U.S. Involvement in World War I

Through

Images

                                           

Going! Going! ——? The Barbarian Finds His "Place in the Sun" Too Hot for Him. From The Tatler, London

Underlying causes of the War

Nationalism Imperialism Militarism International Anarchy System of Alliances

Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Wilson declares U.S. neutrality

Wilson and the War

Sympathy for France –goes back to Revolutionary War

England common language customs, democratic heritage-cut the transatlantic cable to Germany

Germany-unrestricted submarine warfare

Lusitania sunk by Germans—1915—1200 died –123 Americans—Lusitania Notes—Bryan resigns—Arabic Pledge—Sussex Pledge

Pressure for War

House sent to Europe to propose peace conference—both Germany and England reject idea

In June of 1916 Wilson asks Congress to pass 1. The National Defense Act –increased size of army and provided for military training in high schools and colleges

More Measure

Naval Appropriation Bill –new warships United States Shipping Board Act—

50,000 to buy or build merchant shils Created Council of National Defense—

to mobilize industry if war should start

Election of 1916

Democrats nominated Wilson—tariff an keeping peace

Republicans nominated Charles Evans Hughes who had been the New York Supreme Court Justice

Progressives tried to get TR to run Electoral Vote 277 to 254

Final Effort for Peace

In December of 1916, Wilson asked both sides to state term and then announced that both sides were making impossible demands

Instead Wilson gives a list of his terms to Congress-1. Peace without victory 2.right of self determination-2. Military and naval limits 4. Freedom of the seas 5. No secret alliance and 6. A league to enforce peace.

THE KAISER: "So, you see--you've lost everything."THE KING OF THE BELGIANS: "Not my soul."

Unfriendly Acts by Germany Germany invaded Belgium-against neutrality Attempted to sabotage American industries—

Black Tom blew up-started strikes Zimmerman Letter-plot to bring Mexico into

the war All these acts cause an anti German feeling

in United States Germany decides to starve out Great Britain

1.Arabic Pledge-protect lives of non-combatants2.Sussex Pledge-March 1916-would not sink merchant ships unless crew safe3.Wilson wins 1916 presidential election4.Wilson calls for “peace without victory5.Germany resumes unlimited submarines6.Zimmermann note discovered-Germany’s plan to urge Mexico to Attack U. S.

Czar Nicholas is deposed

Zimmerman Note

Germany resumes submarine warfare

Wilson asks for a declaration of war.

Lansing replaces Bryan as Sec of State

U.S. PREPARES FOR WARFood Administration-Herbert HooverCreel Committee—George Creelor Committee on Public InformationSelective Service Act-3 million drafted

The Committee of Public The Committee of Public Information (George Information (George Creel)Creel)

The Committee of Public The Committee of Public Information (George Information (George Creel)Creel)

America’s “Propaganda

Minister?”

Anti-Germanism.

Selling American Culture.

U.S. Prepares for War

Increasing Presidential Power

Congress gives the president broad emergency power

War Industries Board was headed by Bernard Baruch—organized industries

Fuel Administration directed by Harry A Garfield- daylight savings time

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministrationU. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministrationU. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

Financing the war with sale of bonds- 23 billion- raised taxes-10 billion

Punishing Espionage and Sedition Espionage Act of 1917-to stop spying,

sabotage and obstructing the war effort Sedition Act 1918-forbade the use of

"disloyal, profane, , or abusive language" about the United States government, its flag, or its armed forces

Schenck v U.S. (1919) criticized conscription—circulated flyers—Justice Holmes set out the “clear and present danger” standard

Abrams v United States—20 years sentence for distributing pamphlets against war

Debs sent to jail for ten years-Big Bill Haywood

Big Bill Haywood and Espionage April 1918, Haywood and 100 of the arrested

IWW members began their trial, presided over by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The trial lasted five months, the longest criminal trial up to that time; Haywood himself testified for three days. All 101 defendants were found guilty, and Haywood (along with fourteen others) was sentenced to twenty years in prison.

Despite the efforts of his supporters, Haywood was unable to overturn the conviction. In 1921, Haywood skipped bail while out on appeal and fled to Russia. (wikipea)

Wilson’s 14 Points

America at War-American troops2 million soldiers turn tide of war in 1918

In the trenches: Infantry with gas masks, Ypres, 1917

AEF

Trench warfare deadly for Allies

Airplanes brought added firepower to the devastating "Great War"

War At Home-Red CrossWomen play Major role

Munitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions Work

The Girls They Left The Girls They Left Behind Do Their Bit!Behind Do Their Bit!The Girls They Left The Girls They Left Behind Do Their Bit!Behind Do Their Bit!

Even Grandma Buys Even Grandma Buys Liberty Liberty BondsBonds

Even Grandma Buys Even Grandma Buys Liberty Liberty BondsBonds

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

“Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919

70,000

War industries work.

Enlistment in segregated

units.

For “Colored” Men in For “Colored” Men in ServiceServiceFor “Colored” Men in For “Colored” Men in ServiceService

African-Americans on a African-Americans on a Troop Ship Headed for Troop Ship Headed for FranceFrance

African-Americans on a African-Americans on a Troop Ship Headed for Troop Ship Headed for FranceFrance

Sec. Of Navy -Daniel Josephususe the convoy system to get men and goods over to Europe

Newton D. Baker-Sec of Wardrew up plans for compulsory military conscription of up to four million men

Mothers of soldiers from McLennan send love and hope to their sons in France in 1918

Battle of Chateau-ThierryFrench and American troops block German advance-Second Battle of the Marne under Foch is next-poet Joyce Kilmer died at this battle

I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer

Argonnes ForestSeptember 26,1918

Combined offensive of French and American troops—Germans will ask for Armistice

Battle of St. Mihiel

was the first major American offensive led by Gen. John J. Pershing

Colored band Unit in FranceGreat Migration in the United States

Ruins of War--Verdun

Chow Line

Hemingway

Aerial Bombing

Casualties of War

Army Hospital in France

Hospital Room

Aftermath of War

Lenin and Trotsky

The agreement signed in March exacted even greater demands on Russia than those proposed earlier. Soviet territorial losses included the following areas to be controlled by Germany and Austria-Hungary: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Kurland, Livonia and Bessarabia. Russia recognized the independence of Georgia, Ukraine and Finland. The Armenian districts of Ardahan, Kars and Batumi were ceded to the Ottoman Empire. Five months later, Russia agreed to pay hefty reparations for its part in opposing the Central Powers.

The Russians lost more than 300,000 square miles.

Treaty of Versailles David Lloyd George-expand empire maintain

superiority George Clemenceau-safe from future invasion Vitoria Orlando—enlarge territory Wilson- a better World

Before

After

More Treaty

Germany surrendered-Alsace Lorraine and Saar Valley—minor border region to Denmark and Belgium

Colonial Losses Disarmament War Guilt and Reparations

Results

Social-10 million soldiers killed—legacy of hatred and extreme nationalism

Economic-total cost over 350 billion-will help bring on the Great Depression

Political-three major dynasties disappear—new nations—three nations turned to dictatorships

League of Nations established U.S. will emerge as a leading world power

League of NationsOpposing Views

Isolation was the predominant sentiment after WWI

International Cooperation

Many prominent Americans including Taft-Lodge supported a type of international league

It will become a problem of politics

The League of Nations

Part of the Treaty of Versailles Purpose-to provide a world organization

and eliminate international anarchy To prevent war To solve economic and social problems

through international cooperation To settle disputes—League could

advise but not enforce

Treaty and League

Senate Defeats the Treaty Republican Opposition-Wilson did not

take major Republicans with him

I have always loved one flag and

I cannot share that devotion [with]

a mongrel banner created for a League

Quote from Henry Cabot Lodge

Arguments against the Treaty

Irreconsibles led by Robert Lafollette and Hiram Johnson—extreme isolations—do not want the treaty under any circumstances

Lodge and his supporters argued that

a. league could involve U.S. in a war

b. League could interfere in domestic matters such as tariffs

c. League would involve U.S. in world problems

More Treaty

Lodge started a Round Robin resolution to add amendments—37 Republicans signed it

Wilson denounced Lodge an decided to go to the people

In Colorado, Wilson suffered a physical collapse—hope for treaty dies here

Wilson trip to save the Treaty

Who defeated the League?

Lodge by his insistence on reservations Wilson because he refused to

compromise American people-didn’t make

themselves heard except by election of 1920

Nov. 2 - Warren Harding elected in a "great and solemn referendum."