Texas and World War I: Lecture Notes

Introduction to World War I

• World War I as a defining event of the 20th century
• Transformed global order, elevating the United States to a leadership role
• Significant impact on Texas

Texas's Historical Background

• Unique history and culture set Texas apart
  • Spanish, then Mexican traditions
  • Independent nation before joining the U.S.
  • Civil War experience different due to geography
  • Distinctive economy: ranching vs. farming
  • High criminal activity in late 1800s
  • Unique law enforcement: Texas Rangers
  • Texas cattle fever and natural disasters (Galveston Hurricane)
  • Regulation of railroads within the state due to size

Texas's Integration into the U.S.

• Increasing economic integration post-Civil War
• Shift towards cultural and emotional integration during WWI

World War I - The First Industrial War

• Emergence of mass-produced weapons and industrial technologies
• Massive death toll: 40 million people
• Key weapons and tactics:
  • Machine guns, breach-loaded artillery, tanks, aircraft, flamethrowers
  • Use of deadly gases and explosive shells
  • Unexploded ordinances in French killing fields today

Origins of World War I

• Austria-Hungary vs. Serbia over the Balkans
• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914
• Escalation to a global conflict due to alliances

U.S. Entry into World War I

• Initially neutral, benefiting economically
• Trigger events for U.S. involvement:
  • British blockade on Germany
  • German use of U-boats and unrestricted submarine warfare
  • Sinking of the Lusitania in 1915
  • Zimmerman Telegram in 1917
• Zimmerman Telegram proposed German-Mexican alliance against the U.S.

Impact of the Zimmerman Telegram on Texas

• Tensions along the U.S.-Mexico border
• History of border conflict and violence
  • Economic changes in South Texas
  • Mexican Revolution's impact on border dynamics
  • Plan of San Diego calling for uprising in U.S. border states
  • Violence from both Anglo and Hispanic sides
• Mexican raids and U.S. military response

Texas's Role in the War Effort

• Building military infrastructure: training bases, airfields, shipyards
• Preparation for modern warfare and integration of new technologies

Conclusion

• World War I as a transformative event for Texas and its integration into the national experience

This lecture provides an overview of the historical context and significance of World War I, particularly in relation to Texas's role and transformation during this period. It ties together historical factors unique to Texas and its eventual alignment with broader U.S. national interests during World War I. The lecture highlighted both local impacts and the state's contributions to the war effort.