The Homefront: America during World War I

1. World War I 1914 - 1919

2. Weapons of WWI

3. U.S.’s Early Neutrality • Wilson proclaims U.S. Neutrality • Both sides try to gain U.S. support • British propaganda to gain support • German-Americans want to join Central Powers • Antiwar sentiments strong in much of America • U.S. trade with Europe disrupted • British blockade of Germany

4. German Actions Against the U.S. • U-boats • German submarines • Begin sinking passenger/cargo ships in the Atlantic Ocean • Lusitania (May 7, 1915) • Sank by German U-boat • Americans civilians killed • Sussex Pledge • Germany promises to warn about attacks • Zimmerman Note (Jan, 1917) • Germany attempts to gain Mexico as an ally • Great Britain intercepts the telegraph • “unrestricted submarine warfare” • Beginning Feb. 1, 1917 • Germany threatens to sink any ship in the Atlantic

5. 5 Reasons Wilson wants Declaration of War • Unrestricted submarine warfare • Zimmerman Note • Russian Revolution • New Russian gov’t. signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany • U.S. needed to help Allies • End war quickly and get a hand in peace (Wilson’s 14 Points) • “Make the world safe for democracy” • “A war to end war” • Moral: Germany mass-killing civilians

6. The War at Home (Economy) • Liberty Bonds • War bond drives • Most of the war was paid for through war bonds • War Industries Board • Told corporations what to produce for the war effort • “Labor will win the war” • Women’s involvement in war production helps lead to the 19th Amendment • War Trade Board • Controlled trade during the war • National War Labor Board • Handled labor disputes during the war

7. The War at Home (Economy) • Lever Food and Fuel Control Act (1917) • Led by Herbert Hoover • Used conservation to help war effort • Food Administration • “Gospel of the clean plate” • “Victory gardens” • 18th Amendment • Alcohol prohibited (Anti-German & use grains for food) • Fuel Administration • “Heatless Mondays,” “Lightless Tuesdays,” & “Gasless Sundays” • Daylight savings time

8. The War at Home (Social) • Committee of Public Information (Creel Committee) • Censorship of the press • Liberty Leagues • Anti-German Hysteria (“Hate the Hun”) • German not taught in schools • German-Americans change names • Restriction on Immigration • Fear of spies • Literacy tests for immigrants

9. Restrictions of Civil Liberties • Espionage Act (1917) • Fines and prison for “disloyal” acts or words and treason • Sedition Act (1918) • Prohibited criticism of the government, flag, or military • Targeted socialists, political radicals, and pacifists • Eugene V. Debs put in prison for talking negatively about the government and the war • Schenck v. U.S. (1919) • U.S. can limit freedom of speech

10. Mobilizing the Army • Before war, U.S. army had less than 200,000 men • Selective Service Act (1917) • 24 million American men age 18 to 45 register for the draft • Some “draft dodgers” or “Conscientious objectors” avoid draft • 400,000 blacks drafted or enlisted (segregated units) • Women admitted for the first time • Worked as nurses, clerks, drivers • 4.8 million American soldiers (“Doughboys”) involved in WWI • ½ Drafted, ½ Volunteered

11. America heads to War • War at Sea • Atlantic Ocean difficult to cross due to U-boats • Convoy system employed to get soldiers and materials to Europe • Communist Russia • Russian Revolution continues • Red (communist – led by Vladimir Lenin) vs. White (democratic) • U.S. “unknown war” against communists • Russia withdraws from the war • Beginning of 1st Red Scare as Americans are taught that Communism and Communist Russia are bad

12. Germany ends the fighting • Germany encouraged by Wilson’s 14 points of peace • Armistice (end of fighting) • Nov. 11, 1918 • 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month • Casualties • 8-10 Million soldiers killed • @20 Millions of civilians die as result of war • Ottoman genocide on the Armenians

13. Versailles Peace Conference • Big Four Decide the Fate of the World • Woodrow Wilson (U.S.A.), David Lloyd George (Britain), Premier Georges Clemenceau (France), Premier Vittorio Orlando (Italy) • Wilson’s Ideas • 14 Points of Peace • Try to solve problems that led to war and prevent a future one • League of Nations • Wanted to create an international peacekeeping organization • Very popular with European people

14. America and the Treaty • Wilson must get Republican controlled Congress to sign off on the treaty • Henry Cabot Lodge and the “Irreconcilables” • Did not support U.S. being involved in future European issues • Republicans threaten to kill treaty unless U.S. has option to leave the League of Nations

15. Arguments Against the Treaty • Anti-Germans felt too lenient • Liberals felt too harsh • German & Italians upset that it did not help their native countries • Irish-Americans said it gave British too much power • African Americans upset that former German colonies in Africa did not receive any self-determination • Jews only large group in support (British control of Palestine may result in Jewish homeland)

16. Defeat of Versailles Treaty (1919) • Republicans Oppose • Wilson goes on national speaking tour to gain support for the treaty • Wilson has a stroke • Lodge Reservations • Lodge tries to add to treaty • Wilson requests Democrats not to ratify the new treaty

17. Results of the War • World • Russia becomes a communist state • Britain, France, Austria, and Turkey go on the decline • Germany devastated – leads to Hitler’s rule and World War II • U.S. • U.S. never ratifies Versailles Treaty • Separate peace with Germany in July, 1921 • U.S. emerges from war as an economic and political leader • Republican Warren G. Harding becomes President in 1920 – “return to normalcy” • 18th and 19th Amendments

18. German Cemetery in Belgium