Wilson, War, and Peace http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vssnde.html Play song from above link “Over there, over there. Send the word, send the word over there, that the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming…So prepare, say a pray’r, 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.”
America gives Allies the Edge Allied Convoys protect shipping Germany renewed unrestricted submarine warfare Allies lost crucial supplies Solution: Convoys Instant success
The Allies Struggle Russian Revolution March 1917 Overthrew Czar Nicholas II Nov 1917-communist Vladimir Lenin gained control of Russia Ended the war with Germany Germany could now concentrate on the Western Front
American Troops Join the Fight June 1917-General John J. Pershing American troops-called “doughboys” Saw significant action Greatest war hero-Alvin York of Tennessee
Statistics 1.3 million Americans served on the front 50,000 lost their lives 230,000 wounded Thousands of heroes African Americans-369th infantry
The War Ends November 11, 1918 Compiegne, France
Wilson Promotes Peace without Victory Fourteen Points Peace inspired by noble ideals, not greed & vengeance Open diplomacy Freedom of seas Free trade End colonialism Self-determination
League of Nations To secure “mutual guarantees of political independence Peace conference Versailles-1919 Wilson-attended-no leading republicans went Henry Cabot Lodge
Allied Leaders Reject Wilson’s Ideas Who’s to blame? Pay reparations Return of Alsace-Lorraine/several other German colonies Only thing they kept was the League of Nations
Problems with the Peace Self-determination violated Germans attached to non-German states Ottoman Empire split-new states clustered randomly America rejected the treaty
America rejects the Treaty German-Americans thought it was too harsh Irreconcilables Reservationists Too vague Pres. Wilson has a stroke
Senate Rejects the Versailles Treaty Three strikes, you’re out Problem: Most senators wanted the US to participate But they could not get over personal/political differences for the good of the country LONG-TERM effect: Without American support, the League of Nations was unable to maintain peace among nations