APUSH: jocz World War I and U.S. Involvement

Introduction to World War I

• Focus on U.S. involvement to help with APUSH exam prep
• U.S. entry into the war was a gradual process from neutrality to involvement.

Initial Neutrality and Factors Leading to War

• The U.S. remained neutral in the early stages of the war.
• Violations of U.S. neutrality challenged President Woodrow Wilson's position.
• Key events:
• Sinking of the British Lusitania caused loss of American lives.
• Sinking of the French Sussex; Germany temporarily pledged to refrain from attacking ships without warning (Sussex Pledge).
• Continued German aggression (e.g., Zimmerman Note) escalates tensions:
• The Zimmerman Note proposed an alliance with Mexico against the U.S., promising to help Mexico regain lost territories.
• In April 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, prompting the U.S. to declare war on Germany.

U.S. War Mobilization

• The U.S. was militarily unprepared at the war's onset.
• Key initiatives:
• Selective Service Act initiated mandatory conscription to draft soldiers.
• The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) under General Pershing conducted significant fighting in Europe.
• Total war effort in the U.S. mobilized both military and civilian resources:
• War bonds (liberty loans) and income taxes funded the war effort, supported by the Sixteenth Amendment.

Government Agencies and Economic Mobilization

• Various agencies were created to facilitate war production:
• National War Labor Board worked to mediate labor disputes and prevent strikes.
• War Industries Board set production priorities and controlled raw materials to ensure efficient production.
• U.S. Food Administration led by Herbert Hoover aimed to conserve food supplies for soldiers by encouraging rationing.
• Temperance movement gained momentum; the Eighteenth Amendment prohibited alcohol sales.
• Anti-German sentiment fueled support for prohibition as beer was seen as a German tradition.

Restrictions on Civil Liberties

• The government sought to silence dissent against the war.
• Committee of Public Information oversaw wartime propaganda to encourage public support for the war.
• The Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1918) restricted free speech:
  • Prohibited interference with the draft and criticism of government policies.
• Schenck v. United States established the precedent that free speech could be curbed under "clear and present danger" principles.
• This case involved Charles Schenck, who was convicted for anti-draft pamphlets.

Impact on Different Communities

• African American Migration:
• The Great Migration saw African Americans move north for job opportunities due to labor shortages caused by the war.
• Nearly 400,000 served in the armed forces, facing segregation.
• Women’s Roles:
• Women entered the workforce in higher numbers, taking over jobs left vacant by men.
• The resultant push for women's rights led to support for the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Wilson's 14 Points and Treaty Negotiations

• Post-war vision called the 14 Points aimed to prevent future wars through reforms addressing the causes of WWI.
• Key points included freedom of the seas, open trade, reduction of arms, and self-determination for nations.
• Formation of the League of Nations was a crucial element in Wilson’s plan but faced opposition in Congress.
• The Treaty of Versailles reflected compromise and largely rejected Wilson's ideals, focusing on punishment for Germany instead.

Opposition to the Treaty in the U.S.

• The treaty faced considerable resistance, particularly from Republicans:
• Reservationists led by Henry Cabot Lodge sought revisions, whereas irreconcilables opposed ratification in any form.
• Key issues:
• Article 10 of the League of Nations raised concerns of the U.S. being obligated to intervene in European conflicts, causing fears of entanglement.
• Post-war isolationism gained traction among American public and policymakers.
• Ultimately, the U.S. Senate rejected the treaty, and the League of Nations was established without U.S. participation, marking a retreat from international engagement.

Conclusion on World War I

• The war had profound impacts on U.S. society, politics, and its role in international affairs.