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The War to End All War

The War to End All War. 1917-1918

carla-bradley
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The War to End All War

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  1. The War to End All War 1917-1918 The World must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for sacrifices we shall freely make. Woodrow Wilson, War Message, April 2, 1917

  2. Germany moves America to War • Jan. 22, 1917- Wilson reaffirmed US neutrality rights & declared a negotiated “peace without victory” would work. • Jan. 31, 1917- Germany announced that they would resume “unrestricted” sub warfare- sinking all ships in the war zone. • Wilson broke all diplomatic relations with Germany- refused to go to war unless Germany took “overt” acts against the US Why would Germany insist on unrestricted sub warfare? • Germany had been fighting to a bloody stalemate for 3 long years- • Hoped to make Britain submit before the US could intervene

  3. Germany Provokes War • Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm US merchant ships • Mid-West Senators (“little group of willful men”) filibustered= demonstrated US isolationist tendencies. • **The Zimmermann Note (Telegram)- March 1, 1917- German foreign secretary (Arthur Zimmermann) secretly proposed a German-Mexican Alliance & hinted that if Mexico allied with Germany it could recover Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona. • the note was “intercepted” & published in US PAPERS= angered US citizens. • Oct 1917- communist Bolsheviks held a revolution & overthrew the tsars – Russia will pull out of the war • Early March 1917- German U-Boats sank 4 unarmed US merchant ships • April 2, 1917- Wilson asked Congress for war declaration • 6 Senators & 50 representative (including the 1st woman in Congress -Jeanette Rankin) voted against going to war.

  4. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION vs Vladimir LeninCzar Nicholas Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Family would be overthrown by Lenin who eventually would start the first Communistic state……

  5. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION • CAUSES • Food and fuel shortages • Striking workers • Terrible loses in WWI • Czar was a weak ruler • Marxist (communist) propaganda spread by Lenin • EFFECTS • Czar overthrown • Russia pulls out of the war (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) • Russia becomes a communistic country • Germany sends Zimmerman Note to Mexico

  6. battle fronts

  7. The YanksAre Coming!

  8. US ENTRY INTO WWI congress actions

  9. pershing AMERICAN EXPEDTIONARY FORCES General John J. Pershing, commanding general of the AEF. Referred to as the Doughboys and Yanks. 2 million in France by Sept. 1918

  10. Americans in the Trenches

  11. Was America dragged into the war by War industries & Moneyed Interests? • Weapons merchants & US banks were thriving before we entered the war • POST WWI, a Congressional investigation (TheNye Committee) will determine otherwise • Wilson showed reluctance in entering such a war-broke with American tradition of avoiding European wars • Wilson’s goal- “make the world safe for democracy”

  12. Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Wilson became the moral leader of the Allied cause • Jan. 8, 1918- delivered his *Fourteen Point Plan to Congress • Purpose- keep Russia out of the war; also inspired the Allies, & demoralized the enemies. • Abolish secret treaties • Freedom of the seas (appealed the Germans & US) • Removal of barriers to trade (tariffs etc.) • Reduction of militarization (pleased all) • Adjust colonial claims- in the interest of colonizers & those people who were colonized • Helped destabilize old empires= national independence for millions • Independence for oppressed minorities (self-determination) • 14th Point--- called for an international body for collective security (LATER CALLED the League of Nations) • Groups not applauding Wilson’s plan- Allied leaders & Republicans • The World was hopeful

  13. America “Sells” the War • Committee on Public Information- headed by GeorgeCreel; purpose- sell the war to the American people. • GOAL: PUSH Wilson’s war aims to the world using Propaganda • Employed 150,000 at home & overseas • Tactics: “Four minute men” (75,000) delivered propaganda speeches at movie houses etc. • Posters, leaflets, pamphlets, movies “The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin” & “To Hell with the Kaiser” • Music of George M. Cohan “Over There”- patriotic * Creel over sold Wilson’s ideals-the world expected too much

  14. US ENTRY INTO WWI • Committee on Public Information • Creel Committee, headed by George Creel, told Americans what the war was about and to publicize the American aims. • Propaganda posters to get Americans to support the war effort.

  15. Committee on Public Information presidents actions

  16. Enforcing Loyalty & Stifling Dissent • German-American = 8 million out of 100 million; one parent was foreign-born • Most were loyal to the US • Americans targeted German-Americans during the war (tar & feathered, beaten) • German books were banned, German-composed music banned, German classes canceled • *The Espionage Act & Sedition Acts 1917-1918-made it possible to arrest anyone suspected of espionage & outlawed anyone speech that seemed treasonous. • 1,900 convictions ( targeted anti-war Socialists & radical union members) • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) “Wobblies”; leader William “Big Bill” Haywood arrested with 99 associates. • Eugene V. Debs- sentenced to 10 years; pardoned 1921

  17. US ENTRY INTO WWI Espionage & Sedition Act, 1918 • Provided for up to $10,000 in fines and 20 years in prison for interfering with the war effort or using disloyal language. • At least 1,597 persons were arrested, and 41 received prison sentences; newspapers criticizing the government lost mailing privileges. • Congress and President Wilson enacted this law to promote patriotism, nationalism and protect the National Security of the US during WWI. congress actions

  18. National Security vs. Civil Liberties Sedition Act – 1918 • It was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal,profane, scurrilous, orabusive languageabout this form of US Govt., • the US Constitution, or the US armed forces or to willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production of things necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war.

  19. *Schenck v. United States 1919 • Charles Schenck- Secretary for the Socialist Party issued pamphlets to men of draft age urging resistance to the draft. He was arrested under the Sedition Act. • Supreme Court affirmed the legality of laws passed by arguing that freedom of speech could be curbed when it posed “ a clear and present danger” to the nation. • i.e. “ yelling fire in a crowded theater”

  20. Voluntary Methods: Factories & War There was very little preparation before the war. • 1915- Council of National Defense created- to study problems of economic war mobilization. • No one knew how much steel or powder the country could produce • Shipbuilding program- of little military consequence • Beefing up the army with 100,000 regulars (ranked 15th in the world) Obstacles: • States-rights Democrats • Business people

  21. *The War Industries Board- 1918 • Led by Bernard Baruch • The Board had few powers • Disabled within days of the armistice (cease fire)

  22. War Industries Board

  23. Labor & the War Effort • Work or Fight Law (1918)- any unemployed man could be immediately drafted- kept labor strikes to a min. • The National War Labor Relations Board- led by Taft; mediated labor disputes to prevent strikes= higher wages & 8 hour days • AFL- led by Samuel Gompers supported the war- “Laborwill win the war” • 6,000 strikes 1914-1920 (including the largest in US history) ** 1919 Steel Strike- largest; 250,000 Pittsburgh steel workers & involved government clashes with workers. Steel company refused to negotiate- brought in AA strike breakers. * Steel strike collapsed= set labor back a decade • Wages rose 20%- inflation doubled prices

  24. *The Great Migration • Beginning 1915- millions of African-Americans fled the South & moved north to take jobs in war factories. • Effects: changes the make up of cities like Chicago, lead to racial unrest • Riot- East St. Louis, Missouri (July 1917)- 9 whites; 40 blacks dead. • Chicago Riots- African-Americans moved to Chicago; used as strike breakers & moved into working class white neighborhoods= racial unrest . • July 1919- 2 week race riot= 15 whites & 23 blacks dead.

  25. league cartoon1

  26. Chicago Race Riots 1919

  27. Women Suffrage & The War Women flooded into factories & fields during the war. • The war split the women’s movement deeply • Progressive era feminist opposed the war= Alice Paul organized the National Woman’s Party & demonstrated against the war with marches & hunger strikes. • The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) – led by Carrie Chapman Catt held most members- supported the war. • If women support the war-they can help shape peace • Wilson noticed women’s support as vital & finally endorsed suffrage. • 19th Amendment (1920) gave all women the right to vote. • Most women workers gave up war jobs-after the war

  28. WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE 19th Amendment:Women’s Suffrage (1920) Womenwon the right to vote….Called the “Susan B. Anthony” amendment.

  29. The War Economy • Voluntary Programs- successful= food production increased by 25%, food exports to Allies increased times 3. • US issued no ration cards (done in Europe) • The Food Administration- led by Herbert Hoover; urged food conservation. • Used propaganda pamphlets & programs • “wheatless Wednesdays” , “meatless Tuesdays” • “victory gardens”- • Congress restricted foodstuffs that would be used to manufacture alcohol= only helped the wave of prohibition in the country. • 1919- 18th Amendment- prohibited all alcoholic drinks.

  30. U. S. Food Administration

  31. U. S. School Garden Army

  32. National War Garden Commission

  33. The War Economy 2. The Fuel Administration- called on Americans to save energy; “heatless Mondays”, “lightless nights” 3. Financing the War- headed by Dept. of Treasury • Victory Loan Drives, Liberty Loan Drives = $ 21 Billion • Increased taxes ($112 billion)

  34. U. S. Fuel Administration

  35. congress actions US ENTRY INTO WWI • Financing the war: • Sale of war bonds. • Liberty and victory loans raised $21 billion. • Raised income taxes

  36. Government Forced Actions of the War • 1917- US government took control of the nation’s Railroads. • Seized enemy merchant ships in US ports 2. Draft/Conscription Act- registration of all males aged 18-45 (exempted key industrial workers only) • Army grew from 100,000 to 4 million • 337,000 “slackers” escaped draft; 4,000 conscientious objectors • Women admitted into armed forces for 1st time= 11,000 in the navy, 269 in Marines • African-Americans served in segregated units led by white officers; not allowed to fight early on • US troops (‘doughboys”) supposed to get 6 months training in US & 2 overseas=most did not.

  37. league cartoon1 WOMEN PARTICIPATION

  38. league cartoon1 WOMEN PARTICIPATION

  39. league cartoon1 WOMEN PARTICIPATION

  40. Results of This New Organization of the Economy Is it a move towards socialism? • Unemployment virtually disappeared. • Expansion of “big government.” • Excessive govt. regulations in eco. • Some gross mismanagement --> overlapping jurisdictions. • Close cooperation between public and private sectors. • Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

  41. Fighting in France • 1918- Russia pulled troops out of the war (due to Bolshevik Revolution & Treaty of Brest-Litovsk). • Germany pulled troops from the eastern front to the western front in France. • Hoped to knock Britain off in 6 months before the US could get troops over (took US 1 year to get troops over) • Allies had trouble shipping as well • American troops fought in France, Belgium, Italy, & Russia • 5,000 US troops to northern Russia (Archangel), 10,000 US troops to Siberia & 70,000 Japanese soldiers= prevent Japan from getting control of Siberia, rescue 45,000 Czech troops, take military supplies from Bolsheviks • * Bolsheviks resented American intrusion

  42. America Helps Fight the Hun • Spring 1918- Germany launched attack on the Western Front (500,000 troops) • Supreme Allied Commander-Ferdinand Foch • May 1918- the German army was within 40 miles of Paris • US troops (less than 30,000) newly arrived- helped stop an advance atChateau-Thierry (1st significant engagement of US troops on foreign soil) • July 1918- the German advance had ground to a halt Second Battle of the Marne- Foch launched a counteroffensive (begins German withdrawal). • Sept. 1918- 9 US divisions joined 4 French divisions to push the Germans back at St. Mihiel • Gen. John Pershing-assigned a 85 mile area to Swiss border- Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Sept. 26-Nov. 11, 1918 (47 days battle; 1.2 million US troops)

  43. battle fronts • German offensive in the summer of 1918 to capture Paris, France and win the war. • With the help of the U.S., the French and British were able to stop the German advance. • Germans surrender and sign an armistice on Nov. 11, 1918 to end the war.

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