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The Great War
European imperial rivalries bloody, defensive war
by 1917, over 2 million dead stalemate – 25,000 miles of
trenches
Keeping the US out of war, 1914-1917
tradition of isolationism plus economy (trade)
fear of modern warfare America’s diverse population Wilson’s moral approach to foreign affairs
Jan 1917 to Senate: “peace without victory” proposed a League of Nations for:
arbitration of international disputes arms reduction freedom of the seas national self-determination
US Involvement
US entry into war German U-boats
May 1915: the Lusitania May 1916: German pledge to stop unrestricted
U-boat warfare
late January 1917: German resumptionFebruary 1917: publication of the Zimmerman TelegramMarch 19, 1917: the Russian Revolution April 2: Wilson to Congress: “The world must be made safe for democracy”
US Involvement
Military involvement June 1917: Conscription
2 million enlistees, 3 million draftees Pershing’s delay
African Americans Summer 1917: naval convoys March 1918: AEF Europe
eventually 1.2 million soldiers in Europe
116,000 killed in 8 months November 11, 1918: Armistice
The Progressive War at Home
Initial goal: mobilize public opinion George Creel & the Committee on Public
Information (CPI) educate citizens about the war promote national unity
CPI tactics pamphlets, posters, films (muckrakers) 75,000 “Four-Minute Men” “Liberty Bond” drives movie stars like Charlie Chaplin food conservation, Red Cross voluntarism