America & World War I

1. America & World War I

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 • 1911 Revolution in Mexico overthrows corrupt dictator (PorfirioDíaz) • Francisco Madero- new democratic government in Mexico promised land reform (this made U.S. with $11 billion invested very nervous) • Madero murdered by his own chief lieutenant, Victoriano Huerta • Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s gov. because he was unlawful (viewed him as murderer) • Wilson used a minor insult to attack & occupy Veracruz attempting to oust Huerta • Carranza, leader of opposition to Huerta, ousts Huerta (w/ US arms), then denounces Wilson • Poncho Villa, former ally turned enemy of Carranza & U.S., tries to draw U.S. into war – raids and kills Americans • Villa evades 1,500 US troops 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 wins 2nd term w/ “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. Pershing, independent of European command • 70,000 AEF soldiers arrived in early 1918, helped the French stop the Germans from reaching Paris in June 1918 • AEF troop numbers grew to 1 million by Sept. • 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+ Americans died in battle, 60,000 died from influenza and pneumonia

11. WWI Part 2:Domestic Effects of the War

12. The Economy • Economic boom began with exports to allies (between 1914-1916) • War = government-business cooperation (organization, regulation, subsidization) • War Industries Board (WIB)- mobilized national industry to support war effort • Led by Wall Street speculator Bernard M. Baruch • Regulation of production & prices • Maximization of productivity & efficiency • = BIG government • “voluntary cooperation” enforced w/ threats of military takeover (Ford, US Steel • Government saved $$, gained control of production, got what it needed for the war • Businesses expanded, saw high profits

13. The Economy (continued) • 1917 Food and Fuel Act- • Gave President authority to regulate commodities (food & fuel) needed for the war effort • Hoover, millionaire engineer, leads FA (Food Admin) • Uses price controls on agricultural commodities (pork, sugar, wheat) to regulate consumption • Gov. buys products, distributes to licensed dealers who sell to public at high prices • Urged conservation ie. limit consumption, grow your own veggies, reuse/recycle

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. Labor & Labor Unions • Economic expansion + army mobilization + decline in immigration = labor shortage • Despite overcrowding & inflation workers enjoy higher wages and standard of living • AFL pledged support for the war, saw sharp rise in membership (1mil) & increased influence, power • National War Labor Board- led by Samuel 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

16. 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

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 • Single women often found best opportunities • Men worked 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 (1917) • Replaced previous, expired law addressing seditious expression • 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 machinery increase • Leads to creation of Bureau of Investigation (FBI) • Sedition Act (1918) • Amendment to Espionage Act • Outlawed “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the government, Constitution, or flag (Freedom of Speech??) • 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 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 opposing tactics: • NAWSA- more conservative, linked vote to war effort, moderate lobbying & orderly demonstrations • NWP- more aggressive, picketed White House, condemned the Pres. & Congress, dramatic demonstrations • 19th Amendment: “war measure” passed Aug. 1920 after 2 years gaining states for ratification

20. Part III:Post-WWI

21. 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 union recognition • 4 million Americans workers involved in 3,600 strikes in 1919 alone (most ever) • Strikes stir fear, question social order • Seattle General Strike: 60,000 workers, city shut down for 3 days -> federal troops occupy the city • Boston Police Strike: National Guard called in, entire force fired • Steel Strike: 350,00 workers, 4 months, state & federal troops used to break it • Public opinion turns against organized labor, propaganda calls strikers revolutionaries • Russian Revolution… fear it could happen here, Red Scare

22. Wilson’s Post-War Ambitions • Fourteen Points & Versailles Treaty • 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

23. League of Nations (14th point) • Based in Geneva, Switzerland (neutral) • Implement 1st 13 points • Collective security to keep world peace • Downfalls: • Allies resist the call for independence of colonies & carve up former German and Ottoman empires • No military to enforce peace • Similar to previous alliances? • US, German, Russia don’t join Germany & the Treaty: • Germans need to be made to hate war • Territories divided (WWII- trying to get it back) • Wilson disagrees with Britain and France over reparations ($33 billion) • German resentment & rise of Nazis

24. Defeat of the League in US • Party politics (Democratic President v Republican controlled Congress) • Oppose collective security & restraints on F.P. (isolationism) • Proposal of weakened version in Senate fails • Wilson’s refusal to compromise • Entire point for going to war wasted in Wilson’s eyes • US doesn’t sign Versailles Treaty or join League of Nations

25. Ultimate Effects of WWI • 112,000 Americans died (battle & illness), 200,000+ wounded • 9 million Russians died • 6 million Germans died • 5 million French died • 2 million British died • 2 million Italians died • Same nations fight again 20 years later • Major European economies stifled • US becomes dominant world economic power