america & world war i
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America & World War I. Wilson, Mexico & US Foreign Policy. Woodrow Wilson Southern Democrat History professor & intellectual Mind for grand ideas- role of US in postwar world Believed American economic expansion + democratic principles = civilizing force in the world - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AMERICA & WORLD WAR I
Wilson, Mexico & US Foreign Policy• Woodrow Wilson
• Southern Democrat• History professor & intellectual• Mind for grand ideas- role of US in postwar world• Believed American economic expansion + democratic principles
= civilizing force in the world• Emphasized foreign investments and industrial exports• Open Door principles of John Hay
– Strong diplomatic and military measure to achieve economic supremacy
• 1913 Wilson became president• Continued progressive activism of TR
• Greater federal role in economic and business regulation• 16th Amendment- Federal income tax• Federal Reserve Act- created 12 reserve banks regulated by
Washington• Clayton Antitrust Act- recognition of union legality, check big
businesses• Federal Trade Commission- regulatory control of corporations
Wilson’s problems in Mexico
• 1911 Revolution in Mexico overthrows corrupt dictator (Porfirio Díaz)
• Francisco Madero- new democratic government in Mexico promised land reform (this made U.S. with $11 billion invested very nervous)
• Madero murdered by his own chief lieutenant, Victoriano Huerta
• Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s gov. because he was unlawful (viewed him as murderer)
• Wilson used a minor insult to attack & occupy Veracruz attempting to oust Huerta
• Carranza, leader of opposition to Huerta, ousts Huerta (w/ US arms), then denounces Wilson
• Poncho Villa, former ally turned enemy of Carranza & U.S., tries to draw U.S. into war – raids and kills Americans
• Villa evades 1,500 US troops for over a year• Wilson’s involvement leads to Mexican distrust of US• Wilson didn’t go to war with Mexico because he didn’t want to
weaken US position with Germany• Wilson believed capitalist development, democracy and free
trade were wave of future• Wilson believed in Moral Values WWI
The Great War Europe:• Triple Alliance (aka The Central Powers)
– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy• Triple Entente (aka The Allies)
– Great Britain, France, Russia• Competition of Great Britain and Germany
– GB: long-standing dominant power– Germany: aspirations of empire
• Alliances kept countries from going to war over small conflicts from 19th-20th century
• Inclusiveness was its weakness– Could draw others into war that did
erupt• 1914 archduke of Austro-Hungary
assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist– He thought Bosnia should be annexed
by Serbia• Germany backed retaliation by Austro-
Hungary• Serbia asked for Russian help• War declared by both sides• Stalemate in northern France• New weapons: machine guns, tanks, trench
warfare = 5 million killed in 2.5 years
Run-up to War
Wilson urged Americans to be “impartial in thought and action” Germany declares waters around British Isle a war zone May 7, 1915 German U-boat sinks Lusitania killing 1200, 128 Americans Americans demand strong stance against Germany but don’t want war March 1916 German U-boat torpedoes French Sussex injuring 4 Americans Wilson threatens to cut off diplomatic relations w/ Germany June 1916 National Defense Act doubles the size of US army and increases
spending of new battleships, cruisers and destroyers Anti-war feelings still very strong in US Wilson wins 2nd term w/ “He kept us out of war” campaign 1916 Germany declares unlimited submarine warfare gambling to destroy Allies
before America can arrive March 1, 1917 Zimmerman Note intercepted
Germany encouraging Mexico to take back New Mexico, Texas and Arizona
US merchant ships are armed and allowed to shoot Germans sink 7 US merchant ships killing many April 2, 1917 Wilson asks congress for war
Wilson’s case based on America’s special mission as mankind’s most enlightened and advanced nation to make the world safe for democracy
Selling the War Committee on Public Information – CPI agency for war
promotion led by George Creel Enlisted 150,000 people to work on CPI committees Produced more than 100 million pieces of literature-
pamphlets, articles, books- explaining causes and meaning of war
Created posters, slides, newspaper ads and films Used movie stars to help sell war bonds 75,000 “Four Minute Men” gave patriotic speeches before
stage and movie shows Aggressively negative campaign against Germans
Huns = bestial monsters/ uncivilized German music, language and books banned
War Propaganda
The Draft Lack of volunteers for service Selective Service Act- registration of all men
ages 21-35 Different from Civil War draft- couldn’t buy your
way out of service by paying for a substitute June 5, 1917 10 million register Aug. 1918 extended age limits to 18-45 Illiteracy rates among troops as high as 25% Low test scores of immigrants and African
Americans reflect biases of tests
African Americans in the Military Organized in segregated units Barred from Marines and Coast Guard Worked as cooks, laundrymen, stevedores Endured humiliating and violent treatment form southern white
officers Faced hostility from white civilians 200,000 served in France 1 in 5 saw combat compared to 1 in 3 white soldiers Black combat units served with distinction in some French
divisions The all black 369th US infantry served in trenches for 191 days,
longest of any American regiment French government awarded entire regiment the Croix de Guerre Enjoyed better treatment in military and by civilians in France than
in US
America’s Effect on the War AEF- American Expeditionary Forces = US troops Led by General John J. Pershing, independent of
European command 70,000 AEF soldiers arrived in early 1918, helped the
French stop the Germans from reaching Paris in June 1918
AEF troop numbers grew to 1 million by Sept. September 1918 AEF troops took over southern part of a
200 mile front in the Meuse-Argonne offensive German surrender
November 11, 1918 war ends Massive influx of American troops hastened the end of
the war by ending the stalemate 52,000+ Americans died in battle, 60,000 died from
influenza and pneumonia
WWI Part 2:Domestic Effects of the War
The Economy Economic boom began with exports to allies (between
1914-1916) War = government-business cooperation (organization,
regulation, subsidization) War Industries Board (WIB)- mobilized national industry to
support war effortLed by Wall Street speculator Bernard M. BaruchRegulation of production & pricesMaximization of productivity & efficiency= BIG government “voluntary cooperation” enforced w/ threats of military takeover
(Ford, US Steel Government saved $$, gained control of production, got
what it needed for the war Businesses expanded, saw high profits
The Economy (continued) 1917 Food and Fuel Act-
Gave President authority to regulate commodities (food & fuel) needed for the war effort
Hoover, millionaire engineer, leads FA (Food Admin)Uses price controls on agricultural commodities (pork,
sugar, wheat) to regulate consumptionGov. buys products, distributes to licensed dealers
who sell to public at high pricesUrged conservation ie. limit consumption, grow your
own veggies, reuse/recycle
Cost of War $33 billion dollars Paid for with increased
income & profit taxes Min. income for taxation
$1000 Highest brackets rates up
to 70% Liberty Bonds- $23
billion government borrowed
money from American public Federal debt jumps from
$1billion to $20 billion
Labor & Labor Unions Economic expansion + army mobilization + decline in
immigration = labor shortage Despite overcrowding & inflation workers enjoy higher
wages and standard of living AFL pledged support for the war, saw sharp rise in
membership (1mil) & increased influence, power National War Labor Board- led by Samuel Gompers-
avoid strikes & interruptions in production NWLB: ensured right to organize, higher wages,
less hours, over-time pay, equal pay for women
IWW- denounced “capitalist war,” attacked by gov. agents-> Espionage Act
Women & The War 8 million women already working gained higher
pay and access to new jobs Another million joined workforce Manufacturing jobs, munitions plants, train
engineers, drill press operators, etc. Women in Industry Service (WIS)- created
standards, not legally enforced ½ pay of men on average End of war = end of women in “men’s”
positions
The Great Migration Mass movement of African Americans from rural
south to urban north Labor shortage = job opportunities & higher wages 1914-1920, 300,000-500,000 migrated north Single women often found best opportunities Men worked on railroads, meatpacking plants,
shipyards, steel mills…..lower paying jobs, unskilled Violence and rioting against blacks in Northern cities NAACP membership grows to 60,000- provide legal
defense, influence legislation
Suppressing the Antiwar Movement Espionage Act (1917)
Replaced previous, expired law addressing seditious expressionUsed to crush dissent and criticismSevere penalties, up to 20yrs prison, $10,000 fineAiding the enemy, obstruction recruitment, causing insubordination in
the armed forcesAllowed postmaster gen. to censor mailPolice & surveillance machinery increaseLeads to creation of Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Sedition Act (1918)Amendment to Espionage ActOutlawed “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language
intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the government, Constitution, or flag (Freedom of Speech??)
Used to strike out against socialists, pacifists, labor radicalsEugene Debs (4 times presidential candidate) imprisoned for 2.5 yrs,
defending antiwar protestors
Women & The Vote Before WWI:
State battle rather than nationLed by western states (UT & WY 1st) In east suffrage linked to prohibition
During WWI:National campaign for constitutional amendmentLinked to patriotism2 opposing tactics:
○ NAWSA- more conservative, linked vote to war effort, moderate lobbying & orderly demonstrations
○ NWP- more aggressive, picketed White House, condemned the Pres. & Congress, dramatic demonstrations
19th Amendment: “war measure” passed Aug. 1920 after 2 years gaining states for ratification
Part III:Post-WWI
Labor and Unions After the War Wartime wage gains wiped out by inflation, high prices for food,
fuel, housing Government ended controls on industry, employers withdrew union
recognition 4 million Americans workers involved in 3,600 strikes in 1919 alone
(most ever) Strikes stir fear, question social order Seattle General Strike: 60,000 workers, city shut down for 3 days ->
federal troops occupy the city Boston Police Strike: National Guard called in, entire force fired Steel Strike: 350,00 workers, 4 months, state & federal troops used
to break it Public opinion turns against organized labor, propaganda calls
strikers revolutionaries Russian Revolution… fear it could happen here, Red Scare
Wilson’s Post-War Ambitions Fourteen Points & Versailles Treaty
Postwar European boundaries, division of empires
Principles for governing international conduct○ Freedom of the seas○ Free trade○ Open covenants instead of secret treaties○ Reduce armaments○ Mediation for competing colonial claims
League of Nations (14th point) Based in Geneva, Switzerland (neutral)Implement 1st 13 pointsCollective security to keep world peace
Downfalls:Allies resist the call for independence of colonies &
carve up former German and Ottoman empiresNo military to enforce peaceSimilar to previous alliances?US, German, Russia don’t join
Germany & the Treaty:Germans need to be made to hate warTerritories divided (WWII- trying to get it back)Wilson disagrees with Britain and France over
reparations ($33 billion)German resentment & rise of Nazis
Defeat of the League in US Party politics (Democratic President v
Republican controlled Congress)Oppose collective security & restraints on F.P.
(isolationism) Proposal of weakened version in Senate failsWilson’s refusal to compromiseEntire point for going to war wasted in Wilson’s
eyes US doesn’t sign Versailles Treaty or join
League of Nations
Ultimate Effects of WWI 112,000 Americans died (battle & illness),
200,000+ wounded 9 million Russians died 6 million Germans died 5 million French died 2 million British died 2 million Italians died Same nations fight again 20 years later Major European economies stifled US becomes dominant world economic power