SS8H7: Georgia After Reconstruction Part 4- US Involvement in the Great War

*Due to the numerous events in this unit, this post will be split into 4 parts: New South, Disenfranchisement, Early Civil Rights, and WWI.*

 

 

     The War to end all wars- at least, so thought of at the time. WWI, or "the Great War (called so before WWII)" lasted from 1914-1918 and was one of the deadliest wars in history. It is important to learn about such wars so that we may not repeat the failures of the past, and even then, the history behind World War I is quite interesting.

Archduke's killer

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

     There are several reasons for the great war's start. The most well known reason is because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferndinand. Archduke Franz was the prince of the very powerful Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and was soon going to lead the mighty country. On June 28, 1914, on a trip of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Franz and his wife were shot and killed in their coach by a Bosnian Nationalist. A nationalist is someone who believes in the freedom of their country, and is willing to protect it. How can one assassination start a global war? Well, there's more history behind the killing.

The Allied Forces

     Europe has many mighty countries who were out claiming land to create a powerful empire. UK, France, Austria, Ottoman Empire, were all out on a land grab- the one with the most territory wins. These countries who were fighting for land had enemies, and needed to protect themselves. UK, France, and the Russian Empire were allied. The Prussian Empire (present day Germany), The Ottoman Empire (present day countries in the Middle East and surrounding area, most notably Turkey), and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire (present day separate countries of Austria and Hungary) were allied on a different term. Whenever the Archduke was killed, uproar came from Prussia and the Ottoman Empire. Austria-Hungary declared war on Bosnia-Herzegovina as revenge. Following this, Russia declared war on the Central Powers. The two other countries of the Central Powers then declared war on Russia, to which then UK and France stepped in to help Russia.

President Woodrow Wilson

     But where was the United States? The US had a stance of Isolationism of which then President Woodrow Wilson stuck to for the majority of the war. The US did not want to join in on an affair in which they deemed to be only for the Europeans. But this did not mean that they were an exception to the turmoil. The US sent what was known as "Liberty Bonds" to the Allied Forces, which contained supplies for the troops like weapons and food. But they would soon add men to the war.

British Cruise liner Lusitania

     In 1915, war was all out. It was said that no country could attack a ship that was unarmed. But Prussia changed this. On May 7, 1915, Germany attacked and sunk the British cruiser the Lusitania. An interesting fact about this ship was that it was a sister ship to the cruiser the Titanic, which sunk three years its prior. Many were killed, including Americans.

But the United States would not budge their isolationism. Not for another two years.

The Zimmerman Telegram

     By 1917, the Allied Forces were in need of major help. Losing troops to more than just weapons, the war was at a very close stalemate due to the trench warfare. This would change when the US steps in. Germany sent a telegram to Mexico stating that they will be rewarded if they [Mexico] secretly invades the United States. Mexico did not want this, and the telegram was uncovered by the United States. This telegram, now called the Zimmerman Telegraph, outraged the United States to were they joined the Allied Forces soon after.

Propaganda

     The war would end in 1918 and the Treaty of Versailles in Versailles, France would be signed. It officially ended the war and made Germany pay 30 billion dollars in reparations. Austria-Hungary would break up, as well as the Ottoman Empire, and Germany would be alone in a major depression.

Propoganda

     Georgia was key to the United States in the war effort. Among many things, Georgia sent Liberty Bonds, textiles, and Victory Gardens (vegetables planted at homes and sent for the troops). The war would send the economy forward, but not for long.