US Involvement in WWI

APUSH

What Events in Europe Led to World War I?

The Order of Events

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

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

Britain and France bought products in great amounts.

American bankers gave private loans to Allies.

German Threats Escalate

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 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)

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

1917—Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare.

US finds Zimmerman Note on 1917.

“Overt” acts—German U-boats 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

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

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 Not everyone supported this idea

Propaganda in the War

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”Remember Belgium”““Remember Belgium”Remember Belgium”

The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

1. Espionage ActEspionage Act – 1917 – 1917 - forbade actions that - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote efforts to promote insubordination in the insubordination in the military.military. - ordered the Postmaster - ordered the Postmaster GeneralGeneral to remove Leftist materials to remove Leftist materials from the mail. from the mail. - fines of up to $10,000 and/or - fines of up to $10,000 and/or up to 20 years in prison. up to 20 years in prison.

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansto the Civil Liberties of AmericansGovernment Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansto the Civil Liberties of Americans

2. 2. Sedition ActSedition Act – 1918 – 1918 - it was a crime to speak against the - it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or purchase of war bonds or willfullywillfully utter, print, write or publish any utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language abusive language about this form of USabout this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces or to armed forces or to willfully urge, incite,willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of or advocate any curtailment of production production of things of things necessary or necessary or essential to the prosecution of the essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war. prosecution of the war.

Government Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansto the Civil Liberties of AmericansGovernment Excess & Threats Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Liberties of Americansto the Civil Liberties of Americans

3. 3. Schenck v. USSchenck v. US – 1919 – 1919 - in ordinary times the mailing of the - in ordinary times the mailing of the leaflets would have been protected by the leaflets would have been protected by the 1 1st st Amendment.Amendment. - BUT, every act of speech must be judged - BUT, every act of speech must be judged acc. to the circumstances in which it was acc. to the circumstances in which it was spoken. spoken. - -The most stringent protection of freeThe most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. panic. [Chief Justice Oliver Wendell [Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes]Holmes] - If an act of speech posed a - If an act of speech posed a clear andclear and present dangerpresent danger, then Congress had , then Congress had the power to restrain such speech. the power to restrain such speech.

Council of National DefenseCouncil of National DefenseCouncil of National DefenseCouncil of National Defense

e War Industries Board – War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Bernard Baruch

e Food Administration – Food Administration – Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover

e Railroad Administration – Railroad Administration – William McAdoo William McAdoo

e National War Labor Board – National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

U. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food Administration

U. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food AdministrationU. S. Food Administration

National War Garden CommissionNational War Garden CommissionNational War Garden CommissionNational War Garden Commission

U. S. School Garden ArmyU. S. School Garden ArmyU. S. School Garden ArmyU. S. School Garden Army

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Economy?Organization of the Economy?Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Economy?Organization of the Economy?

1.1. Unemployment virtually Unemployment virtually disappeared.disappeared.

2.2. Expansion of “big government.”Expansion of “big government.”

3.3. Excessive govt. regulations in Excessive govt. regulations in eco.eco.

4.4. Some gross mismanagement --> Some gross mismanagement --> overlapping jurisdictions.overlapping jurisdictions.

5.5. Close cooperation between public Close cooperation between public

and private sectors.and private sectors.

6.6. Unprecedented opportunities for Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups.disadvantaged groups.

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in WW1African-Americans in WW1Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in WW1African-Americans in WW1

1.1. ““Great Migration.”Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919 1916 – 1919 70,000 70,000

2.2. War industries work.War industries work.

3.3. Enlistment in segregated Enlistment in segregated units.units.

True Sons of FreedomTrue Sons of FreedomTrue Sons of FreedomTrue Sons of Freedom

““Rescuing a Negro During the Rescuing a Negro During the Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919““Rescuing a Negro During the Rescuing a Negro During the Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919

YWCA – The Blue TriangleYWCA – The Blue TriangleYWCA – The Blue TriangleYWCA – The Blue Triangle

Munitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions Work

Women Used In RecruitmentWomen Used In RecruitmentWomen Used In RecruitmentWomen Used In Recruitment

The Red Cross - Greatest The Red Cross - Greatest Mother in the WorldMother in the WorldThe Red Cross - Greatest The Red Cross - Greatest Mother in the WorldMother in the World

WWI Era Amendments

1919: 18th Amendment—PROHIBITION Because of wartime spirit of self-denial, and partly

because of anti-Germanic sentiment

1920: 19th Amendment—Women’s suffrage Linked to women’s key role in war effort in

factories

Workers and WarWorkers and WarWorkers and WarWorkers and War

Not all workers supported war

Post-war labor unrest:Post-war labor unrest: Coal Miners Strike of Coal Miners Strike of

1919.1919.

Steel Strike of 1919.Steel Strike of 1919.

Boston Police Strike of Boston Police Strike of 1919.1919.

Anti-Labor Anti-Labor Anti-Labor Anti-Labor

““If Capital & Labor Don’t Pull If Capital & Labor Don’t Pull Together” – Together” – Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune

Coal Miners’ Strike - 1919Coal Miners’ Strike - 1919Coal Miners’ Strike - 1919Coal Miners’ Strike - 1919

““Keeping Warm” – Keeping Warm” – Los Angeles Los Angeles TimesTimes

1917 – Selective Service Act1917 – Selective Service Act1917 – Selective Service Act1917 – Selective Service Acte 24,000,000 men registered for 24,000,000 men registered for

the draft by the end of 1918.the draft by the end of 1918.

e 4,800,000 men served in WW1 4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat). (2,000,000 saw active combat).

e 400,000 African-Americans400,000 African-Americansserved in segregated units.served in segregated units.

e 15,000 Native-Americans 15,000 Native-Americans served served as scouts, messengers, and as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated snipers in non-segregated units.units.

e Women served in non-combat positions

Fighting the War

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

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 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

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 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

Wilson wanted to make the campaign a referendum on the League.

Republican Harding won with promise of “return to normalcy.” Women’s votes key in

this election Death sentence for the

League of Nations.

Key legacies of the war and the peace

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. Realism or idealism?

Multiple Choice Practice

1. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the great majority of Americans 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.

2. The US declared war on Germany 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!

3. During WWI, the government’s treatment of labor could be best described as 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.