The American Nation

Chapter 24

World War I, 19141919

Copyright 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

The American Nation

Chapter 24: World War I, 19141919

Section 1:
Section 2:

War in Europe
From Neutrality to War

Section 3:
Section 4:

Americans in Battle
The Failed Peace

Copyright 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

War in Europe
Chapter 24, Section 1

What were the causes of World War I? How was war fought in the trenches? How did Germanys use of submarine warfare affect American neutrality?

Causes of World War I

Chapter 24, Section 1

Tensions had been building in Europe for years.

Nationalism Extreme feelings of nationalism, or pride in ones nation, led to tension. Nationalists demanded freedom and self-government. They thought that people with a common language and culture should form their own countries. nationalism created mistrust and national rivalries. Extreme The scramble for overseas colonies fueled European rivalries. Sometimes the European scramble for colonies led to wars in places far from Europe. Militarism Militarism is the policy of building up strong armed forces. European nations expanded their armies and navies. To protect themselves, European powers formed alliances. Allies agreed to support one another in case of attack. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance. France, Russia, and Britain formed the Triple Entente.

Imperialism

Alliances

Causes of World War I: Militarism

Chapter 24, Section 1

Causes of World War I

Chapter 24, Section 1

A local crisis in Bosnia exploded into World War I. In the Balkan peninsula, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia were rivals for territory. Balkan nationalists called on certain ethnic groups in Austria-Hungary to throw off Austrian rule. Members of a Serbian terrorist group wanted Bosnia to break away from Austria-Hungary and join Serbia. A terrorist uses threats and violence to promote a cause. While Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was visiting Bosnia, a young terrorist shot him and his wife. Austria-Hungary accused the Serbian government of being responsible for the archdukes assassination. They declared war on Serbia. Russia ordered its forces to prepare for war. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. On August 3, Germany declared war on France. When German armies marched through neutral Belgium to get to France, Britain declared war on Germany.

Trench Warfare
Chapter 24, Section 1

Both sides thought the war would end soon. The kaiser, or German emperor, promised that the war would be over before winter. However, the conflict that people of the time called the Great War, and people later called the First World War or World War I, dragged on for four years. The Central PowersGermany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman, or Turkish, Empirefought the Allied PowersFrance, Britain, and Russia. In time, 21 other nations joined the Allies. By November 1914, the war reached a stalematea deadlock in which neither side is strong enough to defeat the other. The stalemate went on for three years.

Trench Warfare
Chapter 24, Section 1

Both sides created a maze of trenches protected by barbed wire. Some trenches were shallow ditches. Others were tunnels, with headquarters and first aid stations. Between the opposing front-line trenches was a no mans land of barbed wire. Day after day, soldiers shelled enemy trenches. Sometimes, soldiers raced across no mans land to attack the enemy. Both sides used a new weapongasthat choked and blinded the soldiers. Most offensives were long and deadly. The Battle of Verdun went on for 10 months in 1916. The Germans lost 400,000 men. The French lost even more.

The Allied Powers and the Central Powers

Chapter 24, Section 1

American Neutrality
Chapter 24, Section 1

At first, the United States was determined to remain neutral. Public opinion, however, was divided along ethnic lines.. The American economy boomed as farmers and manufacturers rushed to fill orders for war goods for both sides. Trade with the Allies was somewhat greater than trade with the Central Powers.

Propaganda Both sides waged a propaganda war in the United States. Propaganda is the spreading of ideas that help a cause or hurt an opposing cause. In World War I, each side pictured the other as savage beasts.

American Neutrality
Chapter 24, Section 1

Submarine warfare The United States claimed the right to trade with either side. Britain blockaded German ports, hoping to starve Germany into surrender. Germany set up a blockade around Britain. Germany used a new weapon, a fleet of submarines known as Uboats. Germany torpedoed enemy and neutral ships suspected of carrying war goods to Britain. President Wilson vowed to hold Germany responsible if its U-boats caused loss of American life or property. On May 7, 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, off the coast of Ireland. Nearly 1,200 people died, including 128 Americans. Wilson was furious. Germany agreed that before it attacked any ship, U-boats would give warning. This agreementthe Sussex Pledgekept the United States out of the war a little longer.

Section 1 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 1

Before World War I, one condition that created tension among European nations was a a) major cutback in military forces. b) refusal by major nations to participate in alliances. c) scramble for overseas colonies. d) stalemate over propaganda. The incident that finally set off World War I was a) the shooting of Austria-Hungarys Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serbian terrorist. b) the sinking of the British ship Lusitania by a German submarine. c) a British blockade of Germany. d) Russias forming an alliance with France.

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Section 1 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 1

Before World War I, one condition that created tension among European nations was a a) major cutback in military forces. b) refusal by major nations to participate in alliances. c) scramble for overseas colonies. d) stalemate over propaganda. The incident that finally set off World War I was a) the shooting of Austria-Hungarys Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serbian terrorist. b) the sinking of the British ship Lusitania by a German submarine. c) a British blockade of Germany. d) Russias forming an alliance with France.

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From Neutrality to War

Chapter 24, Section 2

How did President Wilson try to bring about peace? Why did the United States move toward war? How did the government prepare for and manage the war effort? How did Americans on the home front respond to the war?

Wilsons Efforts to Bring About Peace

Chapter 24, Section 2

President Wilson tried to bring both sides to peace talks. He believed that the United States, as a neutral nation, could lead warring nations to peace. At the same time, Wilson began to lobby for a stronger army and navy in case of war. When Wilson ran for reelection in 1916, the Democrats portrayed his opponent, Charles Evans Hughes, as a warmonger, or person who tries to stir up war. Their slogan was He (Wilson) kept us out of war! In January 1917, Wilson issued his final plea for peace.

The United States Moves Toward War

Chapter 24, Section 2

Germany warned neutral nations that after February 1, 1917, its U-boats would sink any ship nearing Britain. German leaders were gambling that they could defeat the Allies before American troops could reach Europe. Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. In February, Wilson learned that Arthur Zimmermann, Germanys foreign secretary, had sent a secret note to Mexico. The Zimmermann telegram told the German minister to urge Mexico to attack the United States if the United States declared war on Germany. Germany would help Mexico get back their lost territory in the Southwest. The telegram stirred anti-German feelings in the United States. In early 1917, German submarines sank several American merchant ships. A revolution in Russia drove Czar Nicholas II from power. The czars, or Russian emperors, had absolute power. When Russia suffered heavy losses in the war and severe hardships at home, riots over food shortages turned into revolution. Wilson firmly believed in democracy. Now that the czar, an absolute ruler, was gone, it was easier for Wilson to back the Allied cause. On April 2, 1917, Wilson went before Congress to ask for a declaration of war. The world must be made safe for democracy, he declared.

The United States Moves Toward War

Chapter 24, Section 2

Public opinion was split on whether the United States should go to war.

Preparing for War

Chapter 24, Section 2

The United States had to prepare for war quickly. Raising an army Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft. A draft is a law requiring people of a certain age to serve in the military. Many people volunteered for the armed forces, including many recent immigrants, Native Americans, and African Americans. About 25 percent of the recruits were illiterateunable to read and write. The army taught millions of young men how to read, as well as how to fight. It also taught them about health needs. The shocking illiteracy rates fueled a drive to reform public education. Measures included lengthening the school day, requiring students to spend more years in school, and raising teacher-training standards.

Educating the troops

Managing the Fight

Chapter 24, Section 2

A huge bureaucracy emerged to manage the war effort. A bureaucracy is a system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials.
Managing the food supply Wilson chose Herbert Hoover as head of the Food Administration. Hoovers job was to boost food production in order to feed the troops and send food to the Allies. Encouraged by rising food prices, farmers grew more crops. Citizens planted victory gardens to raise their own vegetables.
To meet the shortage of war supplies, President Wilson set up the War Industries Board. The board told factories what they had to produce. Wilson also created the War Labor Board. It settled disputes over hours and wages and tried to prevent strikes. During the war, union membership rose and labor unrest declined.

Managing industry

On the Home Front

Chapter 24, Section 2

Liberty Bonds

Movie stars helped sell Liberty Bonds. By buying bonds, American citizens were lending money to the government to pay for the war.

Women workers As men joined the armed forces, women stepped into their jobs. By performing in jobs once reserved for men, women helped change the view that they were fit only for womens work." Anti-German prejudice German Americans endured suspicion and intolerance. Such prejudice led some families to change their names. Schools stopped teaching the German language.

Migrations

As the draft drained cities of workers, nearly a half million African Americans and thousands of Mexican Americans migrated from the South and Southwest to find work in war industries in cities in the North. Ranchers in the Southwest pressed the government to let more Mexicans into the country to work on farms.

On the Home Front

Chapter 24, Section 2

Opposition to the war

Some Americans opposed the war. Many of these critics were pacifists or people who refuse to fight in any war because they believe that war is evil. Antiwar feeling was also strong among Socialists and radical labor groups. A Socialist believes that the people as a whole rather than private individuals should own all property and share the profits from all businesses. Socialists argued that the war benefited factory owners but not workers. Congress passed laws making it a crime to criticize the government or interfere with the war effort.

Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 2

The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany after a) Germany started the Russian Revolution. b) Germany swore to invade Mexico. c) Germany warned that it planned to sink any ship headed for Britain. d) Wilsons rival, Charles Evans Hughes, said he favored war with Germany. During the war, a great migration took place within the United States when a) many German Americans headed to the Midwest to avoid the antiGerman prejudice of the East. b) African Americans and Mexicans left jobs in the South and Southwest for jobs in war industries in the North. c) women moved from the suburbs to the city to take over factory jobs. d) blacks embarked on a great migration from the North and Northeast to take jobs in cities in the South.
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Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 2

The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany after a) Germany started the Russian Revolution. b) Germany swore to invade Mexico. c) Germany warned that it planned to sink any ship headed for Britain. d) Wilsons rival, Charles Evans Hughes, said he favored war with Germany. During the war, a great migration took place within the United States when a) many German Americans headed to the Midwest to avoid the antiGerman prejudice of the East. b) African Americans and Mexicans left jobs in the South and Southwest for jobs in war industries in the North. c) women moved from the suburbs to the city to take over factory jobs. d) blacks embarked on a great migration from the North and Northeast to take jobs in cities in the South.
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Americans in Battle
Chapter 24, Section 3

What setbacks did the Allies suffer in 1917 and early 1918? How did the American Expeditionary Force help the Allies win the war? What were the costs of the war?

Allied Setbacks in 1917 and 1918

Chapter 24, Section 3

By the time American troops reached France in June 1917, the Allies had lost millions of soldiers, the troops in the trenches were exhausted and ill, and civilians in Britain and France were near starvation. One of the Allies, Russia, withdrew from the war in November 1917. Bolsheviks wanted to stage a communist revolution in Russia. The Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir I. Lenin. Lenin opposed the war. He argued that it benefited only the ruling class. Lenin opened peace talks with Germany. In March 1918, Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russias participation in the war. The treaty called for Russia to give up large amounts of land to Germany, but the communists welcomed peace. Now, they could concentrate on their revolution. The Allies felt betrayed.

Allied Setbacks in 1917 and 1918

Chapter 24, Section 3

In early 1918, the Germans prepared a peace offensive. They hoped this would be the final offensive that would end the war. Germany mobilized for an all-out attack. Marching toward Paris, dozens of German divisions lined up against a small British force. The British forces held. After two weeks, the Germans continued their offensive elsewhere. By late May, they had smashed through Allied lines along the Aisne River. On May 30, they reached the Marne River. Paris was only 50 miles away.

The American Expeditionary Force

Chapter 24, Section 3

By June 1918, large numbers of American troops were reaching France. Commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was General John J. Pershing. Pershing insisted that American troops operate as separate units, not as reinforcements in European units. Harlem Hell Fighters The 369th United States Infantry was an African American unit also known as the Harlem Hell Fighters. It was among the first American units to arrive in France. The unit spent more time under fire than any other American unit. In June 1918, as the Germans marched toward Paris, Americans experienced their first major battle, the Battle of Belleau Wood. The Americans met the Germans just outside Paris. The Americans suffered great casualties, but at last, on June 25, they were able to announce: Wood now exclusively U.S. Marine Corps.

The Battle at Belleau Wood

The American Expeditionary Force

Chapter 24, Section 3

The Battle of the Argonne Forest

In mid-July, the Germans again drove toward Paris. The Allied commander, French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, ordered counterattacks along a line from Verdun to the North Sea. More than one million Americans pushed into the Argonne Forest. After 47 days of battle, the Americans broke through the German defenses.

Other battles

British, French, and Belgian forces also smashed through the German lines. By November, German forces were in retreat.
In September, German generals told the kaiser that the war was lost. The German government scrambled to arrange an armistice, or agreement to stop fighting. President Wilson set two conditions for an armistice: Germany must accept his peace plan and the German emperor must abdicate, or give up his power. On November 11, 1918, World War I came to an end.

Armistice

The War in Western Europe

Chapter 24, Section 3

The Costs of War

Chapter 24, Section 3

A generation of young Europeans lost their lives. Between 8 million and 9 million people died in battle. Almost 4 million Russian, French, and British soldiers were killed. Germany lost close to 2 million men. The United States lost over 100,000. No one knows how many civilians died of disease, starvation, and other war-related causes. Civilian loss of life may have been as great as military loss of life. Much of Europe lay in ruins, especially in France and Germany. Many children were left orphaned and homeless. In 1918, a new disaster struck. A terrible influenza epidemic spread around the globe. An epidemic is the rapid spread of a contagious disease among large numbers of people. More than half a million Americans died in the flu epidemic. In other countries, the toll was higher. In all, more than 30 million people died worldwide.

Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 3

With the Peace Offensive and other drives, German forces aimed to take the city of a) Harlem. b) Paris. c) Belleau Wood. d) Brest-Litovsk. An armistice is a) a supply of weapons. b) the rapid spread of a contagious disease. c) a communist revolution. d) an agreement to stop fighting.

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Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 3

With the Peace Offensive and other drives, German forces aimed to take the city of a) Harlem. b) Paris. c) Belleau Wood. d) Brest-Litovsk. An armistice is a) a supply of weapons. b) the rapid spread of a contagious disease. c) a communist revolution. d) an agreement to stop fighting.

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The Failed Peace

Chapter 24, Section 4

What was Wilsons fourteen-point peace plan? What did Wilson achieve at the Paris Peace Conference? Why did the Versailles Treaty fail to win support in the United States?

The Fourteen-Point Peace Plan

Chapter 24, Section 4

President Wilson was determined to achieve a just and lasting peace. His goal was peace without victorywithout punishing the defeated powers. However, Europeans were determined to punish the Germans for the war. Wilson had outlined a peace plan known as the Fourteen Points. It was meant to prevent international problems from causing another war. The plan called for: An end to secret agreements Freedom of the seas, free trade, and a limit on arms Peaceful settlement of disputes over colonies The principle of national self-determination, that is, the right of national groups to have their own territory and forms of government A League of Nationsa general association of nations to protect the independence of all countries Wilson persuaded the Allies to accept the Fourteen Points as the basis for making peace. In Paris, however, Wilson faced a constant battle to save his Fourteen Points. The Allies were more concerned with their own interests than with a lasting peace.

The Paris Peace Conference

Chapter 24, Section 4

Diplomats from more than 30 nations met in Paris and Versailles to negotiate five separate peace treaties known together as the Peace of Paris. Key issues were decided by the leaders of the Allied nations known as the Big Four: Woodrow Wilson of the United States, David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy. Wilson opposed punishing the defeated powers. The other Allies, however, wanted revenge. They insisted on large reparations, or cash payments, for the losses they had suffered. Further, they wanted to force Germany to accept responsibility for the war. The Allies also wanted to prevent Germany from rebuilding its military strength. Wilson had to compromise on his Fourteen Points in order to save his key goals, especially the League of Nations.

The Paris Peace Conference

Chapter 24, Section 4

By June 1919, the Treaty of Versailles, the most important treaty of the Peace of Paris, was ready. Germany was not even allowed to send delegates to the peace talks. Under the treaty, Germany had to take full blame for the war. Germany had to pay huge reparations, including the cost of pensions for Allied soldiers or their widows and children over $300 billion. The treaty returned the piece of land known as AlsaceLorraine to France. Germany had to give all of its overseas colonies to Britain and France.

Boundary Changes After World War I

Chapter 24, Section 4

German Reparations
Chapter 24, Section 4

What Wilson Achieved at the Peace Conference

Chapter 24, Section 4

Wilson gained a few of his Fourteen Points. In Eastern Europe, the Allies provided for several new nations to be formed on the principle of national selfdetermination, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Many Germans had settled in Poland and Czechoslovakia. It wouldnt be long before Germany would seek to regain control of German-speaking peoples in Eastern Europe. Wilson persuaded the Allies to include the League of Nations in the treaty. Wilson was certain that the League would prevent future wars by allowing nations to talk over their problems.

The Fight to Win Support for the Versailles Treaty

Chapter 24, Section 4

Most Americans favored the treaty. A loud minority opposed it. Some said it was too soft on the defeated powers. Many German Americans felt it was too harsh on Germany. Some Republicans hoped to embarrass President Wilson by defeating the treaty in the United States. Isolationists, people who wanted the United States to stay out of world affairs, opposed the League of Nations. Other people felt that the League did not have enough authority to solve any pressing economic problems. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts accepted the idea of a League, but he wanted changes. He objected to an article that called for the League to protect any member whose independence or territory was threatened. He feared this measure could involve the United States in future European wars. He also wanted Congress to have the power to decide whether the United States would follow League policy. Wilson refused to compromise with Lodge.

The Fight to Win Support for the Versailles Treaty

Chapter 24, Section 4

President Wilson set out across the country to convince the American people to accept the treaty. Part way through his planned trip, he suffered a stroke. In November 1919, the Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty. The United States did not sign a peace treaty with Germany until 1921. Many nations joined the League of Nations, but the United States never did.

Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 4

President Wilson felt that his greatest achievement at the peace conference was persuading the Allies to a) accept the idea of a League of Nations. b) allow the Big Four to redraw the boundaries of Eastern Europe. c) punish Germany by demanding reparations. d) promote new secret agreements between nations. Some Americans criticized the peace treaty because they feared it would mean a) the nation could no longer take part in world affairs. b) Germany would not be punished enough for the war. c) new Eastern European nations would not be formed on the principle of self-determination. d) Americans would be asked to subject their will to the will of other countries.
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Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 24, Section 4

President Wilson felt that his greatest achievement at the peace conference was persuading the Allies to a) accept the idea of a League of Nations. b) allow the Big Four to redraw the boundaries of Eastern Europe. c) punish Germany by demanding reparations. d) promote new secret agreements between nations. Some Americans criticized the peace treaty because they feared it would mean a) the nation could no longer take part in world affairs. b) Germany would not be punished enough for the war. c) new Eastern European nations would not be formed on the principle of self-determination. d) Americans would be asked to subject their will to the will of other countries.
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