World War I 10.1

Europe in 1914

Numbers

Trench Warfare

Deadly Technology

Wilson & Neutrality Americans have divided loyalties; Due to diverse population 3 main opinions on America’s involvement form: 1) Isolationist 2) Interventionist 3) Internationalist= Wilson’s position; Wanted to create peace between European nations, but did not want to participate in the War German invasion of Belgium influenced Americans to support the Allied powers

Shift from Neutrality to War British blockade of Germany Confiscated contraband from German merchant/trade ships German military reaction: Use of U-Boats & unrestricted warfare May 1915= Sunk the Lusitania, British passenger liner; 1,200 deaths (128 Americans) 1916= French passenger liner Sussex sunk

Shift from Neutrality to War 1916= Wilson & Congress showed “preparedness” with 2 pieces of legislation: 1) National Defense Act= Expanded the size of the army 2) Naval Construction Act= Ordered the building of more warships 1916 was an election year, Wilson reelected for 2nd term

U.S. Enters WWI 1917, 2 events led America to declare war: 1) Zimmerman Note= German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sent telegram to Mexico. 2) Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain April 6, 1917= Congress officially declares war on Germany; Enters WWI

World War I= The Home Front 10.2

Mobilizing for War Selective Service Act War Industries Board Headed by Bernard Baruch; Determined what products were made, where they would go, etc. Food Administration Headed by future president Herbert Hoover Set high prices for wheat; Encouraged increased production Committee on Public Info (CPI) Educated the public about causes/nature of War; Propaganda tool Headed by George Creel

Opposition to the War Resistance to the draft 12% of men ignored draft notices Conscientious objectors= People whose moral/religious beliefs forbid them to fight Espionage Act (June 1917) Severe penalties for anyone engaged in disloyal/treasonable activities $10,000 fine, 20 years of imprisonment Sedition Act (1918) Unlawful to use “disloyal, profane, or abusive language” about the government, Constitution, & military Schenck v. United States (1919) upheld constitutionality of Sedition Act

Prejudice Against German Americans

War= Opportunities Women= Over 500,000 joined the workforce during WWI Factories, railroads, telegraph operators, farmers, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers Women supporting the war led to the 19th Amendment (1920) Mexican-Americans= Increased demands for food & decrease in farmworkers created jobs that migrants filled Formation of barrios (Hispanic neighborhoods) in California

War= Opportunities The Great Migration Mass movement of African-Americans from the South to the Northern USA Why?= 1) Escape racism 2) Economic advancement= Better jobs & pay