Exploring American History

1. Exploring American History Unit VII- The Beginning of Modern America Chapter 23 Section 2 America Prepares for War

2. Americans Prepare for War • The Big Idea • After entering World War I in 1917, Americans began the massive effort of preparing for war. • Main Ideas • The United States entered the war after repeated crises with Germany. • The United States mobilized for war by training troops and stepping up production of supplies. • Labor shortages created new wartime opportunities for women and other Americans.

3. Wilson’s Peace Efforts • In the election of 1916 his slogan had been “He kept us out of war”. • After 1916 Wilson still tried to keep the US out of the war. • He asked the European powers to declare a “Peace without victory.” But Germany announces unrestricted sub warfare. • Germany felt the US would be too late even if they entered the war.

4. Main Idea 1:The United States entered the war after repeated crises with Germany. • The United States was initially a neutral country. • Americans viewed World War I as a European conflict. • America continued to trade with European nations during the war. • Carried supplies and war materials to the Allies. • Germany used U-boats to try and stop supply lines. • Often attacked ships without warning • Sometimes shot civilian targets, such as the British passenger liner, Lusitania

5. Lusitania

6. U.S. Neutrality • Aug. 4, 1914 Wilson proclaims the neutrality of the United States. U.S. needs to be the model for world peace. U.S. more interested in competing for markets than killing. • 1915 Henry Ford charters a Peace Ship to Stockholm, Sweden conference January 1916 • Ford, then one of the richest men in the world, actually thought he could talk the leaders of Europe into stopping World War. • Ford believed if he could only get foreign leaders to sit down in a room, he could make them listen to reason and the war would end. Straight talk from a no-nonsense businessman would persuade where diplomatic doubletalk had failed. • A boat of pacifists-“Every crackpot and nut in the country wanted to get on that boat,” from socialists, to prohibitionists, to anti-smoking crusaders, to pro-German partisans, and people from “every religious splinter-group” in the country. • The Peace Expedition became a farce, The world press mocked them mercilessly. It failed. Oskar II- Peace ship

7. Allies U.S. spoke English language. U.S. Laws and customs based on English foundations. All news from Europe came through British press. (England had cut the trans-Atlantic cable) British Propaganda-atrocity stories. Kaiser Wilhelm had made many warlike (militaristic) statements. Trade with England and Allies was enormous. $3 Billion $2 billion in loans to Allies. Central Powers Millions in US favored Central powers due to ancestors who had been born in Austria, Germany or Hungary. Irish Americans were glad to see anyone fight the British. US had long been trading with the Germans. But that dropped by 1916 from $170 million to $1 million. Ties that bind

8. Problem of Neutral Rights • International Law and use of the Seas • Neutral nations still allowed to trade with both sides. • Warring nations were allowed by International Law to stop and inspect neutral vessels at sea. • Warring nations could seize certain war materials (Contraband)- explosives, guns and ammunition. But not other goods. • Before sinking a commercial ship, the attacker had to give warning. • No court, or police force to make nations obey the law. • “Freedom of the Seas”

9. British Navy Blockade- Control the seas and starve Germany into submission Contraband included all sorts of goods including food. All neutral ships would be searched even those going to neutral countries. England would seize any ship bound for Germany. North Sea was a military are and put mines down. All in violation of international law. British would pay for all goods seized after America protested. German Submarines 1915- fleet of 27 subs disobeyed international law. War zone- Germany declares this around the British Isles. Unrestricted sub warfare. Advised all neutrals not to travel there or on British ships. Wilson insists under International law Americans had the right to sail on any ship. And Germany would be accountable for all American lives. 1915- Germany sinks Lusitania, then Arabic and Sussex passenger ships. After promising not to sink unarmed passenger ships without warning. The Problem of Neutral Rights

10. Congress Declares War March 1916– a U-boat attacks a French passenger ship, the Sussex, with several American passengers on board. German leaders agree not to attack merchant ships without warning. February 1917– President Wilson breaks diplomatic relations with Germany after they again begin attacks on non-military ships. March 1917– Zimmermann Note is decoded revealing German and Mexican plot to ally against the United States. April 1917– Congress declared war on Germany.

11. Possible causes of U.S. entry • British Propaganda and Pro-British sentiment • Submarine Warfare • Munitions trade and loans to Great Britain • Zimmerman Note • Sinking of the Lusitania

12. The United States Enters World War I • Recall- What did most Americans think about involvement in the war? • Identify- State two ways the United States supported the war before sending troops? • Summarize- What two incidents caused Americans to turn against the Germans? Why?

13. Main Idea 2: The United States mobilized for war by training troops and stepping up production of supplies. • Committee on Public Information formed by President Wilson to help persuade the public to support the war effort. • Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 limited freedoms in the United States. • Selective Service Act was enacted in 1917 to prepare the U.S. military for war. • Required men between ages 21-30 to register for draft. • Almost 3 million Americans were drafted into service in World War I. • Liberty bonds were issued by the government to help finance Allied war efforts. • War Industries Board and Food Administration worked to supply the troops with materials and food supplies.

15. Government takes control- War Industries Board • The Overman Act of 1918 helped create the War Industries Board- Bernard M. Baruch in charge. • Job- decide what goods should be produced and set prices for government purchases or supplies. • During the war production went up, waste went down and criticism lessened.

16. Mobilization of Money • Military Expenses • Expenses for army, navy, credit and materials for allies ran into billions. • $23 billion for the U.S. war effort and $10 billion for war loans to Allies. • Taxes and Loans to pay the expenses. • Increased taxes brought in $10.5 billion • The rest came from loans from the people through sale of Liberty Loans and a Victory Loan.

18. Raising Money, Conservation and Government Controls- 2:21 min.

19. Daylight Savings, Taxes, and Liberty Bonds – 1:04

20. Raising an Army On May 18, 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, requiring men between 21 and 30 to register for a draft. Some asked to be classified as conscientious objectors, or religious people against fighting, but were rejected. In the summer of 1917, new recruits reported for training but found almost nothing ready. Soldiers slept in tents until barracks were built, and supplies hadn’t yet arrived. New recruits learned military rules with sticks and barrels instead of rifles and horses. Discrimination African American soldiers were segregated and trained in separate camps. Many white officers and southern politicians feared African Americans would pose a threat after the war so only trained a few black regiments. Latino soldiers faced scorn from other troops and were often assigned menial tasks. The federal government, however, did accept non-English-speaking soldiers. The military had programs in New Mexico and Georgia to help Hispanic soldiers learn English. The American Army

21. Mobilization of Men and Women • Nation needs an army • May 28, 1917- Selective Service Act (Draft) • All men between 21 and 31 had to register • No buying ones way out- 10 million were listed. • Lottery was the fairest way to choose. Everyone got a number between 1 and 10,500. Numbers placed in a fishbowl and withdrawn enough for 687,000 men into the army. • 24 million men between 18-45 entered selective service. 3 million called into service. • 1918- 4.8 million- enlistee, draftees, and national guard in armed service.

22. America Joins the Ranks- 4:17

23. Regulating Fuel • The Fuel Administration was established to set production goals and prices for fuel. • Harry Garfield, son of former president James A. Garfield, headed the administration. • Garfield introduced daylight savings time to extend daylight hours for factory workers with long shifts. • He promoted fuel conservation by encouraging Americans to go without gas and heat on certain days. Regulating Food • Congress passed the Lever Food and Fuel Control Act, letting the government set prices and establish production controls. • Herbert Hoover’s Food Administration promised farmers higher prices for crops. • He also asked Americans to eat less and to plant food gardens. • Prohibition also helped the war, as alcohol is made using food crops like grapes and wheat. • The 1919 Volstead Act passed Prohibition as the temperance movement gained strength. Regulations to Supply U.S. and Allied Troops

25. Mobilizing for War • Recall- How did the American government assist the war effort? • Identify- What foods did some Americans give up one day a week? • Make Inferences- In what ways was discrimination present in the military?

26. Main Idea 3:Labor shortages created new wartime opportunities for women and other Americans. • Factors that led to a labor shortage in the United States during the war: • American factories needed new workers to meet huge production demands. • The war almost completely closed immigration, thus cutting-off the main source of labor to American industry. • Many of the young men who would normally take factory jobs were serving in the military.

27. Women’s War Efforts • Many American women took on new roles to help the war effort. • 1 million women joined the workforce. • About 25,000 women volunteered to serve in non-combat positions in Europe. • Other women protested America’s participation in the war.

28. Labor and the War • New job opportunities encouraged Mexican Americans and African Americans to move to northern industrial cities. • Union membership increased. • Workers in a better position to demand higher wages • More than 4 million unionized workers went on strike during the war. • National War Labor Board was established to help management and workers reach agreements. • Settled more than 1,000 labor disputes • Worked to prevent strikes

29. New Wartime Opportunities • Recall- What types of jobs did women perform in Europe during the war? • Identify Cause and Effect- Name three factors that caused a labor shortage in the United States?

30. New Wartime Opportunities • Identify- Name two groups of people that moved from the West and the South to meet the increased demand for labor in American industrial cities? • Evaluate- Do you think setting up the National War Labor Board was a good idea??