World War IChapter 24

Woodrow Wilson and Moral Diplomacy

Moral (Missionary) diplomacy—U.S. as a beacon of freedom “We are chosen, and prominently chosen, to show the way to the

nations of the world how they shall walk in the paths of liberty”Wilson assumed Anglo-American superiority

Paternalism similar to slave masters Willing to spread western-style democracy and Christian morality

through forceAlso had a practical side—U.S. needed

markets; also exported capitalism Exporting American democracy and capitalism would promote

stability and progress throughout the world

Intervention in Mexico

Mexican Revolution in 1910Pancho Villa started to make raids

into the U.S. to kill 37 Americans Wilson sent General Pershing and 6,000 troops

into Mexico to find Villa. Searched for 2 years but never found Villa but

the expedition poisoned Mexican-American relations for the next 30 years.

Woodrow Wilson and Moral Diplomacy: Caribbean

American marines helped put down disorders Nicaragua (until

1933), Cuba (until 1933) Haiti (until 1934), and the Dominican Republic (until 1924).

The Road to War

Countries in Europe had become war machines linked to one another through a web of diplomatic alliances---the chaos just needed to be set in order

Assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia and Russia began

to mobilize. The Schlieffen Plan

German plan to avoid defeat from Russia by taking out France first and then fight Russians.

The European System of Alliance

Stalemate

Everyone believed that it would be a short war (6 weeks)

New military technology Machine guns, aerial bombing, poison gas, flame

throwers, land mines, armored tanks.Trench warfare and stalemate

Defense was as strong or stronger than offense Military tactics had not kept up with military

technology.

America’s Initial Reaction Wilson urged Americans to be neutral;

true neutrality impossible Many immigrants for the Central Powers: Irish & German Old-line Americans for the Allies; most high government

officials were pro-BritishRole of propaganda

Nearly all news from the battlefronts had to clear through London.

Neutral but Not ImpartialFinancial assistance

$2 billion to Allies $27 million to Germany

American Neutrality Strained

Freedom of the seas British ordered ships carrying German goods via

neutral ports to be stopped.German submarine warfare

Germans declared a war zone around the British Isles and threatened to sink any ships there.

Lusitania sunk Among 1,198 dead were 128 Americans.

America protested through a series of notes demanding Germany stop such actions and pay reparations: Sussex pledge

Unwilling to risk war, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned.

The Debate over Preparedness

Sinking of the Lusitania contributed to demands for a stronger army and navy

Wilson’s war preparation plans announced National Defense Act

Doubled the regular army and authorized a National Guard. Naval Construction Act

Authorized up to $600 million for 3-year program of enlargement.

Revenue Act of 1916 Raised money to pay for war preparations.

Peace, Preparedness, and the Election of 1916

Wilson (Dem) against Charles Evans Hughes (Rep)

Wilson campaigned on peace platform—“He kept us out of war”

Wilson’s Final Peace Offensive

Wilson asked each side to state its war aimsGermany announced its new policy of

unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson broke diplomatic relations with Germany.

The Zimmermann Telegram Britain had intercepted and decoded a message from German foreign

secretary Arthur Zimmermann to his minister in Mexico. Suggested a German/Mexican alliance if U.S. enters war

A revolution overthrew Russia’s czarist government and created a Russian Republic (democracy) illusion shattered in November 1917 when Bolsheviks seized power.

America’s Entryinto the War

Declaration of war—April 2, 1917America’s early role in the war

Liberty Loan Act Helped finance British and French war efforts

Token army of about 14,500 men under John J. Pershing sent to France

Selective Service Act Training of soldiers at military camps

Only 2 million Am. would cross Atlantic

Home FrontRegulation of industry

and the economy Food and Fuel administrations

Taught Americans to plant “victory gardens” and to use leftovers wisely.

War Industries BoardLabor

African Americans and Mexican immigrants migrated North

Women entered the workforce—mostly young, single

Mobilizing Public OpinionCommittee on Public Information promoted

100% Americanism; distrusted all aliens, radicals, pacifists, and dissenters. German Americans were easy targets. In Iowa the governor made it a crime to speak German in

public Hamburgers were renamed “Salisbury steak” German measles, “liberty measles” German stopped being taught in school When a mob outside of St. Louis lynched a naturalized

German American who had tried to enlist in the navy, a jury found the leaders not guilty

Civil LibertiesPublic opinion, aroused to

promote war, turned to “Americanism” and witch-hunting

Espionage and Sedition Acts- criticism of government leaders or war policies was a crime. Over 1,500 prosecutions with more than

1,000 convictions. In Schenck v. United States, Supreme

Court upheld acts.

The Decisive Power

Until 1918, American troops played only a token role.

By November Germany was retreating all along the front.

Bolshevik revolution in Russia Russians sign separate peace with Germans (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) Allies send troops (8,000 Am) to support “Whites” against “Reds” in

Russia—Origin of the Cold War?The Fourteen Points

Open diplomacy, Freedom of the seas, National self-determination, league of nations, etc.

Armistice signed November 11, 1918

Wilson’s Fight for PeaceWilson’s domestic strength

was declining Democrats lose in the election of

1918 – Rep. take House & Senate. Wilson failed to invite any

Republicans to assist in the negotiations.

The negotiations in Paris The League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles France pushed for several harsh

measures against Germany: Territorial concessions & Reparations

Wilson’s Fight for the Treaty

Opposition in the Senate The “Irreconcilables”

Wilson took his case to the American people Delivered 32 addresses in 22 days Suffered stroke on October 2

Senate did not ratify Versailles Treaty.The official end of the war came by

joint resolution of Congress after Wilson left office.

Effects of the War at HomeProgressivism ends (reform zeal channeled

into war effort)Increased democracy (women get to vote) –

1920 19th AmendmentOrder and efficiency in economy (Industry

boards)Workers—migration; improved working

conditions (8hr work day)Morality and Patriotism

laws against prostitution (disease and troops) Prohibition 100% Americanism

United States’ World Status

Not isolation; but hesitant to provide world leadership

Strongest economic power in the world/not strongest military power

1914—debtor nation (owed $3 million to other countries)

1918—creditor nation (world owed U.S. $13 billion)

The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 (Spanish flu)

Pandemic killed over 22 million people worldwide Twice the number that died in World War I 5 times the number of Americans that died in World War I

(500,000 deaths) You were fined for spitting on the sidewalk or sneezing

without a handkerchief People began wearing surgical masks to work Public facilities were closed (phone booths, theaters,

churches) 1 in 4 Americans contracted the illness

No disease, plague, war, famine, or natural catastrophe in world history had killed so many people in such a short time.

Other Problems

Economic transition and labor unrestRacial friction—violent race riots in 191The Red Scare

Directed against Socialists and Communists Fear of a social revolution (like Russia’s) Most violence was the work of the lunatic fringe, but

many Americans saw it all as “Bolshevism” Role of Palmer, attorney-general, in promoting Red Scare Palmer raids The Red Scare began to evaporate by the summer of

1920

NativismFear of anything foreign; heightened by

increased immigration after 1919Immigration was restricted

East Asian immigration stopped Quota system set to keep country just like it was (Ex. 2 percent

in 1890 census) Bias toward “old” immigrants Coolidge--- “America must be kept American” Left the door open for Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans

Klan resurfaces Devoted to 100% Americanism Targets blacks, Roman Catholics, Jews, and immigrants

1901 Hay-Paunceforte treaty

Significant Events

1902 Platt Amendment ratified

1904 Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine

1907 “Great White Fleet” embarks on world tour

1911 Mexican Revolution erupts 1914 World War I begins 1915 Lusitania torpedoed 1916 General John J. Pershing invades Mexico 1917 Zimmermann telegram released 1918 Wilson’s Fourteen points for peace 1919 Paris Peace Conference; Senate rejects

Treaty of Versailles