Week of December 11 - December 15

Monday - 

WWl Goals: There weren't any real goals at first, but as time went on and casualties and costs increased, winning territory was a must. 

  • France 
  • Regain Alsace and Lorraine from Germany 
  • Get the Saar Basin from Germany(rich in coal) 
  • Create and independent Rhineland to create a buffer area between France and Germany 
  • Cripple Germany's military 
  • Get German colonies in Africa and Turkish colonies in the Mid-East
  • Italy 
  • Wanted land from Austria-Hungary 
  • Russia
  • Wanted control of the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits in Turkey 
  • Austria-Hungary 
  • Self Preservation 
  • Germany 
  • Wanted part of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Western Russia, make Austria-Hungary and the Balkans a "sphere of influence" 
  • Take over French and British colonies in Africa 
  • United States 
  • Win and end the war 
  • Wilson's 14 points 

Objectives - US Involvement 

Be able to identify the US policy that Wilson declared when WWl broke out in 1914 

Be able to identify why the US was drawn into war and why we drew closer to the Allied Powers 

Be able to analyze WWl propaganda, identify it goals and evaluate the effectiveness of it

Be able to identify the importance of key people: Woodrow Wilson, John Pershing, Bernard Baruch, Herbert Hoover, George Creel

Be able to identify the costs of the war: US and grand total 

Be able to identify the action we took home 

Neutrality - President Wilson declared that the US was to be neutral when WWl broke out 

  1. "Impartial in thought as well as in action" 
  2. US stayed neutral for 3 years 

Causes for US involvement in WWl - US was very upset with both sides in war. 

- G.B. and Germany were both stopping U.S. ships 

- Eventually, U.S. drew closer to war and the Allies 

WHY? 

1. German sinking of British/French ships and killing of the U.S. citizens on those ship 

- Lusitania, Arabic, Sussex

- Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917

1. Sussex Pledge - President Wilson addressed Congress in April, 1916 and issued and ultimatum to the Germans:end the attack on unarmed ships or risk war 

Germany responded to Wilson's demand on May 4, 1916 with the Sussex pledge German promised to: 

End the sinking of passenger ships 

Search merchant ships for contraband and make provisions for passengers and crews before sinking merchant ships

2. The Zimmerman Note - trying to get mexico into the war after the US, Sent by  the Foreign Secretary of Germany, Arthur Zimmerman. It was sent to the German ambassador, Johann Von Bernstorff.  It said: Get mexico to declare war on the US, Germany promised Mexico that they would get the Mexican Cession back if they won, Germany wanted to keep the US out of Europe

3. Beliefs of War Hawks(Jingoes) 

- Teddy Roosevelt, Leonard Wood 

4. Trade with England increased and Germany decreased

- US became economically tied making sure Great Britain won 

- US lent Germany 27 million dollars from 1914-1917

5. British and American Propaganda swayed public opinion against Germany 

6. Preparedness Program 

- US started arming and preparing for war 

- Pushed by Teddy Roosevelt and Leonard Wood 

- Opposed by President Wilson at first 

7. American business and banks pushed the US into the war for huge profits 

- The committee reported that the US lent Germany 27 million dollars, United Kingdom and its allies 2.3 billion dollars

- Because of this, the Nye committee conclude that the US entered war for reasons of profit, not policy 

General John "Black Jack" Pershing - major general in the war 

American Dough boy -US troops were known as this. 

The Home front - Refers to what people did back in the US to help win the war 

- Every country has their own Home front 

- What needs to happen of the Home front to help win a war? MILITARY POWER, RECRUITMENT 

Bernard Baruch - Regulated industry in US, Encourages mass production 

Tuesday -

Food administration was headed by Herbert Hoover - urged people to conserve food. Had "meatless days" and "wheat less days". "Victory gardens" were planted by schools and homes. Prevented hoarding of food by people. "Food is Ammunition - Don't waste it."

National War Labor Board - Settled disputes between workers and employers. Discouraged strikes. "Work or fight". Women hired during the war were to receive equal pay for equal work. Headed by William H. Taft. 

Committee on Public Information - to influence U.S. public to support World War 1 in their own way. Launched a huge propaganda campaign. Used newsprint, posters, radio, telegraph, and movies to broadcast its message. Americanized German words: German Measles-liberty measles, Hamburger liberty steak, Sauerkraut-liberty cabbage. Headed by George Creel. 

Goals of U.S. propaganda - enlist in the military, buy war bonds, conserve foods, encourage patriotism, dehumanize the enemy 

Wednesday - 

The Peace Process 

Be able to define the Paris Peace Conference - where the major powers met to set up the Treaty of Versailles. They also came up with a series of treaty's that reshaped the map of Europe.  

Be able to describe Wilson's 14 points - was a speech by President Woodrow Wilson. It was intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for a moral cause and for postwar peace in Europe - not imperialism. This is why Germany surrendered.  

1. An end to secret treaties   2. Freedom of the seas   3. Free trade for all countries   4. Disarmament(Military)   5. End to colonial claims   6. Self-determination for all countries- Russia   7. Restoration of Belgium   8. Restoration of France   9. Readjustment of Italy's boundaries   10. Austria-Hungary would be given opportunity for autonomous development    11. Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated and restored   12. Turkey should be sovereign (independent)   13. Poland would be given their independence    14. The "League of Nations" would be developed 

Be able to describe the Treaty of Versailles in detain and the impact it had on Germany and Europe - 1919 The treaty that officially ended the war with Germany 

Territorial - The following land was taken away from Germany: Alsace-Lorraine, Eu-pen and Malmedy, Northern Schleswig, Hultschin, West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia. The "League of Nations" also took control of Germany's territories 

Military - Germany's army was reduced to 100,000 men; not allowed tanks, air force, submarines. Germany was allowed 6 capital naval ships.

Financial - The loss of vital industrial territory would be a severe blow to Germany's economy. Germany had to pay war reparations ($33 billion)  

The west of the Rhineland and 50 kms east of the River Rhine was made into a demilitarized zone. 

Be able to describe why the US never ratified the Treaty of Versailles 

The Big Four Countries - Great Britain, Italy, France, United States 

Thursday - 

General - Germany had to admit full responsibility for starting the war. This was Clause 231 - the infamous "War Guilt Clause" 

The war started in Austria 

A League of Nations was set up to keep world peace 

League of Nations - 5 permanent members(G.B, France, Italy, U.S, Japan. 4 non-permanent members that rotated. All members must submit disputes for investigation, arbitration and settlement. 

If member nation ignored, League could take action. What type of action? Economic sanctions

France wanted an international army but US and GB did not 

Germany and Soviet Union were not allowed to join right away

U.S. never joined 

Why did the League of Nations fail in preventing WWll? 

The US never signed the Treaty of Versailles or joined the League of Nations 

Friday - The Christmas Truce Video 

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