America in the Great War:America in the Great War:Why Did We Go Over Why Did We Go Over

There?There?Volusia County Public SchoolsVolusia County Public Schools

June 2012June 2012

Gary Armstrong, Ph.D.Gary Armstrong, Ph.D.

William Jewell CollegeWilliam Jewell College

The Situation, 1917The Situation, 1917French Army ExhaustedFrench Army Exhausted

Czarist Regime CollapsesCzarist Regime Collapses

Germany Resumes Unrestricted Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine WarSubmarine War

Situation 1917Situation 1917

US Political ContextUS Political ContextWilsonWilson’’s 1916 Coalitions 1916 Coalition

US Political Context: US Political Context: Balance of Power in CongressBalance of Power in Congress

YearYear SenateSenate HouseHouse

19121912 Democrats: 51Democrats: 51

Republicans: 44Republicans: 44

Democrats: 291Democrats: 291

Republicans: 135Republicans: 135

19141914 Democrats: 56Democrats: 56

Republicans: 40Republicans: 40

Democrats: 230Democrats: 230

Republicans: 196Republicans: 196

19161916 Democrats: 54Democrats: 54

Republicans: 42Republicans: 42

Democrats: 214*Democrats: 214*

Republicans: 215Republicans: 215

19181918 Democrats: 47Democrats: 47

Republicans: 49Republicans: 49

Democrats: 192Democrats: 192

Republicans: 240Republicans: 240* Or Dem 216, GOP 210, IND 6

The ProgressivesThe Progressives

LippmannCroly

The War DebateThe War DebateThe Case AgainstThe Case Against

Rankin

LaFollette Norris

American InterventionAmerican InterventionPrecipitating FactorsPrecipitating Factors

Zimmermann Telegram (Jan 1917)Zimmermann Telegram (Jan 1917)

German U-boatsGerman U-boats– GermanyGermany’’s calculation: 600 K tons = victorys calculation: 600 K tons = victory

Intercepted Zimmermann Telegram

U-boat outrageU-boat outrageMay 1915May 1915 LuisitaniaLuisitania 1500 dead (128 1500 dead (128 Americans)Americans)

March 1916March 1916 SussexSussex 50 dead50 dead

April 1916: Wilson ultimatumApril 1916: Wilson ultimatum

May 4 1916: German May 4 1916: German ““Sussex pledgeSussex pledge””

German WarningGerman Warning

Uboat OutrageUboat Outrage

German Lusitania medal

Gore-McLemoreGore-McLemoreFeb 1916Feb 1916

““Resolved…Resolved… That it is the sense of the Congress, That it is the sense of the Congress, vested as it is with the sole power to declare war, vested as it is with the sole power to declare war, that all persons owing allegiance to the United that all persons owing allegiance to the United States should, in behalf of their own safety and States should, in behalf of their own safety and the vital interest of the United States, forbear to the vital interest of the United States, forbear to exercise the right to travel as passengers upon exercise the right to travel as passengers upon any armed vessel of any belligerent power…and any armed vessel of any belligerent power…and further…that no passport should be issued or further…that no passport should be issued or renewed by the Secretary of State …to be used renewed by the Secretary of State …to be used by any person owing allegiance to the United by any person owing allegiance to the United States for purpose of [such] travel…States for purpose of [such] travel…

The German ThreatThe German Threat

““The HingeThe Hinge””Of Modern US Foreign PolicyOf Modern US Foreign Policy

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow WilsonPresident 1913-1921President 1913-1921

1856-19241856-1924Only President to know personally what Only President to know personally what defeat in war was likedefeat in war was likeOnly President with PhD in Political Only President with PhD in Political ScienceScienceSecond President to win Nobel PrizeSecond President to win Nobel PrizePresident Princeton University, 1902-President Princeton University, 1902-19121912Domestic Policy Accomplishments:Domestic Policy Accomplishments:– Federal Reserve createdFederal Reserve created– First graduated income taxFirst graduated income tax– Labor legislationLabor legislation

Massive Stroke, 1919Massive Stroke, 1919

                                                         

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

1858-19191858-1919War with Spain, 1898War with Spain, 1898US President, 1901-1909US President, 1901-1909First US President to win First US President to win Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeBreaks with Republican Breaks with Republican Party, 1912Party, 1912Reunion with Republican Reunion with Republican Party, 1916Party, 1916Expected Nominee, Expected Nominee, President 1920President 1920

Clash of Basic Clash of Basic PrinciplesPrinciples

Political Morality = Political Morality = Civilian Morality Civilian Morality

US ExceptionalUS Exceptional

Peace from Peace from Liberal Liberal DemocracyDemocracy

Peace from Peace from International LawInternational Law

Political Morality = Political Morality = Special MoralitySpecial Morality

US Normal Great US Normal Great PowerPower

Peace from Balance Peace from Balance of Powerof Power

Peace from Spheres Peace from Spheres of Influenceof Influence

WilsonWilson’’s War Aimss War AimsComplex or Contradiction?Complex or Contradiction?

Feb 1917: Peace without VictoryFeb 1917: Peace without Victory

April 1917: War to Make World Safe for DemocracyApril 1917: War to Make World Safe for Democracy

July 1918: Force, Force, Force to the Utmost!July 1918: Force, Force, Force to the Utmost!

August 1918: Overthrow Every Arbitrary PowerAugust 1918: Overthrow Every Arbitrary Power

November 1918: Insists Germany be beaten, but accepts November 1918: Insists Germany be beaten, but accepts negotiations negotiations

WilsonWilson’’s War Aimss War AimsComplex or Contradiction?Complex or Contradiction?

““……it must be a peace without victory. It is not it must be a peace without victory. It is not pleasant to say this…Victory would mean peace pleasant to say this…Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victorforced upon the loser, a victor’’s terms imposed s terms imposed upon the vanquished. It would be accepted in upon the vanquished. It would be accepted in humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable sacrifice, and would leave a sting, a resentment, sacrifice, and would leave a sting, a resentment, a bitter memory upon which terms of peace a bitter memory upon which terms of peace would rest, not permanently, but only as upon would rest, not permanently, but only as upon quicksand. Only a peace between equals can quicksand. Only a peace between equals can last.last.””

Woodrow Wilson February 1917Woodrow Wilson February 1917

Wilson at William Jewell College

Wilson Sets Out to Wilson Sets Out to Reform the Reform the

WorldWorld

• Understanding the 14 PointsUnderstanding the 14 Points

Secret TreatiesSecret TreatiesRussiaRussia Gets Straits & ConstantinopleGets Straits & Constantinople Free hand to redraw eastern frontiers of Free hand to redraw eastern frontiers of

Germany and AustriaGermany and Austria Annex including Armenia and KurdistanAnnex including Armenia and Kurdistan

FranceFrance Alsace-LorraineAlsace-Lorraine Left Bank of RhineLeft Bank of Rhine SaarSaar

Secret TreatiesSecret TreatiesBritainBritainSupport for ambitions in Egypt and Support for ambitions in Egypt and

PersiaPersiaGerman African coloniesGerman African colonies

ItalyItalyTrieste, Gorizia, Istria, north Dalmatia, Trieste, Gorizia, Istria, north Dalmatia,

part of Albania, one-third of Anatoliapart of Albania, one-third of Anatolia

Secret TreatiesSecret Treaties

Russia

Italy

Lansdowne LetterLansdowne LetterHenry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5thth Marquis Marquis of Lansdowne 1845-1927of Lansdowne 1845-19271904: Negotiates Entente 1904: Negotiates Entente Nov 1917: Lansdowne Letter Nov 1917: Lansdowne Letter published (after secret treaties) published (after secret treaties) TimesTimes refuses to run letter, refuses to run letter, Daily Daily TelegraphTelegraph publishes it publishes itCalls for negotiated peace, based on Calls for negotiated peace, based on status quo antestatus quo anteCalls for Calls for ““statement of intentionsstatement of intentions”” from British governmentfrom British government

Lansdowne LetterLansdowne Letter

"We are not going to lose this war, but its prolongation will spell ruin for the civilised world, and an infinite addition to the load of human suffering which already weighs upon it...We do not desire the annihilation of Germany as a great power ... We do not seek to impose upon her people any form of government other than that of their own choice... We have no desire to deny Germany her place among the great commercial communities of the world.

Wilson vs. LodgeWilson vs. Lodge

WilsonWilson LodgeLodge

Fourteen Points Fourteen Points 10 Minimum10 Minimum

(Feb 1918)(Feb 1918) (Aug 1918)(Aug 1918)

Inferring WilsonInferring Wilson’’s War Aimss War Aims

Defeat but do not crush GermanyDefeat but do not crush Germany

Precipitate Internal Revolution in Precipitate Internal Revolution in GermanyGermany

Make British Empire and France Make British Empire and France dependent on USdependent on US

Different War, Different PeaceDifferent War, Different Peace

WilsonWilson Lodge & TRLodge & TR

Cause of warCause of war Tragedy & StupidityTragedy & Stupidity German drive for powerGerman drive for power

US entry?US entry? German outragesGerman outrages US cannot tolerate US cannot tolerate German-led EuropeGerman-led Europe

Main US war aimMain US war aim Reform World PoliticsReform World Politics Balance of PowerBalance of Power

Moderate VictoryModerate Victory Unconditional Unconditional SurrenderSurrender

Regime ReformRegime Reform Regime ChangeRegime Change

Effect of WilsonEffect of Wilson’’s War Aimss War Aims

Vive Wilson!

War Expenditures & MobilizationWar Expenditures & MobilizationExpendituresExpenditures MobilizedMobilized

CountryCountry in 1913 B$in 1913 B$ Forces (M)Forces (M)British EmpireBritish Empire 23.023.0 9.5 9.5FranceFrance 9.3 9.3 8.2 8.2RussiaRussia 5.4 5.4 13.013.0ItalyItaly 3.2 3.2 5.6 5.6USAUSA 17.117.1 3.8 3.8

GermanyGermany 19.919.9 13.313.3Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary 4.7 4.7 9.0 9.0TurkeyTurkey 0.1 0.1 2.9 2.9

Kennedy, Rise & Fall of Great Powers

Military Deaths in World War IMilitary Deaths in World War ITotal KilledTotal Killed Total Killed Total Killed Total KilledTotal Killed% of armed% of armed % of % of % of % of

CountryCountry forcesforces men 15-49men 15-49 populationpopulation

ScotlandScotland 26.426.4 10.910.9 3.13.1FranceFrance 16.816.8 13.313.3 3.43.4BritainBritain 11.811.8 6.3 6.3 1.61.6RussiaRussia 11.511.5 4.5 4.5 1.11.1SerbiaSerbia 37.137.1 22.722.7 5.75.7

GermanyGermany 15.415.4 12.512.5 3.03.0TurkeyTurkey 26.826.8 14.814.8 3.73.7

USAUSA 2.7 2.7 0.4 0.4 0.10.1

Ferguson, Pity of War (1999), p. 299

Some ConclusionsSome ConclusionsWhy did we go Over There?Why did we go Over There?

Unpersuasive: Vindicate RightsUnpersuasive: Vindicate Rights

Unpersuasive: Evangelical ReformismUnpersuasive: Evangelical Reformism

Better: Profound sympathy with AlliesBetter: Profound sympathy with Allies

Better: Strong economic interestsBetter: Strong economic interests

Better: German victory was unacceptable Better: German victory was unacceptable both for American ideals and interestsboth for American ideals and interests