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World War I. The Beginning:. The Powers and the Problems. From Progressivism to War.
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World War I The Beginning: The Powers and the Problems
From Progressivism to War Wilson’s wartime and post-war policies essentially end the domestic forms of Progressive Era and the Progressive movement and focus attention overseas. Progressivism, though, follows Wilson’s international policies, and we call this today “Wilsonianism.” Wilson wins second term in 1916 on a platform keeping America out of the war (World War I starts in 1914) and neutral, and out of “Old World” politics. His slogan “he kept us out of war” was very effective. By April 1917, this all changes.
What’s the Deal? Overseas Empires Great Britain Africa (90% of Africa European), India, and America. Germany (90% of Africa European) Morocco and East Africa, and the Middle East. Closer to home, Alsace-Lorraine went back to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). France Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, and West Africa) and South America. Russia The Dardanelles and Bosporus, and also Japan. Austria-HungaryBalkans, but little else elsewhere.
Imperialism… • Other imperial powers as well, including Belgium (Africa), Portugal (South America), Spain (South America), and the US (Cuba, Philipinnes, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and Panama (CANAL). • Great Britain fought over land claim with France in Egypt and the Sudan; Germany and France fought over control of Morocco; GB, France, and the Ottoman Turks did not want Russia to control the Black Sea and the Dardanelles. • Why was there a need to have imperial claims overseas? _______ _______________________________
The Cause • Serbian nationalists, known as the Black Hand, shot and killed A-H heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. • A-H declares war on Serbia. (War expected to be short) Serbia’s natural ally Russia joins on side of Serbia, Germany supports A-H, and declares war on Russia and her ally France. • Germany invades Belgium and GB enters the war in 1914.
The Fighting • Trench Warfare:_____ __________________ • “No man’s land”: ___ __________________ American Reaction August 19, 1914--15 days after declared war--Wilson proclaims American neutrality… “impartial in thought as well as in action.”
America Reaction (con.) • Declaration of London (1909) discussed…which would set trade between belligerents and neutrals. GB wanted provisions against certain contraband. Sec. of State William J.Bryan called for a vigorous protest, but Col. House, Wilson’s personal advisor stressed in a note to GB the negative effects of such a policy on pro-British opinion in the states. • The British stressed their right to blockade Germany and mining of North Sea. (The blockade was successful) Germany responded by using U-Boats to counterblockade Britain…America impacted when in May 1915 the Lusitania is sunk. Americans turn on Germany…Wilson ran in 1916 under pretense that “He Kept Us Out of War” and won.
THE CAUSES • Zimmerman note: This was anote from Germany to Mexico asking Mexico to join their side in event that US enters the war against Germany, in so doing Mexico would regain land lost to US in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. • U-Boat warfare pushed US into war. • Wilson’s War Message to Congress in April 1917 stated Germany’s submarine policy as “warfare against mankind…The world must be made safe for democracy.”
Congress and President Wilson Abroad and at Home: Before announcing a declaration of war to Congress, Wilson had already asked Congress to start arming US merchantmen at sea. Pacifists and isolationists blocked the Armed Ship Bill in the Senate. Wilson had the State Department arm the merchant vessels without the approval of Congress anyway.
Domestic Response One month after declaration of war, the US Congress passed the Selective Service Act requiring men to resister with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service. 1918: 24 million US citizens registered with the Selective Service, 3 million called up, 2 million reached Europe.
Domestic Response (con.) Troops were young but not as young as during the Vietnam War. 400,000 African-American troops serviced in noncombat situations. The exception 369th Infantry Regiment. They saw more action than any other US regiment and two men were first Americans to receive France’s highest award—Croix de Guerre or the Cross of War. Women were also noncombatants, such as nurses or secretaries. US behind in production of war goods…answer: Mass Production. 1) Government exempted or ‘deferred’ many shipyard workers from the draft. 2) US Chamber of Commerce joined the war campaign…emphasized patriotism in the shipyard. 3) Newer technology of producing standardized parts elsewhere then assembling them at the shipyard. 4) Private and commercial ships were commissioned for war use by the gov’t.
The Economy Wilson started inviting business into the White House before war was declared in US. Wilson and key advisor Col. House also invited key intellectuals into the White House as well…These intellectuals Walter Lippmann, John Dewey, Walter Wyle, and Herbert Croly thought war was the perfect opportunity to spread democracy worldwide, instead of focusing attention internally. This would become known as Wilsonianism. This is why Wilson declared “the world must be made safe for democracy.”
Wilson’s War Powers Federal gov’t was expanded during WWI: Wilson was given the power to 1) fix prices and to 2) regulate—even nationalize—certain war related industries. a) War Industries Board (WIB)—established in 1917 and reorganized under Bernard Baruch (set production quotas and allocated raw materials). (wholesale prices controlled by gov’t but retailed prices not) b) Railroad Administration controlled the railroads….
Wilson’s War Powers (con.) …c) Fuel Administration monitored coal and rationed gas and heating oil. They introduced daylight savings and ‘gasless Sundays,’ and ‘lightless nights’. d) National War Labor Board allowed for better wages during wartime (offset by prices) and stopped radical unionization. Labor threatened: work or fight. e) Food Administration under Herbert Hoover rationed food…pushed farmers to produced more by price incentives. Hoover also set high gov’t prices on wheat, so farmers would be motivated to produce more.
The War Effort 1/3 of the $35 billion spent on war was raised by taxation…a progressive income tax was used. What is a progressive income tax? _____________________ There was also a luxury tax and a war-profits tax. Most of the war costs were sold as “Victory” or war bonds. Even the Treasury Sec. William McAdoo pressured people to purchase them or be a ally of Germany.
More War Effort Propaganda finds a start in WWI…Committee on Public Information (CPI) led by former muckraker George Creel manipulated public opinion with his 75,000 ‘Four Minute Men’ who spoke positively about the war, the draft, rationing, and bonds. It was helpful to the cause for inflamed ethic tensions. Anti-immigration and anti-German sentiments grew…orchestras refused to play Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. (Sour Kraut renamed to Liberty Cabbage)
The War at Home In June 1917, the Espionage Act was passed to be followed a year later by the Espionage and Sedition Acts, which fined ($10,000) or imprisoned (20 years) those interfering in the war effort. Would you consider this unconstitutional today? And why? Who were these laws meant to focus attention on? _____________________________________ Socialists, communists, and union leaders targeted…IWW leader Big Bill Haywood was imprisoned, intellectual Emma Goldman was given a 2 year prison term, and communist leaders like John Reed left for Russia.
