World War I: The Home Front

1. World War I: The Home Front Libertyville HS

2. US Neutrality • 1897 to 1914: Trade overseas increased from $700 million to $3.5 billion • French, British war orders • British North Sea naval blockade, u-boats threatened trade • “Freedom of the Seas”, for neutrals Women working in ammo factory

3. US Neutrality • US preparedness for war • US business leaders generally supported British, French • Camps set up to train men for combat • Peace Movement • Populists, progressives, social reformers (women) • Government tried to broker peace

4. From Neutrality to War • German Submarine Warfare • “Unterseeboot” • Lusitania (5/7/15) • Torpedoed, sank in ten minutes • 1200 killed, incl. 128 US • Arabic (8/15) • 200 passengers aboard • Sussex (3/16) • cross channel ferry • 25 US casualties

5. From Neutrality to War • Election of 1916 • Wilson motto: “He kept us out of the war” • Zimmerman Note • Russian Revolution • February 1917: Czar overthrown, but Russians stayed in war • Russian people increasingly radicalized, demoralized

6. The War Resolution • Resolution passed 4/2/17 • The “War to end war” • Wilson: “the world must be made safe for democracy” • Critics: hypocrite!

7. Americans on the Home Front • Financing the war • Tax increases = $9 billion • Liberty Bonds raised $15 billion • Managing labor, economy • War Industries Board • Bernard Baruch • Eliminate waste, inefficiency • Est. priorities for shipping, set prices for goods • Ex – redesign of bicycles Sale of liberty bonds

8. Americans on the Home Front • Managing labor, economy • War Trade Board: control over imports, exports • National War Labor Board: set up to adjudicate labor disputes • Food Administration: set prices, what crops grown • Citizens encouraged to save food to send overseas • “War gardens” created • Fuel Administration: control production of coal, oil

9. Americans on the Home Front • Enforcing Loyalty • Committee on Public Information • Official propaganda agency of US government • Generated propaganda vs. Germans • National Security League • Dec. 1914: nationalist, militaristic, quasi-fascist org. • Called for strong military, conscription, interstate highways

10. Americans on the Home Front • Espionage Act of 1917 • Crime to promote success of enemies of America • Crime to pass info w/ intent to interfere w/ operations or success of armed forces of US • Over 2000 arrested, including labor leaders (Debs), eeCummings (in France!) • Sedition Act of 1918 • Crime to make disloyal statements about US flag, gov’t or armed forces Debs, speaking in Canton, OH

11. Americans on the Home Front • Schenck v. US (1919) • Head of Socialist Party of US • Sent 15k leaflets to draft eligible males • 6 month prison sentence • US Supreme Court: criminal conviction constitutional? • Unanimous: yes! • “Clear and present danger”: do words used in circumstances create c & pd of evil Congress was trying to prevent • “shouting fire in a theater” ex.

12. WWI, Changing America • Children joined boy scouts • Immigration dried up • African-Americans • The Great Migration: African-Americans moved north due to labor shortages • Race Riots b/c of Migration • East St. Louis • Chicago • Omaha

13. WWI, Changing America • Women • 400k women joined industrial work force • Wilson on suffrage: “a vitally necessary war measure” • 19th Amendment (1920) • Prohibition(18th Amendment) • Grain used to make alcohol • Justification for prohibition = give up alcohol to devote scarce grain supplies for troops

14. America’s Entry into the War • The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) • General John “Blackjack” Pershing • “Doughboys” • Convoy system • Protection vs. U-boats • Pershing’s vision • US troops to serve together, as units • US officers lead US troops

15. America’s Entry into the War • Selective Service Act of 1917 – drafted 4 million men to fight • Women – 13000 served as nurses in France, US Navy • African Americans • Ex: 369th Inf. Reg: “Harlem Hell Fighters” • Pershing: Afr. Am. troops to serve as replacements for British, French units

16. Turning the Tide of War • Bolshevik Revolution (11/17) • Bolsheviks • Vladimir Lenin & the “sealed train” • Russian Peace w/ Germany • German attack almost reached Paris • Chateau Thierry – 1st combat service • Belleau Wood

17. Turning the Tide of War • Allied counterattack • Meuse-Argonne offensive – attack along entire Western Front • Alvin York: Medal of Honor • Attacked MG nest, killing 28 • Captured 132 Germans • The Air War • Billy Mitchell commanded all US forces • Advocate of air power, post war

18. Ending the War • The Armistice • “The eleventh day . . .” • The Influenza Epidemic • Mutation of flu virus • World wide death toll • American cost of War • 50,000 Americans, dead • Trench foot • Shell shock

19. US as Global Peacekeeper • Wilson and the 14 Points • Wilson’s vision of a world peace • No secret treaties • Remove trade barriers • Reduce military forces • League of Nations • Organization for world nations to ensure security, peace • Article 10: attack on one member = attack on all • US Senate refused to ratify

20. Reaction at Home • Henry Cabot Lodge: “reservationists” • Wanted to restrict Art. 10 • Wilson’s reaction • Tour of country; stroke • Became inflexible over treaty • Senators: 39-55 rejection! • Fate of treaty • 5-20-20: Wilson vetoed treaty w/o League of Nations • 7-2-21: war officially ended

21. War Guilt and Reparations • French, British wanted to punish Germany • Insisted Germans take on complete responsibility for the war • Demanded Germans pay $33 billion to allies (impossible) • Versailles Treaty signed 6/28/19