World War I Part 2 The Road to War

“He Kept Us Out of War” President Wilson was devoted to trying to find peace, while also making sure the U.S. strengthened the army and navy. In his 1916 re-election campaign, he narrowly beat out a Republican Supreme Court Justice named Charles Evans Hughes.

As the campaign narrowed, Wilson’s Democrats painted Hughes as a dangerous warmonger. To support Wilson, they used the slogan, “He kept us out of war!” Hughes actually went to bed thinking he had won the election. However, election results the next morning showed Wilson had won California which gave him enough electoral votes to remain president.

Moving Toward War A desperate Germany announced in February of 1917, that they would attack any ships nearing Britain. They realized this would probably bring the United States into the war, but they hoped they could beat the allies before we could cross the ocean. Wilson cut diplomatic relations.

The Zimmermann Telegram Germany’s foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sent a message to the German minister in Mexico. It asked him to urge Mexico to attack the U.S. if they declared war. If Mexico would attack, Germany would help Mexico get back land it had lost to the U.S. in When Americans find out, anti-German feelings soared.

The U.S. gets angrier as Germany continues to attack American vessels on the ocean. In Russia, a revolution after food riots drives Czar Nicholas from power. The revolutionaries set up a new government and call for democratic reforms which pleased Wilson. He thought this would make the allies stronger.

Wilson’s War Message On April 2, Wilson asked Congress to declare war. The final vote was 455 to 56 in favor of war. On April 6, President Wilson signed the declaration of war. Earlier, when he had addressed Congress about the need to go to war, he had ended with these words:

“It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the thing which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy.”

“Over There” A song was written the day after Congress declared war. The tune swept the nation away. “Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word, over there, That the Yanks are coming…” Its closing message promised: “We’ll be over, we’re coming over, And we won’t come back till it’s over over there.”

America had a lot to do to prepare for war. Britain and France were desperate for food and weapons, and in Russia, soldiers were abandoning the eastern front to fight in the Russian Revolution. The “Selective Service Act” required all young men from age to register for the military draft. Eventually 4 million men and women joined the armed forces.

The men drilled for combat, while the women served as radio operators, clerks, and stenographers. Not all men could train with weapons, so some used broomsticks. People from many races and ethnic backgrounds signed up to fight. Nearly 400,000 blacks served, but had to be in segregated units. Many hoped war would lead to their acceptance.

Organizing the War Effort We produced more food, arms, etc. in order to win the war. People planted “victory gardens”, and had “wheatless Mondays” and “meatless Tuesdays.” “Do not permit your child to take a bite or two from an apple and throw the rest away; nowadays even children must be taught to be patriotic to the core.”

The government instructed factories what to produce. Unions also won better pay and working conditions. Movie stars encouraged the public to buy war bonds, and $21 billion was collected through the sale of Liberty Bonds. “Four-Minute Men” gave speeches in crowds urging Americans to make sacrifices in order to win. Women also entered the work force.

The American government appealed to peoples’ patriotism in order to raise funds for the war.

Tensions and Protests Many blacks moved north seeking jobs, and there were some clashes in competition over housing and jobs. Some German-Americans had their loyalty to the U.S. challenged, and many were harassed. Socialists and radicals were against the war because they felt it only would benefit the rich.

To encourage unity, Congress passed laws making it a crime to criticize the government. 1,600 men and women went to jail for breaking these laws. Some people judged the constitutionality of these laws, but most Americans felt that they were probably necessary in a time of war.