-
Triple Alliance and Triple Entente
The Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The Triple Entente was formed by France, Russia, and Great Britain. This guaranteed a large scale war with many parts of Europe involved because if two sides go to war, every part of the side goes as well. This stirred up nationalism even more, now that sides of the conflict were declared, meanwhile the US struggled to maintain their urge to pick sides as their home countries battled eachother. -
Militarism Produces Arms Race
Militarism led to leaders stockpiling weapons and increasing army size. By 1914, Germany's army compared to Britiain's. Germany and Britain began to battle at sea while Germany, France, and Russia battled on land. Throughout this time, deadly modern technology was evolving. Weapons such as machine guns, artilery field guns, poison gas, submarines, tanks/armored cars, and airplanes all contributed to the casualties of the war. The US sayed out of arms race for three years. -
Europe Won't Stand United
For about 100 years up to 1914 Europeans had constant conflict amongst eachother, refecting the ideas of Europe being a collection of ethnic groups. These conflicts nvolved strings of nationalism, regional tensions, economic rivalries, imperial ambitions, and militarism. Darwinism had only heightened the national and domestic tensions, which destabalized multinational countries as well. -
Assassinations Pushes Europe toward War
The Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Francis Ferdinand, was assassinated on his routine visit to Saravejo by the ethnic Serbians(Gavrilo Princip) who believed Bosnia belonged to Serbia. This event triggered conflict between the Serbs and Austria-Hungary. Kaiser William II (german emperor) formed an alliance with A.H., which gave them the confidence and power necessary to send a harsh ultimatum to Serbia. -
Alliances Cause Chain Reaction in War
When the Serbians didn't follow Austria-Hungary's ultimatum fully and completely, A.H. declared war, which ment their alliance with Germany was going to war with Serbia's alliance: Russia. When Germany declared war on Russia, Russia's ally-France- declared war on Germany. Then, Germnay declares war on neutral Belgium in order to attack France. Lastly, Belgium's protection, Great Britain, declares war on Germany. A deadly stalemate was at hand. -
Germany invades Belgium and the U.S. is outraged.
Many American's despised Germany for her harshness in neutral Belgium. British journalist and propogandists stressed Germany's hashness through exagerations, interrogating the situation further. Three distinct positions of war were formed in America: Isolationists, interventionists, and internationalists. President Wilson eventually began preparing for war in 1915. -
Period: to
German Submarines Violate Neutral Rights, Britain Blockades Germnay, and Wilson Prepares for War
Britain blockaded Germany on contraband goods, which weaknned Germnay at war. In February of 1915 German submarines sunk allied ships. In May of 1915 Germany struck again on a passenger ship off the coast of Ireland, this ourtaged American citizens. Germany apoligized and promised not to do it again, but broke the promise when they sunk another in 1916, which broke their Sussex Pledge. Meanwhile, US President W. Wilson formed National Defense Act and Naval Construction Act. -
Period: to
Constructing a War Economy in the U.S.
Wilson formed The Council of National Defense, Wartime Industries Board, Committee of Public Info, and elected People like Herbert Hoover to manage other aspects that contributed to the U.S. at home and in war. Mnay people who resisted and avoided war were humiliated and outlawed as well. The Espionge Act and Sedition Act were also formed to prevent treason act and disloyalty in the U.S. -
The Zimmerman Note Contributes to the U.S. entering the War
Germany took action in hopes of defending themselves from the U.S. and Britain when they created the Zimmerman note to Mexico, offering alliance. However, the British intercepted the note and gave it to the U.S.. Germnay then announced unrestricted submarine warfare on Britain. The U.S was enraged further. -
NAWSA and Women/Minority Embracing New Opportunities.
War allowed many women to advance industrially. They took over the jobs that men left for war, and made some what of a revolution that showed women were capable of men's work. NAWSA also advanced in embracing war efforts, doubling in size. They even gained the right to vote in 1919 throught the 19th Amendment. African Americans and Mexican Americans also found new opportunity in the work-place. This involved African Americans following opportunity north in the Great Migration. -
Wilson asks for War on Germany
On the 2nd of April President Woodrow Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany. On April 6th, 1917 congress accepts, and the small U.S. army takes action. Wilson also formed the Selective Service Act in May and gathered a mass amount of young men to join the U.S. in war effort. Everything was decided in the Great National Lottery later in July. -
Period: to
American Troops Join Fight and Distinguish Themselves
General John Pershing commanded American forces in France in June 1917, where Americans would later arrive to fight in 1918. In March of 1918, Germans became exhausted because of Allied Counter attacks and the Doughboys end the great German offensive with significant actions in 1918. The Americans fought with the French in the 2nd Battle of Marne. They also fought in many other battles in this time period. Many medals and awards were given to American war heros throughout this time as well. -
Wilson Promotes Peace at The Paris Peace Conference
Wilson wanted America along with the countries it fought with to stay humble, and forgive after the war. However, leading powers thought otherwise. Wilson promoted Peace w/o Victory, Open Diplomacy, Freedom of seas + trade, Movement toward ending colonialism, self determination, and League of Nations. All of which did't go well for Wilson besides League of Nations. -
Period: to
Inflation and The Red Scare
Rising prices to accompany scarcity and widespread demand turned into inflation, which beat at the door of farmers negatively, and cut the wages of industrial wages. Inflation was widely blamed on radicals leading strikes, and this ihelped nfluenced The Red Scare. The Red Scare was also triggered when the Soviet Union emerged as a communist nation. The Red scare involved many raids, riots, and hate crimes as well. -
Period: to
America Adjusts to Peace
Shortly after the war, Americans were faced with an epidemic when the flu, Influenza, hit home. Another large deal involved African American women having less job opportunity than that of 1910. This led to riots in America, which stirred conflict thoroughly. -
The War Ends
Germany surrendered in France. America advantaged France, Great Britain, and Italy throughout the war in many aspects, such as contribtuing to the fall of Germans on the front. Approximately 5 million Allies died in WW1, but about 8 million Central Powers died. About 6.5 million civilians also suffered casualties. -
Prohibtion and Crime
The states radified the 18th Amendment in hopes to stop alcohol usage. This led to bootleggers, crime due to alcohol, further economic decline in America, and later the 21st Amendment which undid prohibtion. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was negotiated by the Allied powers with little participation of Germany and officially ended WW1. This involved Germany paying reparations (funded by the US later on) and many other parts which were compromised between the countries. The Treaty would later cause more problems for the countries than it solved. -
The American Giant and the World'd adaptation to a New Order
U.S. had the largest credit nation but WW1 changed that, leaving U.S. strong but financially weakened. -
Tensions between the Urban and Rural Areas
Many people in urban areas were focused on modernism and embraced a new way of life. Rural areas were put off by this and stick with traditional lifestyles. This triggered tension between Americans and lead to the formation of many groups who brought attention to the matter -
Period: to
The Economic Boom
The economic boom involved the growth of usage of the stock market, easy gambling, credit introduction, automobile availability, etc. There was a consumer revolution triggered by the Big Bull Market and by 1929 over 4 million Americans owned stock. -
Period: to
The U.S. in International Affairs
Wilson proposed many things to promote peace, such as the League of Nations,which was later casted off by the senate. The Dawes plan was formed to aid Germany in paying war debt to France and Britain, but failed when the U.S. economy crashed. -
Period: to
The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance involved the African American community blossoming into a cultural atomsphere unlike any other. Migrants were able tohave a chance industrially, and the arts of black people were largely in the public eye. Racial pride raced it's way into the hands of the African American community and triggered the eruption of music styles, art forms, etc. by the black culture. -
Period: to
Urban Growth
Meanwhile during the Big Boom, people all over flocked to cities seeking an industrial dream. Many protests against low wages were breaking out in the more poor areas and agriculture faced overproduction and low income. The rich became richer and the poor stayed poor. While big business prospered, everything else decayed financially. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
Economy falters, unemployment soars in the U.S, -
H. Hoover takes office
Hoover, the republican nominee for president was elected in and immediately took action. He thought it was best to let the American economy take its course. However, the economy continued to decline. Easy credit made this even worse, hiding the debt at hand. -
Stock Market Crashes
Following Black Thursday, Black Tuesday marks the crash of the stock market, where it lost billions of dollars. This triggered the Great Depression. -
The Dust Bowl Adds to the Great Depression
The Dust Bowl was a time in which Americans couldn't escape the horrid dirty thirties. This impacted America once again because many migrant workers who tried to outrun the dust bowl seeked jobs and added to unemployment. Animals were killed and people suffered health wise due to the harsh conditions. -
The Bank Is Unavailable
After the crashing of many banks in American, the banks lost all trust with Americans. This caused insecurity and hysteria when the banks money was gone, which ment so were the peoples. This led to the Great Depression furthermore. -
Commodity Prices Plunge.
Farmers lost their farms as their crop value shot down. Tenant farming grew as farmers searched for work. Farmers had to give up land and suffered horribly. -
Period: to
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Attempts to Save America
FDR made many positive changes for the U.S. He helped lift the horrid conditions of the Great Depression and put in a great effort for the U.S. welfare. He formed numerous administrations in effort to get American back on her feet and spent even more money doing so. Although he was heavily critisized he pulled a drowning American from the deep blue through acts like The New deal. -
Americans Face Hard Times
Bread lines for the hungry, Hoovervilles for the homeless mark the beginning of the Great Depression. Families ran out of money and began losing everything. American descended into poverty furthermore.
