America in WWI1917-1919

The Wilson Years-> The election of 1912 had three candidates

-> William Howard Taft was running for re-election as a Republican

-> Teddy Roosevelt wanted to return to the white house. He ran as an independent, representing the Progressive Party (aka Bull Moose Party)

-> Woodrow Wilson ran as a Democrat.

• Wilson criticized the positions of Taft and Roosevelt. He said Roosevelt had supported illegal monarchies during his presidency.

-> Wilson believed that the federal government had too much power, and should be more limited.

-> The Republican vote was split between Roosevelt and Taft. Wilson won less than 42% of the popular vote, but still became President!

The Wilson Years• Wilson began a policy of reform.

-> During his 2 terms, Wilson would craft reforms affecting tariffs, the banking system, trusts, and workers rights.

• Wilson would also have todeal with the largest global conflict anyone had ever seen - World War I.

The Wilson Years - Reforms• Only 5 weeks after taking office, Wilson proposed a new

bill to Congress.• His bill proposed a new, lower tariff. -> His point was that, with lower tariffs, and greater

international trade, there would always be pressure to keep getting better and better.

-> In 1913, Congress passed the Underwood Tariff, and Wilson signed it into law.

-> This law reduced tariffs to about 30% - half of what they had been.

-> The Underwood Tariff Act also introduced an income tax. This allowed the federal government to tax individuals directly.

-> Why does America need taxes?

The Wilson Years - Reforms• For the past 100 years, there had been a series of

recessions and depressions in the national economy.• Many independently owned banks had collapsed. • Wilson wanted to restore confidence in the banking

system, so that the economy could recover. -> Wilson supported the Federal Reserve Act at the end of

1913. -> This meant that the Board of Governors (people who

controlled interest rates that the federal reserve charged the other banks) could fight inflation by changing interest rates.

-> The Federal Reserve Act became one of the most important pieces of legislation (law) in American history.

Why is the Federal Reserve Act so important?

The Wilson Years - Reforms-> Wilson also wanted to restore competition to the economy by

breaking up big businesses and monopolies. • Wilson believed that small businesses competing with one

another was better for the economy than large powerful companies.

-> Wilson’s ideas were supported by the Progressive movement, which believed that neither the federal government nor big business should have too much power.

-> In 1914, Congress created the Federal Trade Commission to monitor American businesses.

• The FTC had the power to investigate companies and order those engaging in unfair trade practices to “cease and desist”.

-> The goal of the FTC was to limit businesses so that the economyremained competitive.

The Wilson Years - Reforms• Wilson’s approach to big

business did not satisfy progressives in Congress.

-> These progressives passed the Clayton Antitrust Act-> This required businesses who

sold one product to not sell a competing product.

-> The Clayton Antitrust Act also stated that unions were legal, and that workers’ rights should be protected.

• Samuel Gompers, leader of the American Federation of Labor called the Act the “workers’ Magna Carta”.

The Wilson Years - Reforms-> By the fall of 1914, Wilson believed that his reforms were

nearly complete. -> However, he continued to support further reforms in order

to maintain support from the Democratic party. -> In 1916, Wilson signed the first federal law regulating

child labor. • The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act prohibited the

employment of children under the age of 14 in factories producing goods for interstate commerce. The Act did not pass.

• Wilson also supported the Adamson Act, which established the eight-hour workday for railroad workers, as well as many acts supporting factory workers.

The Wilson Years - Reforms• There was one glaring issue with Wilson’s progressive reforms -

it did not address African American reform issues.• In 1905, W.E.B. Dubois and 28 other African American leaders

met at Niagara Falls to demand full political rights and responsibilities.• The representatives were forced to use a Canadian hotel -

American hotels in the area would not have them.

-> This meeting started the Niagara Movement - one of the first steps to the creationof the NAACP.

-> The NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

-> At the dawn of WWI, however, Wilson had to turn away from national reforms, in order to “make the world safe for democracy”.

Wilson’s Foreign Policy-> Wilson’s diplomacy was first tested

by a revolution in Mexico, where Wilson sent American troops to establish a Democratic government in Mexico.

-> Many criticized Wilson’s actions here, saying he attempted to “shoot the Mexicans into self-government”.

• Many in Latin America also said it was no better than Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” policy.

• However, Wilson’s international policies were truly tested following the outbreak of war in Europe.

Roots of WWI in Europe• Cause 1: SECRET ALLIANCES

• When Germany unified in 1871, it became enemies with France.

-> In order to protect its interests, Germany allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary. This became known as the Triple Alliance.

• This alliance alarmed Russians, who were worried about German expansion. Russia and France became allies because of their common enemy in Germany.

-> Great Britain remained neutral for much of this, but in 1898, Germany expanded its navy. By 1900, there was a naval arms race between Britain and Germany.

-> Britain joined the Franco-Russian alliance, and the group became known as the Triple Entente.

Roots of WWI in Europe• Cause 2: BALKAN CRISIS

• By the late 1800s, nationalism had spread throughout Europe. This leads to a belief in self-determination.

-> Self-determination is the idea that people who belong to a nation (ethnically, culturally etc) should have their own country to live in.

-> The Ottoman empire was collapsing, leaving many ethnic groups in the Balkans eager to create their own countries.

• Serbs, Bosnians, Coats, Slovenes… all wanted their own countries.

-> However, Austria-Hungary also wanted to control the area, and began annexing the new territories, taking over Bosnia.

-> This angered many people in the Balkans, including Serbians, who saw the Austrians as a threat to their self-determination.

Roots of WWI in Europe• Cause 3: THE SPARK -

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

-> In June of 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was touring the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

• A Serbian extremist group known as the Black Hand had sent six assassins to take out Franz Ferdinand.

• The Black Hand wanted to show that Austrian rule was not welcome in the Balkans.

• Five of the assassins failed, but one succeeded.

Roots of WWI in Europe• Cause 3: THE SPARK - Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

• Gavrilo Princip initially lost his nerve, and went to get a sandwich. However, the Archduke’s car stalled in front of the café. Princip took his chance, and killed the Archduke and his wife.

• This started a cascade effect that led to WWI…

• Austria wanted revenge against Serbia.• Serbia was supported by Russia. Russia was supported by

France and Britain…• Austria was a member of the Triple Alliance, and backed by

Germany and Italy.• Suddenly, nearly the entire continent of Europe was at war.

Roots of WWI in Europe• .

WWI in Europe-> The ALLIES: The Triple Entente expanded as more allies

joined the cause. By 1915, the group had been re-named “The Allies”.• France, Russia, Great Britain, Italy (which changed

sides), most Balkan states, including Serbia

-> The CENTRAL POWERS: Germany and Austria joined what was left of the Ottoman empire and Bulgaria to form the Central Powers. (What was once called the Triple Alliance).

• As the war progressed, the Allies asked the United States to interfere, to assist the Allies in preserving a democratic government.

WWI in Europe-> Writing Assignment…

Imagine that you are President Wilson. You have just received a telegram from Britain, asking for help in the Great War. How do you respond?

Will you join the war? Will you stay neutral?Will you send money? Troops? Weapons?

Explain your answer, and write at least three paragraphs describing your reasons for your choice.

American Neutrality• When the fighting in Europe

began, in 1914, President Wilson declared the United States to be neutral.

• He wanted to keep the country from being drawn into a foreign war.

• Said Wilson: “We must be impartial in thought as well as in action”.

American Neutrality-> Despite Wilson’s point of view, many Americans took sides in the

war. • There were 8 million German-Americans, many who were

immigrants, who wanted America to join the war on the side of the Central Powers.

• Many also wanted the United States to join the Allies.-> Many Americans were pro-British - the British shared a

heritage, language, and culture with the United States.

-> Further, many Americans wanted to re-pay a debt owed to longtime allies, the French. The French had helped the United States win its independence, and many Americanswanted to help France now.

The Lusitania• Despite many Americans

pushing to go to war, the United States remained neutral.

• Meanwhile, in Europe…• Britain had set up a

blockade to keep supplies from getting in and out of Germany.

• In response, German U-Boats patrolled the waters around Britain.

-> The German government issued a warning - the U-Boats would sink any ship found in British waters.

-> May 7, 1915- The British passenger ship the RMS Lusitania is sunk by a German U-Boat. -> 1,200 passengers are killed, including 128 Americans. • This was something that Wilson had to respond to - he had to

address this issue.

The Lusitania-> Wilson demanded that the

Germans abandon their use of unrestricted submarine warfare or risk going to war with the United States.

• Germany knew that the United States was powerful, and did not want to draw them into the war.

->Germany signed the Sussex Pledge. -> This Pledge promised that German submarines would no longer

sink passenger and merchant ships without warning - but warships were fair game.

• This was acceptable to Wilson, and the United States remained out of the war.

-> In the election of 1916, Wilson ran as “the peace candidate”, with his slogan stating, “He kept us out of the war”.

-> Wilson won the election in 1916. By April of 1917, the United States had joined the war.

Propaganda-> Another major factor in swaying American sentiment

toward joining the war was propaganda. • Propaganda was created by all sides during the war -

every country created posters and publications that supported their cause in the war.

-> Propaganda created by the British helped pressure the Americans into joining the war.

• Further, Britain had cut the telegraph lines running from Europe to the United States. The only news the USA was getting about the war was through Britain.

Early propaganda posters designed by Britain “guilted” America into joining the war.

Some propaganda posters also drew on patriotism. The image on the left is of Lord Kitchener - the British secretary of War. The image was later created into an “Uncle Sam” poster to get Americans to join the army as well.

If calling on patriotism didn’t work, some posters also emasculated men - shaming them into joining the army or navy.

Many posters also showed the “villain” of the war - Germany. These showed Germany as a brute, or animal.

Posters also focused on women - asking them to either serve “on the front” as nurses and telegraph workers, or “at home” by saving money on food and creating socks or shirts to send to the troops.

War Bonds were also a target of propaganda posters. By buying war bonds or war stamps, Americans could donate money to help the troops.

Declaring War• Following Wilson’s re-election, America still planned to

remain out of the war.• In January 1917, British intelligence agents showed the

United States a telegram.• The telegram was from Arthur Zimmerman – a German

official. -> The Zimmerman Telegram was written from Germany to

the German ambassador to Mexico. -> The telegram proposed that Mexico ally itself with Germany

and, following the war, would be given land in the United States that used to belong to Mexico.

• When the telegram was brought to the attention of the United States, people were furious.

• It seemed like there was no way the United States could stay out of the war now.

Zimmerman Controversy• Today, many believe that the Zimmerman telegram may not be

all that it seemed to be, and might not have been legitimate…• The British wanted the United States to join the war, to be allied on

their side. • Germany, in contrast, had shown (through the Sussex Pledge) that

it did not want to draw the United States into the war. • If Mexico declared war on the United States, then there would be no

way the United States could NOT join the war. • HOWEVER…

• Germany may have intended to go to war with the United States as well, and Mexico would have been a valuable ally for that reason.

• The next month, Germany broke the Sussex Pledge and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.

• Germany may have thought that there was no way to keep the United States out of the war, and that Germany (through Mexico) should strike first.

Do Now: What do you think? Was the Zimmerman telegram real or not? What would be the reason behind this? Respond in your notebooks.

USA Joins the War-> February 1, 1917 – Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare. -> German military leaders believed they could starve Britain into submission within 6 months. -> The Germans knew this would draw the United States into the war, but they did not think the USA could raise an army and transport it to Europe before Germany won. •Between February 3 and March 21 – German U-Boats sank six American ships without warning. -> In response, America joined the war April 6, 1917.

USA Joins the War• In April, 1917, the combined forces of the National guard

and the U.S. army was only about 300,000 troops. • Many more men volunteered once war was declared.• However, it was not enough…• Some countries practiced conscription: forced military

service. • However, Americans believed this was a violation of

democratic principles. -> Instead, Congress created a new system called selective

service. (Aka the draft)-> The Selective Service Act of 1917 required all men

between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for the draft. • A lottery randomly selected which men would be put into

military service. -> 2.8 million Americans were drafted. These were added to

the 2 million who volunteered.

Women in the Military-> WWI was the first war in which women actually served in the military though in non-combatant positions.•In earlier conflicts, women could volunteer, but did not have ranks or soldier’s pay. -> Early in 1917, the navy authorized the enlistment of women to meet its clerical needs (doing office-based jobs). These women were assigned the rank of yeoman. •By the end of the war, there were over 11,000 women serving in the U.S. Navy. -> Most performed clerical duties, but some were radio operators, electricians, pharmacists, photographers, and torpedo assemblers. •The Army, in contrast, did not allow women to enlist. The only women to serve in the army were in the Army Nursing Corps. Over 20,000 women served as nurses during WWI.

Schenck v. the U.S.• Although many Americans were

in favor of going to war, some did not agree, and published writing against it.

-> There was a lot of mistrust of German-Americans as well, to the point where even German- sounding things were re-named. (Example, hamburgers were called ‘Salisbury steak’ and sauerkraut ‘liberty cabbage’).

-> This limitation on free speech, and this fear of foreign influence, led to a landmark Supreme Court case called Schenck v. the United States.

Combat in WWI• The combat in WWI was unique - there had never

been a war like this before. -> Trench warfare - troops dug themselves in and relied

on rifles and machine guns to hold off the attacking armies.

-> On the Western front (in France), the trench line moved very little.

-> The space between the trenches was called no man’s land.

Combat in WWI-> To break through enemy lines…

-> Both sides would begin with massive artillery barges.

-> Then bayonet-wielding soldiers would scramble out of the trenches, race across the no-man’s-land and throw grenades into the enemy trench.

-> Usually this was unsuccessful - the enemy machine guns and rifles easily eliminated the advancing troops.

• These battles were horrific, and many troops on both sides lacked supplies - food, clothes etc.

• Both sides looked for a way to break the stalemate.

New Technologies-> Poison gas was first used by

the Germans. The Allies soon used it too.

• Mustard and chlorine gas were the worst. Soon, gas masks became standard equipment.

-> In 1916, the British brought the tank into battle.

• The first tanks were slow, but could roll over barbed wire and trenches.

-> Airplanes were also used in combat for the first time - used first for surveillance, then to drop small bombs, then armed with machineguns.

New Technologies-> American “doughboys” marched into this stalemate in 1917.-> Most were inexperienced, however, they were fresh and

boosted morale for the Allies. • The “doughboys” were sent right into the trenches. -> Americans also helped at sea - establishing convoys - to

protect merchant vessels with military ones.

Russia Leaves the War• In March, 1917, riots broke out throughout Russia.• The Russian people were sick of war, and starving, and they

were sick of a government that wasn’t acting in the best interest of its people.

• March 15th - Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the throne.-> The Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the

Russian government and established a Communist state.• Russia would remain Communist until 1991. -> Lenin’s first act after seizing power was to

end the Eastern Front, and take Russiaout of the war.

-> The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed March 3, 1918.

-> This treaty gave huge amounts of Russian territory to Germany, including what is now Ukraine, Poland and Finland.

• Russia had officially “quit”.

Americans on the Front• Germany was now only fighting a war on one front,

and it had gained the land in the East that it wanted to begin with.

• American troops played an important role on the Western Front.

-> March 21, 1918 - Germany launched one last massive attack along the Front.

-> American and French troops blocked the Germans getting to Paris, and held their ground.

-> September 26, 1918 at the Battle of the Argonne Forest, American troops advanced through German lines.

-> By early November, the Americans had shattered the German defenses and opened a hole in German lines.

Americans on the Front• By November, 1918, the war was collapsing.• A revolution engulfed Austria, and Austria left the

war.• The Ottoman Turks surrendered.• Now Germany was alone.• November 9, 1918 - revolution breaks out in Berlin,

Germany, and the Kaiser is forced to step down. • All countries along the Western Front agreed to a

cease fire - at 11:00 AM, November 11th, 1918. • The war was officially over.

Americans on the Front• Representatives from the Allied countries met to

decide the outcome of the war. • President Woodrow Wilson was asked for his

insight. He came up with his Fourteen Points… • These points were goals that, according to Wilson,

would make things peaceful for the nations involved in the war, and prevent another war from breaking out.

• In groups of 2-3, re-write Wilson’s points in your own words

Wilson’s 14 Points• In groups of 2-3, re-write Wilson’s points in your own

words. Then, on a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions:

1. What is the most important point?2. Why is this most important?3. Points X - XII talk about sovereignty and self determinism.

Why do you think Wilson wanted to make sure these ethnic groups got their own countries?

4. How do you think the allied nations responded to these points?

5. What issues do you think the other countries may have had?

6. If you were the British Prime Minister, would you accept these points, and make a treaty based on them? Why or why not?