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World War I 1914-1920

World War I 1914-1920. Wilson, Mexico & US Foreign Policy. Woodrow Wilson- Southern Democrat History professor & intellectual Mind for grand ideas- role of US in postwar world Believed American economic expansion + democratic principles = civilizing force in the world

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World War I 1914-1920

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  1. World War I1914-1920

  2. Wilson, Mexico & US Foreign Policy • Woodrow Wilson- • Southern Democrat • History professor & intellectual • Mind for grand ideas- role of US in postwar world • Believed American economic expansion + democratic principles = civilizing force in the world • Emphasized foreign investments and industrial exports • Open Door principles of John Hay • Strong diplomatic and military measure to achieve economic supremacy • 1913 Wilson became president • Continued progressive activism of TR • Greater federal role in economic and business regulation • 16th Amendment- Federal income tax • Federal Reserve Act- created 12 reserve banks regulated by Washington • Clayton Antitrust Act- recognition of union legality, check big businesses • Federal Trade Commission- regulatory control of corporations

  3. Wilson’s problems in Mexico foreshadowed those in WWI • 1911 Revolution in Mexico overthrows corrupt dictator • Madero- new democratic government in Mexico promised land reform • This made U.S. with $11 billion invested very nervous • Wilson refused to except murderer of Madero, Huerta, because he was unlawful • Wilson used a minor insult to attack Veracruz attempting to oust Huerta • Carranza w/ US arms ousts Huerta, then denounced Wilson • Poncho Villa tried to draw U.S. into war – raided U.S. and killed Americans • Villa evaded US army of 15,000 for over a year • Wilson’s involvement leads to Mexican distrust of US • Wilson didn’t go to war with Mexico because he didn’t want to weaken US position with Germany • Wilson believed capitalist development, democracy and free trade were wave of future • Wilson believed in Moral Values  WWI

  4. The Great War • Europe: • Triple Alliance aka The Central Powers • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy • Triple Entente aka The Allies • Great Britain, France, Russia • Competition of Great Britain and Germany • GB: long-standing dominant power • Germany: aspirations of empire • Alliances kept countries from going to war over small conflicts from 19th-20th century • Inclusiveness was its weakness • Could draw others into war that did erupt • 1914 archduke of Austro-Hungary assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist • He thought Bosnia should be annexed by Serbia • Germany backed retaliation by Austro-Hungary • Serbia asked for Russian help • War declared by both sides • Stalemate in northern France • New weapons: machine guns, tanks, trench warfare = 5 million killed in 2.5 years

  5. Run-up to War • Wilson urged Americans to be “impartial in thought and action” • Germany declares waters around British Isle a war zone • May 7, 1915 German U-boat sinks Lusitania killing 1200, 128 Americans • Americans demand strong stance against Germany but don’t want war • March 1916 German U-boat torpedoes French Sussex injuring 4 Americans • Wilson threatens to cut off diplomatic relations w/ Germany • June 1916 National Defense Act doubles the size of US army and increases spending of new battleships, cruisers and destroyers • Anti-war feelings still very strong in US • Wilson’s “He kept us out of war” campaign 1916 • Germany declares unlimited submarine warfare gambling to destroy Allies before America can arrive • March 1, 1917 Zimmerman Note intercepted • Germany encouraging Mexico to take back New Mexico, Texas and Arizona • US merchant ships are armed and allowed to shoot • Germans sink 7 US merchant ships killing many • April 2, 1917 Wilson asks congress for war • Wilson’s case based on America’s special mission as mankind’s most enlightened and advanced nation to make the world safe for democracy

  6. Selling the War • Committee on Public Information – CPI agency for war promotion led by George Creel • Enlisted 150,000 people to work on CPI committees • Produced more than 100 million pieces of literature- pamphlets, articles, books- explaining causes and meaning of war • Created posters, slides, newspaper ads and films • Used movie stars to help sell war bonds • 75,000 “Four Minute Men” gave patriotic speeches before stage and movie shows • Aggressively negative campaign against Germans • Huns = bestial monsters/ uncivilized • German music, language and books banned

  7. War Propaganda

  8. The Draft • Lack of volunteers for service • Selective Service Act- registration of all men ages 21-35 • Different from Civil War draft- couldn’t buy your way out of service by paying for a substitute • June 5, 1917 10 million register • Aug. 1918 extended age limits to 18-45 • Illiteracy rates among troops as high as 25% • Low test scores of immigrants and African Americans reflect biases of tests

  9. African Americans in the Military • Organized in segregated units • Barred from Marines and Coast Guard • Worked as cooks, laundrymen, stevedores • Endured humiliating and violent treatment form southern white officers • Faced hostility from white civilians • 200,000 served in France • 1 in 5 saw combat compared to 1 in 3 white soldiers • Black combat units served with distinction in some French divisions • The all black 369th US infantry served in trenches for 191 days, longest of any American regiment • French government awarded entire regiment the Croix de Guerre • Enjoyed better treatment in military and by civilians in France than in US

  10. America’s Effect on the War • AEF- American Expeditionary Forces=US troops • Led by General John J. Pershings, independent of European command • 70,000 AEF soldiers arrived in early 1918, helped the French stop the Germans from reaching Paris in June 1918 • September 1918 AEF troops took over southern part of a 200 mile front in the Meuse-Argonne offensive  German surrender • November 11, 1918 war ends • Massive influx of American troops hastened the end of the war by ending the stalemate • 52,000+ died in battle, 60,000 died from influenza and pneumonia

  11. WWI Part 2:Domestic Effects of the War

  12. Economy • Progressive reforms & the war agenda • War Industries Board (WIB)- mobilized national industry to support war effort • Led by Wall Street speculator Baruch • Regulation of production & prices • Maximization of productivity & efficiency • = BIG government • “voluntary cooperation” enforced w/ threats of military takeover (Ford, US Steel)

  13. Economy cont. • 1917 Food and Fuel Act- • Gave President authority to regulate commodities needed for the war effort • Hoover, millionaire engineer, leads • Price controls on agri. commodities (pork, sugar, wheat • Gov. buys products, distributes to licensed dealers & sold to public at high prices • Urged conservation ie. Limit consumption, grow your own veggies

  14. Cost of War • $33 billion dollars • Paid for with increased income & profit taxes • Min. income for taxation $1000 • Highest brackets rates up to 70% • Liberty Bonds- $23 billion • government borrowed money from American public • Federal debt jumps from $1billion to $20 billion

  15. Business & The War • War = expansion & high profits • Huge workforce growth • Corporate profits triple, large business doing the best • Investments in farm machinery & land -> 20-30% increase in production • Business/government cooperation

  16. Labor &The War • Economic expansion + army mobilization + decline in immigration = labor shortage • Despite overcrowding & inflation workers enjoy higher wages and standard of living • AFL saw sharp rise in membership (1mil) & increased influence, power • National War Labor Board- Gompers- avoid strikes & interruptions in production • NWLB: ensured right to organize, higher wages, less hours, over-time pay, equal pay for women • IWW- denounced “capitalist war,” attacked by gov. agents-> Espionage Act

  17. The Great Migration • Mass movement of African Americans from rural south to urban north • Labor shortage = job opportunities & higher wages • 1914-1920, 300,000-500,000 migrated north • Work on railroads, meatpacking plants, shipyards, steel mills…..lower paying jobs, unskilled • Violence and rioting against blacks in Northern cities • NAACP membership grows to 60,000- provide legal defense, influence legislation

  18. Suppressing the Antiwar Movement • Espionage Act of 1917- vague prohibition of obstruction war effort • Used to crush dissent and criticism • Severe penalties, up to 20yrs prison, $10,000 fine • Aiding the enemy, obstruction recruitment, causing insubordination in the armed forces • Allowed postmaster gen. to censor mail • Police & surveillance increase • Leads to creation of FBI • 1918 Sedition Act • Amendment of Espionage Act • Outlawed “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the government • Used to strike out against socialists, pacifists, labor radicals • Eugene Debs (4 times presidential candidate) imprisoned for 2.5 yrs, defending antiwar protestors

  19. Women & The War • 8 million women already working gained higher pay and access to new jobs • Another million joined workforce • Manufacturing jobs, munitions plants, train engineers, drill press operators, etc. • Women in Industry Service (WIS)- created standards, not legally enforced • ½ pay of men on average • End of war = end of women in “men’s” positions

  20. Women & The Vote • Before WWI: • State battle rather than nation • Led by western states (UT & WY 1st) • In east suffrage linked to prohibition • During WWI: • National campaign for constitutional amendment • Linked to patriotism • 2 main tactics: • NAWSA- war effort, moderate lobbying & orderly demonstrations • NWP- more aggressive, picketed White House, condemned the Pres. & Congress • 19th Amendment: “war measure” passed Aug. 1920 after 2 years gaining states for ratification

  21. Part III:Post-WWI

  22. Labor and Unions After the War • Wartime wage gains wiped out by inflation, high prices for food, fuel, housing • Government ended controls on industry, employers withdrew membership/recognition • 4 million Americans workers involved in 3,600 strikes in 1919 alone • Strikes receive nationwide attention • Seattle: citywide strike, 60,000 workers -> federal troops occupy the city http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/strike/video.shtml • Boston police strike, entire force fired • Public opinion turns against organized labor, use of propaganda, strikers=revolutionaries • Russian Revolution, fears it could happen here

  23. Wilson’s Post-War Ambitions • 14 points in Versailles: • Postwar European boundaries, division of empires • Principles for governing international conduct • Freedom of the seas • Free trade • Open covenants instead of secret treaties • Reduce armaments • Mediation for competing colonial claims

  24. League of Nations14th point: implement 1st 13 points, resolve future disputes • Collective security to keep the peace • Criticized as surrender of independence and sovereignty • Similarities to previous alliances? • Germany & the Treaty: • Germans need to be made to hate war • Wilson disagrees with Britain and France over reparations

  25. Defeat of the Treaty • Allies resist the call for independence of colonies • French and British carve up former German and Ottoman empires • French and British insist Germany pay $33 billion  resentment & rise of Nazis • Signed by everyone except US • US congress Republican controlled • Oppose collective security & restraints on F.P. • Entire point for going to war wasted in Wilson’s eyes • US becomes economic power in the world

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