US INVOLVEMENT IN US INVOLVEMENT IN WWIWWI

Causes of American InvolvementCauses of American Involvement

1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare 2. British propaganda2. British propaganda 3. Zimmerman Telegraph3. Zimmerman Telegraph 4. Russian Revolution4. Russian Revolution

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Which side should the US pick?Which side should the US pick?

•11 million German-Americans •Irish-Americans hated Great Britain

•Close cultural ties •Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories)•Big business loaned much $ to allies

Central Powers: Allies:

Nations 1914 1915 1916 Britain $594,271,863 $911,794,954 $1,526,685,102 France $159,818,924 $364,397,170 $628,851,988 Germany $344,794,276 $28,863,354 $288,899

US Exports to both sides:

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany created new submarine Germany created new submarine called the called the ””U-BoatU-Boat””

British blockaded North Sea, so British blockaded North Sea, so Germany gave a Germany gave a ““sink on sightsink on sight”” order order to any ship approaching Britainto any ship approaching Britain

May 7May 7thth, 1915-British passenger liner , 1915-British passenger liner the the ““LusitaniaLusitania”” sunk off the coast of sunk off the coast of IrelandIreland

Killed 128 AmericansKilled 128 Americans

The LusitaniaThe Lusitania

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

Aug. 1915Aug. 1915The ArabicThe Arabic is is

sunk by the sunk by the GermansGermans

2 Americans 2 Americans are killedare killed

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare March 1916March 1916 The SussexThe Sussex, an , an

unarmed passenger unarmed passenger ship is sunkship is sunk

America threatens America threatens to cut off diplomatic to cut off diplomatic relationsrelations

Sussex pledge- no Sussex pledge- no passenger or passenger or merchant ships merchant ships would be sunk would be sunk without warningwithout warning

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

The British sent news of the war to The British sent news of the war to US newspapers everydayUS newspapers everyday

Full of PropagandaFull of Propaganda Led the American public to be Led the American public to be

sympathetic toward the Britishsympathetic toward the British

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

British PropagandaBritish Propaganda

Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

March 1917-British authorities gave March 1917-British authorities gave to the US a telegram that was to the US a telegram that was supposedly sent to Mexico from supposedly sent to Mexico from GermanyGermany

It had been decoded by the BritishIt had been decoded by the British It asked Mexico to declare war on the It asked Mexico to declare war on the

US and they would be supported by US and they would be supported by GermanyGermany

Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

March 1917-Russia left WWI due to a March 1917-Russia left WWI due to a Revolution in their own countryRevolution in their own country

Germany now would concentrate Germany now would concentrate totally on the Western Fronttotally on the Western Front

Pleas from Great Britain and France Pleas from Great Britain and France to join the war effortto join the war effort

Declaration of WarDeclaration of War

April 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to April 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germanydeclare war on Germany

““The World must be made safe for The World must be made safe for DemocracyDemocracy””

April 6April 6thth-Congress votes and declares -Congress votes and declares warwar

Mobilization - Centralized RegulationMobilization - Centralized Regulation War Industry Board – War Industry Board –

Bernard BaruchBernard Baruch– Controlled raw material, Controlled raw material,

production, prices, factories, production, prices, factories, RR’sRR’s

– Nat’l War Labor Bd – Support Nat’l War Labor Bd – Support by Gompersby Gompers

– No strikes – higher wages, etc.No strikes – higher wages, etc. Food AdministrationFood Administration

– Encouraged people to eat less Encouraged people to eat less meat and breadmeat and bread

– Farm Production increased Farm Production increased exportsexports

– No rationing cards yet (WWII)No rationing cards yet (WWII) Invented Daylight Invented Daylight

Savings to conserve Savings to conserve fuelfuel

MobilizationMobilization

Convinced Convinced Americans to put Americans to put savings into savings into ““Liberty BondsLiberty Bonds””

Increased income Increased income tax, business tax, tax, business tax, and excise taxand excise tax

US PropagandaUS Propaganda

CREEL CommitteeCREEL Committee Voluntary censorship Voluntary censorship

of the newsof the news Made heroes out of Made heroes out of

soldiers and villains soldiers and villains out of the Germansout of the Germans

Attacked and gave Attacked and gave new names to new names to anything that anything that sounded Germansounded German

US PropagandaUS Propaganda

US PropagandaUS Propaganda

Civil LibertiesCivil Liberties American Protective League – open mail, American Protective League – open mail,

neighborhood watchneighborhood watch 100% Americanism100% Americanism Espionage Act of 1917-imprisoned for 20 year Espionage Act of 1917-imprisoned for 20 year

if caught inciting a riot or obstructing the draftif caught inciting a riot or obstructing the draft Sedition Act of 1918-Prohibited from making Sedition Act of 1918-Prohibited from making

disloyal remarksdisloyal remarks Schneck v. US (1919)-Restriction of civil Schneck v. US (1919)-Restriction of civil

liberties is ok if it demonstrates a liberties is ok if it demonstrates a ““clear and clear and present dangerpresent danger”” to public safety (Abrams v. to public safety (Abrams v. US)US)

MinoritiesMinorities

Women-Entered the workforce in Women-Entered the workforce in mass, took the jobs of soldiers mass, took the jobs of soldiers fighting in Europefighting in Europe

Mexicans-immigrating in mass to get Mexicans-immigrating in mass to get agricultural work in the southwestagricultural work in the southwest

African-Americans-400,000 African-Americans-400,000 volunteered for the armed services, volunteered for the armed services, served in non-combat roles, and in served in non-combat roles, and in segregated units; also in Northern segregated units; also in Northern industries --- Great Migrationindustries --- Great Migration

Armed ForcesArmed Forces

Thousands Thousands volunteeredvolunteered

Selective Service Selective Service Act (1917)-2.8 Act (1917)-2.8 million drafted by million drafted by lotterylottery

American American Expeditionary Force Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by (AEF) led by General John J. General John J. ““Black JackBlack Jack”” PershingPershing

CasualtiesCasualties

49,000-Combat Deaths49,000-Combat Deaths 64,000-Died from Disease64,000-Died from Disease Worldwide Flu EpidemicWorldwide Flu Epidemic

ArmisticeArmistice

November 11, 1918 at 11amNovember 11, 1918 at 11am ““On the 11On the 11thth day of the 11 day of the 11thth month at month at

the 11the 11thth hour hour”” Memorialized-Veterans DayMemorialized-Veterans Day Germany surrendered their arms, Germany surrendered their arms,

Navy, and occupied territoryNavy, and occupied territory

WilsonWilson’’s Plans Plan

Called the 14 pointsCalled the 14 points Points 1-5-Remove the Causes of Points 1-5-Remove the Causes of

WarWar– Freedom of SeasFreedom of Seas– Prohibit secret treatiesProhibit secret treaties– Reduce ArmsReduce Arms– Reduce coloniesReduce colonies– Self-Determination-each person allowed Self-Determination-each person allowed

to move to country of their nationalityto move to country of their nationality

WilsonWilson’’s Plans Plan

Points 6-13-Boundary ChangesPoints 6-13-Boundary Changes Point 14-League of NationsPoint 14-League of Nations

– Most valued-heart of peace planMost valued-heart of peace plan– Peace association-solve problems by Peace association-solve problems by

diplomatic means instead of wardiplomatic means instead of war

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

January 1919-ParisJanuary 1919-Paris Big FourBig Four

– Woodrow Wilson-USWoodrow Wilson-US– David Lloyd George-Great BritainDavid Lloyd George-Great Britain– Georges Clemenceau-FranceGeorges Clemenceau-France– Vittorio Orlando-ItalyVittorio Orlando-Italy

WilsonWilson

Lloyd GeorgeLloyd George

ClemenceauClemenceau

OrlandoOrlando

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Wilson wanted this to be the Wilson wanted this to be the ““war to war to end all warsend all wars””

Others wanted revengeOthers wanted revenge Months of arguingMonths of arguing Wilson compromised on all of his 14 Wilson compromised on all of his 14

points except onepoints except one

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of VersaillesProvisionsProvisions

1. Germany was disarmed, stripped 1. Germany was disarmed, stripped of colonies, forced to admit guilt, of colonies, forced to admit guilt, occupation of Rhineland, and had to occupation of Rhineland, and had to pay reparations (war debt) to pay reparations (war debt) to England and FranceEngland and France

2. Many boundary changes2. Many boundary changes 3. Established a League of Nations3. Established a League of Nations

Boundary ChangesBoundary Changes

Weakness of TreatyWeakness of Treaty

Central Powers not invitedCentral Powers not invited Russia not invited-took land awayRussia not invited-took land away Germany blamedGermany blamed Led to three warsLed to three wars

– WWIIWWII– Cold WarCold War– Vietnam WarVietnam War

US RatificationUS Ratification

Wilson returns with treatyWilson returns with treaty Has to get 2/3 vote in SenateHas to get 2/3 vote in Senate Election of 1918-Majority of Election of 1918-Majority of

Republicans in both housesRepublicans in both houses Senate-raised objections to treaty Senate-raised objections to treaty

especially League of Nations-against especially League of Nations-against the Monroe Doctrinethe Monroe Doctrine

US RatificationUS Ratification

Opponents divided into two groupsOpponents divided into two groups– Irreconcilables-would not accept the Irreconcilables-would not accept the

treatytreaty– Reservationists-Would accept the treaty Reservationists-Would accept the treaty

if reservations placed on League of if reservations placed on League of NationsNations

– Henry Cabot Lodge leader of Henry Cabot Lodge leader of reservationistsreservationists

US RatificationUS Ratification Wilson against any reservationsWilson against any reservations Tries to rally public support by a speaking Tries to rally public support by a speaking

tour in the westtour in the west Sept. 25Sept. 25thth, 1919-collapsed while speaking, , 1919-collapsed while speaking,

returned to Washington and suffered a returned to Washington and suffered a massive strokemassive stroke

Never recoveredNever recovered Many believe his wife was running the Many believe his wife was running the

countrycountry Led to the 25Led to the 25thth Amendment-Presidential Amendment-Presidential

handicaphandicap

US Rejection of TreatyUS Rejection of Treaty

Senate voted twice on treatySenate voted twice on treaty Rejected both timesRejected both times 1921-US signed separate peace 1921-US signed separate peace

treaty with Germanytreaty with Germany Never ratified the Treaty of Versailles Never ratified the Treaty of Versailles

or joined the League of Nationsor joined the League of Nations