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 foreshadowed those in WWI

• 1911 Revolution in Mexico overthrows corrupt dictator

• Madero- new democratic government in Mexico promised land reform

• This made U.S. with $11 billion invested very nervous

• Wilson refused to except murderer of Madero, Huerta, because he was unlawful

• Wilson used a minor insult to attack Veracruz attempting to oust Huerta

• Carranza w/ US arms ousts Huerta, then denounced Wilson

• Poncho Villa tried to draw U.S. into war – raided U.S. and killed Americans

• Villa evaded US army of 15,000 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’s “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. Pershings, independent of

European command 70,000 AEF soldiers arrived in early 1918, helped the

French stop the Germans from reaching Paris in June 1918

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+ died in battle, 60,000 died from influenza and

pneumonia

Economy

Progressive reforms & the war agenda War Industries Board (WIB)- mobilized

national industry to support war effortLed by Wall Street speculator BaruchRegulation of production & pricesMaximization of productivity & efficiency= BIG government“voluntary cooperation” enforced w/ threats of

military takeover (Ford, US Steel)

Economy cont.

1917 Food and Fuel Act- Gave President authority to regulate

commodities needed for the war effortHoover, millionaire engineer, leadsPrice controls on agri. commodities (pork,

sugar, wheatGov. buys products, distributes to licensed

dealers & sold to public at high pricesUrged conservation ie. Limit consumption,

grow your own veggies

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

Business & The War War = expansion & high profits Huge workforce growth Corporate profits triple, large business

doing the best Investments in farm machinery & land ->

20-30% increase in production Business/government cooperation

Labor &The War Economic expansion + army mobilization + decline in

immigration = labor shortage Despite overcrowding & inflation workers enjoy

higher wages and standard of living AFL saw sharp rise in membership (1mil) & increased

influence, power National War Labor Board- 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

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 Work 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 of 1917- vague prohibition of obstruction war effort Used to crush dissent and criticism Severe penalties, up to 20yrs prison, $10,000 fine Aiding the enemy, obstruction recruitment, causing

insubordination in the armed forces Allowed postmaster gen. to censor mail Police & surveillance increase Leads to creation of FBI

1918 Sedition Act Amendment of Espionage Act Outlawed “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language

intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the government

Used to strike out against socialists, pacifists, labor radicals Eugene Debs (4 times presidential candidate) imprisoned for

2.5 yrs, defending antiwar protestors

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

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 main tactics:

○ NAWSA- war effort, moderate lobbying & orderly demonstrations

○ NWP- more aggressive, picketed White House, condemned the Pres. & Congress

19th Amendment: “war measure” passed Aug. 1920 after 2 years gaining states for ratification

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 membership/recognition 4 million Americans workers involved in 3,600

strikes in 1919 alone Strikes receive nationwide attention Seattle: citywide strike, 60,000 workers -> federal

troops occupy the city http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/strike/video.shtml

Boston police strike, entire force fired Public opinion turns against organized labor, use of

propaganda, strikers=revolutionaries Russian Revolution, fears it could happen here

Wilson’s Post-War Ambitions 14 points in Versailles:

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 Nations14th point: implement 1st 13 points, resolve future disputes

Collective security to keep the peace Criticized as surrender of independence

and sovereignty Similarities to previous alliances? Germany & the Treaty:

Germans need to be made to hate warWilson disagrees with Britain and France

over reparations

Defeat of the Treaty Allies resist the call for independence of

coloniesFrench and British carve up former German and

Ottoman empires French and British insist Germany pay $33

billion resentment & rise of Nazis Signed by everyone except US

US congress Republican controlledOppose collective security & restraints on F.P.Entire point for going to war wasted in Wilson’s

eyes US becomes economic power in the world