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The Great War

Published on Dec 23, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

The Great War

Made by Jenny Lee

In 1916, why did U.S. President Woodrow Wilson support nonintervention in Europe?Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) was reelected president in 1916 because he campaigned on a nonintervention platform. That sentiment soon changed. After the outbreak of the war, the United States pursued a neutrality that favored the Allies, and as the war progressed, the United States became increasingly committed economically to an Allied victory.

Photo by MuseumWales

What factors caused the United States to join the Great War?
The official factor in the United States’ decision to enter the war was Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917. At the outset of the war, U.S. government officials asserted the traditional doctrine of neutral rights for American ships because they wanted to continue trading with belligerents, most notably the British and the French.

How did allied propaganda sway U.S. public opinion?
Technically, the ship was a legitimate target, because it carried 4,200 cases of ammunition and traveled through a declared war zone. Nevertheless, segments of the American public were outraged, and during the next two years the country’s mood increasingly turned against Germany. Allied propaganda, especially British manipulation of information, also swayed public opinion.

Photo by alexaleutians

How did British blockades hurt the Central powers in 1916?
The Blockade of Germany, or the Blockade of Europe, occurred from 1914 to 1919. It was a prolonged naval operation conducted by the Allied Powers during and after World War I in an effort to restrict the maritime supply of raw materials and foodstuffs to the Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. It is considered one of the key elements in the eventual Allied victory in the war. The German Board of Public Health in December 1918 claimed that 763,000 German civilians died from starvation and disease caused by the blockade up until the end of December 1918. An academic study done in 1928 put the death toll at 424,000.

Photo by roger4336

What happened to the German economy in the early part of 1918?
The war of 1914–1918 accelerated the growth of nationalism in the European controlled parts of the world, fueling desires for independence and self-determination. The decline in European power was closely related to diminished economic stature, a result of the commitment to total war. In time, Europe overcame many war-induced economic problems, such as high rates of inflation and huge public debts, but other economic dislocations were permanent and damaging. Most significant was the loss of overseas investments and foreign markets, which had brought huge financial returns. Nothing is more indicative of Europe’s reduced economic might than the reversal of the economic relationship between Europe and the United States. Whereas the United States was a debtor nation before 1914, owing billions of dollars to European investors, by 1919 it was a major creditor.

How devastating was the Great War with regards to casualties/deaths?
No-one would have dared to predict the casualties of World War One. When World War One was declared there were street celebrations in most of Europe's capital cities. No-one even envisaged trench warfare in August 1914 let alone the appalling casualties that occurred over 4 years of fighting. In August 1914, Ypres remained a fine example of a medieval city. By 1918, it lay in ruins and the surrounding land had witnessed death by the tens of thousands. The Somme and Verdun witnessed appalling slaughter. No-one could have predicted the horrifying consequences of modern weaponry being used together with out-of-date tactics. The grim figures 'speak' for themselves.

Photo by FlickrJunkie

Summarize the major Components of Wilsons 14 Points.
Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points were first outlined in a speech Wilson gave to the American Congress in January 1918. Wilson's Fourteen Points became the basis for a peace program and it was on the back of the Fourteen Points that Germany and her allies agreed to an armistice in November 1918. 1. No more secret agreements ("Open covenants openly arrived at"). 2. Free navigation of all seas. 3. An end to all economic barriers between countries. 4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers. 5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial 6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to develop her own political set-up. 7. Belgium should be independent like before the war. 8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine

Explain how the treaty of Versailles may be considered a Peace Built On Quicksand.
Germany failed to show up to the original meeting to discuss the the Treaty of Versailles. Because of this, the writers of the treaty put all of the blame on Germany for the war and forced Germany to pay for all of the damage from the war. Because Germany wasn't there, and were unhappy when the others decided to put the repercussions on them, Germany became angry and didn't want to comply. Thus it was hard to keep the treaty and it therefore was built on quicksand.

How did the Great War weaken Europe?The decline in European power was closely related to diminished economic stature, a result of the commitment to total war. In time, Europe overcame many war-induced economic problems, such as high rates of inflation and huge public debts, but other economic dislocations were permanent and damaging. Most significant was the loss of overseas investments and foreign markets, which had brought huge financial returns. Nothing is more indicative of Europe’s reduced economic might than the reversal of the economic relationship between Europe and the United States. Whereas the United States was a debtor nation before 1914, owing billions of dollars to European investors, by 1919 it was a major creditor. A loss of prestige overseas and a weakening grip on colonies also reflected the undermining of Europe’s global hegemony.