AFTERMATH of WWI
TIMELINE of US INVOLVEMENT Apr 6, 1917—US declares war on Germany Spring 1918—US forces arrive in Europe Summer 1918—Allies begin to push back Germans Nov 11, 1918—(11:00a) Fighting Stops
CASUALTIES OF WAR --1 Million Dead Britain --1.7 Million Dead France Germany Russia US
World Powers Greatly Weakened Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire Russia Germany Britain, France
US Emerges as a Major World Power Politically— Militarily— Economically--
LESSONS FOR US FROM WWI WILSON’S LESSON: Us Wanted Isolationism & Neutrality But Got Dragged In WILSON’S LESSON: Modern War Makes Neutrality Impossible Unless… Collective Enforcement Of Int’l Law Isolationism Is Impossible
To Maintain American Independence & Freedom To Protect American Rights WILSON BELIEVED THAT: To Maintain American Independence & Freedom To Protect American Rights To Avoid Involvement In Wars
U.S. MUST IN HOPES OF Join Collective Security Organization Be Willing To Become Involved In Foreign Wars IN HOPES OF Avoiding War Altogether “Make The World Safe For Democracy”
Member Nations Work Together To Create & Enforce International Law LEAGUE of NATIONS Proposed By Wilson Member Nations Work Together To Create & Enforce International Law In Treaty of Versailles
LESSONS FOR US FROM WWI AMERICANS’ LESSON: American Rights Trampled By Foreigners 116,516 Of Our Boys Killed In Just A Few Months To Hell With Europe!!!
RESULTS: Wilson Faces Opposition At Home Wilson Has Stroke Trying To Popularize His Message US Never Ratifies Treaty US Never Joins League of Nations
SO… American people, tired of war, Europe & all things unusual or foreign did 1 of 2 things: 1. Returned to rural “normalcy” (The “Current” of the 1920s) 2. Became cynical members of the urban-flapperhappy-speakeasylovin-jazzsingin-tommygunshootin-moonshinesluggin-Lost-Generation (The “Undercurrent” of the 1920s)