America in WWI On the Home front

Free Write & Discussion Do you think it is patriotic or anti-American to criticize the United States government in a time of war?

U.S. Public Opinion Public opinion on WWI was divided in the U.S. Some supported U.S. entry into the war in light of the Zimmerman telegram and the sinking of the Lusitania.

“He Kept Us Out of War” In 1916 President Wilson won re-election running on the slogan “He Kept Us Out of War.” Wilson declared war in April 1917.

Committee on Public Information During WWI, the U.S. took drastic steps to make sure people were supportive of the war effort The CPI was America’s first domestic propaganda campaign

Meanwhile… As the government was producing propaganda for war – Also started changing laws to limit what people could say in a time of warfare

Espionage & Sedition Acts Both acts suppressed anti-British, pro-German, and anti-war opinions. Over 1,500 people were prosecuted Over 1,000 convicted under these laws, many for small acts of dissent.

Espionage & Sedition Acts Espionage Act: Banned any activity that hindered military recruitment. Sedition Act: Much broader limitation on peoples’ free speech rights during war. Excerpt from Sedition Act: it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or “willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces” or to “willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production of things necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war.”

What do you think? Is this law unconstitutional? The Sedition Act (1918) “Whoever shall willfully say, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, or abusive language about the form of government, Constitution, military or naval forces, or flag, shall be punished by a fine of no more than $10,000 and/or 20 years in prison First Amendment (1791) “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” What do you think? Is this law unconstitutional?

Charles Schenck Charles Schenck was a Socialist Between 1917-1918, printed and distributed more than 15,000 anti- war pamphlets, including some to drafted American men.

Schenck’s pamphlet “To draw this country into the horrors of the present war in Europe, to force the youth of our land into the shambles and bloody trenches of war crazy nations, would be a crime the magnitude of which defies description. Words could not express the condemnation such cold-blooded ruthlessness deserves. In this world crisis where do you stand? Are you with the forces of liberty and light or war and darkness?”

The Supreme Court’s Decision Schenck v. US (1919) Ruling: In ordinary times the 1st Amendment would have protected it BUT every act of speech must be judged by the circumstances in which it was spoken If an act of speech posed a clear and present danger, then Congress had the power to restrain such speech Upheld Schenck’s conviction

The state of the war Germany initially doing well against British and French troops By May of 1918 they were just 50 miles from Paris

America to the rescue American troops jumped in and saved Paris Turned the tide of war 250,000 American troops arriving in France each month

America’s contribution In total, 1.5 million American troops arrived in Europe in the last 6 months of the war

Surrender begins Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire surrendered in the fall of 1918 Finally Germany surrendered on Nov. 11, 1918

Influenza Epidemic Last months of the war Killed more people worldwide than all battles of the war

Progression of the Great Influenza First detected in Kansas Then carried to Europe by American soldiers The influenza killed within a few days 30 million people died

Consequences of War Deaths: Killed 14 million Politically 9 million combatants and 5 million civilians Politically Downfall of 4 empires, led to Bolshevik rise to power in Russia, triumph of fascism in Italy Other consequences Mass murder of Armenians in Turkey Influenza epidemic that killed 25 million people

Consequences for America Europe’s leading creditor Most industrialized nation Comparatively few deaths Leads to America becoming a major world power

The Peace European Allies wanted to make Germany pay for the damage of war President Wilson, instead, thought the treaty should lay the groundwork to “end all wars” Wilson brought his “Fourteen Points” to Paris

League of Nations Wilson’s 14 Points called for a League of Nations, an international governing body This became part of the Treaty of Versailles But Congress refused to ratify the treaty Disliked the idea of “internationalism” wanted to stay out of the conflicts of Europe Instead wanted to focus on America & its interests