WWI Part 1 LECTURE NOTES

WWI Overview —————- BRIEF NOTES

• Presenter: Dr. Rocha

Global Context

• European fascination with American innovations leads to open door policy for trade, information, and ideas.

  • Notable inventions include:

    • Telephone

    • Automobile

    • Electric street car

    • Phonograph

• Woodrow Wilson advocates liberal internationalism:

  • Belief that American trade abroad promotes global freedom.

  • Justifies American intervention in foreign affairs.

American Interventions

• Theodore Roosevelt's involvement:

  • Famous quote: “I took the Canal Zone.”

  • US gains control of the Panama Canal Zone.

  • Roosevelt Corollary states:

    • US reserves right to exert "international police power" in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Example of intervention:

    • US seizure of Dominican Republic's customs houses to ensure debt payment.

• Woodrow Wilson’s Moral Imperialism:

  • Politics should be guided by morality to promote democracy.

  • Military interventions justified through this lens:

    • Dominican Republic (1916-1924): US establishes military government and controls customs.

    • Haiti (1915-1934): US marines occupy and control financial affairs.

The Start of The Great War

• Trigger Event:

  • June 1914: Serbian nationalist assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

  • Serbia, supported by Russia, faces Austria-Hungary's declaration of war leading to regional conflict.

• Alliance Dynamics:

  • Allies: Britain, France, Russia, and Japan.

  • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

• Technological advancements lead to unprecedented casualties in war:

  • New warfare technologies:

    • Submarines

    • Airplanes

    • Machine guns

    • Tanks

    • Poison gas (first time used in warfare).

American Perspective

• General perception in the U.S.:

  • Allies (Britain, France): Represent liberty and democracy.

  • Germany: Portrayed as oppressive.

  • American demographics create tensions:

    • British Americans support Allies.

    • German Americans favor Germany.

• Wilson's stance:

  • Declares neutrality in 1914.

  • Britain initiates naval blockade against Germany, halting American trade ships.

  • Germany retaliates with unrestricted submarine warfare.

  • Notable incident: 1915 sinking of the Lusitania:

    • 1,194 passengers lost, including 124 Americans.

• Shift towards preparedness policy by the U.S.

Escalation to War

• 1917: Interception of the Zimmermann Telegram:

  • Germany invites Mexico to join the war in exchange for lost territories.

• Wilson's response:

  • Quote: "The world must be made safe for democracy."

  • Asks Congress for a Declaration of War; receives overwhelming support:

    • Senate vote: 82-6.

    • House vote: 373-50.

• November 1917:

  • Communist revolution in Russia reveals allied plans for territory division.

  • Embarrassing for Wilson, who stated the war was for peace, not land.

Wilson’s 14 Point Plan

• Announced in 1918 as a blueprint for post-WWI peace:

  • Key elements:

    • Self-determination and autonomy for nations.

    • Freedom of the seas and trade.

    • Establishment of general associations to maintain peace.

    • Transparency in international alliances.

• Impact of U.S. involvement in war:

  • Plays pivotal role in turning the tide against Germany.

  • Heavy casualties: 100,000 American soldiers, 10 million overall.

• Conclusion to the war:

  • German Kaiser abdicates.

WWI Overview ————- DETAILED NOTES

Presenter: Dr. Rocha

Global Context

• The early 20th century saw a growing European fascination with American innovations, prompting nations to adopt an open door policy for trade, information, and ideas. This exchange of ideas significantly contributed to global modernization and industrial growth.

• Notable inventions during this period included:

  • Telephone: Revolutionized communication over long distances, facilitating faster decision-making in both personal and business domains.

  • Automobile: Transformed transportation and personal mobility, leading to changes in urban planning and lifestyle.

  • Electric streetcar: Enabled rapid urbanization by connecting suburban areas with city centers.

  • Phonograph: Changed the landscape of entertainment and culture, allowing for the reproduction of sound and music in homes.

Woodrow Wilson's Advocacy of Liberal Internationalism

• Wilson strongly believed that American trade abroad fosters global freedom, arguing that economic relationships could reduce conflicts between nations.

• His perspective justified American intervention in foreign affairs, believing that the promotion of democracy was essential for world peace and stability.

American Interventions

• Theodore Roosevelt's Involvement:

  • Famous quote: “I took the Canal Zone,” reflecting the assertive nature of American foreign policy.

  • The U.S. secured control of the Panama Canal Zone, enhancing maritime trade routes and military movements.

  • Roosevelt Corollary: This extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserted that the U.S. had the right to intervene and exert "international police power" in the Western Hemisphere. This marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy towards a more proactive and interventionist approach.

  • Example of Intervention: U.S. forces seized the Dominican Republic's customs houses in 1905 to ensure the repayment of debts, highlighting America's willingness to use military force to protect its interests.

• Woodrow Wilson’s Moral Imperialism:

  • Wilson argued that U.S. foreign policy should be guided by moral principles, asserting that military interventions were justified if they promoted democracy and moral governance.

  • Notable Military Interventions:

    • Dominican Republic (1916-1924): The U.S. established a military government, overseeing customs and financial affairs to stabilize the region.

    • Haiti (1915-1934): U.S. Marines occupied Haiti, controlling financial matters and infrastructure, citing the need to restore order and democracy.

The Start of The Great War

• Trigger Event:

  • In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, igniting existing tensions.

  • Serbia, supported by Russia, finds itself at war against Austria-Hungary, leading to a rapid escalation of regional conflict due to preexisting alliances.

• Alliance Dynamics:

  • Allies: Britain, France, Russia, and Japan stood against the Central Powers.

  • Central Powers: Comprising Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, they sought to change the balance of power in Europe.

• Technological Advancements:

  • The war introduced new warfare technologies, resulting in unprecedented casualties:

    • Submarines: Introduced effective naval warfare capabilities.

    • Airplanes: Used for reconnaissance and dogfights, marking the beginning of aerial combat.

    • Machine Guns: Resulted in devastating impacts on troop movements.

    • Tanks: Provided mobility and firepower to break through entrenched positions.

    • Poison Gas: The first large-scale use of chemical warfare, adding a new dimension of horror to battlefields.

American Perspective

• General perception in the U.S.:

  • Allies (especially Britain and France) were seen as champions of liberty and democracy, while Germany was portrayed as representing oppression and autocracy.

  • American demographics added complexity to the situation:

    • British Americans generally supported the Allies.

    • German Americans, facing discrimination, favored Germany, creating social tensions within the U.S.

• Wilson's Stance:

  • Initially declared neutrality in 1914, maintaining that the U.S. should remain uninvolved in European conflicts.

  • Despite neutrality, Britain initiated a naval blockade against Germany, effectively halting American trade ships and goods to Central Powers.

  • In retaliation, Germany employed unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied and neutral ships, creating significant tensions with the U.S.

• Notable Incident:

  • The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 resulted in the loss of 1,194 passengers, including 124 Americans, which sparked outrage and shifted American sentiment toward preparedness for war.

Escalation to War

• Zimmermann Telegram (1917):

  • A secret communication from Germany inviting Mexico to join the war against the U.S. in exchange for the territories of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

  • The interception of this telegram infuriated the American public and heightened calls for war.

• Wilson's Response:

  • Wilson declared that "the world must be made safe for democracy," a significant shift in rhetoric that framed U.S. involvement as a moral imperative.

  • He asked Congress for a Declaration of War, which received strong support: Senate vote of 82-6 and House vote of 373-50.

• November 1917:

  • A communist revolution in Russia reveals Allied plans for territory division post-war, contradicting Wilson's promise that the war was fought for peace, not land.

Wilson’s 14 Point Plan

• Announced in 1918 as a comprehensive blueprint for a just peace after WWI:

  • Promoted self-determination and autonomy for nations, aiming to respect the rights of peoples.

  • Advocated for freedom of the seas and unrestricted trade to prevent future conflicts.

  • Proposed the establishment of general associations to maintain peace.

  • Emphasized transparency in international alliances to build trust among nations.

• Impact of U.S. Involvement in the War:

  • The U.S. played a pivotal role in turning the tide against Germany, significantly influencing military strategies and outcomes.

  • Casualties for the U.S. were heavy, with approximately 100,000 American soldiers lost and millions overall, illustrating the war's devastating impact.

Conclusion to the War

• The war concluded with the abdication of the German Kaiser, paving the way for revolutionary changes in Europe and a reevaluation of international relationships post-war, setting the stage for future conflicts.