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Unit 10: World War One

Goals of this Unit


To be able to explain why America entered World War I. To understand how Wilson turned Americas participation into a fervent ideological crusade for democracy that successfully stirred the public to a great voluntary war effort, but at some cost to traditional civil liberties. To know that after Americas limited but important contribution to the Allied victory, a triumphant Wilson attempted to construct a peace based on his idealistic Fourteen Points. To comprehend that because of European and senatorial opposition, and partly his own political errors, doomed American ratification of the Versailles Treaty and participation in the League of Nations.

War Breaks Out in Europe


1914 Austrian prince Franz Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian nationalist Complex alliances pulls all of Europe into war one by one Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire (Turkey) Allied Powers: Russia France Britain
AKA Triple Entente

Wilson declares U.S. officially neural

Picking Sides
About 20% of Americans supported the Central Powers
Due to ethnic heritage of immigrants

The majority of America supported the Allies


Due to cultural, political, economic ties Sympathetic to Allies Kaiser Wilhelm II views as militant tyrant Central Power operative caught with plans to sabotage American industry

USA Profits off Neutrality


American businesses trade with both sides during war
More with Allies, secretly and less with Central Powers

Germany hurt by its inferior navy


Cant compete with British navy or block trade with Allies

Germanys solution:
Rely on U-boats (submarines) Announces unrestricted submarine warfare on Allies and anyone assisting Allies

Wilson warns Germany will be held strictly accountable for American damages

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare


May 1915 British ship Lusitania sunk by U-boat attack
1,200 civilians killed, including 128 Americans German warnings prior to attack ignored Americans demand revenge, call for war

Others civilian ships also attacked:


Aug 1915: Arabic British ship 2 Americans killed March 1916: Sussex French ship 50 killed

Wilson pressures Germany to end warfare policy May 1916 Germans issue Sussex Pledge
Promises to give warning to the ship they are to attack problem? Contradicts the purpose of a submarine

Election of 1916
Republicans nominate Charles Evans Hughes
Former Gov. of NY, progressive Flip-flopper problem with this?
Undesirable trait during time of reform & war

Democrats seek reelection with Wilson


Campaign slogan: He kept us out of the war Americans hardly neutral now, but ravages of war emphasized as fear tactic

Wilson uses neutrality platform to win close election ironic?


Wilson enters U.S. into war 5 months later

Americas Fading Neutrality


Jan 22, 1917 Wilson gives speech calling for peace without victory
Stressing neutrality, calling for end of war

Germany announces redaction of the Sussex Pledge unrestricted submarine warfare resumes
World shocked, Americans outraged

March 1917 Zimmerman Note


German telegram to Mexico intercepted Note encouraged Mexico to wage war on U.S

4 more American merchant ships sunk by German subs Lenins Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
Czar overthrown, Russia backs out of war

America Declares War


Major causes of declaration:
Unrestricted submarine warfare Zimmerman Note Russian Revolution

Wilson asks Congress to declare war


Problem: Many congressman & Americans were antiwar

Wilsons idealist slogan for war:


The world must be made safe for democracy
Purpose of war was to free Europeans from militant tyrants NOT for riches or conquest

Americans eagerly join cause, war effort

April 6, 1917 America officially joins the Allied Powers

America Declares War


Major causes of declaration:
Unrestricted submarine warfare Zimmerman Note Russian Revolution

Wilson asks Congress to declare war


Problem: Many congressman & Americans were antiwar

Wilsons idealist slogan for war:


The world must be made safe for democracy
Purpose of war was to free Europeans from militant tyrants NOT for riches or conquest

Americans eagerly join cause, war effort

April 6, 1917 America officially joins the Allied Powers

Wilsons Fourteen Points


Idealistic goals for peace after war:
Abolishing secret treaties Freedom of the seas Removal of economic barriers between nations Reduction of armaments Fixing colonial claims to benefit both colonizers and natives

Self-determination: oppressed nationalistic groups should have own governments League of Nations: Committee to peacefully settle future international disputes

Propaganda
George Creel headed the Committee on Public Information
Goal was to keep Americans enthusiastic about war

Methods:
Posters, pamphlets, films, songs Four minute men speeches Advertise war bonds

Effective in hiding the realities of the brutal war

Enforcing Loyalty
Anti-German sentiments grow:
German-Americans labeled spies, saboteurs Suffer alienation, violence

Congress passes anti-foreign laws


Espionage Act of 1917
Prosecutes spies 2,000 convicted
Eugene V. Debs sentenced to 10 years

Sedition Act of 1918


Prosecutes anyone engaging in seditious activity

Very broad definition why?


Harder to interpret easier to prosecute any supposed anti-government activity Laws safe from 1st Amendment

Preparing for War


Wilson gets unprepared nation ready for war
Forms Council of National Defense Increases ship building Increases size of army

Biggest task: kick starting war industry


Appoints Bernard Baruch to lead War Industries Board
Coordinates industry to help war effort Efforts only somewhat successful:
Boards power a bit weak, businesses enjoy autonomy

Wartime Labor
Governments work or fight policy provides for large war effort National War Labor Board created to settle and worker disputes and strikes
Ensures no loss of production

Wartime inflation stops wage increases


Strikes rampant and violent African-Americans migrate North as scabs
Creates violent ethnic conflict in cities (Chicago Race Riots, 1919)

American Federation of Labor (AF of L)


Led by Samuel Gompers Loyal to war effort provided factories with laborers
Rewarded with desired workers rights

Women on the Home Front


National American Woman Suffrage Association
Encourage women to join war effort Many fill mens jobs during the war effects?
Gaining a larger role in society Women gain power and influence

Wilson endorses womens suffrage By 1920 19th Amendment passed


Women granted the right to vote

Womens Bureau emerges after war to protect womens new rights and place in workforce
Fails: most women leave jobs and return home after war
Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act (1921)

Wartime Economy

Whats needed in a wartime economy?


Rationing, moderation, conservation to assure adequate supplies for the military and allies

Herbert Hoover chosen head to Food Administration very successful


Oversees the production & allocation of foodstuffs Uses propaganda, not laws
Grains not to be used for alcohol what movement does this help?
Prohibition movement gaining strength

Fuel Administration encourages rationing, too Treasury Dept. sells war bonds
Raised money for 2/3 of Americas war effort

Dependence on America
America pictures secondary role in war effort problem? By 1917
European Allies out of men, money, supplies Russia pulls out of war after Bolshevik revolution significance?
Germany can fully concentrate troops on Western Front

Germans planning big counterattack in Spring of 1918 America becomes more involved than planned Selective Service Act Draft increases army size, men quickly trained
Blacks serve in segregated units Women take support roles in military

Americans Arrive in Europe


Allies desperate for American reinforcements
French barely hanging on at Western Front

Small number of troops sent over immediately American soldiers arrive by masses in Spring of 1918
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Led by Gen. John J. Perishing Goals of Americans:
Stop German invasion of Paris Providing supplies to Allies Boost the little morale left of Allied Forces

Trench Warfare

The Western Front

Trench Warfare

New Technology
Machine Guns

Flamethrowers Poisonous Gas Tanks & Planes Land Mines Mortars

American Action
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
Stops invading German army 40 miles from Paris

Second Battle of the Marne


Allies victorious, begins German withdrawal

Battle at Belleau Wood


U.S. Marines fiercely fight off Germans, gain prestige

Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Largest battle in American history to that point, Allies victorious

Germany on brink of surrender

War Ends
Germans becoming increasingly anti-war
Kaiser Wilhelm II flees to Holland Fear of infinite American manpower, supplies Idealistic Fourteen Points appealing to Germany

Armistice agreed upon when?


11:00 AM, 11/11/1918 Known as Armistice Day, later Veterans Day

Peace Talks
Wilson gains worldwide popularity for:
Ending war Idealistic promises of postwar Europe

Wilson travels to Europe with delegates for peace talks


Does not invite any Republicans Henry Cabot Lodge excluded
Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee effects? Alienates party, strengthens party

The Big Four meet to lead Paris Peace Conference in 1919


Woodrow Wilson (USA) David Lloyd George (Britain) George Clemenceau (France) Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Treaty Trouble
Conflicting ambitions plagues peace conference
Britain and France want Germany punished Italy wants compensation America wants lasting peace

League of Nations proposed Wilson compromises to get League created


Wilson reluctantly agrees to punish Germany

War Guilt Clause


Formally blames war on Germany Humiliated Germans felt wrongly accused Germany charged with cost of war ($33 billion)

Treaty Trouble
Wilson needed 2/3 of Senate to approve treaty
Americas opposition to treaty growing during talks Wanted isolationism

Europe uses American disapproval as bargaining chip New demands: France wants bordering German regions
Wilson compromises his self-determination policy

Japan wants German islands in Pacific, Chinese peninsula


Wilson compromises his self-determination policy

Italy wants strategic port in newly formed Yugoslavia


Negotiations sour, Italy turns on Wilson

Treaty of Versailles
Germany forced to sign felt betrayed
Wilsons Fourteen Points largely excluded from treaty

Treaty creates economic chaos, lasting animosity in Germany

Wilson: The Fallen Hero


Wilson forced to compromise during treaty talks
Failure to bargain would have resulted in no treaty

Wilson seen as fallen hero


Deemed a sell out by liberals, soft by imperialists

Wilson needs public support, Senate approval to accept treaty Returns to heavy American opposition:
Isolationists against entangling alliances Hun-haters felt treaty was too soft Liberals felt treaty was too harsh European-Americans felt treaty was too harsh on their respective home countries

Senator Lodge sees opportunity for revenge on Wilson


Rallies Senators against Treaty, stalls process

Wilsons Tour for Support


Treaty losing support in the Senate
Republican majority

Wilson goes on nation-wide tour to sway public Rough trip for Wilson: Midwest largely populated by German-Americans
Treaty promoting not received well

Opposing Senators follow tour to give rivaling speeches after Wilson leaves town
William Borah and Hiram Johnson

Western states supportive of Wilson


Collapses due to exhaustion in Colorado Suffers a stroke, bedridden & inactive for months

Treaty Defeated
Lodge amends many parts of Treaty Lodges goals:
Retain Americas right to rule themselves
Membership in League of Nations would give up some autonomy

Avoid promise of military aid if League nation is attacked

Senate votes on newly amended Treaty:


Lodge now pro-treaty, Wilson anti-treaty Wilson rallies Dem Senators and forces them to vote against Lodge and the new Treaty

Senate votes against Treaty twice Treaty of Versailles never accepted by U.S.
U.S. does not join League of Nations

Election of 1920

Wilson, still pushing for original Treaty, calls for solemn referendum
A vote by the people on the Treaty demands fail

Republicans reorganized and strong why?


Excluded by Wilson at peace conference Unified by anti-treaty sentiment Offered platform appealing to pro-treaty Reps too Teddy Roosevelt dies in 1919

Republicans nominate Warren G. Harding


Likable Senator from Ohio Vowed for a return to normalcy Calvin Coolidge as VP

Democrats nominate James M. Cox


Pro-treaty Ohio Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt as VP

Harding wins by a landslide (60% to 34%) Eugene V. Debs (Socialist Party) gets 4% of vote
Caused fear of socialism/communism growing in U.S.

Effects of W.W.I.
The War to End All Wars ironic?
Helps lead to WWII two decades later

America had opportunity to become world leader


Instead, recoils into isolationism Trouble soon redevelops in Europe America not there to prevent it

League of Nations fail to enforce lasting peace


Instead creates legacy of animosity and growing tension

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