Neutral Countries: Spain, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand's Assassination
Location of the Archduke's Territories: Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vorarlberg, Bohemia, Moravia, Salzburg, Tyrol, etc.
Franz Josef: Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
The Assassination
Gavrilo Princip: The Serb nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Impact: This assassination is known as "The Shot Heard Round the World” and led to the outbreak of World War I.
The Schlieffen Plan
Objective: To quickly defeat France in the west before Russia could fully mobilize in the east.
Strategy: German army to bypass French fortifications by sweeping through neutral Belgium, then arc south into France to destroy the French army defending Paris.
Emphasis: Required precise timing.
Early Enthusiasm for War
Initial high spirits: In August 1914, soldiers marched to war with enthusiasm, not foreseeing the true nature and long-term impact of the conflict.
Berlin students enlisting: Demonstrates the widespread support for the war at its outset.
"Paris Express": German soldiers marked railway cars with messages like "Trip to Paris," reflecting the expectation of a short war.
Realities of War
French troops: Soon faced the harsh realities of industrial warfare.
German postcard (1916): A soldier at the front notes the absence of girls, contrasting with the romanticized view of war.
Battle of Langemarck: Young German infantrymen marched into battle singing on November 10, 1914, but suffered heavy losses.
The German High Command used the battle for propaganda, creating the Langemarck Myth which became a rallying point for nationalist youth.
Recruitment and Farewell
Austro-Hungarian troops: Departing from Prague.
German recruits: Bidding farewell to families, often with flowers on their helmets, symbolizing innocence and hope.
British recruitment: Overwhelmed recruiting offices to augment the small professional army.
Trench Warfare
Collapse of the Schlieffen Plan: Led to the "race to the sea" and trench warfare after the Battle of the Marne.
War Sentiment and Propaganda
Postcards: Soldiers saying goodbye to girlfriends, romanticizing war.
Recruiting posters: Questioning what people did during the war to motivate involvement.
War's impact: Brutality and ruthlessness became ingrained in national life, affecting various societal levels.
American Neutrality and Economic Benefit
Initial neutrality: The U.S. initially remained neutral as Europe went to war in 1914.
Economic boom: British and French war orders stimulated American industry, pulling it out of recession.
Financial support to Allies: J.P. Morgan and Company advanced 2.3 billion to the Allies during America's neutrality.
British blockade: Prevented Germany from trading with the United States.
German U-Boats
Effectiveness: German U-boats proved to be highly effective against Allied ships.
Production increase: Germany rapidly increased U-boat production.
Sinking of the Lusitania
Warning ignored: Passengers boarded the Lusitania despite warnings from the German embassy.
Sinking: The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915, resulting in 1,198 deaths, including 128 Americans.
Impact: Shaped the neutrality debate in the U.S.
The Zimmermann Telegram
Content: In January 1917, Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico, offering to help Mexico regain territory lost to the U.S.
American outrage: The telegram infuriated Americans, especially in the West.
Woodrow Wilson's Perspective
Loss of tolerance: Wilson feared that entering the war would lead to intolerance and the spirit of ruthless brutality infecting American life.
Wilson's Fourteen Points
Moral leadership: Wilson was recognized as a moral leader of the Allied cause.
Fourteen Points Address: Delivered on January 8, 1918, outlining his vision for peace.
Key points:
Abolish secret treaties.
Freedom of the seas.
Removal of economic barriers.
Reduction of armament burdens.
Adjustment of colonial claims.
Independence for oppressed minority groups (self-determination).
League of Nations: An international organization for collective security.
Allied reaction: Some Allied leaders were less enthusiastic due to territorial ambitions.
Antiradical crusade: Strikes and demands for civil rights were labeled as un-American and Bolshevik-inspired after the 1917 Russian Revolution.
Wartime Economic Measures
Liberty Loans: Encouraged citizens to loan money to the government.
Deficit Spending: The government spent more money than it received from taxes.
Federal debt: Rose from 1 billion in 1914 to $$25 billion in 1919.
Food Conservation
Appeals to women: Encouraged women to conserve food by raising and preserving food for their families.
Food Administration: Called on Americans to conserve food for soldiers' diets.
Increased farm production: Increased by one-fourth, and food exports to the Allies tripled.
Labor and the War Effort
American Federation of Labor (AF of L): Led by Samuel Gompers, supported the war.
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW): A war resister group that faced persecution.
Union membership: Doubled to over 3 million, and real wages rose by 20% by war’s end.
African Americans and the War
Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard: Commanded entirely by black officers, served with distinction in France.
369th Infantry Regiment: Black troops served in the trenches.
Discrimination: Most African American soldiers were assigned to noncombat duty.
Charles Young: Patriotic army officer who opposed racism and segregation.
Native Americans and the War
Participation: About 10,000 Native Americans enlisted or were drafted.
Integration: Not assigned to segregated units as opposed to African Americans.
Roles: Served as scouts, messengers, and snipers, suffering a high casualty rate.
Impact: Led to increased demands for full citizenship and enfranchisement, granted in 1924.
War Industries Board
Creation: Established in March 1918, headed by Bernard Baruch.
Role: Set a precedent for federal economic planning in times of crisis.
Post-war: Disbanded after the armistice, with a return to laissez-faire economics.
Women and the War
Workforce participation: Women filled jobs vacated by men, but opportunities diminished after the war.
Women at War: Thousands of American women served as nurses and physicians in France.
Suffrage Movement: Gained momentum as women contributed to the war effort.
National Women’s Party: Led by Alice Paul, opposed the war and demonstrated for suffrage.
National American Woman Suffrage Association: Supported the war, arguing that women deserved a role in shaping the peace.
Nineteenth Amendment: Ratified in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
Prohibition
Eighteenth Amendment: Outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages in January 1920.
Motivations: Linked to women's movement and progressive ideals, with alcohol seen as a corrupter of society.
Patriotism: Abstaining from alcohol became patriotic during the war.
Casualties and Impact
War Deaths: Nearly 9 million soldiers died in World War I, and more than 20 million suffered grievous wounds.
Influenza Pandemic: A worldwide influenza pandemic coincided with World War I, killing approximately 30 million people, claiming over 550,000 American lives, more than ten times the number of combat casulaties
Wilson and the League of Nations
Welcome in Europe: Wilson received a hero's welcome in Europe.
Fourteen Points: Wilson presented his Fourteen Points as a basis for peace.
Opposition in the Senate: Faced opposition from Republicans like Henry Cabot Lodge.
Paris Peace Conference: The Big Four (Lloyd George, Orlando, Clemenceau, and Wilson) met in Paris to negotiate the treaty, this conference revealed deep divisions among the Allies.
Stroke: Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919, impacting his ability to advocate for the League of Nations.
Treaty of Versailles
Territorial Changes: Germany lost territory.
Article 231: Germany accepted responsibility for causing the war.