USHC-5.4b Analyze the causes and consequences of United States involvement in World War I, including the failure of neutrality and the reasons for declaration of war, the role of propaganda in creating a unified war effort, the limitation of individual liberties, and Woodrow Wilson’s leadership in the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations

U.S. Involvement in the War When the United States entered the war Europe had been fighting the war for three years. New technologies like the machine gun, hand grenades, and poison gas made this a very deadly war. ***Trench Warfare- As a result both sides dug trenches and the war settled down into a stalemate. Both sides lived for long periods of time in dirty, wet, and rat-infested trenches.

The Army However, the United States was not prepared to enter the war right away it did not have enough soldiers so Congress passed the Selective Service Act authorizing a draft of young men for military service. Volunteers and draftees went overseas as a part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) under the command of General John J. Pershing became known as ‘doughboys’ and they turned the tide of the war against the Central Powers. ***‘Harlem Hellfighters’ – the 369 th Infantry and an all black unit that served so admirably that it was given France’s highest medal for bravery.

Turning Points In The War Russia Pulls Out- By 1917 the Russians were tired of fighting and had lost almost 2 million killed, not to mention countless sick and wounded. Many Russian people were starving as provisions went to the front. In March 1917 the Russian Revolution occurred and Tsar Nicolas II was replaced with a democratic government. However, the democratic government quickly fell to the Bolsheviks who were led by Vladimir Lenin and established a communist government. Having received assistance from the German’s the Bolsheviks pull the Russians out of the war.

U.S. Troops Save Paris and Help Turn the War With Russia out of the war Germany could move troops west and concentrate on taking Paris. The German offensive reached to within fifty miles of Paris. In early June, the AEF helped fight off the last German offensive of the war. The Allies then used a new weapon to push through German lines (tanks). The combined forces with the U.S. adding men and material the Germans realized the fight was lost. ***On the 11 th minute of the 11 th hour on 11 th day of November 1918 Germany signed the armistice that ends World War I.

Troops celebrating the end of WWI

American celebrating on Wall St. in NYC

Mobilization on the Home Front The war effort stimulated ethnic and ideological conflicts within the US. Propaganda characterized Germans as Huns (i.e. Attila the Hun)

Government Actions at Home ***War Industries Board- President Wilson needed to regulate industry and switch the economy over to war production. The WIB did this Committee on Public Information- designed to encourage support for the war, the CPI created an add campaign that often depicted the Germans as monsters. ***Food Administration- encouraged people to conserve food that could be used for the war effort. They also launched efforts to conserve fuel, which lead to daylight savings time. Espionage and Sedition Acts- made it illegal to interfere with the draft, obstruct the sale of Liberty Bonds or to make statements disloyal or critical of the government. Socialist leader Eugene Debs was actually sentenced to 10 years in prison for criticizing the government.

After the War The leaders met together for a peace conference. The Conference was dominated by the Big Four (Britain, France, Italy, and the United States) President Wilson wanted a “peace without victory” and had no desire to punish Germany. He wanted to establish peace and stability in Europe. His proposal was known as the “Fourteen Points” – Dramatic arms reduction – The right of self-determination – ***Wanted to create the League of Nations – to find diplomatic solutions. (today called the United Nations) It looked like Wilson’s plan would be accepted, except in the U.S. a group of isolationists in the Senate had denied the treaty. Which meant the US did not become a member of the League.

Pres. Woodrow Wilson

The Treaty of Versailles With Wilson’s plan dead in the Senate, many of the European leaders wanted to punish the Germans, over 8 million Europeans had died in the war. (5,000 a day) In June of 1919, the Allies forced the Germans to sign the Treaty of Versailles that made Germany take total responsibility for the war and made it pay reparations. ($30 Billion to the victors) The conditions set forth caused Germany to slide into a terrible depression, making conditions possible for Adolf Hitler to come to power.