World War I

Title of discussion: "Over There"
Reference to the song "Over There" which discusses American involvement in Europe during the war.
Emphasis on differing experiences: The American experience in World War One (WWI) vs. European experiences. - Key Point: The United States entered WWI in 1917, three years after its onset, leading to a unique American perspective, distinct from the trauma felt by European nations (e.g., Britain, Germany, France).

Main topics to be covered: 1. The Roads to War: Origins of WWI 2. American Involvement in WWI 3. Mobilization of Resources and People 4. War Aftermath and Legacies

Photograph Identification: Image of Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, moments before their assassination on June 28, 1914. - Significance: Their deaths triggered a series of events leading to the war.
Background Information: - Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. - Assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, as part of a broader nationalist movement. - This act initiated the July Crisis, a sequence of escalatory events leading to war.

Conceptual Framework: Historians agree on several primary causes: - Militarism: The arms race between Great Britain and Germany. - Alliance System: The division of Europe into opposing alliances. - Triple Alliance (Central Powers): Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. - Triple Entente (Allied Powers): Britain, France, and Russia. - Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries: Competition for territories and resources among empires. - Nationalism: Long-standing enmities and desires for national self-determination contributing to tensions.

Chronology of Event Precipitation: Following the assassination: - Serbia supports the assassins, leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. - Russia mobilizes in support of Serbia. - Germany backs Austria-Hungary, and soon other nations become involved due to alliance commitments. - By August 1914, a full-scale war was declared among most European powers.

Terminology: Often referred to as a "Total War"; blurred lines between combatants and non-combatants. - Extensive civilian casualties and mobilization of entire societies for war efforts.

Famous Battles: - Battle of Verdun (1916): Longest battle on the Western Front; casualties exceeded 700,000. - Battle of the Somme (1916): First day casualties estimated at 60,000 British troops, with total casualties exceeding one million. - Battle of Passchendaele: Approximately 300,000 casualties for a mere five square miles.
Technological Innovations: - Introduction of new weapons like machine guns, artillery, tanks, and poison gas.

American Neutrality: - A significant portion of Americans (1/3 to 1/2) opposed the war due to various reasons: - Moral, religious, and ideological objections (pacifists, isolationists, etc.). - Immigrants felt torn due to heritage and potential repression. - Political Cartoon (1914): Visualizing the U.S. maintaining neutrality amidst global conflict.

Factors Changing Neutrality: - Economic ties to the Allies. - British naval blockade affecting American shipping interests. - Germany's introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare.

Incident Date: May 7, 1915.
Outcome: Sinking of the British liner, resulting in 1,198 deaths, 124 being American citizens.
Public Response: Outrage in the U.S. calling for intervention.
Political Response: Wilson’s strong protest led to tension with Germany…

Date: March 1917.
Content: Message from German official Arthur Zimmerman urging Mexico to attack the U.S., promising support for reclaiming lost territories.
Public Reaction: Increased anxiety leading up to U.S. declaration of war.

Date of Declaration: April 2, 1917.
Justification: Wilson stated the U.S. had to “make the world safe for democracy.”
Congressional Support: Passed with only few opposing votes.

Selective Service Act (1917): Draft system to recruit soldiers, requiring 24 million men to register. - Impact: Army grew from 120,000 to 5 million; 3.9 million served in total.

**Establishment of Key Agencies: ** - War Industries Board: Oversaw war production and prices, led by Bernard Baruch. - Food Administration: Led by Herbert Hoover, promoting food rationing and production. - Railroad Administration: Controlled transportation for war supply purposes.
Business Relations: Government worked closely with big business, suspending antitrust laws to support the war effort.

The War Labor Board promoted better wages and working conditions, leading to double union membership.
Agreement for the rights of workers in exchange for strikes being avoided.

War Financing: Predominantly through taxes and Liberty Bonds due to the high expense of warfare.
Internal Disagreements: Public divided between support and opposition of the war, leading to coercive measures.

Objective: To sell the war to Americans and unify public sentiment. - Utilized films, speeches, propaganda posters, and educational outreach.
Public Propaganda Techniques: - Bandwagoning: Encouraging mass participation. - Card stacking: Highlighting positive claims while downplaying negatives. - Glittering generalities: Using emotionally resonant terms to connect ideas with positive sentiments. - Name calling: Discrediting opponents through negative associations.

Posters urging enlistment and bond purchasing, linking patriotism to war participation.
Imagery: Emotional representations aimed to illicit feelings of guilt and duty among Americans.

Espionage Act (1917): Strengthened government powers to suppress dissent.
Sedition Act (1918): Restricted speech critical of the government or military efforts.
Alien Act (1918): Allowed deportation of undesirable aliens.
Public Response and Challenges: Significant civil liberties violations highlighted by activists, including notable socialist figures like Eugene Debs.

U.S. Arrival: Significant impact of U.S. forces in 1918 aiding the Allies to turn the tide against Central Powers.
Casualty Statistics: Overall losses included 116,000 American soldiers.
Peace Negotiations: Wilson’s Fourteen Points outlined a vision for lasting peace and self-determination.

International Reactions: Many colonial peoples inspired by U.S. ideals for self-determination.
Wilson's Global Tour: Encountering admiration but also disappointment for colonial claims not being addressed expectantly.
Legacy: WWI reshaped international relations and ideologies worldwide, pushing for both anti-colonial initiatives and national self-determination movements.