World War IUNIT 7 CH.22
War in Europe
Causes in Europe Militarism, nationalism, imperialism, the alliance system,
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Opposing Sides Allies-France, Russia, Britain,
Central Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary
Neutrality Domestic Divisions
Cultural ties to the Allies
Over 10 million, German and Austrian immigrants supported the Central Powers as did the Irish
Many Americans refused to take sides
Conflict on the Seas British naval blockade of Central Powers
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare- official German policy
Neutrality Lusitania sunk in 1915 killing 128 Americans
Germany temporarily suspends USW
Moving Toward War Wilson authorizes $1 billion for military build-up
Election of 1916
Charles Evans Hughes vs. Wilson
Wilson won with the slogan “He kept us out of war”
Germany resumes USW in 1917
Zimmermann Telegram
“Over There” Conscription
Selective Service Act (1917)
American men registered for random selection of service
3 million draftees and 1 million volunteers
300,000 “slackers” and 4,000 conscientious objectors
American Fighting Force General John J. Pershing led the American Expeditionary
Forces (AEF) in Europe
4 million “doughboys” put on the uniform
53,000 servicemen died in combat and an additional 63,000 from disease
Diversity and Racism Black Americans fought in segregated units
Native Americans fought in integrated units
Eddie Rickenbacker American fighting ace with 26 aerial victories
Sergeant Alvin York Single-handedly killed 25 Germans and aided in the
capture of an additional 132
Mobilizing Industry War Industries Board
directed military production
Bernard Baruch
Fuel Administration Introduced daylight saving time to conserve coal and oil
Food Administration Herbert Hoover
“Gospel of the Clean Plate” would negate the need for rationing
Mobilizing Workers National War Labor Board
Established an eight hour work day
Time and a half for overtime
Endorsed equal pay for women
Recognized unions’ right to form
Black and Mexican American workers Black Americans were actively recruited to northern
factories which resulted in the “Great Migration”
Political instability in Mexico and the need for industrial and farm workers in the Southwest spurred Mexican migration
Women Women took over factory jobs and other positions
traditionally held by men
Wartime Reform Suffrage Victory
NAWSA argued that proving patriotism would advance their cause
Alice Paul took a more militant stance
Arrested and went on hunger strike
Nineteenth Amendment In recognition of women’s wartime contributions women will win the
right to vote in 1920
Promoting National Unity Propaganda
Committee on Public Information
George Creel
Acted as a nationalizing force by promoting the development of a common ideology
Anti-immigrant Hysteria Anti-German sentiment meant many of German descent lost their
jobs or were physically attacked
All things associated with Germany were not socially permissible
Curbing Dissent Espionage and Sedition Acts
A person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or saying anything disloyal
Targeted socialists and labor leaders
Schneck v. The United States Supreme Court ruled that the right to free speech could be limited
when it presented a “clear and present danger” to public safety
The War Ends Collapse of Germany
Nov. 3, 1918 A-H surrendered
German soldiers mutinied and formed a republic
Nov. 9- Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated
Nov. 11- armistice signed
Final Toll About 8.5 million soldiers died and 21 million were wounded
Over 20 million civilians died due to starvation, disease, and slaughter
Treaty of Versailles The Fourteen Points
Points 1-5 addressed issues to prevent future wars
Points 6-13 dealt with boundary changes and self-determination
Point 14 called for the establishment of an international organization (League of Nations)
Negotiations Wilson failed to understand Allied anger
The Big Four (Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Orlando) worked on the peace treaty amongst themselves
Fate of the Treaty U.S. Congress never ratifies treaty and U.S does not join
League of Nations
Racial Strife East St. Louis, IL experienced a race riot during the war in which
over 50 people died
Over 25 cities experienced race riots once the war ended
Chicago Race Riot Arrival of 50,000 Black Americans increased racial tensions during
the war
Soldiers coming home were competing for jobs and housing
Some Blacks served as strike breakers
40 people killed and 500 injured
Labor Unrest Common Tactic
Employers attempted to connect strikers with Communists
Boston Police Strike Union reps were fired for asking for raises
Police struck and the national Guard was called in
Once the strike was over all union members were fired
Steel Mill Strike Denied the right to unionize
Strikers were beaten by police, federal troops, and state militias
Labor Unrest
Coal Miner’s Strike United Mine Workers leader John Lewis called for a strike
Attorney General Palmer obtained a court order to end the strike
Lewis publicly called it off while privately continuing it
Miners received a 27% pay increase and Lewis became a national hero
Labor Movement Loses Appeal Immigrants willing to work in poor conditions
Difficulty organizing because of language barriers
Most unions excluded Black Americans
The Red Scare 70,000 radicals joined the new Communist Party
After a series of bombs mailed to government officials and business leaders the public became fearful
Palmer Raids U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer appointed J. Edgar Hoover to
hunt down Communist, socialists, and anarchists
Many people were deported or arrested
The Red Scare
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial Radical Italian immigrants who evaded the draft in WWI
Arrested in May 1920 and charged with the murder of a factory paymaster and a guard
Both had alibis and the evidence against them was circumstantial
They received the death penalty and went to the electric chair in 1927