American History WW1

Just War Therory

• Philosophical reasons nations use to legally and morally justify going to war

• Leaders in the Catholic Church, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas, established the basic criteria still used today

Just cause

A national may launch a war only for the right reasons. The causes most frequently mentioned include: self-defense from external attack; the defense of others from such; the protection of innocents from brutal, aggressive regimes; and punishment for a grievous wrong doing which remains uncorrected

Right intention

A state must intended to fight a war only for the sake of its just cause. Having the right to”stated” reason for launching a war is not enough: the actual motivation behind going to war must also be morally appropriate. Ulterior motives, such as power of land grab, or irrational motives, such as revenge or ethnic hatred, are ruled out. The only right motive allowed is to see the just cause for resorting to war secured. If another motives crowds in, moral corruption sets in and the war is no longer”just”. International law does not include this rule, probably because it’s difficult to provide evidence that conclusively proves a states true intentions for entering a conflict.

Last Resort

A state may resort to war only if it has exhausted all plausible, peaceful alternatives to resolving the conflict in question, in particular diplomatic negotiation. One wants to make sure something as momentous and serious as war is declared only when it seems the last practical and reasonable shot at effectively resisting aggression

Probability of success

A state may not resort to war if it can foresee that doing so will have no measurable impact on the situation. The aim here is to block mass violence which is going to be futile. International law does not include this requirement, as it is seen as biased against small, weaker states

Proportionality

A state must, prior to initiating a war, weigh the universal goods expected to result from it, such as securing the just cause, against the universal evils expected to result, notably casualties. Only if the benefits are proportional to or “worth” the costs may be the war action proceed. (The universal must be stressed, since often in war states only tall their own expected benefits and costs, radically discounting those accumulating for the enemy and to any innocent third parties)

Trench Warfare

Military operations in which opposing forces attack and counter attack from systems of fortified ditches rather than on an open battlefield

Attrition warfare

Warfare in which each side tries to force the other to collapse through continuous losses in soldiers and supplies

The 5 causes of World War 1 in Europe

Militarism: glorification of the military and the use of war to promote national interests, European nations built up military technology as part of quest to gain more colonies, led to rise of large armies(arms race)

Alliances: central powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire. Allied powers-Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, US

Nationalism:pride in and devotion to one’s country or ethnic group, France wanted revenge for losing Alsace and Lorraine to a collection of German States in 1870-71, some ethnic groups(Serbia wanted their independence from stronger nations or empires

Imperialism:European competition for control of foreign colonies led to conflict

Assassination: Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Hungary was assasinated by a member of a Serbian nationalist group(the black hand). The black hand didn’t want Austria to annex Serbia like it did to Bosnia-Herzegovina, final spark to start the war between central and allied powers, Russia supported Serbia, Germany supported Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia and France, Britain declared war on Germany

Woodrow Wilson’s reasons for supporting America’s entry into WWI

He felt like had too join the war to “save democracy”

George Norris’ reasons for opposing America’s entry into WWI

Opposed entry into the war because he believed the war would only benefit already rich people

Unrestricted submarine warfare

Attack enemy ships with no warning(Germany to Britain)

Lusitania

British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat during WW1, 128 Americans were killed

This event turned American opinion against Germany

Zimmerman Note/Telegram

Telegram written by German foreign minister Zimmerman proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the US during WW1

Propaganda-5 wartime objectives

Objectives: 1. Recruitment of soldiers,either through a draft or voluntary enlistment 2. Financing the war effort through the sale of war bonds-loans from citizens to the government-or new taxes 3. Eliminating dissent and unifying the country behind the war effort 4. Conservation of resources-such as food,oil, and steel-necessary to wage war 5. Participation in home-front organizations to support the war effort

Committee on Public Information 

agency that intended to convince people to support WW1 through the use of propaganda

Veterans Day

Holiday formerly observed in the US as “Armistice Day” in commemoration of the signing of the Armistice ending WW1 at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. In 1954 congress declared this day would be set aside to honor all those who fought in defense of the US

Fourteen Points

list of terms for resolving WW1 and future wars outlined by American president Woodrow Wilson

His 14th point called for the creation of a”League of Nations”

The League of Nations was most important part for Wilson because he believe it would prevent furtive wars

Treaty of Versailles -influence on WW2, reasons us congress rejected it

Brought an official end to WW1

Allied leaders rejected most of Wilson’s 14 points because they felt his plan didn’t punish Germany enough

Ironically the treaty’s harsh treatment,ment of Germany made them want revenge and is often considered a major cause of WW2

Groups of senators did not agree with the conditions

Impact of WWI on America’s reputation and power

American became a world power

League of Nations

An association of nations established in 1920 to promote international cooperation and peace. It was the forerunner of the United Nations

The Spanish Influenza-symptoms, why was it called “Spanish” influenza, estimated deaths in the world, estimated deaths in US

Propaganda

Biased communication intended to promote a cause or damage an opposing cause

Posters, movies, cartoons, songs, etc…

Propaganda 8 common tools

1. Demonization 2. Emotional Appeals 3. Name calling 4. Patriotic Appeals 5. Half-Truths or lies 6. Catchy slogans 7. Evocative visual symbols 8. Humor or Caricatures