US INVOLVEMENT IN WWI

Causes of American Involvement  1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  2. British propaganda  3. Zimmerman Telegraph  4. Russian Revolution

3 Which side should the US pick? 11 million German-Americans Irish-Americans hated Great Britain Close cultural ties Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories) Big business loaned much $ to allies Central Powers:Allies: US Exports to both sides:

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  Germany created new submarine called the ”U-Boat”  British blockaded North Sea, so Germany gave a “sink on sight” order to any ship approaching Britain  May 7 th, 1915-British passenger liner the “Lusitania” sunk off the coast of Ireland  Killed 128 Americans

The Lusitania

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  Aug  The Arabic is sunk by the Germans  2 Americans are killed

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  March 1916  The Sussex, an unarmed passenger ship is sunk  America threatens to cut off diplomatic relations  Sussex pledge- no passenger or merchant ships would be sunk without warning

British Propaganda  The British sent news of the war to US newspapers everyday  Full of Propaganda  Led the American public to be sympathetic toward the British

British Propaganda

Zimmerman Telegram  March 1917-British authorities gave to the US a telegram that was supposedly sent to Mexico from Germany  It had been decoded by the British  It asked Mexico to declare war on the US and they would be supported by Germany

Russian Revolution  March 1917-Russia left WWI due to a Revolution in their own country  Germany now would concentrate totally on the Western Front  Pleas from Great Britain and France to join the war effort

Declaration of War  April 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany  “The World must be made safe for Democracy”  April 6 th -Congress votes and declares war

Mobilization - Centralized Regulation  War Industry Board – Bernard Baruch –Controlled raw material, production, prices, factories, RR’s –Nat’l War Labor Bd – Support by Gompers –No strikes – higher wages, etc.  Food Administration –Encouraged people to eat less meat and bread –Farm Production increased exports –No rationing cards yet (WWII)  Invented Daylight Savings to conserve fuel

Mobilization  Convinced Americans to put savings into “Liberty Bonds”  Increased income tax, business tax, and excise tax

US Propaganda  CREEL Committee  Voluntary censorship of the news  Made heroes out of soldiers and villains out of the Germans  Attacked and gave new names to anything that sounded German

US Propaganda

Civil Liberties  American Protective League – open mail, neighborhood watch  100% Americanism  Espionage Act of 1917-imprisoned for 20 year if caught inciting a riot or obstructing the draft  Sedition Act of 1918-Prohibited from making disloyal remarks  Schneck v. US (1919)-Restriction of civil liberties is ok if it demonstrates a “clear and present danger” to public safety (Abrams v. US)

Minorities  Women-Entered the workforce in mass, took the jobs of soldiers fighting in Europe  Mexicans-immigrating in mass to get agricultural work in the southwest  African-Americans-400,000 volunteered for the armed services, served in non-combat roles, and in segregated units; also in Northern industries --- Great Migration

Armed Forces  Thousands volunteered  Selective Service Act (1917)-2.8 million drafted by lottery  American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing

Casualties  49,000-Combat Deaths  64,000-Died from Disease  Worldwide Flu Epidemic

Armistice  November 11, 1918 at 11am  “On the 11 th day of the 11 th month at the 11 th hour”  Memorialized-Veterans Day  Germany surrendered their arms, Navy, and occupied territory

Wilson’s Plan  Called the 14 points  Points 1-5-Remove the Causes of War –Freedom of Seas –Prohibit secret treaties –Reduce Arms –Reduce colonies –Self-Determination-each person allowed to move to country of their nationality

Wilson’s Plan  Points 6-13-Boundary Changes  Point 14-League of Nations –Most valued-heart of peace plan –Peace association-solve problems by diplomatic means instead of war

Treaty of Versailles  January 1919-Paris  Big Four –Woodrow Wilson-US –David Lloyd George-Great Britain –Georges Clemenceau-France –Vittorio Orlando-Italy

Wilson

Lloyd George

Clemenceau

Orlando

Treaty of Versailles  Wilson wanted this to be the “war to end all wars”  Others wanted revenge  Months of arguing  Wilson compromised on all of his 14 points except one

Treaty of Versailles Provisions  1. Germany was disarmed, stripped of colonies, forced to admit guilt, occupation of Rhineland, and had to pay reparations (war debt) to England and France  2. Many boundary changes  3. Established a League of Nations

Boundary Changes

Weakness of Treaty  Central Powers not invited  Russia not invited-took land away  Germany blamed  Led to three wars –WWII –Cold War –Vietnam War

US Ratification  Wilson returns with treaty  Has to get 2/3 vote in Senate  Election of 1918-Majority of Republicans in both houses  Senate-raised objections to treaty especially League of Nations-against the Monroe Doctrine

US Ratification  Opponents divided into two groups –Irreconcilables-would not accept the treaty –Reservationists-Would accept the treaty if reservations placed on League of Nations –Henry Cabot Lodge leader of reservationists

US Ratification  Wilson against any reservations  Tries to rally public support by a speaking tour in the west  Sept. 25 th, 1919-collapsed while speaking, returned to Washington and suffered a massive stroke  Never recovered  Many believe his wife was running the country  Led to the 25 th Amendment-Presidential handicap

US Rejection of Treaty  Senate voted twice on treaty  Rejected both times  1921-US signed separate peace treaty with Germany  Never ratified the Treaty of Versailles or joined the League of Nations