lecture on wwi

8/14/2019 Lecture on WWI

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Ch. 23: Americans in the GreatCh. 23: Americans in the Great

War, 19141920War, 19141920

Americans debate foreign policy, 191417New technology increase wars destructionUSA emerge as major world powerWar emergency (191718) force dramatic

political, economic, social changes at

homePostwar conflict over continuing changes

or restoring prewar status quoWar and 1919 peace disillusion many


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I. Outbreak of the First World WarI. Outbreak of the First World War

Years of European competition over trade,colonies, allies, armaments

Germany (Triple Alliance) rival England(Triple Entente) for world leadershipMany Americans see growing German

power as threat (militarism, autocracy)

Assassination by Serbian nationalisttrigger chain of events in Europe (seeMap 23.1)Result = war (Central Powers v. Allies)

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II. Taking SidesII. Taking Sides

Wilson proclaim neutrality in war Full neutrality not possible

Ethnic groups in USA take sides

Wilson & advisers hold pro-Allied views: seeGermany as threat to civilization

USA-England trade (arms, loans) grow;

USA-German trade drop; Germany see UStrade with England as un-neutral

Wilsonianism = ideas Wilson assume willspread if Allies win


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II. Taking Sides (cont.)II. Taking Sides (cont.)

USA will lead nations toward peacefulworldWorld of free trade, capitalism,

democracy, open diplomacy, fewer arms,& no empires

Wilson proclaim US destiny = save worldIdeals benefit USA; mix idealism withrealismWilson willing to impose ideas on others


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III. Violations of Neutral RightsIII. Violations of Neutral Rights

Wilson not want to enter warUSA caught in crossfire between

belligerents England violates neutral rights by seizing UScargoes for Germany (take property)

Germany tries to stop US trade with England

via submarines (take lives)Wilson demand Germany comply with

strict interpretation of international law


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IV. Secretary Bryans ResignationIV. Secretary Bryans Resignation

Lusitania sinking (1915) takes 1198 lives(128 Americans); contraband (ammo) on

shipBryan advocates banning Americans onbelligerent ships, but Wilson rejects itWilson asserts US right to sail on any

shipsBryan resigns; some Americans call him

traitorGermany halts attacks on passenger ships

after Lusitania, but tensions increase

(Sussex, 1916)


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Tonnage of vessels sunk in navalTonnage of vessels sunk in naval

action in Atlantic, 1916-1918action in Atlantic, 1916-1918


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V. Peace Advocates;V. Peace Advocates;

Unrestricted Sub WarfareUnrestricted Sub Warfare

Many groups fear costs/consequences of warMovement not unified

Feb. 1917, Germany take calculated risk offull submarine war (defeat Allies before USentry)With Zimmerman Telegram, Wilson see

Germany as threat to US securityWilsons response (without Congressional

consent) Orders U.S. merchant vessels armed Orders U.S. Navy to fire on German U-Boats


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President Wilson before Congress, announcing thebreak in official relations with Germany on3 February 1917


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VI. War Message and WarVI. War Message and War

Declaration (April, 1917)Declaration (April, 1917)

Wilson accuse Germany of violatingneutral and human rights

War to make world safe for democracyUS ideas & interests require German

defeatBy 1917, Wilson assume USA must enter

war to shape peace & postwar worldWilson get support from preparedness

groups (National Security League)April 2, 1917--War declared on Germany


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VII. The Draft and the SoldierVII. The Draft and the Soldier

Defense Act, Navy Act (1916) startbuildup

Selective Service Act (1917) start draft4.8 million serve; most draftees in early

20s, white, single, US-born, poorlyeducated

400,000 blacks serve; in segregated units 90% in labor units; those in combat do well Du Bois & NAACP support war Hope for change at home after war


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VII. The Draft and the SoldierVII. The Draft and the Soldier

(cont.)(cont.)

3 million evade draftConscientious objectors face harassment

Pershing insist AEF remains independent ofAllied control, criticizes trench warfareMachine guns, poison gas, etc. kill huge #s1 million casualties at Somme, 1916Many survivors suffer shell shock (PTSD)US men/materials tip balance & end

stalemate


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VIII. Bolshevik Revolution (1917)VIII. Bolshevik Revolution (1917)

Challenges Wilsons vision of worldLenin attacks capitalism; wants worker

uprisingsRelease secret treaties to embarrass AlliesWilson respond with 14 Points (1918)Show Allies as different from Central

PowersPoint #14 calls for League of Nations to

achieve US vision of ideal world orderLenin makes peace with Germany (early

1918)


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IX. Americans in BattleIX. Americans in Battle

Germany then launches offensive inthe West; Allies halt itAllies then launch counter-offensiveGermany accepts armistice (Nov.1918) 16.6 million die (6.6 million = civilians)

21.3 million wounded US losses = 53,000 combat dead (+ 62,000dead from disease); 200,000 wounded

War destroy European economy & 4

empires


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Over ThereOver There

U.S. allies in danger of losing war Germans sink 881,000 tons of Allied shippingduring April, 1917

Mutinies in French army British drive in Flanders stalled Bolsheviks sign separate peace with Germany;German troops to West

Italian army routedTeaming of U.S., English navies halves Alliedlosses to submarinesJune 1917--U.S. troops arrive in FranceSpring, 1918--U.S. forces help halt final German

offensive battle of Chateau Thierry battle of Belleau Wood

September, 1918--Germans out of St. Mihiel


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X. Mobilizing the Home FrontX. Mobilizing the Home Front

US Govt intervenes as never before ineconomy & societyForm partnership with big business via

dollar-a-year executives on new agenciesW/ cost-plus contracts (guaranteed

profits) & no antitrust acts, big businessget biggerUS Govt bureaucracy grow to shift

economy to war-related production


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XI. Business-GovernmentXI. Business-Government

CooperationCooperation

Food Administration tries to increaseproduction and conserve food

Fuel Administration control coal, rationgasWar Industries Board = largest agency

Make purchases, allocate materials, & set

prices (all on business advice) WIB order standardization of goods Economy supply enough men/material to win Shortages (esp. coal) at home result


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XII. Economic PerformanceXII. Economic Performance

USA finances of war through taxesRest through loans/bonds; US debt rise from

$1 billion (1914) to $25 billion (1919)War cost $33.5 billion; veteran benefits &

interest on debt triple that figure over timeCorporate profits swell during war to $7

billionLabor

Benefits from full employment Suffers rising cost of living (food, fuel, etc.)


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XIII. Labor ShortageXIII. Labor Shortage

Draft, expanded production, & drop inimmigration create labor crisisUS Govt recruits workers from Midwest &

South to northeastern factories, help withhousing

New opportunities for women & blacksTotal # of female workers not grow muchKey change = shift in occupationsSome enter traditionally male factory jobs


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XIII. Labor Shortage (cont.)XIII. Labor Shortage (cont.)

Most = single, white, & in clerical jobsBlack women move into openings in

domestic service & textile factories1,000s volunteer as military nurses/clerks

or work for Red Cross/Salvation Army

Also support mobilization programsFemale support for war help achievesuffrage (19th Amendment, 1920)


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XIII. Labor Shortage (cont.)XIII. Labor Shortage (cont.)

Labor shortage accelerates black migrationfrom rural south to northern cities

500,000 move (19161919)Young, single males seek opportunityNational War Labor Board discourages strikes

and urge management to work with unionsAFL cooperate with US Govt in war effortNot able to stop some workers from striking


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African American Migration, 191-African American Migration, 191-19201920


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XIV. CommitteeXIV. Committee

on Public Information (CPI)on Public Information (CPI)

Wilson tries to silence any whoquestion war

Result = massive violation of civil

libertiesCPI seeks mind mobilization withpropaganda

Demonize GermanyUrge self-censorship & spy on

neighbors

Vigilantes harass German-AmericansState/local governments,

businesses, & colleges firedissenters, ban German culture


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XV. Espionage & Sedition ActsXV. Espionage & Sedition Acts

Espionage Act (1917) bans treasonous(loosely defined) material from mailSedition Act (1918) bans criticism of US

GovtUS Govt crushes IWW, imprisons Debs

Supreme Court upholds 2 ActsDuring war, US Govt can restrict FirstAmendment


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XVI. Red Scare; Labor StrikesXVI. Red Scare; Labor Strikes

(1919)(1919)

Wartime suppression evolves into postwarrepression of leftists/unions/immigrants

4 million workers strike for betterpay/hoursOpponents label them Red to discredit

themNo radical conspiracyNew American Legion demand conformity


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XVII. Palmer Raids; Wilsons Anti-XVII. Palmer Raids; Wilsons Anti-

BolshevismBolshevism

Attorney General harasses alleged radicalsState/local governments, vigilantes copy him

His assistant, Hoover, arrests 4,000 people(1920) without search warrants; deny themlegal counselA. G. Palmers excesses slowly offend publicTo topple Soviets, Wilson sends in troops

(1918)Arm opponents, impose embargo, refuse

recognition, & ban USSR from diplomacy


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XIX. Peace Conference &XIX. Peace Conference &

Obstacles to Wilsons PlanObstacles to Wilsons Plan

Wilson ignores Republican majority inCongress

Allies seek harsh peace and spoils of warWilson not follow or achieve 14 Points inParisWilson accepts huge reparations/war guilt on

GermanyAllies gain colonies (mandates) from losers

British: Iraq, Palestine French: Syria, Lebanon

Create anti-Soviet nations in Eastern Europe


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XX. League of Nations & Article 10XX. League of Nations & Article 10

League = Wilsons top goal in ParisCenterpiece for new world order

All nations have a vote in AssemblyMajor powers control League via CouncilArticle 10 calls for collective securityJoint action to preserve status

quo/prevent warWilson exempts Monroe Doctrine &

domestic matters from League action


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XXI. Critics of the TreatyXXI. Critics of the Treaty

Some balk at Wilsonsconcessions (14 Points)

Conservatives fear

Article 10 will limit USaction, stop USexpansion, pull USA intowar

Lodge proposereservations, esp. Article10

Wilson lambastes criticsCollapses with stroke;

refuse to compromiseSenate reject treaty

(1919-1920)

With reservations, treatywould have passed


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XXII. An Unsafe WorldXXII. An Unsafe World

Would USA swap traditional unilateralism forcollection action? Core issue for critics

Want freedom of action in imperialist worldUS economic & military power growPostwar international system not stableNationalists want independenceNew East European nations weakGermany, USSR want revenge & expansion

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