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CHAPTER 31. CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I LUSITANIA SINKS GERMAN U-BOAT ATTACKS ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM. U.S and the War in Europe. U.S. was making money from war production Trade between Germany and America had been cut due to British trade rules
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CHAPTER 31 CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I LUSITANIA SINKS GERMAN U-BOAT ATTACKS ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM
U.S and the War in Europe • U.S. was making money from war production • Trade between Germany and America had been cut due to British trade rules • German naval improvements brought new international laws to submarine warfare • Wilson took a pacifist approach to the Lusitania incident.
Wilson’s reaction • After Wilson gave his speech about the nature of the war in Europe, Germany announced an “unrestricted submarine warfare” tactic. • Wilson then broke diplomatic ties with Germany and asked Congress to allow armament of U.S. merchant ships
Zimmerman Note • March 1st, 1917- Zimmerman telegram was intercepted • Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico • Vowed to return Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico if they teamed up with Germany against the U.S.
Retaliate or Resume? • The U.S. was being scolded by citizens for not fighting back against the blatant provocation of Germany • Russian revolution broke the tsarist regime and allowed the U.S. to fight alongside the Allied forces for democracy without being affiliated with a fascist government • Wilson realized he no longer could reap the benefits of profitable, neutral trade during a time of war
Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Abolish secret treaties • Freedom of the seas • Remove economic barriers among nations • Reduce armament • Adjust colonial claims *Remaining points illustrated ideas on “self-determination” for minority groups* -Last point was a foreshadowing for Wilson’s League of Nations
Wilson’s Intentions • Guarantee political independence and territorial integrity for all countries Task: GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE WAR EFFORT Committee of Public Information: George Creel • “sell” the idea of American war interest and Wilson’s aims to the public • 75,000 men distributed the message across the country delivering “pep talks” to citizens
Domestic Issues • Labor Unions & Strikes • Race Riots • Suffrage
Espionage Act of 1917 • Prohibited any attempt to interfere with any military operation, promote insubordination, support U.S. enemies during wartime or interfere with military recruitment • Those convicted under its provisions stated that their 1st amendment civil liberty was violated • Schenck vs. United States Supreme Court decision ruled in the laws favor stating such speech creates a “clear and present danger” to the safety of the United States
Sedition Act of 1918 • Forbade the use of “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the United States government • Essentially, if anyone was caught saying anything that put a negative light on the United States, armed forces or war effort they were to be incarcerated.
Labor Union Organizations • IWW or “Wobblies” were a radical labor union organization led by William Haywood who opposed the war effort and known for their industrial sabotage tactics • American Federation of Labor (AFL) leader Samuel Gompers represented his labor organization and supported the war effort • Eugene Debs was convicted under the Sedition Act and sentence to ten years in prison
Strikes - 1919 • Pittsburgh, PA. • Steel Workers go on strike • Workers resisted the unionization of the steel industry • Police forced to break up the strikes on the streets and restore order
Chicago Race Riots 1919 • Labor unions on strike in Chicago • Many industries call upon African American workers to come into the factories so production would continue • Integration of beaches and rather tensions caused the death of a young African American man which spurred the Chicago Race Riots of 1919