Transcript US Involvement in WWI

US Involvement in
WWI
What Events in Europe Led to
World War I?
The Order of Events
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Serbian nationalists kill Austro-Hungarian duke.
Austria Hungary warns Serbia, Serbia ignores
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Russia (Serbia’s ally) mobilizes troops near
Germany
Germans declares war on Russia and France
(allies)
Germany sends troops through neutral Belgium,
Britain declares war on Germany
The American Response
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Neutrality!
Economic, cultural and
linguistic ties with
Britain
Most Americans were
anti-German, especially
after they discover
plans for industrial
sabotage.
WWI: A Boon to the US
Economy
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Britain and France
bought products in
great amounts.
American bankers gave
private loans to Allies.
German Threats Escalate
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Germans kept out of American trade by the
British blockade.
Began submarine warfare around British isles
to break through blockade.
Germans warned US might sink merchant
ships.
Submarine Warfare
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The Germans warned
Americans their merchant
ships might be hit.
Reaches a crisis point after
Lusitania is torpedoed in
1915—128 Americans died.
After sinking of British and
French liners, Germans
promised they would not sink
unarmed ships without
warning SUSSEX PLEDGE
Wilson Wins Reelection (1916)
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Progressives die out in election after
Roosevelt refuses to run again.
Wilson wins over Charles Evans Hughes with
his promise “He Kept Us Out of War.”
Very close election, Wilson’s victory linked to
his promise of further neutrality.
America Enters the War
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1917—Germany
announced unrestricted
submarine warfare.
US finds Zimmerman Note
on 1917.
“Overt” acts—German Uboats sank four unarmed
American merchant vessels
in two weeks.
April 6, 1917: US declares
war because of these
German actions.
Getting Public Support for the
War
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Difficult given traditions
of isolationism and
neutrality.
Wilson cast war in
moral terms— “making
the world safe for
democracy”
This played on people’s
ideas of America as the
savior.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
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Made Wilson the moral leader of the allied cause
Goal was to keep Russia in war and boost morale of
troops.
Key ideas : abolish secret treaties, freedom of the
seas, free trade, reduction of armaments,
readjustment of colonial claims, self-determination
14th Point: Creation of League of Nations
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Not everyone supported this idea
Propaganda in the War
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Government created Committee on Public
Information—headed by George Creel.
Goal—to sell the war to America and
convince the world of the righteousness of
Wilson’s war aims.
4-minute men, posters, movies, songs
Anti-Germanism on the rise
“Remember Belgium”
The “Mad Brute”
Government Excess & Threats to
the Civil Liberties of Americans
1. Espionage Act – 1917
- forbade actions that
obstructed recruitment or
efforts to promote
insubordination in the military.
- ordered the Postmaster General
to remove Leftist materials
from the mail.
- fines of up to $10,000 and/or
up to 20 years in prison.
Government Excess & Threats
to the Civil Liberties of Americans
2. Sedition Act – 1918
- it was a crime to speak against the
purchase of war bonds or willfully
utter, print, write or publish any
disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or
abusive language about this form of US
Govt., the US Constitution, or the US
armed forces or to willfully urge, incite,
or advocate any curtailment of
production of things necessary or
essential to the prosecution of the
war…with intent of such curtailment to
cripple or hinder, the US in the
prosecution of the war.
Government Excess & Threats
to the Civil Liberties of Americans
3. Schenck v. US – 1919
- in ordinary times the mailing of the
leaflets would have been protected by the
1st Amendment.
- BUT, every act of speech must be judged
acc. to the circumstances in which it was
spoken.
-The most stringent protection of free
speech would not protect a man in falsely
shouting fire in a theater and causing a
panic. [Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes]
- If an act of speech posed a clear and
present danger, then Congress had
the power to restrain such speech.
Council of National Defense
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War Industries Board –
Bernard Baruch
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Food Administration –
Herbert Hoover
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Railroad Administration –
William McAdoo
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National War Labor Board –
W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh
U. S. Food Administration
U. S. Food Administration
National War Garden Commission
U. S. School Garden Army
Results of This New Organization of
the Economy?
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Unemployment virtually disappeared.
Expansion of “big government.”
Excessive govt. regulations in eco.
Some gross mismanagement -->
overlapping jurisdictions.
Close cooperation between public
and private sectors.
Unprecedented opportunities for
disadvantaged groups.
Opportunities for
African-Americans in WW1
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“Great Migration.”
1916 – 1919  70,000
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War industries work.
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Enlistment in segregated
units.
True Sons of Freedom
“Rescuing a Negro During the Race
Riots in Chicago”, 1919
YWCA – The Blue Triangle
Munitions Work
Women Used In Recruitment
The Red Cross - Greatest
Mother in the World
WWI Era Amendments
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1919: 18th Amendment—PROHIBITION
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Because of wartime spirit of self-denial, and partly
because of anti-Germanic sentiment
1920: 19th Amendment—Women’s suffrage
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Linked to women’s key role in war effort in
factories
Workers and War
Not all workers supported
war
Post-war labor unrest:
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Coal Miners Strike of
1919.
Steel Strike of 1919.
Boston Police Strike of
1919.
Anti-Labor
“If Capital & Labor Don’t Pull Together”
– Chicago Tribune
Coal Miners’ Strike - 1919
“Keeping Warm” – Los Angeles Times
1917 – Selective Service Act
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24,000,000 men registered for
the draft by the end of 1918.
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4,800,000 men served in WW1
(2,000,000 saw active combat).
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400,000 African-Americans
served in segregated units.
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15,000 Native-Americans served
as scouts, messengers, and
snipers in non-segregated units.
Women served in non-combat
positions
Fighting the War
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US needed in France after Russia pulls out of
war
Played key role in stopping German invasion
of France
Second Battle of the Marne marked the point
of German withdrawal from France (1918)
The End Nears Closer
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Germany wanted to surrender in October
1918, with a peace based on The 14 Points.
US had mostly contributed food, munitions,
money, oil and manpower
The prospect of endless American troops
was key.
The Treaty of Versailles and
Wilson’s Downfall
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At end of war, Wilson was a
hero.
Began to lose credibility
when Republicans won at
home, rivalry between
Wilson and Henry Cabot
Lodge increased.
Met with Big Four in Paris—
US, Britain, Italy and France
Compromises: The losers
colonial holdings would be
controlled by the League of
Nations, the League would
be included in the treaty.
The Final Treaty
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Had to work out compromises with France, Italy and
Japan over colonized land.
Germany forced to accept a peace they did not
participate in—only about 4 of 23 principles of 14
Points in final treaty.
Treaty punished Germany harshly!
Wilson had been forced to compromise a moral
peace, in order to keep the League of Nations
Some good points: liberated many minority
peoples—ex. Poles.
Wilson Fights for the Treaty
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Lots of critics—some believed too harsh, some too
lenient
Isolationists hate the idea of a League
Irreconcilables
Over Lodge’s filibuster, Wilson went on a desperate
speechmaking tour to sell the treaty to the public
stroke, and death soon after he left office
Lodge Reservations: Deal where Republicans would
only accept treaty with some reservations—esp.
reserving rights of US under Monroe Doctrine and
US sovereignty
Wilson urges Democrats to reject treaty with
reservations—in doing so, the treaty is killed.
The Election of 1920
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Wilson wanted to make
the campaign a
referendum on the
League.
Republican Harding
won with promise of
“return to normalcy.”
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Women’s votes key in
this election
Death sentence for the
League of Nations.
Key legacies of the war and
the peace
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Weakened League meant world was unable to deal
with tensions after WWI WWII
US hurt itself by remaining isolationist when it
needed to take global responsibility.
We are therefore, somewhat to blame for the
problems between the wars that led to WWII.
Wilsonianism: American interventionism, US
spreads democracy and capitalism, American
influence could bring peace to the world.
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Realism or idealism?
Multiple Choice Practice
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1. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914,
the great majority of Americans
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A. earnestly hoped to stay out of the war
B. favored entering the war in support of the allies
C. supported the Central Powers
D. wanted to form a military alliance of neutral
nations
E. favored US mediation of the conflict
Multiple Choice ctnd.
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2. The US declared war on Germany
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A. In response to demands of American munition
makers
B. As a result of treaty obligations
C. Because Wall Street bankers demanded it
D. After Mexico signed an alliance with Germany
E. After German U-boats sank four unarmed
American merchant vessels.
Last one!
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3. During WWI, the government’s treatment
of labor could be best described as
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A. Fair
B. Strict and financially unrewarding
C. Extremely brutal
D. So good the right to form unions was finally
granted
E. Decent for native Americans but harsh for
ethnic groups.