“Back Home” 12.4
Back Home Funding the warFunding the war –Liberty Bonds $20 billion raised »Lent money to the Allies Herbert Hoover’s role Price ControlsPrice Controls RationingRationing –“Food will win the war.” –Daylight savings time
Liberty Bonds
War Trade Board Licenses trade with foreign countries Punishes companies suspected of dealing with the enemy.
War Industries Board Regulates the production of war goods
War Labor Board Settled labor disputes that might interfere with the war effort Very anti-union –Supported by Samuel Gompers
Back Home Espionage ActEspionage Act –Illegal to interfere with draft Sedition ActSedition Act –Illegal to obstruct sale of LB’s –Illegal to say anything bad about the USA
Sedition – Political Radicals Eugene DebsEugene Debs –10-year jail sentence for criticizing the government NewspapersNewspapers –Mailing rights of 45 were revoked within 1 year
Alien Act Imposed a Literacy test for immigrants Passed over Wilson’s veto
Effects of the war… Women –Women find work in war related industries –The war seemed to bring about major social change
African and Mexican Americans Found Work in war related industries Companies that had once refused to hire minorities now actively recruited them for work
Immigration WWI virtually stopped the flow of immigrants from Europe
Peace at Home 12.5
What does President Wilson Want? “The world to be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression”
He wants a LASTING PEACE and INTERNATIONAL STABILITY. Prime Minister David Lloyd George of the UK, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau of France, and President Woodrow Wilson
What is Wilson’s Plan? Fourteen Points –Removal of trade barriers –Reduction of military forces –Self determination of ethnic groups –A permanent agency to settle disputes
14 Points This was Wilson’s plan.This was Wilson’s plan. Contains plan for the League of NationsContains plan for the League of Nations
Reparations Other Allies demanded reparations from Germany.Other Allies demanded reparations from Germany. –“War guilt” left many bitter
Germans initially refuse to sign the Treaty of VersaillesGermans initially refuse to sign the Treaty of Versailles –France threatens them
The “Irreconcilables” Some Senators were opposed to the plan because it involved the US in the League of Nations (Article 10) They favor an isolationist policy
The “Irreconcilables”
Wilson’s Crusade Wilson needs approval of Congress DIFFICULTWilson needs approval of Congress DIFFICULT US tourUS tour –36 speeches in 3 weeks –Stroke & paralysis
US Ends War Congress rejected the Treaty of VersaillesCongress rejected the Treaty of Versailles Separate peace w/ Germany after Wilson leaves office (1921)Separate peace w/ Germany after Wilson leaves office (1921) –Never joined League of Nations
Postwar Adjustments Britain has spent much of its wealth on the war The US is now the worlds largest creditor nation
Despite its new power, we turn away from world power and return to an ISOLATIONIST foreign policy
The soldiers return… There was no plan to return soldiers to society Jobs proved scarce Women and minorities were let go Black soldiers returned to Jim Crow America
“We all started out with high ideals…After being right up here at the front line…I cannot understand what it is all about or what has been accomplished by all this waste of youth.”
Postwar Gloom - Some Americans felt disillusioned that the war ended an era of progress and optimism