AP US History

Mrs. Marshall

Chapter 31 Notes

3 incidents that led to U.S. entry into WWI: January 1917 Germany announced it

would sink all ships in British waters. Nullified Sussex Pledge

February 1917 British agents intercepted a message from German leader, Arthur Zimmerman, proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the US

Events in Russia-monarchy was replaced with a representative government

1st 2 weeks of March German u-boats sank 4 unarmed American merchant ships.

April 6, 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

Wilson said it was “a war to end all wars” and to make the world safe for democracy.

Wilson viewed America’s entry as an opportunity for the US to shape a new international order based on the ideals of democracy.

Selective Service Act- (conscription/draft) required all men between ages of 18 and 45 to register with government for military service.

Put nearly 4 million men in uniformCalled “doughboys”

Women in military- were admitted for the 1st time in the navy and marines in non-combat positions.

African Americans- served in segregated units usually under the command of white officers.

Committee of Public Information Headed by George CreelEstablished a successful system of voluntary censorship by the press and his massive propaganda campaign effectively created support for the allied cause.

Bernard BaruchThrough he use of mass-production and standardization industrial production in the US increased by about 20%

War Industries Board

William Howard TaftPrimary purpose was to stop labor disputes that may interfere with war effort

IWW- Industrial Workers of the World- “Wobblies”

National War Labor Board

Inability to gain right to organize

InflationViolence against workers by employers

Use of African Americans as strikebreakers

Grievances of labor:

Herbert HooverTo help produce and conserve food supply and encouraged people to grow their own food.

US government financed war through taxes and the sale of bond (Liberty Loan or Victory Loan bonds)

Food Administration

Passed to punish people who did not support the war effort. Could not interfere with the draft or sale of war bonds, could not speak against the war.

Targeted socialists and labor leadersViolated the 1st amendmentSchenck v US (1919) court affirmed

their legality. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

Espionage and Sedition Acts

German leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to the Netherlands

November 11, 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire. Armistice signed to end war.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points for Peace.

Wilson said that when the war was over the countries of the world should work together to build a lasting peace.

1st Five Points suggested ways that wars could be

avoidedCountries should not make secret

treaties with each otherMaintain freedom of the seasTariffs should be lowered to promote

free tradeCountries should reduce armsInterest of colonial people should be

considered

Points 6-13Suggested new national boundaries.

Fourteenth Point called for the creation of a League of Nations-an international peacekeeping organization-would address problems between countries before they led to war.

Leaders of the Allied Nations: (Big Four)

US Woodrow Wilson

Great Britain David Lloyd George

France Georges Clemenceau

Italy Vitorio Orlando

1919 the Big Four and representatives of the Central Powers met at the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty created new national boundariesEstablished 9 new nationsShifted boundaries of other nationsCarved out parts of the Ottoman

Empire to create colonies in the middle East for Britain and France

Germany was blamed for the war. They had to disarm, forced to pay reparations and contained a war-guilt clause

Henry Cabot LodgeChairman of the Senate Foreign

Relations CommitteeLed group of senators who refused

to approve the treaty unless changes were made in the plans for the League of Nations. Article X was the most controversial aspect of the Treaty of Versailles

Wilson refused any changes, would not compromise.

Sept 1919 began a speaking tour to win support for the treaty. Suffered a serious stroke.

Several more votes taken on treaty but was never ratified by the Senate. US never joined the League of Nations.

1921 after Wilson left the Presidency the US signed a separate peace treaty with Germany

1920 election:Republican candidate was Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding.

Democratic candidate was Ohio Governor James Cox.

Eugene Debs was the Socialist candidate

Warren Harding won the election.