United States and the Great War 1910-1920

Overview of the United States and the Great War (1910-1920)

  • This period witnessed significant global changes as a result of the Great War.

Mobilizing the Home Front

Industrialism, Empire Building, and Nationalism

  • Significant Events in European History:

    • 1861: Italian states united

    • 1864: Formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

    • 1871: Unification of Germanic states

    • 1914: Expansion of Russian Empire into Finland, Poland, and Eastern Europe

    • Russia pledged to protect Slavic states.

  • Countries began industrialization and expansion in Africa and Asia; however, Russia was slow to industrialize.

Military Alliances

Triple Alliance (Central Powers)

  • Formed due to fears of war:

    • 1882: Pact between Germany and Austro-Hungarians.

    • 1887: Italy joins the Alliance.

Triple Entente

  • 1894: France and Russia form a pact.

  • 1904: Britain forms Entente Cordiale with France to counter German naval buildup.

  • 1907: Japan joins the Triple Entente.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

  • June 28, 1914: Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Archduke, escalating tensions into war.

Warfare and Technology

  • Technology Transforms Warfare:

    • Introduction of the Maxim machine gun, airplanes, and tanks.

    • Weapons such as flamethrowers and advanced artillery increased casualty rates significantly.

  • Over 9 million soldiers and 8 million civilians lost their lives by 1916, with estimates of 20 million deaths by 1918.

American Neutrality

  • Americans initially preferred to remain neutral, with President Woodrow Wilson affirming that U.S interests were not threatened.

  • Strong economic ties with Britain; in 1914, $800 million in goods sent to Britain versus $170 million to Germany.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

  • Germany declared a zone around the British Isles where ships would be attacked, leading to key incidents like the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, killing 1,198, including 124 Americans.

    • U.S. protests led to Germany temporarily restricting U-Boat hostilities.

The Zimmermann Telegram

  • Germany attempted to persuade Mexico to attack the U.S. to keep America occupied.

  • This, coupled with previous hostilities, led to Congress declaring war on April 6, 1917.

Wilson's Peace Agenda

  • Fourteen Points: Wilson's vision post-war emphasizing self-determination and preventive diplomacy.

    • Key points: no secret treaties, free trade, establishment of a League of Nations.

Mobilizing for War

  • Selective Service Act of 1917: Required men aged 21 to 30 to register for the draft, raising the army to over 5 million.

Racial Dynamics in the Military

  • The military remained racially segregated, with African Americans serving in detached units such as the Harlem Hellfighters.

  • Women served as nurses and in other capacities, challenging traditional norms and serving in significant numbers.

Sociopolitical Impacts

Civil Rights Movement

  • African Americans began a greater push for equality, highlighted by W.E.B. Du Bois and the formation of NAACP.

  • The First Great Migration saw many relocating from the South to escape racial tensions and violence.

Post-War Changes

  • Treaty of Versailles (1919): Key negotiations led to the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman Empires, and the establishment of new nations.

  • League of Nations: Proposed by Wilson to maintain peace but faced U.S. Senate resistance.

Amendments Passed

  • 18th Amendment (Prohibition) ratified January 16, 1919.

  • 19th Amendment (Women's Suffrage) ratified August 18, 1920, allowing women the right to vote.

Conclusion

  • The war resulted in reshaped global geopolitics, significant social changes domestically, and ongoing struggles for civil rights among minority groups.

  • The Red Scare and upheaval following the war reflected deep societal anxieties about communism and labor rights.