Duffy, Michael. "Life in the Trenches." Firstworldwar.com. 2009. Web. 3 April 2010.
<http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife/htm>.
Feltus, Pamela. "Manfred von Richtofen- The "Red Baron." U.S. Centennial of Flight
Commission. Web. 2 April 2o1o.
<http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Air_Power/Red_Baron/AP6.htm>.
"Jeannette Rankin." Infoplease. Infoplease, 2009. Web. 3 April 2010.
< http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0841128.html>.
Rosenberg, Jennifer. "The Red Baron." About.com. About.com, 2010. Web. 2 April 2010.
<http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/redbaron.htm>.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
3.2.1 Summary
3 Things I Learned:
- I learned about the Red Baron. Before this project, I thought he was just something made up in a Peanuts cartoon.
- I learned about Jeannette Rankin. I had never heard of her. I am glad that I learned about things not mentioned in the text book.
- I learned how disgusting trench warfare was. I had no idea that people could get that sick from living in a hole in the ground.
2 Things that Interested me:
- I particularly liked the different views of the war from artists. I love the arts, and I thought it was really neat that they could be combined with history.
- It was interesting that there was only one vote against the U.S. going to war with Germany- and that vote was from a woman.
1 Question I still have:
- I have more than a question. I would like to find out more about Woodrow Wilson in general. I want to find out particulars to his decisions about war and why he became unpopular.
Spotlight On
Trench Warfare: One new fighting tactic in World War 1 was trench warfare. Soldiers would dig long, deep holes in the ground to be protected form enemy bullets. The soldiers not only fought from the trenches, but they also lived there. If they got out of the trenches, they were as good as dead. Between the fighting trenches was "no man's land"- an easy target for anyone.There were numerous sanitary issues in the trenches. There were various rat infestations. Both black and brown rats could be found, but the brown rats were the most feared among soldiers. They would eat the remains of dead soldiers and were able to grow as big as cats. Disease spread and food was contaminated. Soldiers desperately tried to kill them with guns, clubs, or anything they had, but rats could produce a great number of offspring so the chaos would never end. Lice, frogs, and other bugs and critters were found in the trenches as well as diseases like Trench Fever and Trench Foot. The fever was actually caused by lice and Trench Foot was caused by damp conditions in the trenches. It was a fungus on the foot and would sometimes result in amputation. The smell in the trenches was unbearable. The soldiers would rotate who was on the front line, but even those soldiers who were resting would end up fighting- depending on the conditions of the situation. Each morning, troops would be inspected. They would also eat breakfast, which was considered a time of truce. Each soldier would be assigned a job for the day, and if it rained, pumping equipment would be supplied. Life could get very boring in the trenches, and men would take advantage of that time to write letters home or read. Conditions in the trenches could have contributed to more deaths than actual gunfire.
Picture from: http://www.redstoneprojects.com/trebuchetstore/French_grenade_catapult.jpg
Friday, April 2, 2010
U.S. Events during WWI
U.S. declares war on Germany: On April 2, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, entering World War 1. The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman note caused this action. A German U-boat sunk a British ship, killing numerous people- Americans included. The Zimmerman note contained a message from Germany's foreign secretary to a German ambassador in Mexico stating that if Mexico helped Germany fight, Germany would help Mexico regain their land that was taken by the United States. America entered the war as part of the Allied Powers. This would be the bloodiest war that America had ever seen; it would also change how Americans lived (rationing, women working, etc).
Connection Across Time: World War 1 helped determine how Americans functioned. For one thing, they were not too fond of Germany. This set up who they sided with for World War 2. Also, the Great War gave women a slow but sure start to gaining more rights. They showed their country that they could work and support their nation. Later, they would gain the right to vote. Without U.S. involvement in the war, the nation could function quite differently today.
First Woman Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives: On November 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin, from Montana, was elected to the the House of Representatives. She was a Republican who also happened to be a pacifist. She was active in the fight for gaining women's suffrage. When the House had to vote whether or not to go to war against Germany, she was the only one who voted against it. Voting a woman to the House of Representatives was a big step for America.
Connection Across Time: Electing a woman to the House of Representatives, especially during a time of war, set America up for change- especially for women. Soon after Jeannette Rankin was elected, the 19th Amendment for women's suffrage was passed. Thanks to Jeannette, rights for women came sooner, and without her efforts they might not have come at all.
Connection Across Time: World War 1 helped determine how Americans functioned. For one thing, they were not too fond of Germany. This set up who they sided with for World War 2. Also, the Great War gave women a slow but sure start to gaining more rights. They showed their country that they could work and support their nation. Later, they would gain the right to vote. Without U.S. involvement in the war, the nation could function quite differently today.
First Woman Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives: On November 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin, from Montana, was elected to the the House of Representatives. She was a Republican who also happened to be a pacifist. She was active in the fight for gaining women's suffrage. When the House had to vote whether or not to go to war against Germany, she was the only one who voted against it. Voting a woman to the House of Representatives was a big step for America.
Connection Across Time: Electing a woman to the House of Representatives, especially during a time of war, set America up for change- especially for women. Soon after Jeannette Rankin was elected, the 19th Amendment for women's suffrage was passed. Thanks to Jeannette, rights for women came sooner, and without her efforts they might not have come at all.
Newsworthy People
Gavrilo Princip: Gavrilo Princip was a Serbian known for assassinating Austria-Hungary's Archduke Franz Ferdinand (on June 28, 1914). A member of the terrorist group the Black Hand, Princip was considered by some to be the main cause of the Great War. After the Archduke was killed, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, starting a domino effect.
Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron): Manfred von Richthofen, more commonly known as the "Red Baron" was a German fighter pilot in the Great War. He had more kills than any other pilot, with 80 credited victories. He was known as the Red Baron because of the red planes he flew.
Georges Clemenceau: Georges Clemenceau was the French prime minister during World War 1. He was part of the Big Four at the Paris Peace Conference. He was known for strongly opposing Woodrow Wilson's opinions; Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay for the war and would not back down from his view.
Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron): Manfred von Richthofen, more commonly known as the "Red Baron" was a German fighter pilot in the Great War. He had more kills than any other pilot, with 80 credited victories. He was known as the Red Baron because of the red planes he flew.
Georges Clemenceau: Georges Clemenceau was the French prime minister during World War 1. He was part of the Big Four at the Paris Peace Conference. He was known for strongly opposing Woodrow Wilson's opinions; Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay for the war and would not back down from his view.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Art of WWI
History is better understood when it is told by someone who witnessed it take place. Below are four art pieces that give a view of what life during the war was like.
Artist: Felix Vallotton
Title: Le plateau de Bolante (Bolante Plateau)
Description: The artist of this painting portrays a plateau in France. It is clearly ruined, giving the viewer an idea of how terribly damaged France was because of the fighting from the war.
Artist: John Nash
Title: Over the Top
Description: This painting portrays the tactic of trench warfare. The soldiers look very cautious as they venture into "no man's land." Also, debris and people can be seen lying in the trenches, showing the tough life of living in a trench.
Artist: Edouard Vuillard
Title: Interrogatoire d'un prissonier (Interrogation of a Prisoner)
Description: This painting reveals how prisoners were questioned by their enemies. The prisoner looks worn out, and the room he is being interrogated in does not look very warm or welcoming. The people that are overseeing him, however, look fine.
Artist: Max Edler von Poosch
Title: Kampstaffel D3, uber der Brenta-Gruppe (Squadron over the Brenta)
Description: This artist portrays a new weapon of war- the airplane. At that time, it was fascinating.
Introduction
Welcome to "Chapter 13:WWI!" This blog is all about World War 1 (from chapter 13). From 1914-1918, the world witnessed the worst war ever in its time. Territories were changed, as well as lifestyles and ways of governing. Through this blog, my hope is to educate others about the Great War, and to educate myself as well.
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