United States, 1914-1945 Notes
7The Great War Begins
Underlying Causes
Nationalism- built on “we”, common culture, history and language, defines us as a nation, also defined in who we are NOT, opposition, contradistinction to others
Militarism- heavy spending, defend sacred borders
Industrialization- scramble for scarce resources (ex: coal steal became coveted & cotton) around the world
Imperialism
Alliances- against rivals, build networks of security
The Spark: Franz Ferdinand (assassination) air to Austrian throne
1914: War Begins
Allies: Britain, France, Russia, Japan
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Modern Warfare, Massive Slaughter
Airplanes, Machine Guns (first time in Europe; had been used in Africa), Tanks, Poison Gas (Mustard Gas)
10 million soldiers die
Total War: Civilians die in the millions
(no line between civilians and line of war; civilians are targeted; entire generation of Europeans wiped out)
21 million die in famine, influenza epidemic that engulfed world in the wake of the war
“Neutrality in Thought”
Wilson’s Position
Neutrality to War: Four Reasons
Ethnic Identities
Role of WASPs
Propaganda
Invasion of Belgium
“Eating Babies”
Economics
Shipping and Loans
European economy came to holt, America came in
Submarine Warfare
Lusitania (1915) 128 Americans; luxury liner; Sussex Pledge- Germans said “just kidding” continued submarine warfare, “He Kept Us Out of War”- Wilson’s saying when trying to get elected for a 2nd term
U-Boat (German)
Final Straw: Zimmerman Note
Supposed to be top-secret telegram (Germany Mexico)
Decoded and Published
Supposedly Germany said that if Mexico attacked US then Mexico would get back the territory it lost 50 years previously
Most historians today say that it was fraud
Wilson’s Vision for New Global Order
Jan 1918 Fourteen Points: self-determination for all nations, freedom of the seas, free trade, greater political participation of colonialized peoples
War Ends: Nov 9, 1918- Germany
Underlying Causes
Nationalism- built on “we”, common culture, history and language, defines us as a nation, also defined in who we are NOT, opposition, contradistinction to others
Militarism- heavy spending, defend sacred borders
Industrialization- scramble for scarce resources (ex: coal steal became coveted & cotton) around the world
Imperialism
Alliances- against rivals, build networks of security
The Spark: Franz Ferdinand (assassination) air to Austrian throne
1914: War Begins
Allies: Britain, France, Russia, Japan
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Modern Warfare, Massive Slaughter
Airplanes, Machine Guns (first time in Europe; had been used in Africa), Tanks, Poison Gas (Mustard Gas)
10 million soldiers die
Total War: Civilians die in the millions
(no line between civilians and line of war; civilians are targeted; entire generation of Europeans wiped out)
21 million die in famine, influenza epidemic that engulfed world in the wake of the war
“Neutrality in Thought”
Wilson’s Position
Neutrality to War: Four Reasons
Ethnic Identities
Role of WASPs
Propaganda
Invasion of Belgium
“Eating Babies”
Economics
Shipping and Loans
European economy came to holt, America came in
Submarine Warfare
Lusitania (1915) 128 Americans; luxury liner; Sussex Pledge- Germans said “just kidding” continued submarine warfare, “He Kept Us Out of War”- Wilson’s saying when trying to get elected for a 2nd term
U-Boat (German)
Final Straw: Zimmerman Note
Supposed to be top-secret telegram (Germany Mexico)
Decoded and Published
Supposedly Germany said that if Mexico attacked US then Mexico would get back the territory it lost 50 years previously
Most historians today say that it was fraud
Wilson’s Vision for New Global Order
Jan 1918 Fourteen Points: self-determination for all nations, freedom of the seas, free trade, greater political participation of colonialized peoples
War Ends: Nov 9, 1918- Germany