Was it in the best interests of the United States to stay neutral or declare war in 1917?

1. WORLD WAR IChapter 29: Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and AbroadChapter 30: The War to End War Was it in the best interests of the United States to stay neutral or declare war in 1917?

2. CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I: MANIA • Militarism - policy of building up strong military forces to prepare for war • Alliances - agreements between nations to aid and protect one another • Nationalism- pride in or devotion to one’s country • Imperialism - when one country takes over another country economically and politically • Assassination - murder of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

3. CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I: ASSASSINATION Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) and Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia on June 28th, 1914.

4. European Alliances as World War I Begins

5. Which Side Should the U.S. Take? • Immigrants (foreign born) in the U.S. • Germany 2.5 million • Austria-Hungary 1.6 million • Ireland 1.2 million • Great Britain 1.2 million • Russia 1.7 million • Italy 1.3 million foreign • The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name. • Woodrow Wilson’s Statement on • Neutrality (1914)

6. PropagandaU-BoatsDemocracyLusitaniaZimmerman TelegramPUDLZ (puddles…get it?)

7. “…The world must be made safe for democracy…” – Woodrow Wilson (4/2/1917) • “Neutrality is no longer feasible.” • “The right is more precious than peace.” • 82 – 6/Senate • 373 – 50/House • The United States joins the Allies • Lafayette, we are here!

8. The Great War and the United States • First time the U.S. government committed to sending large numbers of troops across the sea • Most Americans thought we’d only send supplies or food • Selective Service • National draft (all men ages 21-30 had to register) • American Expeditionary Force under Pershing • “doughboys” (the first infantry to reach Europe) • Separate unit not joined to the Allies because Pershing disagreed with the defensive, trench warfare • Give the U.S. a greater voice in the after war peace

9. The Russian Revolution of 1917 • Thanks to Russian involvement, the Germans had to fight a two front war • In 1918 the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed • Communist Russia (now the U.S.S.R.) was out of the war • Central Powers gained territory given up by the Russians • No more war on the Eastern Front

10. Peace Groups • Pacifists- people who oppose all war for political, moral, or religious reasons • Conscientious Objectors- people who opposed war for religious or moral reasons and therefore refused to serve in the armed forces (often risking going to prison) • Women’s Peace Party (led by Jane Addams) • Feared that U.S.’s entry into war would diminish support for their reform • How is America’s democracy looking these days?

12. Government and the War • Committee on Public Information (CPI) • George Creel led this government created committee in attempt to sell the war to the public. • Films, Books, and Four Minute Men (speakers around the country) • Raising money for the war effort came through taxes and liberty bonds • Taxes funded ¼ of the cost (War Revenue Act) • Increased income taxes (16thAmendment)during WWI

13. Industry, Food, and Fuel for War • War Industries Board- headed by Bernard Baruch coordinated the work of government agencies, and industry groups • To make sure supplies and equipment were produced and delivered to the military • National War Labor Board- government worked to ensure the cooperation of unions • Food and Fuel • Food Administration- oversaw the production and distribution of food and fuel • Meatless Mondays, Wheatless Wednesdays, Gasless Sundays, and Heatless Mondays • Victory Gardens (one in front of the White House)

14. African Americans and Democracy on the Home front • Most supported the war effort and the NAACP encouraged people to serve in the military • WEB Du Bois wrote, “Let us, while this war lasts, forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our own white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy.” • Great Migration • Mass movement of African Americans to the North. • Chicago, New York City, Cleveland saw an explosion of black residents • Race Riots broke out in 1919 • A St. Louis factory owner brought in black workers to break up a strike and a riot broke out causing 30 African-Americans to die and 9 whites

15. Immigrants, Fear and the Law • Immigrants needed to appear “americanized” • Most immigrants supported the war • American Protective League-selfappointed patriot group that targeted immigrants for being disloyal • German Americans were often attacked and targeted • Espionage Act (1917)- “spying”- made it a crime to try and interfere with the military draft and set penalties for spying, sabotage, and “obstruction of the war effort.” • Sedition Act (1918)- made it a crime to say anything that was disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government

16. Speaking Out Against the War • Wobblies- members of the Industrial Workers of the World spoke out against the war. • 165 arrested, 1 hanged, viewed as disloyal • Schenck v. United States • Charles Schenck, a socialist, was charged with espionage for distributing leaflets to recent draftees, urging them to resist the military draft. • First Amendment? Freedom of Speech? • Unanimous decision- Schenck’s publications created a clear and present danger to a nation engaged in war.

17. The End to the "War to End All War" • From “Lafayette, we are here! -1917… • …To on the Eleventh day, of the Eleventh month at the Eleventh hour = armistice -1918

18. The U.S.’s main contributions to the ultimate victory: • Foodstuffs and munitions • Oil for this first mechanized war • And manpower, but not battlefield victories • Yanks found only two major battles—at St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne, both in the last two months of the four-year war • It was the prospectof endless U.S.troop reserves rather than America’s actual military performancesthat eventually demoralized the Germans

20. Wilson’s Vision for World Peace Presented at the Paris Peace Conference at Versailles • Fourteen Points- Wilson’s blueprint for peace • Do you remember what caused World War I in the first place? Woodrow Wilson remembered. • End to Secret Alliances • Freedom of Seas • European Reduction of Armaments (weapons) • Right to Self Determination • Creation of the League of Nations –an international peace keeping organization in which countries would protect territorial integrity

21. The TREATY OF VERSAILLES was signed June 18th, 1919 by the BIG FOUR Big Four-: W. Wilson (US), D. Lloyd George (GB), G. Clemenceau (France) and V. Orlando (Italy)

22. Paris Peace Conference The European victors were not really buying what Woody was selling…

23. In case you forgot the conditions of this treaty for Germany… • Germany will respect the independence of Austria, the complete independence of Czechoslovakia and of Poland. • Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas countries. • The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men. • The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included. • The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces. • Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to the Allied Powers. • Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion]. • The German territory situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied troops for fifteen years.

24. Wilson brings the Treaty home to ratify… Wilson (a Democrat) needed 2/3 vote to ratify the treaty but the Republicans were hesitant Partisanship (rivalry between the parties) defeats the treaty Many Senators felt the treaty would drag us into world affairs (the League of Nations) and war Some Democrats turned on Wilson and voted the treaty down. The treaty is rejected by 7 votes Wilson takes his case to the public in hopes of saving his treaty in the election of 1920 (a “solemn referendum”) and suffers a massive stroke

27. By 1921 the League of Nations was running without the U.S. as a member (whose president had created it) A return to isolationism Could WWII have been avoided if the US joined the League of Nations?