World War I Unit 7D AP U.S. History

Think About It To what extent was the American public supportive of increased foreign involvement? To what extent did World War I impact Progressive Era reforms?

Great War in Europe (1914-1919) Archduke and wife of Austria-Hungary assassinated by Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914 Alliances and ultimatums dragged Europe into a destructive conflict

The Path to War American Neutrality German U-Boats Isolationists Preparedness Mostly pro-Allies German U-Boats Lusitania sunk on May 7, 1915 killing 128 Americans Sussex Pledge (1916) German resumes unrestricted submarine warfare Russian Revolution (1917) Zimmermann Telegram (1917) German request for Mexico alliance in return for lost land by U.S. United States declares war on April 6, 1917 To preserve and defend democracy, self-determination

America Should Enter World War I; America Should Not Enter World War I George W. Norris – “U.S. Senate Speech” (April 4, 1917) Woodrow Wilson – “Address to Congress” (April 2, 1917) Our object now, as then, is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power and to set up among the really free and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of purpose and of action as will henceforth ensure the observance of those principles. Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people… The world must be safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion…We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We ought to remember the advice of the Father of our Country [George Washington] and keep out of entangling alliances. Let Europe solve her problems as we have solved ours. Let Europe bear her burdens as we have borne ours. In the greatest war of our history and at the time it occurred, the greatest war in the world’s history, we were engaged in solving an American problem. We settled the question of human slavery and washed our flag clean by the sacrifice of human blood. It was a great problem and a great burden, but we solved it ourselves. Never once did we think of asking Europe to take part in its solution. Never once did any European nation undertake to settle the great question. We solved it, and history has rendered a unanimous verdict that we solved it right. The troubles of Europe ought to be settled by Europe…and we ought to remain absolutely neutral and permit them to settle their questions without our interference.

American Domestic War Effort War Agencies War Industries Board National War Labor Board Food Administration Committee on Public Information Liberty Bonds Financial support for American war effort Portrayed as an act of patriotic duty

American Propaganda

American Domestic Insecurity American Protective League (APL) Espionage Act of 1917 Prohibition of: Interfere in military operations Interfere in military recruitment Support of U.S. enemies Promote insubordination "The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that the United States Congress has a right to prevent. It is a question of proximity and degree. When a nation is at war, many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its effort that their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight, and that no Court could regard them as protected by any constitutional right.“ Schenk v. United States (1919) Abrams v. United States (1919) Sedition Act of 1918 In times of war: Prohibit disloyal, profane, scurrilous, abusive language against U.S. government, military, and flag

Americans Over There Selective Service Act of 1917 Conscription of 21-31 18-45 by 1918 American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Inspired to preserve democracy and defend American honor General John J. Pershing War Events Spring Offensive (1918) Hundred Days Offensive (1918) Armistice (11/11/1918) German capitulation Casualties 117,000 Americans 1 million British, 1.6 million French, 3.3. million Russian, 2.4 million German, 2.9 million Ottoman, 1.5 million Austrian-Hungarian

Wilson and Peace Fourteen Points Treaty of Versailles “peace without victory” Freedom of the seas Self-determination League of Nations Treaty of Versailles German guilt, reparations Wilson and Senate Treaty Ratification Senate Opposition Irreconcilables Strongly opposed the Treaty of Versailles Reservationists Henry Cabot Lodge Amendments to Treaty to limit American involvement Wilson’s Public Campaign Wilson debilitated by a stroke from exhaustion Senate rejects Treaty and League of Nations U.S. will eventually negotiate separate treaties

Postwar America Labor Unions and Strikes Causes Unions wanted to preserve labor gains during war Post-war inflation demanded higher wages Union Membership AFL supported WWI AFL reached 4 million by 1920 IWW opposed WWI Lost membership Strikes of 1919 Seattle General Strike Boston Police Strike Steel Strike Coal Strike Public Perception Association with radicals Strikes causes product shortages

Postwar America Race Riots Red Summer of 1919 Three dozen cities experienced race riots Economic competition and First Red Scare Chicago (July-August) Blacks react to stoning of young man Omaha (September) Brutal lynching of William Brown

Postwar America First Red Scare Causes War Propaganda Overman Committee Russian Revolution Strikes and Riots Targets Anarchists, Bolsheviks, Socialists, Communists, Wobblies 1919 Bombings Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer Palmer Raids Deportations

The Department of Justice Is Defending America from Communist Subversion; The Department of Justice Is Violating Constitutional Freedoms A. Mitchell Palmer – “The Case Against the Reds” (1920) National Popular Government League – “Report Upon the Illegal Practices of the United States Department of Justice” (1920) It has been impossible in short a space to review the entire menace of the internal revolution in this country as I know it, but this may serve to arouse the American citizen to its reality, its danger, and the great need of united effort to stamp it out, under our feet, if needs be. It is being done. The Department of Justice will pursue the attack of these “Reds” upon the Government of the United States with vigilance, and no alien, advocating the overthrow of existing law and order in this country, shall escape arrest and prompt deportation. It is my belief that while they have stirred discontent in our midst, while they have caused irritating strikes, and while they have infected our social ideas with the disease of their own minds and their unclean morals, we can get rid of them! and not until we have done so shall we have removed the menace of Bolshevism for good. Under the guise of a campaign for the suppression of radical activities, the office of the Attorney General, acting by its local agents throughout the country, and giving express instructions from Washington, has committed continual illegal acts. Wholesale arrests both of aliens and citizens have been made without warrant or any process of law… There is no danger of revolution so great as that created by suppression, by ruthlessness, and by deliberate violation of the simple rules of American law and American decency... It is a fallacy to suppose that, any more than in the past, any servant of the people can safely arrogate to himself unlimited authority. To proceed upon such a supposition is to deny the fundamental American theory of the consent of the governed.