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The War to End War. 1917-1918. Wilson and Neutrality. January 1917: Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare This proclamation voided the earlier agreement between Wilson and Germany Germany hoped that the US would remain neutral and stop supplying Britain before entering war - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Wilson and Neutrality• January 1917: Germany announces
unrestricted submarine warfare• This proclamation voided the earlier
agreement between Wilson and Germany• Germany hoped that the US would remain
neutral and stop supplying Britain before entering war
• Wilson broke diplomatic relations with Germany
War by Act of Germany• Wilson asked congress for authority to arm
US merchant ships• Senators filibuster • Zimmerman Telegram: Germany asks
Mexico to invade US, promising AZ, NM and TX
• German submarines sank 4 US merchant ships in early March 1917
• Revolution in Russia• April 1917, Declaration of war
Wilson Idealism Enthroned• Many still not convinced that war was
necessary• Decision not unanimous in Congress• “America could be isolationists or
crusaders, but nothing in between”• Twin goals of war:
– “War to End War”– “To make the world safe for democracy”
Wilson’s 14 Points• Wilson became known as the moral leader
of allied cause• 14 points given in January 1918: hoped to
keep Russia in war (didn’t work)– 1. Proposal to abolish secret treaties– 2. Freedom of the seas– 3. Removal of economic barriers among
nations– 4. Reduction of armament burdens– 5. Adjustment of colonial claims in the interest
of the colonizers and native people– 6. League of Nations- collective security
Committee of Public Information
• Headed by George Creel, journalist• 75,000 propaganda speakers • Posters• Leaflets and pamphlets• Movies• Relied on aroused passion and
voluntary compliance
Loyalty• Everything blamed on Germans
– Sauerkraut= liberty cabbage– Hamburger= liberty steak
• Espionage Act (1917)• Sedition Act (1918)• Targeted anti-war activists• Eugene Debs arrested in 1918• Schenck v. US- Supreme Court ruled that
1st amendment could be revoked when it posed a danger to the nation
Wartime Workforce• “work or fight”: unemployed males would
be drafted• National Labor Board: chaired by William
Taft, pushed for high wages and 8 hour work days, but not the right to unionize
• American Federation of Labor supported war efforts, did not threaten to strike
• Industrial Workers of the World did protest during war, and were beaten and arrested
Wartime workforce• Coal mining, manufacturing and
transportation saw wage increases after war
• Steel Strike of 1919: – Industry leaders refused to recognize
union– brought in African American workers– bloody protests left many dead– Strike collapsed, setback to unions
African Americans in the Workplace• Many southern AA moved north
during war looking for jobs • Sometimes met with racist violence• 1917 riot in in Missouri left 49 dead• Violence in Chicago (1919)
Women during War• Some suffragist were pacifists,
demonstrated against war• Many women supported war• Wilson supported suffrage• 19th amendment (1920)• Women went to work in many war
industries• Many women gave up jobs once men
came home
Wartime Economy• Herbert Hoover selected to lead Food
Administration (had led relief effort of Belgium)
• Hoover used propaganda to encourage voluntarily saving food for exports
• Victory gardens, sheep on White House lawn
• War helped prohibition: 18th amendment (1919)
• Farm production increased as did food exports
Wartime Economy• Americans encouraged to conserve
fuel• Treasury Dept. raised $21 billion in
bonds• Many were pressured into bonds to
prove their patriotism• Federal gov. took control of railroads• Seized enemy merchant ships
Army• Conscription• No exemptions, except in crucial
industries• Army grew from 100,000 pre-war
soldiers to over 4 million• Women allowed in military for 1st
time• AA served in segregated battalions
Fighting in Europe• Russia withdraws troops in 1918• Germany now could concentrate on
fighting in western Europe• US troops begin to arrive in France a year
after war declared• US soldiers also fight in Belgium, Italy,
Russia• US invaded Russia to protect munitions• Expedition into Siberia to rescue Czech
troops
Fighting• Germany pressing west toward Paris• Americans key in second Battle of the
Marne (July 1918)• General John Pershing led 1.2 million US
soldiers in the Meuse-Argonne campaign featured heavy fighting with high casualties near the Argonne Forest
• Alvin York (from an antiwar family) killed 20 Germans and captured 132 single-handedly
Final Days• German allies were deserting them • British blockade creating food
shortages• Propaganda leaflets were spreading
across the German front
Peace• Germany turned to Wilson and his 14
points• Wilson required that the Kaiser be
removed before peace could be obtained
• Kaiser fled to the Netherlands• 11,11,11• Main US contributions had been food,
supplies, money and oil
Wilson a Hero Abroad• Wilson a hero throughout Europe for
ending war• Wilson sat at the head of the
mightiest nation on earth
Peace at Home• Republicans gain a majority in
Congress in 1918• No president had ever traveled to
Europe, but Wilson went after war• Refused to bring any Republican
Senators
Idealism vs. Imperialism• Crowds welcomed Wilson, but
leaders worried• Paris Conference featured “Big 4”
(US, GB, Italy and France)• Europe worried about communist
spillover from Russia• Territories of conquered would be
overseen by League of Nations
The Treaty of Versailles• Republican opposition at home
empowered European leaders against Wilson
• France demanded part of Germany (administered by League for 15 years)
• GB and US agree to aid France in future• Italy demanded part of Yugoslavia• Japan demanded German islands in Pacific• Japan also demanded part of China, which
was to be returned at a later date
The Treaty Leads to Trouble• Germany forced to accept treaty void
of 14 points• Wilson had to compromise• Isolationists in US despised Treaty• Some felt that it wasn’t harsh
enough on Germany• Others felt it went to far
American Deadlock• Republicans sought to change treaty • Wilson undertook a nationwide tour to gain
support for the treaty• Wilson had a long history of illness, and in
Sep. 1919 he collapsed in Colorado• A stroke partially paralyzed Wilson back in
DC• Wilson did not meet with his cabinet for 7
months
American Deadlock• Congress upset over the requirement
that US would come to the aid of other attacked nations
• Amended “republican" treaty rejected, twice
• Treaty never approved by Congress