Why is 1917 considered the turning point of WWI?

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Why is 1917 considered the turning point of WWI?
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• Autocracy, Orthodoxy and Nationalism

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• There were two revolutions in 1917
• The February (March-western calendar)
• The October (November)

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The November 6th Revolution

• The second revolution was instigated and inspired
  by a radical socialist party then known as the
  Bolsheviks. Its leader was Vladimir Lenin.

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How did the Russian army perform when war broke
out?
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• Czar Nicholas II's government ended in 1917 when
  both soldiers and civilians united after riots on
  food lines broke out

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• The Provisional government of Alexander
  Kerensky continued the war .. big mistake that
  led to his undoing
• The greatest challenge to his authority came
  from the Bolsheviks

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• Founder of the Bolshevik Party which was
  outlawed in Russia.

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Location of Bolshevik Leaders in February, 1917 Location of Bolshevik Leaders in February, 1917
Bolshevik Leaders Location
Lenin Switzerland
Radek Switzerland
Zinoviev Switzerland
Bukharin New York
Litvinov London
Antonov-Ovseenko Paris
Dzerzhinsky Moscow
Latsis Petrograd
Molotov Petrograd
Kirov Vladikavkaz
Stalin Kureika (Siberia)
Ordzhonikidze Pokrovsk (Siberia)
Sverdlov Turukhansk (Siberia)
Kamenev Achinsk (Siberia)
Rykov Narym (Siberia)

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Upon returning to Russia, What did Lenin promised?
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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, March 1918

• Why might this be called a bad treaty of Russia?
• Why did Lenin sign it?

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• Woodrow Wilsons
• Proclamation of Neutrality

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Allied propaganda

• Americans felt a kinship with the British and
  friendship with France since the American
  Revolution

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What changed for Americans?

• German unrestricted submarine warfare
• attacked ships of neutral nations without warning
  and without attempting to save the crew and
  passengers
• May 7, 1915 The Lusitania 128 Americans died

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American economic interests

• American agricultural and manufactured goods were
  sold almost exclusively to the Allies.
• American investors extended substantial loans to
  the Allies

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American idealism

• a war to end all wars - Woodrow Wilson
• the world must be made safe for democracy -
  Woodrow Wilson
• The March Revolution in Russia a Provisional
  government with strong democratic tendencies.

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April 6, 1917 America goes to war

• The formal end to neutrality came when Congress
  passed a formal declaration of war
• Wilson offered a peace plan The Fourteen Points
• It took about a year for the U.S. to recruit,
  train, supply and transport a modern army to
  Europe

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Significance of American entrance into the war

• Broke sharply with Americas traditional
  avoidance of foreign entanglements the policy
  of isolation George Washington
• Turned the tide of battle in favor of the Allies
• Americas emergence as a world power and
  eventually a world leader

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Hostility towards Germany

• Autocratic Kaiser William
• Invasion of neutral Belgium
• Allied propaganda
• Economic interests
• American idealism
• The Lusitania
• Contd submarine warfare
• The Zimmerman telegram

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• Any questions?