Quick Flashcards
Why camps ?
Darwinism -> survival of the fittest -> weak = attacked
Camps ?
Triple alliance -> G, AH, Ott
Triple Entente -> UK, F, Russia
Long term causes ?
- 1871 -> Franco-Prussian war -> France was humiliated + lost AL + had to pay reparations -> animosity
- Militarism -> arms race
- Naval rivalry -> Germany ready to compete with Britain who dominated naval power
- Colonial rivalry -> crisis, eg Morrocco
- Nationalism -> Serbia and Bosnia
Short term causes ?
28th June Assassination
- > 07/02 : AH asks for support
- > 07/05 : blank cheque
- > 07/23 : ultimatum delivered : 48hrs, put down nationalist hatred, punish criminals, gvt officials thing
- > 07/25 : S ok all but last one
- > 07/28 : AH war on Serbia
- > Nicky-Willy
- > 08/01 : G war on Russia
- > 08/02 : Fr mobilization
- > 08/03 : G war on Fr
- > 08/04 : B enters the war
The plans ?
• French : Plan 17 :
Troops in AL, cross it, beat G
Troops in the North = inexperienced, symbolic
• German : Schleiffen Plan :
Crossing Belgium avoiding Fr (80% of army)
Meant to end war quickly (ppl thought before Christmas)
Plans result ?
Failed :
French realized a bit late that G in the North not feint
Then sent armies in north
But as G advances Fr retreats
Taken by surprise by Paris army : come in great numbers charging out of Paris in taxis (taxi division) meet tired German soldiers
Trenches ?
Long, narrow excavations in the ground
A few hundred meters between 2 camps -> not jog when going over the top
1st line : attack
2nd : retreat
3rd : eat, sleep
4rth : hospital wing
All the way from Belgium to Switzerland
Trench warfare + failure of plans -> war of movement turned into war of position
How many countries front ?
60 (with colonies)
Why US involvement only 1917?
- Washington : policy of isolation
- Wilson : stay neutral in thought and deed
- natural affinity Entente but Russia and UK not democracies
When and why ?
- Zimmerman telegram -> Mexico attack pls?
- Feb Revolution -> let’s help Russia establishing a democracy guys
6th of April : POTUS asks Congress for declaration of war
BUT
Few troops
Hard war to sell
Blame?
Traditional : Germany bc blank cheque, wanted it bc domestic political problems
Revisionist : events took over individual decisions kaiser was not that horrible not his fault
Post revisionist : series of miscalculations
- > AH : R not support S
- > G : R and thus UK and Fr not fight if we do
- > Generals : rigidly sticking to plans
US home front socially ?
Women Children Propaganda Internal migrations Anti-German sentiment Arts Full employment Better working conditions for most War hysteria -> race riots + G
US home front politically ?
Gvt more powers :
- > railroad (money)
- > WIB
- > SSB
- > 4 min men
- > encouraging victory-directed actions
Sedition acts
US home front economically ?
National debt
32 bi $ -> 1/3 taxes, rest bonds
Industry
WIB -> cost-plus
Agriculture
Eat less of certain stuff pls
Transport
Gvt railroad : workers happy
Labor market Women + black + mex Better working benefits National Labor Board 850 000 federal workers
Consequences ?
- 1st total war -> new weapons -> casualties
- Europe’s prestige hurt
- need for birth -> family stuff
- revolutionary waves
- national trade for US
- League of Nations
- mandate system
- peace settlements
