America's Involvement in World War I

Farewell to Isolation

U.S. support for Allies in World War I.

what happens during the isolation (German)

- The British navy blockades German ports
- German survival relied on their U-boat (sub)
- Germany: resorted to unrestricted sub warfare

Lusitania

British ship sunk by German U-boat, killing 1,198 people, 128 of which were Americans

why did they sink the Lusitania

The Germans had published a warning in an American newspaper prior to the attack, and the ship was carrying 4 million rounds of ammunition

did the U.S join the European war because of the sinking of the lusitania

Despite some Americans clamoring for war, President Wilson held to his declaration of neutrality in word and deed. The Americans stayed out of Europe's war . . . for now

when was Wilson president

1912-1920

what university was Wilson the president of

President of Princeton University

what is Wilson famous for

14 point speech: backbone of treaty of versailles

Aftermath of the sinking of the Lusitania

- Wilson demands an end to the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare
- Germany agrees to demands for two years

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany's policy to sink ships without warning.

when did the unrestricted submarine warfare start up again? and what did Wilson do?

- February 1917: Germany resumed policy of unrestricted submarine warfare
- Wilson severs diplomatic relations with Germany

Zimmerman Note

Germany's proposal to Mexico for war against U.S.

how did the U.S receive the Zimmerman note

- Intercepted by the British
- they gave it to the U.S after Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare

what did Germany say to Mexico in the Zimmerman note

If Mexico declared war on the U.S, Germany promised to support Mexico and win back Texas, New Mexico and Arizona (territories lost in the Mexican-American War)

when did the U.S declare war

- April 2, 1917: President Wilson asks for a declaration of war
- April 6, 1917: Congress declares war by a wide margin

US and readiness for war

- The U.S was not prepared for a conflict the scale of WW1
- The army had only 200,000 men
- British-60,000 casualties first day of the Battle of the Somme

what warfare did WW1 evolve into

WW1 had evolved into trench warfare and was a virtual stalemate: defensive technology was better than the offensive technology

virtual stalemate

A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible.

the U.S in the beginning of the war

- The American Expeditionary Force began trickling into France in June of 1917. They would not see action until the Spring of 1918
- The U.S insisted on fighting this war as an equal partner with Britain and France
- The U.S refused to parcel out units to fight under British or French command

what happened after the Bolshevik/Communist revolution

- Russia signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany
- Germany could now focus more resources on the Western Front
- German and Soviets meet to sign the treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Selective Service Act of 1917

- in order to increase the size of the military the Congress passed this act
- All males between 21-30 were required to register for the draft

how did they make the draft fair and not favor the wealthy

The Draft was conducted by random lottery

how many Americans served in the draft

Over 4.5 million American men served
- 400,000 African Americans
- 11,000 women

what is another name for the Selective Service Act of 1917

the draft

Doughboys

Nickname for U.S. soldiers in WWI.

African Americans

African American faced less racism in France than at home

in what battles was the U.S helpful/most successful

- U.S troops were instrumental in stopping the last German Offensive at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood
- They also fought with distinction in the fall at Meuse River and Argonne Forest

how did the British and French persevered through the war

British and French soldiers had persevered through trench warfare, which included poison gas attacks (mustard gas) , and weapons the world had never experienced during war

Alvin York

originally a conscientious objector, York almost single handedly captured over 100 German soldiers

Edddier Rickenbacker

was an American fighter ace with 26 aerial victories

Henry Johnson

an African American soldier (1st black unit to see battle), preformed heroically at the Argonne Forest

Armistice

- November 11,1918: An exhausted and depleted Germany signed an armistice on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month
- Finally, all was quiet on the Western Front

rallying the country

- Expanded economic costs of the 20th century warfare required extensive revenue raising
- Governments used new communications technology to spread pro-war propaganda
- Powerful images designed to instill fear were used to sell Liberty Bonds in America

Committee on Public Information

Agency promoting war effort through propaganda.

what did the Committee on Public Information do

- Used many mediums to engage Americans in the war effort
- Organized rallies and parades
- Commissioned song: "Over There"

James Montgomery Flagg

illustrated wartime propaganda posters

Four-Minute Men

delivered short, powerful speeches all around the country (pro-war)

dissenter

1920: Socialist Party leader Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned and ran for President from his jail cell
- He polled nearly a million votes

Jeanette Rankin

- Montana Congresswomen
- 1st female Congresswoman
- Voted against the United States entry to WW1

Espionage Act of 1917

Law penalizing anti-war activities and speech.

Schenck vs United States

- Supreme Court case on free speech
- Schenck was arrested for sabotaging the draft and endangering thousands of American lives
- His jail sentence held

War Industries Board

- Established to coordinate production of munitions and supplies
- The board was empowered to allocate raw materials and determine what products would be given high priority

what did African Americans do (WIB in 1917)

African Americans flocked northward in greater numbers in the hope of winning industry jobs: the Great Migration leading to racial tension in many Northern cities

Food Administration

- Led by Hoover to manage food supplies.
- "meatless mondays" and "wheatless wednesdays"

Great Migration

African Americans moving north for jobs.

President Wilson's War Message

Advocated for democracy and no selfish gains.

Anti-German Fever

- Hate crimes against German-Americans typically went unpunished
- school children were pummeled on school yards
- yellow paint was splashed on front doors
- One German-American was lynched by a mob in Collinsville, Illinois
- Colleges and highschools stopped teaching German
- pretzels were banned
- changed frankfurters to hot dogs and sauerkraut to liberty cabbage
- Some bands refused to play German compositions

Liberty Bonds

Government bonds to finance war efforts.

16th Amendment

Established federal income tax in 1913.

Corporate Tax

Tax rates could exceed 90% during war.

John J. Pershing

Commander of U.S. forces in WWI.

Paying for the war was difficult for the Continental Congress because

War Cost American $110 BIllion
Liberty Bonds cover ⅔ of the cost
16th amendment (1913): income tax
Corporate tax could reach over 90%
Americans sacrificed for the war