1. America at War

2. 1914-1917 World War One began in 1914. United States Reaction:
Neutrality
Isolationism: a policy of not being involved in the affairs of other nations
Is the U.S. actually neutral??
Long-time connection (economic, political, cultural) to Great Britain
Nervous of Germany’s war tactics
Britain purchasing $75 million in war goods from U.S.

3. America Gets Involved German Submarine Warfare Zimmerman Note
Began to use U-Boats (small submarines) in unrestricted warfare
Lustinania- British luxury ship shot by German u-boats Americans died
After another attack on the French ship, Sussex, Germany issued the Sussex pledge- a promise to not sink merchant vessels
Zimmerman Note
German telegram sent to German official in Mexico
Proposed alliance between Germany and Mexico
Intercepted by Great Britain, who sent to America
Americans now ready for war.

4. After Germany sank 3 more American merchant ships, America officially declares war on April 2, 1917

5. Americans on the war front
Selective Service Act- required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register to be drafted into the armed forces
Conscientious objectors- moral or religious reasons for not fighting in a war
Military Women
Nurses, Bookkeepers, Typists, Telegraphers
Hello Girls: switchboard operators who kept communication lines open between front line and headquarters
Segregated Units & Divisions
African Americans and Hispanic Americans were separated into different divisions and trained in separate camps
Harlem Hell Fighters

7. Harlem Hell Fighters

8. Mobilizing the Economy
How to Pay for War
War Revenue Act – established high taxes and taxed the wealthiest Americans as much as 77% of their income
Increased revenue by 400%
Loans
National debt grew from $1.2 billion in 1916 to $25.5 billion in 1919
More than $20 billion of that debt was owed to people who purchased liberty bonds ( a loan to the government)

10. Mobilizing the Economy
Regulating Industry
Created hundreds of board to regulate both industrial and agricultural production and distribution to ensure enough military supplies were available
War Industries Board- had the authority to regulate all materials in the war effort
“No steel, cooper, cement, rubber, or other basic materials could be used without our approval

12. Mobilizing the Economy
Regulating food and fuel
To ensure troops had plenty of food and supplies
Lever Food and Fuel Control Act- gave government the power to set the prices and establish production controls for food and for fuels needed to run military machines.
Food Regulation
Victory Gardens- grow own vegetables
“Meatless Mondays,”, “Wheat less Wednesday”
Fuel Regulation
“Gasless Sundays”, “Heatless Mondays”

14. Mobilizing Workers
Factory owners & stockholders made a tremendous amount of money
Workers wages rise, but cost of living increased and working long hours
Union membership rises dramatically
National War Labor Board- to decrease the chance of workers strike, board created to judge disputes between workers and management.
Established policies- 8 hour work day, recognition of labor unions, equal pay for equal work

17. Public Opinion at Home Winning Public Support Limiting Anti-War Speech
After Congress declared war, had to gain public support
Committee on Public Information- administration created to maximize public support and loyalty for WWI
Propaganda: material designed to influence opinion
Anti-German
Limiting Anti-War Speech
Espionage Act- punished those who aided enemy or refused military duty
Sedition Act- illegal for Americans to “utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal…or abusive language”
Schenck v. United States- limits 1st Amendment rights that cause harm to others or during war time

18. Fight over the Treaty in U.S. and Impact
End of World War One
Fight over the Treaty in U.S. and Impact

19. The Fight over the Treaty
After the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson returned to the United States to formally present the treaty to the U.S. Congress for ratification.
Wilson needed both Democratic and Republican support to gain ratification….becomes problematic

20. The Fight over the Treaty
Terms of Treaty
Senate’s Objections
Forced Germany to disarm
Created a League of Nations
Created numerous new countries in Europe.
Forced Germany to pay reparations to all countries involved.
Irreconcilables: members of Congress that opposed the agreement on principle.
- rejected League of Nations
Reservationists: Would ratify treaty, only if changes were made
- Disagreed that League members had to use military force to influence decisions
- Democrats fully supported

21. Treaty Ratification
After a downturn in Wilson’s health, he retired privately to the White House for the reminder of his term.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (a reservationist) took over and presented the treaty for ratification in November 1919.
Lodge’s Fourteen: included a list of 14 reservations, or concerns, about the treaty.
Wilson instructed to reject Treaty
Senate rejected it twice
1921, after Wilson left office the U.S. signed separate treaties with Austria, Germany, and Hungary.
Never joined League of Nations

22. Impact of War
U.S. and World Impact

23. Political Impacts United States The World
Became the World Power after World War One
Overthrow of monarchies (Austria-Hungary and Ottoman)
Rise of Bolsheviks to power in Russia
Revolts against colonialism in Middle East and Southeast Asia

24. Economic Impact The war had cost more than $280 billion United States
The World
U.S. emerged as World economy power
Demand for consumer good increased  inflation
Farmers had to adjust their agricultural output
Devastated European economies
Great Britain deeply in debt to the United States
German reparations left their economy crippled

25. Social Impact
Combat, disease, and starvation had killed more than 14 million people.
7 million left disabled.
United States
The World
Over a million women brought into the workforce
19th amendment – women’s suffrage
African Americans begin to move to cities
France lost almost half of their young generation
Enormous loss of life for all countries involved