WWI Notes

[surfpen1]

The following is a set of notes on The Great War from the perspective of a class about the United States taught in the United States.

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WWI 1914-1918

Causes
---Nationalism
---Imperialism
---Escalating arms race
---Precarious balance of power (Unified Germany)
---Instability of Austria-Hungary
---Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated
---Austrian ultimatum, war on Serbia (a power grab)
Involved
---Triple Alliance
------Germany, Austria, Italy, Ottomans
---Triple Entente
------Britain, France, Russia, U.S.
Ordeal of Neutrality
---U.S. declared neutrality 1914
------Trade during war threatened neutral rights
------British blockade of German ports
------German Submarine warfare
---------Sinking of the ship named Lusitania by U-20, 1915
---------1,200 people dead including 128 Americans
------American pressure on Germany
------Sinking of the ship named Sussex, followed by Sussex Pledge 1916
---President Woodrow Wilson re-elected as peace candidate
------Suggested "peace without victory" to European leaders (failed)
U.S. Entry Into WWI
---Germany has hope with Russia out of the war
---Unrestricted submarine warfare
---Zimmerman Telegram intercepted
------German-Mexican alliance discovered
---Five American ships sank by U-boats, Mar, 1917
---U.S. issued declaration of war, Apr 6, 1917
---Critical role in Allied victory
Western Front
---Belgium neutral, invaded
------Britain joined war
---German offensive 1918
WWI ended Nov 11 11:00
President Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points
---Proposed non-punitive settlement
---Guidelines for new world order
---People's right to national self-determination
------applied only to Europeans
---League of Nations
------President Woodrow Wilson's mandatory point
---Treaty of Versailles, 1919
------President Woodrow Wilson forced to compromise, Europeans wanted Germany disarmed and crippled
---------"A lot of stuff had to go wrong for Germany to allow the Nazis to take power, but this helped the Nazis and Nationalists gain support.
---------"Yugoslavia was formed, it was sort of a Greater Serbia. Poland made a comeback after being wiped off the map a few times. Lithuania and Estonia also made a comeback.
---------Ratification of the Treaty of Versailles
------------U.S. skeptical of the League of Nations' collective security
------------Those opposed to the League of Nations called Irreconcilables
------------Reservationists wanted ammendments
------------U.S. Senate did not ratify Treaty of Versailles, seperate treaty signed
Post-war disillusionment
---Horror of trench warfare shattered romantic ideas of war
---Cynicism towards President Woodrow Wilson's idealism and his moral crusade
------"The war to end all wars," "make the world safer for Democracy."
---U.S. returned to Monroe Doctrine, progressivism declined
Govt Agencies
---Impressive mobilization effort
---U.S. created highly centralized economy, thousands of federal agencies
------War Industries Board run by Bernard Baruch(tycoon)
---------"It was like capitalism was put on hold for the duration of the war. It was a state-run command economy."
------Propaganda (Committee of Public Information run by George Creel
---------Repressive Measures
------------Repressed capital music, sauerkraut renamed "liberty cabbage"
------------Espionage Act, 1917
---------------Aiding enemy, obstructing recruitment, and encouraging disloyalty outlawed
------------Sedition Act, 1918
---------------Disloyal, profane, abusive, or scurrilous language outlawed
------------Government took action against socialists, communists, and pacifists
---------------2,000 convicted
------------Eugene Debs arrested, 1918
---------------Sentenced to 10 years in prison
---------------Ran for president from prison
---------------Pardoned in 1921 by another president
Women and African-Americans
---New employment opportunities
---Women moved into war industries
---'Great Migration' of African Americans to the North
------Racial tensions grew in the Northern U.S.
---W.E.B. DuBois supported the war, saw no significant gains for Blacks
---Tulsa Riot of 1921
------Worst race riot in American History
------Among flourishing middle class
------Racist gangs, police, and National Guard attacked black neighborhood
------Recently recognized

[julian12it]

I didn't learn half of the things from the notes you've listed. I live in the states as well, my highschool didn't talk "much" about WWI but rather a lot about WWII.

[vatas]

Germany was made scapegoat and suffered unreasonable peace terms, directly leading to rise of Hitler and WW2. On the other hand, I've read that German government essentially pledged to support the Austria-Hungary no matter what. This contributed to decision to declare war on Serbia which set off the Diplomatic Domino Effect of Russia (guaranteeing Serbia) declaring war on Austria-Hungary, Germany Declaring war on Russia, England and France declaring war on Central powers.

WW! was not only major turning point in human history in the terms of military and politics; it's impact on culture, society and technology can hardly be understated. Romanticization of war is a interesting point in particular. War has always been hell, but people were able to claim otherwise until millions of young men were killed in a war of attrition.

Nine nations were created or gained independence when Austria-Hungary was disintegrated and old German and Russian territories gained independence. Ottoman Empire collapsed entirely, with even the remaining Turkey considered a different nation.

[MagicManICT]

I didn't learn half of the things from the notes you've listed. I live in the states as well, my highschool didn't talk "much" about WWI but rather a lot about WWII.

There's such a huge difference in what is covered in schools in the US. My HS history teacher that taught that period was in love with that period, so covered it very well, though not necessarily in such a manner or detail. (Teenagers only have a certain level attention span.)

[Trappin]

surfpen1? You're in a US public school and this is one of your history modules? Pretty comprehensive stuff. I'm somewhat surprised.

The Treaty of Versailles did not satisfy the conditions needed to impress upon the German people that they were in fact defeated by the Allied force of arms. John J.Pershing Commander AEF was the only Allied commander who opposed the armistice, urging continued pressure until the Germans surrendered unconditionally.

Essentially marching troops into Berlin is what Pershing desired. Pershing said we'd be fighting another war in twenty years if the allies didn't at the very least briefly occupy Germany.

This book - https://archive.org/details/diarynurses ... 00blacuoft

She had served as a nursing sister in the Boer War. The worst stuff she saw there were bullet and bayonet wounds - maybe a few badly burned men. The interesting thing about the journal is how the Sister's attitude changed after seeing the horrific wounds inflicted by modern weapons. The change in her writing is subtle but she comes to realize that this is no party for girls of the upper middle-class English. What i mean to say is - shit got real ugly really fast for her. Wood splinters, metal shrapnel, hay and horse manure and mud blown into the stomach cavities of men. Men missing arms and legs- or the arms dangling by sinue.

EDIT: Eugene Debs arrested, 1918

The film Groundhog Day. Near the beginning of the film they drive into town and park the van in front of a building. That building was the courthouse where Eugene Debs was tried and convicted.

[surfpen1]

This was a college class.

Edit(Hit enter too early):
Thank you for the recommendation, I'll give it a read.

I don't remember anyone really discussing the Boer Wars in a class room. I doubt many students have heard of them.

[Schattengaenger]

I always found it hard to look into something further if it didn't pique my interest.
But if something made me look into stuff like that, then it would be the OverSimplified Videos.

Here are his takes on WW1
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHSQAEam2yc
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mun1dKkc_As


I hope you find it to be a valuable addition to this topic.