Chapter 24, Section 2: From Neutrality to War Main Idea: The United States tried to remain neutral, but German submarine warfare finally brought the country into the war.

A. Wilson’s Peace Efforts l President Wilson wanted peace, but also wanted the U.S. to be prepared for war l Wilson pushed for “peace without victory” (both sides stop fighting; no winner), but was ignored by Europe l He won reelection in 1916 on the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” (defeated C.E. Hughes)

B. Moving Toward War l Germany resumed submarine warfare near Britain, causing Wilson to end diplomatic relations with them. The Zimmermann Plot l The U.S. learned of a secret telegram sent from Germany to Mexico urging them to attack the U.S. if the U.S. declared war on Germany. In return, Germany would help Mexico get back the land lost in the Mexican Cession (1850s). –This caused anti-German feelings to soar in the U.S. Revolution in Russia l A revolution in Russia drove Czar Nicholas II from power. –As the war dragged on, discontent rose in Russia over war deaths & food shortages, leading to riots, which became a revolution. The US supported this. War Comes l Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany (“The world must be made safe for democracy.”). Congress voted 455 to 56 in favor of war. War is declared on 4/6/17.

US Enters World War I Zimmerman Telegram Germans Torpedo Lusitania German U- Boats Sink US Ships Trading with GB Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming everywhere. So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware. We'll be over, we're coming over, And we won't come back till it's over Over there.

C. Preparing to Fight l George M. Cohan – “Over There” l Allies were desperate for US help. Raising an Army l Selective Service Act- required all men from to register for the military draft (required service) l Over 4 million voluntarily joined in next 18 months (time US was in war) l Spirit & morale was high (looked at as an adventure “over there”) l African-Americans were not allowed to join at first; when they finally were, they had to fight in segregated black units led by white officers Educating the Troops l Many recruits were illiterate (25%). The army educated many. This also led to calls for tougher standards & more hours in school.

1917 – Selective Service Act 24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of ,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat). 400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units. 15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units.

D. Managing the War Effort the War Effort l The economy was reorganized to meet war needs. Huge government agencies were created to oversee this. –Bureaucracy – government divided into departments run by appointed officials (State Dept, Health Dept, Defense Dept, etc.) Food Administration l Run by future President Herbert Hoover to boost food production in order to feed troops & help Allied nations. –“Food Will Win the War” – encouraged cooperation by Americans –Victory Gardens – people grew their own vegetables –Wheatless Mondays & Meatless Tuesdays – people used less food Managing Industry l Weapon shortages & scarce materials created problems l War Industries Board - told factories what to make & how much to charge for their goods. l War Labor Board - settled labor disputes (hours & wages) in order to prevent strikes. –This was a good time for labor unions (membership rose sharply).

Public Support- Sales of Liberty Bonds raised $21 billion for the war effort (bond = loan to the government) “Four-Minute Men” gave public speeches urging Americans to make sacrifices & to support the war Women Workers Many women took over “men’s” jobs in factories, where they assembled weapons & airplane parts. Others drove public transportation, delivered mail, etc. They proved themselves worthy of doing physical work. All were paid less than the men they replaced & most were laid off at the end of the war, when men returned, however. Anti-German Prejudice Many Americans were suspicious of German-Americans & questioned their loyalty to the US Some German-Americans were attacked by angry mobs (Robert Prager), causing many to change their last names. No German taught in school & German words changed German measles became “liberty measles” sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage” hamburgers became “liberty patties” Dachsunds became ‘liberty pups” E. The Home Front

· “Four-Minute Men” made speeches urging Americans to make sacrifices for the goals of freedom and democracy. Speech by a Four Minute Man Ladies and Gentlemen: I have just received the information that there is a German spy among us— a German spy watching us. He is around, here somewhere, reporting upon you and me—sending reports about us to Berlin and telling the Germans just what we are doing with the Liberty Loan. From every section of the country these spies have been getting reports over to Potsdam—not general reports but details—where the loan is going well and where its success seems weak, and what people are saying in each community. For the German Government is worried about our great loan. Those Junkers fear its effect upon the German morale. They’re raising a loan this month, too. If the American people lend their billions now, one and all with a hip-hip-hurrah, it means that America is united and strong. While, if we lend our money half- heartedly, America seems weak and autocracy remains strong. Money means everything now; it means quicker victory and therefore less bloodshed. We are in the war, and now Americans can have but one opinion, only one wish in the Liberty Loan. Well, I hope these spies are getting their messages straight, letting Potsdam know that America is hurling back to the autocrats these answers: For treachery here, treachery in Mexico, treachery everywhere—one billion. For murder of American women and children—one billion more. For broken faith & promise to murder more Americans—billions & billions more. In the world fight for Liberty, our share—billions and billions and billions and endless billions. Do not let the German spy hear and report that you are a slacker.

· German Americans faced discrimination and their loyalty to the U.S. was questioned. "Where he can be kept out of mischief?” “Nobody Would Eat Kraut”: Lola Gamble Clyde speaks about Anti-German Sentiment in Idaho During World War I There were some boys that got draft deferments for this and other reason, and they rode 'em on a rail and they took off their clothes and tarred and feathered some of them. Some of them as old men dying still resented and remembered those violent episodes. I remember when they smashed out store windows at Uniontown that said Kraut on it. And Kraut on the window. Nobody would eat Kraut. Throw the Kraut out, they were Germans. You know. And all that was pretty vile, you know. I remember even the great Williamson store, he went in and gathered up everything that was made in Germany, and had a big bonfire out in the middle of the street, you know. Although he had many good German friends all over the county that had helped make him rich. And there was all that went on, you know. And some people changed their name. And if it was a German name—we’ll just change our name. We don’t want anything to do with it. And there was lots of that kind of hysteria going on.

"Among the more regrettable and bloody episodes of this kind of wartime hysteria took place in the Midwest when a mob seized a German- American man named Robert Prager. They stripped him of his clothes, bound him with cloth made from an American flag and lynched him in front of a crowd of some 500 or more people – all of whom cheered the effort on. The perpetrators of the lynching were arrested and brought to trial. A jury acquitted them in 20 minutes saying that what they had done was patriotic murder. Robert Prager, in fact, was a young man who had tried to enlist in the American navy and was then rejected for medical reasons. He had been known to say publicly political opinions of a socialist sort. He was thought to be (mistakenly, I believe) some kind of a pacifist. And his worst crime was that he was German-American.“ – Prof. David Kennedy, Stanford University Patriotic Murder

Great Migrations Hundreds of thousands of African-Americans moved from the rural South (most were sharecroppers) to northern cities for factory jobs during the war. This continued for many years after the war, as well. Competition for housing & jobs between white & black workers led to racial tension & race riots. 39 African-Americans killed in race riot near St. Louis Tens of thousands of Mexicans entered the US to work on farms & ranches in California & Texas. US tried to force most back to Mexico after the war. Opposition to the War Pacifists were anti-war people (philosophically) Many Socialists, anarchists & other radicals were anti- war (war favored rich factory owners over workers) Congress made it illegal to criticize the government or the war with the Sedition Act (almost 1600 arrested) Eugene V. Debs – Socialist candidate for President (5x) was jailed for protesting the draft “Big Bill” Haywood – head of IWW also jailed Is this a violation of the First Amendment? No – Congress does have the authority to do this

· Many Progressives opposed the war. In response, the U.S. made it illegal to criticize the government or to interfere with the war. - Nearly 1,600 people were arrested for breaking these laws. Eugene V. Debs - Eugene Debs, Socialist candidate for President, was arrested for protesting the draft.

The Espionage Act of 1917 was passed shortly after the U.S. entered World War I. It made it a crime for a person to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies. It was punishable by a maximum $10,000 fine (almost $170,000 in today's dollars) and 20 years in prison. Debs in the Atlanta Penitentiary