare • Terrible way to fight a war • Land in between trenches called no mans land • Filled with dead bodies and barb wire • Rats • Lice • Constant bombardment • Assault was called “going over the top”
American Neutrality • Wilson declared the United States to be neutral. • He did not want his country pulled into a foreign war. • Americans showed support for one side or the other with many immigrants supporting their homelands. • Most favored the Allied cause.
Pro-British Sentiment • Pres. Wilson’s cabinet was pro-British, believing that an Allied victory would preserve an international balance of power. • The British skillfully used propaganda, or information used to influence opinion, to gain American support.
Propaganda • Governments used propaganda to influence public opinion
The British Blockade • The British navy blockaded Germany to keep it from getting supplies. • The British redefined contraband, or prohibited materials, to stop neutral parties from shipping food to Germany. • To get around the blockade, Germany deployed submarines known as U-boats.
The British Blockade • Germany threatened to sink any ship that entered the waters around Britain. • Attacking civilian ships without warning violated an international treaty and outraged the United States. • The Lusitania, a British passenger liner, was hit by the Germans, killing almost 1,200 passengers. (128 Americans)
The British Blockade • Americans instructed Germany to stop U-boat strikes. • Germany did not want the U.S. to join the war and strengthen the Allies. • The Sussex Pledge, a promise made by Germany to stop sinking merchant ships, kept the U.S. out of the war for a bit longer.
A German official, Arthur Zimmerman, cabled the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing that Mexico ally itself with Germany. In return, Mexico would regain territory it had earlier lost to the U.S. Telegram was intercepted by the British and leaked to American newspapers. The U.S. Declares War
"On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. Zimmerman"
The U.S. Declares War • February 1917 – Germany went back to unrestricted submarine warfare and, soon after, sank six American merchant ships. • April 6, 1917 – United States declared war against Germany.
Declaration of War • WHEREAS, The Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America; therefore, be it • Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government, which has thus been thrust upon the United States, is hereby formally declared; and • That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
