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The War to End War

The War to End War. 1917-1918. Wilson and Neutrality. January 1917: Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare This proclamation voided the earlier agreement between Wilson and Germany Germany hoped that the US would remain neutral and stop supplying Britain before entering war

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The War to End War

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  1. The War to End War 1917-1918

  2. Wilson and Neutrality • January 1917: Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare • This proclamation voided the earlier agreement between Wilson and Germany • Germany hoped that the US would remain neutral and stop supplying Britain before entering war • Wilson broke diplomatic relations with Germany

  3. War by Act of Germany • Wilson asked congress for authority to arm US merchant ships • Senators filibuster • Zimmerman Telegram: Germany asks Mexico to invade US, promising AZ, NM and TX • German submarines sank 4 US merchant ships in early March 1917 • Revolution in Russia • April 1917, Declaration of war

  4. Wilson Idealism Enthroned • Many still not convinced that war was necessary • Decision not unanimous in Congress • “America could be isolationists or crusaders, but nothing in between” • Twin goals of war: • “War to End War” • “To make the world safe for democracy”

  5. Wilson’s 14 Points • Wilson became known as the moral leader of allied cause • 14 points given in January 1918: hoped to keep Russia in war (didn’t work) • 1. Proposal to abolish secret treaties • 2. Freedom of the seas • 3. Removal of economic barriers among nations • 4. Reduction of armament burdens • 5. Adjustment of colonial claims in the interest of the colonizers and native people • 6. League of Nations- collective security

  6. Committee of Public Information • Headed by George Creel, journalist • 75,000 propaganda speakers • Posters • Leaflets and pamphlets • Movies • Relied on aroused passion and voluntary compliance

  7. Loyalty • Everything blamed on Germans • Sauerkraut= liberty cabbage • Hamburger= liberty steak • Espionage Act (1917) • Sedition Act (1918) • Targeted anti-war activists • Eugene Debs arrested in 1918 • Schenck v. US- Supreme Court ruled that 1st amendment could be revoked when it posed a danger to the nation

  8. Wartime Workforce • “work or fight”: unemployed males would be drafted • National Labor Board: chaired by William Taft, pushed for high wages and 8 hour work days, but not the right to unionize • American Federation of Labor supported war efforts, did not threaten to strike • Industrial Workers of the World did protest during war, and were beaten and arrested

  9. Wartime workforce • Coal mining, manufacturing and transportation saw wage increases after war • Steel Strike of 1919: • Industry leaders refused to recognize union • brought in African American workers • bloody protests left many dead • Strike collapsed, setback to unions

  10. African Americans in the Workplace • Many southern AA moved north during war looking for jobs • Sometimes met with racist violence • 1917 riot in in Missouri left 49 dead • Violence in Chicago (1919)

  11. Women during War • Some suffragist were pacifists, demonstrated against war • Many women supported war • Wilson supported suffrage • 19th amendment (1920) • Women went to work in many war industries • Many women gave up jobs once men came home

  12. Wartime Economy • Herbert Hoover selected to lead Food Administration (had led relief effort of Belgium) • Hoover used propaganda to encourage voluntarily saving food for exports • Victory gardens, sheep on White House lawn • War helped prohibition: 18th amendment (1919) • Farm production increased as did food exports

  13. Wartime Economy • Americans encouraged to conserve fuel • Treasury Dept. raised $21 billion in bonds • Many were pressured into bonds to prove their patriotism • Federal gov. took control of railroads • Seized enemy merchant ships

  14. Army • Conscription • No exemptions, except in crucial industries • Army grew from 100,000 pre-war soldiers to over 4 million • Women allowed in military for 1st time • AA served in segregated battalions

  15. Fighting in Europe • Russia withdraws troops in 1918 • Germany now could concentrate on fighting in western Europe • US troops begin to arrive in France a year after war declared • US soldiers also fight in Belgium, Italy, Russia • US invaded Russia to protect munitions • Expedition into Siberia to rescue Czech troops

  16. Fighting • Germany pressing west toward Paris • Americans key in second Battle of the Marne (July 1918) • General John Pershing led 1.2 million US soldiers in the Meuse-Argonne campaign featured heavy fighting with high casualties near the Argonne Forest • Alvin York (from an antiwar family) killed 20 Germans and captured 132 single-handedly

  17. Final Days • German allies were deserting them • British blockade creating food shortages • Propaganda leaflets were spreading across the German front

  18. Peace • Germany turned to Wilson and his 14 points • Wilson required that the Kaiser be removed before peace could be obtained • Kaiser fled to the Netherlands • 11,11,11 • Main US contributions had been food, supplies, money and oil

  19. Wilson a Hero Abroad • Wilson a hero throughout Europe for ending war • Wilson sat at the head of the mightiest nation on earth

  20. Peace at Home • Republicans gain a majority in Congress in 1918 • No president had ever traveled to Europe, but Wilson went after war • Refused to bring any Republican Senators

  21. Idealism vs. Imperialism • Crowds welcomed Wilson, but leaders worried • Paris Conference featured “Big 4” (US, GB, Italy and France) • Europe worried about communist spillover from Russia • Territories of conquered would be overseen by League of Nations

  22. The Treaty of Versailles • Republican opposition at home empowered European leaders against Wilson • France demanded part of Germany (administered by League for 15 years) • GB and US agree to aid France in future • Italy demanded part of Yugoslavia • Japan demanded German islands in Pacific • Japan also demanded part of China, which was to be returned at a later date

  23. The Treaty Leads to Trouble • Germany forced to accept treaty void of 14 points • Wilson had to compromise • Isolationists in US despised Treaty • Some felt that it wasn’t harsh enough on Germany • Others felt it went to far

  24. American Deadlock • Republicans sought to change treaty • Wilson undertook a nationwide tour to gain support for the treaty • Wilson had a long history of illness, and in Sep. 1919 he collapsed in Colorado • A stroke partially paralyzed Wilson back in DC • Wilson did not meet with his cabinet for 7 months

  25. American Deadlock • Congress upset over the requirement that US would come to the aid of other attacked nations • Amended “republican" treaty rejected, twice • Treaty never approved by Congress

  26. Election of 1920 • Republicans nominate Warren Harding • Harding makes mixed statements about Treaty • Newly enfranchised women help Harding carry the victory • Without US support the treaty was doomed to fail in Europe • US goes back to isolationism

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