and Its Aftermath - Notes Reasons for U.S. Involvement in World War I 1. Thunder Across the Sea 1. In 1914, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. This started a domino-effect where Europe quickly fell into war. 2. Most Americans favored the Allies but many supported the due to ethnic heritage. Nearly all Americans were happy that an ocean separated them from the war and wanted to stay neutral. 3. President declared that the U.S. was officially neutral. 4. Germany, however, was aware of their inferior naval status and the benefits of Allied-American trade. 1. Germany knew they couldn’t compete with the British. Their solution was to rely on U-boats. 2. Germany announced "unrestricted submarine warfare" on the Allies or anyone assisting the Allies. The U.S. would not be targeted, but no guarantees were made. 5. 1916 was another presidential election year. 1. Democrats nominated Pres. Wilson for another 4 years. The campaign slogan was "He kept us out of war." 2. By this time America's neutrality was slipping away. Still, the slogan was appealing. 2. War by Act of Germany 1. The "last straw" came in the Zimmerman note. The note said the following: 1. Germany encouraged Mexico to wage war against the U.S. In return, Mexico would regain old land. 2. Meanwhile, German u-boats were still sinking ships. 3. And to the east, 's communist revolution overthrew the Russian czar. 4. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917. 3. Wilsonian Idealism Enthroned 1. The challenge was to lead many reluctant Americans into war. Stopping u-boats would not be convincing enough. 2. Thus, Wilson's new slogan and purpose for the war was to, "make the world safe for ." He believed WWI would be a “war to end all wars.” 3. This slogan was a very idealized goal: not to fight for riches, but to free others from the tyranny of dictators. 4. Wilson successfully sold the idea. Americans eagerly joined the effort to "hang the Kaiser." 4. Wilson’s Fourteen Potent Points 1. Wilson became the de facto moral leader of the war. In early 1917 he gave his to Congress. 2. The Fourteen Points laid out Wilson's idealistic goals. Oddly, before ever entering the war, Wilson was laying out his goals for after the war. The main points were… 1. Freedom of the seas. 2. Removal of economic barriers between nations. 3. Reduction of armaments. 4. "Self-determination" where groups choose their government for themselves. 5. A committee called the to hopefully settle international disputes peacefully. This was idealistic Wilson's most desired point.

The American Home Front 1. Creel Manipulates Minds 1. In order to ratchet up and to keep up the war's enthusiasm in America, the Committee on Public Information was created to sell the war. 2. George Creel headed up the committee and was very successful using the following tactics: 1. He sent out 75,000 "four-minute men" to give patriotic speeches. 2. Posters were everywhere saying things like "Battle of the Fences" or encouraging people to buy war bonds. 3. Leaflets and pamphlets told of the idealistic goals of the war. 4. Although radio and TV hadn't been invented yet, the movies had. Creel used movie shorts (often featuring America's first big movie star, Charlie Chaplin) or films. 5. Songs helped sell the war too, especially Over There. 3. Perhaps a drawback of Creel's success was that he was too successful. Americans entered the war with too-lofty ideals. The reality was a dirty war in the trenches, with no glorious battle, high casualties, and a generation of disillusioned young men who survived. This would be later immortalized in Hemingway's novels The Sun Also Rises and especially in A Farewell to Arms. 2. Enforcing Loyalty and Stiffing Dissent 1. German-Americans (about 8% of the U.S. population) were largely loyal to the United States. However, rumors and gossip spawned the wide belief that they were actually spies loyal to Germany. 2. Anti-German feelings affected all. 1. German names were re-branded. For example, German composers like Beethoven were not performed by orchestras, sauerkraut became "liberty cabbage," dachshunds became "liberty pups." 3. Congress joined the general mood by passing two anti-foreign laws. 1. The sought to prosecute "spies". 1,900 prosecutions followed. 1. Noteworthy was Eugene V. Debs, the leader of the Socialist. He was sentenced to 10 years. 2. The Act of 1918 sought to prosecute anyone engaging in "seditious" activity. World War I and Its Aftermath - Notes 1. Essentially any activity interpreted as anti-government could be prosecuted—a very general definition that could be applied widely. 2. Both the Espionage and Sedition Acts pushed the boundaries of the First Amendment, but were upheld in Schenck v. the United States. 3. Notably, these two laws were very similar to the of the 1790's. 3. The Nation’s Factories Go to War 1. The U.S. entered the war very unprepared. 2. The first major problem was mobilizing industry. There was much ignorance everywhere and reluctance by states- rights advocates who didn't want the federal government ramming things down their throats. 1. Somewhat late, in March of 1918, Wilson appointed Bernard Baruch leader of the War Industries Board to orchestrate industry in the war effort. Baruch was a savvy stock speculator and very able, but the Board's powers were a bit weak. America's love of laissez-faire was strong even in time of war. 4. Forging a War Economy 1. Mobilization to a wartime economy would be fueled by emotion and patriotism rather than the rule of laws. 2. Since he'd successfully organized a voluntary food drive for Belgium, Herbert Hoover was chosen to head up the Food Administration. 1. Hoover relied on voluntary efforts, not mandates of law. 2. Slogans were very successful in drumming up support and food. Examples were "meatless Mondays" and "wheatless Wednesdays." 3. Most Americans planted "victory gardens" in their backyards to grow their own vegetables. 3. The increased need for food was because the U.S. had to feed citizens at home, package food to ship to soldiers, and feed the allies in Europe. 1. Hoover's program and people's efforts were very successful. Food production increased by 25% and food exports to Europe tripled. 2. His program was mimicked by others. 1. The Fuel Administration encourage folks with "heatless Mondays", "lightless nights," and "gasless Sundays." "Daylight savings time" was also started to conserve fuel. 2. The Treasury Dept. sought money for the effort through Liberty Loan and Victory Loan drives. People were also encouraged to buy "war bonds." 1. The government collected $21 billion, 2/3 of America's war effort. 5. Making Plowboys into Doughboys 1. Americans had envisioned a somewhat secondary role in the war effort. By 1917, however, it became clear that the European Allies were out of men, money, and everything else. America would have to go "all in" to the war. 2. To gain the needed soldiers, a draft was started by the Selective Service Act (for the 1st time since the Civil War). 1. All men, age 18 to 45, were required to register. A man couldn't purchase his exemption either. 2. Despite some fussing, the draft was relatively smooth and successful. The army swelled to 4,000,000 men. 3. Troops were supposed to get six months training, but usually they were just shuffled off to war. 3. Women served in the military for the first time. 4. Blacks also served, still in segregated units. Racial attitudes of the time still held that black soldiers shouldn't be trained for combat, but rather should serve in support roles.

Working for a Lasting Peace 1. The Fourteen Points Disarm Germany 1. Wilson achieved his goal of kicking the Kaiser out of power. Many Germans were sick of war and the Kaiser fled. 2. Germany quit fighting on Nov. 11, 1918 Known as "Armistice Day" and then later, "Veterans' Day." 3. Even more than losses on the battlefield, what really stopped the Germans was the possibility of seemingly endless American troops and supplies. 4. Both at home and across the world, 's popularity was flying high at the end of the war. 5. Wilson decided to personally travel to Europe peace talks. Republicans were not happy about this—to them it seemed like he was showing off. 1. Worse still for Wilson was that he didn't invite a single Republican along on the trip. was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, but Wilson and he despised one another. 2. Leaving out Republicans alienated them even more and would prove to be a costly mistake. 6. The "Big 4" met at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to settle terms of peace. (Italy, France, Britain & the U.S.) 7. Conflicting ambitions ruled the conference. Britain and France wanted to punish Germany, Italy wanted money or land, the U.S. wanted to heal wounds through Wilson’s 14 points and League of Nations. 2. The That Bred a New War 1. Wilson’s big dream was the League of Nations to "end all wars." He'd do anything to get the League. So he bargained with Britain and France. 1. Britain and France agreed to go along with the League, Wilson reluctantly agreed to punishment. World War I and Its Aftermath - Notes 2. The War Guilt Clause was included and did two things: (1) it formally placed blame on Germany, a proud and embarrassed people, and (2) it charged Germany for the costs of war, $33 billion. 2. Germany was forced to sign the . Many Germans had hoped Wilson's Fourteen Points would be built into the treaty, but due to necessary bargaining, few made it. The Germans felt betrayed. 3. Wilson’s Tour and Collapse (1919) 1. Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge did not want the Treaty of Versailles approved in the Senate. He felt he could not defeat it outright, but intended to change it. (those who favored changes were called reservationists) 2. While bogged down in the Senate, Wilson decided to take his case on the road—to appeal to the people themselves. It would be a physically grueling summer tour. 1. Also, "irreconcilable" senators followed Wilson's tour and made stops at the places he'd just spoken. 2. After a speech in Pueblo, CO, Wilson collapsed due to exhaustion. Days later, a stroke paralyzed half of his body. He laid in the White House for months, essentially inactive as president. 3. Henry Cabot Lodge drew up fourteen "reservations" or amendments to the Treaty of Versailles. His goal was to protect America's right to rule herself, rather than an international committee. 1. Of special concern was Article X. It required the U.S. to help a League nation that was attacked. 2. Wilson personally despised Lodge and would not accept Lodge's perversions of the Treaty of Versailles. Though weak, he convinced Democrats to vote against Lodge's amended version of the treaty. The treaty failed to get Senate approval. 3. The U.S. never did accept the Treaty of Versailles or, thus, the League of Nations. 4. The treaty was not ratified due to many reasons. A major one was Wilson's refusal to compromise. Wilson was a man of high ideals—he would not compromise his ideals in the reality of . 4. The “Solemn Referendum” of 1920 1. Twice voted down and still unratified, Wilson felt the people’s vote in 1920 would serve as a "solemn referendum." 1. Warren G. Harding was chosen as the Republican candidate and Calvin Coolidge as V.P. candidate. He ran saying America wanted to take a break from Wilsonian high-mindedness and the League of Nations. 2. The Democrats chose Ohio governor James M. Cox (pro-League of Nations) and for V.P., a young FDR. 2. Harding won the election in a big way (16 million to only 9). 5. The Betrayal of Great Expectations 1. The ultimate irony of WWI was that it was billed the "war to end all wars," and yet it did much to start the biggest war ever, World War II. 2. At end of WWI, the door was open for the U.S. to become the world's leader, but instead, America retreated into isolationism. American isolationism helped lead to WWII in several ways: 1. Without allies to help in time of need, France went ahead and built up a massive military. 2. Punishment of Germany led to considerable suffering. This opened the door for Adolf Hitler to gain support with wild ideas. Isolationism would also allow Hitler to re-arm Germany largely without interruption.

Aftermath of the War in the 1920’s 1. Seeing Red 1. Following WWI, America's mood changed to isolationism and anti-foreigner. "Radicals" were shunned and foreigners were expected to change their ways to American. 2. A "" (a fear of communism) emerged. This fear was fueled by (1) the recent , (2) Eugene Debs growing numbers, (3) loads of strikes, and (4) a series of mail bombs. 1. Atty. Gen. Mitchell Palmer vowed to round up the reds. He arrested about 6,000 people; some were deported. He slowed after a bomb blew up his house. 2. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants accused of murder. 3. The importance is that although there was some evidence against them, many concluded their case was based less on evidence and more because they were Italian, atheists, anarchists, draft dodgers. 2. Hooded Hoodlums of the KKK 1. The Ku Klux Klan was somewhat re-vamped at this time. The KKK had been started as an anti-black group. In the 20's, it added Catholics, Jewish, pacifists, communists, internationalists, revolutionists, bootleggers, gambling, adultery, and birth control. 2. More simply, the KKK was pro-white Anglo-Saxon protestant ("WASP") and anti-everything else. 1. The KKK employed the same tactics as it always had: fear, lynchings, and intimidation. 3. Stemming the Foreign Flood 1. Congress took action in the anti-foreign mood to limit immigrants from Europe, specifically “New Immigrants”. 1. The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 cut the number of immigrants who could enter America to 3% of their nationality's U.S. population in 1910. 2. In 1924, the Immigration Act sliced the number down to 2% of a group's U.S. population in 1890. Changing from 1910 to 1890 (before many New Immigrants had arrived). 2. This marked the first wide spread restriction on immigration or the end of free and open American immigration. World War I and Its Aftermath - Notes American Post War Foreign Policy 1. America Seeks Benefits Without Burdens 1. Disarmament was the trend of the time. However, Britain and Japan who were starting a ship-building race. 2. The Washington Naval Conference was held in 1921-22. All major powers were invited, except Bolshevik Russia. Sec. of State Charles Evans Hughes suggested a ratio of ships at 5:5:3 (U.S. to Britain to Japan). 1. The Four-Power Treaty required Britain, Japan, France, and the U.S. to keep the status quo in the Pacific. 2. At the meetings end, the Harding crowd boasted of disarmament. But, there were technicalities: (1) there was no limit on small ships and (2) the U.S. agreed to the Four-Power Treaty, but was not bound by it. 3. In keeping with Woodrow Wilson's "war to end all war" ambition, there was an international trend to end warfare as a means of solving disputes. Later, in 1928 under Pres. Coolidge, Sec. of State Frank B. Kellogg won the Nobel Peace Prize. He signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact which outlawed war. 62 nations signed this treaty—a beautiful idea, yet incredibly naive. 2. Unraveling the Debt Knot 1. America demanded that Britain and France pay their debts to the U.S. They couldn't. So, they placed a huge price- tag onto Germany who certainly could not pay. Germany printed paper money en masse, thus creating inflation and making the money completely worthless. 1. Inflation was crippling in Germany: it got so bad that it was immeasurable. 2. Coolidge, conservative and thrifty, would not just erase the debt. The situation for paying off debt was hopeless. 3. Charles Dawes came up with the Dawes Plan for payments. America would loan money to Germany. Germany would make payments to Britain and France. Then, they would repay their loans to America. 1. The plan was simply a circle of money from-and-back-to America. Nothing would really be gained in the U.S., but at least on paper, the debts would be repaid. 4. The U.S. never did get repaid for the loans. The only thing America got was resent from Britain and France who thought the U.S. was a greedy bully.