Chapter+23+-+America+and+the+Great+War

H.W: 2CN pg 613

America and the Great War


 * The "Great War" began in 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded the Bulkan nation of Serbia.
 * War soon spread through Europe and destroyed the delicate balance of the continent.
 * United States formally entered the war in April 1917 (3 years after it had begun).
 * World War 1 left Europe on the brink of collapse by the time it ended in 1918.
 * Number of Dead: Germany = 2million, Russia = 1.7million, France = 1.4million, GB = 900k.
 * America benefited from the war, only 112k deaths (most from disease and not combat), sparked the economy, and made the U.S a world super power.
 * The "war to end all wars" only ended in instability that would lead to an even greater war, WW2.

H.W: Bullet + Prediction of Chapters 24, 25, 26

Chapter 24 - The New Era


 * Advances in technology, socially and militarily, and an improvement in peoples lives.
 * Prosperity, especially during the "roaring 20's".
 * More culture, movies, theater, radio, ect.
 * Continued advancement for women, drifting away from tradition.
 * Struggle for equality among social classes, races, and the masses continued.

Chapter 25 - The Great Depression


 * Worst economic crisis in the nation's history known as the Great Depression.
 * Unemployment rate highest ever.
 * Sorrow and desperation spread throughout the country.
 * Political and social instability, FDR elected in 1932.

Chapter 26 - The New Deal


 * FDR's presidential campaign and plans for the nation to rise out of the Great Depression
 * Recovery from the Great Depression, leading into World War 2.
 * Public work projects and much more government intervention in people's lives than ever before.
 * Set forth the future of the government in people's lives and the dispute between people vs. government.

H.W: 2CN pg 614-621

Road To War


 * Europe was divided into 2 major Alliances
 * **Triple Entente** consisted of Great Britain, France, and Russia.
 * **Triple Alliance** consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
 * War really sparked on June 28, 1914 with the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. (Assassin was Serbian)
 * The allies of each nation jumped in and the entire continent of Europe and part of Asia was at war.
 * President Woodrow Wilson wished to remain neutral during WW1, at least when it started in 1914.
 * U.S continued trading with Allies, not Germany. Led to an economic boom because of production demand from Allies.
 * Germany was using submarine warfare, U-Boats.
 * U-Boats was sinking all ships on the Atlantic, including the Lusitania with 128 American civilians.
 * In 1915 Wilson called for an increase in military, the armed forces, were "prepared" in case war broke out.
 * Wilson reelected in 1916. A very close election. (less than 600k popular vote & 23 electoral votes)
 * The **Zimmerman Telegram** only further pushed Americans into war. It encouraged Mexico to side with Germany and fight the U.S in return for Texas and other lost lands.
 * **Wilson ask Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917. War is declared April 6, 1917.**

World War 1


 * Both sides were already decimated by the time the U.S joined the war.
 * America quickly tilted the balanced war. Fleet of American ships aided Great Britain against the German U-Boats.
 * In 1918 Russia withdrew from the war altogether.
 * Due to insufficient and inexperienced troops in the army, Wilson passed the Selective Service Act. (+3million men in army)
 * Women were allowed to join military. Not allowed in combat but in hospitals and offices.
 * Most important role for women during WW1 was their work in the factories since the men were at war.
 * African Americans fought in the army, segregated units led by white officers. (Racism was common)
 * War was over a year and a half after America joined. (Mid-1918)
 * Trench warfare was the worst part of the war.
 * Soldiers spent months, even years in trenches filled with vermin, rats, eating rotten food, and bored while filled with fear.
 * Military technology was advancing with machine guns, tanks, flamethrowers, and poisonous gas.
 * Planes started to play a key role, since bringing them down was difficult. Used mostly for bombing.
 * The Great War was over on November 11, 1918.