Joining the War

By 1917, both Germany and the Allies were battle-weary due to prolonged conflict, resulting in staggering casualties on both sides.
On the Western Front, where French forces fought against the Germans:
- Over 1.4 million French soldiers were killed or wounded in 1915 alone.
- The Battle of Verdun in 1916 resulted in over 300,000 deaths on both sides.
On the Eastern Front, significant battles took place between Russians, Germans, and their Austrian allies.
American entry into the Great War came later than anticipated by the Allies.
In 1917, the United States faced difficulties in providing soldiers:
- The total of the regular U.S. Army and National Guard was only 379,000 troops.
The growth of the federal government was initiated by the war's demand for mobilization:
- Citizens had to adapt to government regulations affecting businesses and personal habits (e.g., dietary changes).

The U.S. government's growth was largely facilitated by the administration of the military draft.
In May 1917, Congress adopted the Selective Service Act, requiring all men aged 21 to 30 to register for the draft.
By the end of World War I, 3.7 million American men were expected to serve as soldiers or sailors.
The troops dispatched to Europe became known as the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
General John J. Pershing was appointed to lead the AEF:
- He was a distinguished military leader with experience commanding troops in Cuba, Mexico, and the American West.

The United States faced unprecedented economic challenges as it entered into war:
- American businesses were unprepared to transition from peacetime production to the war effort.
- Factories were accustomed to manufacturing civilian goods like cars, bicycles, and kitchen appliances.
To address these issues, President Wilson established the War Industries Board (WIB):
- The WIB oversaw manufacturing processes and enhanced factory efficiency for wartime production.
Some labor unions supported the war effort and WIB's initiatives, including:
- The American Federation of Labor promised not to strike and advocated for a voice in economic policies in exchange for not insisting on hiring only union members.
The government's growing role during the war paved the way for expanded federal economic influence.

The government encouraged civilian participation in the war through the purchase of Liberty Bonds:
- Buying a bond essentially meant loaning money to the U.S. government.
- Bonds would be redeemed after 30 years and offered a 3.5% annual interest rate.
Citizens who refrained from buying bonds were viewed as unpatriotic and accused of aiding the enemy (Germans).
The overall cost of the war for the United States exceeded $35 billion:
- The U.S. loaned over $11.2 billion to the Allies, most of which remained unpaid.
President Wilson believed that leveraging the Allies' financial dependence on the U.S. would help achieve his postwar diplomatic goals.

The Great War enabled significant advancements for women, including increased advocacy for women’s suffrage in the U.S.
A notable quote from French Field Marshall Joseph Joffre (1916-1918):
- “If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.”
Analysis of the Quote:
- This statement underscores the crucial role and contribution of women to the war effort.

Food was a critical resource for the Allies, necessitating mobilization of U.S. agricultural capacities.
Congress passed the Lever Act, establishing the Food Administration, led by Herbert Hoover:
- Hoover had previously gained prominence for his efforts to feed Belgium's starving population.
Hoover encouraged Americans to participate in food conservation initiatives:
- Suggested “wheatless days” to facilitate the war effort (e.g., “wheatless days in America make sleepless nights in Germany”).
American families were motivated to plant victory gardens for additional food supply.
As wheat prices surged, farmers increased production:
- Wheat crop expanded from 637 million bushels in 1917 to 921 million bushels in 1918.

The American populace exhibited mixed reactions regarding the war effort:
- Some expressed their dissent against the government’s stance.
- Numerous individuals declared themselves as conscientious objectors, refusing military service for religious reasons.
- Dissent was particularly notable among German Americans and Irish Americans.
To counter dissent and boost enthusiasm for the war, the government created the Committee on Public Information (CPI):
- Headed by George Creel, tasked with generating a spirit of “brotherhood, devotion, courage, and deathless determination.”
- The CPI utilized various means such as pamphlets, posters, billboards, films, and public speeches for its outreach.
- Creel referred to this initiative as “the world’s greatest adventure in advertising.”

The propaganda campaign inspired strong patriotic sentiments but also fostered anti-German hostility:
- Common cultural items were renamed to reflect patriotism:
- Hamburgers became “Salisbury steak” or “liberty steak.”
- Sauerkraut was rebranded as “liberty cabbage.”
- The dachshund breed was referred to as “Liberty Pups.”
German literature was removed from public libraries, and the German language was banned in schools.
German Americans faced prejudice and intense nativism, with widespread suspicion, threats, and violence directed toward them.

The government had valid concerns regarding potential German espionage activities, leading to excessive measures:
- A nationwide campaign against radicals and progressives, a departure from Wilson's previous political stance.
- This change alienated parts of Wilson's political base and diminished public support during wartime.

Under the Wilson administration, laws were enacted to restrict American rights to criticize the government or the war effort:
- The Espionage Act of 1917 aimed at preventing sabotage and spying, making it illegal to express opposition to the war.
- The Trading with the Enemy Act allowed the postmaster general to suspend delivery of foreign-language publications deemed potentially offensive to government interests.

The Sedition Act of 1918 criminalized “uttering, printing, writing, or publishing any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the government or armed forces:
- Nearly any form of public criticism could be punished under this law.
- This act represented a significant infringement on civil liberties, restricting rights such as free expression.
- Individuals were imprisoned for expressing negative views about President Woodrow Wilson or labeling the conflict a “rich man's war.”