WWI: “THE GREAT WAR”

AP US HistoryUnit 9: Progressivism and WWI

Gaining Support for the War

The Committee on Public Information was responsible for selling the war to Americans and gaining their support.

They accomplished this through the distribution of propaganda in the form of pamphlets, leaflets, posters, and speaking tours.

Here are some examples of the propaganda used….

Doing their part…

The Food Administration led by Herbert Hoover was responsible for rallying public support at home by promoting self-denial of luxury items and not using more than we need.

“Wheatless Wednesdays”, “Meatless Tuesdays”, grow a “victory garden”, “heatless Mondays”, “lightless nights”, “gasless Sundays”.

Using raw materials to create alcohol also became frowned upon. (influenced passage of the 18th amendment)

Mobilizing the Economy

The War Industries Board was created to organize and centralize the economy. There goal was to provide needed supplies in the war effort by working with factories in the production of goods needed by the Allies and American troops.

The Board stepped into factories and put down labor strikes by paying for wage increases for workers.

Heading North: The “Great Migration”

To help fill the positions in the factories left by the men leaving for Europe as well as the workers who were on strike a mass migration of African-Americans to northern cities took place.

Many of these migrations resulted in race riots and violence.

Great Migration

Get Your Liberty Loan Button!

Liberty Loans, war bonds, increases in taxes were ways that the war effort was financed.

If you didn’t have a Liberty Loan Button that showed that you were un-Patriotic and didn’t support the troops.

Shut them up!

German-Americans highly persecuted against during the war.

The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 made any criticism or actions of suspicion punishable by imprisonment.

Constitutional?

Were these acts unconstitutional?

Not according the decision handed down in Schenck v. United States (1919).

Citing the decision; freedom of speech can be revoked when such speech poses a “clear and present danger” to the nation.

Doughboys: American Infantrymen in France

Allies Need More Help!

With the Communist Bolshevik Revolution in Russia causing them to withdraw their support for the Allies, the need for reinforcements fell on the Americans.

One way to increase numbers quickly…a draft.

There was no draft dodging in this war as there had been in the Civil War.

On to France!

The first major American entanglement in Europe came at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood outside of Paris.

With the help of the Americans the were able to push back the Germans away from Paris.

The longest battle..

The Meuse-Argonne offensive lasted 47 days between September and November, 1918.

1.2 million Americans involved.

120,000 killed/wounded Loss of so many lives

due to inadequate training, machine guns, and open field tactics of attack.

Germany Surrenders

With the presence of the Americans and the prospect of more to come the Germans are forced to surrender.

They laid their arms down on November, 11th, 1918.

(Veteran’s Day)

Weapons: Machine Guns

Weapons: Poisonous Gas

Weapons: Tanks

Style of War: Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare: “Trench Foot”

Trench Warfare: “Trench Foot”

Creating a Peace In 1919 the “Big Four” arrived

in Versailles to discuss how to handle Germany and Austria-Hungary and how to redraw the boundary lines of Europe.

The “Big Four” included P.M. David Lloyd George (GB), Premier Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Premier Georges Clemenceau (France), President Woodrow Wilson.

They were also attempting to end all future wars.

Wilson’s idea for the conference: his famous 14 Points plan.

League of Nations

Woodrow Wilson’s plan to ensure world peace for years to come was known as the League of Nations.

It was an international organization of nations to ensure world security.

If a member nation were to come under attack the others would provide step in and help out.

The League Fails in the U.S.

With the congressional elections in 1918 the Republicans had a majority in Senate.

The Senate refused to agree to the League of Nations on the basis that it would drag us into another war if were enter into an “entangling alliance”.

Looking at our history, which two founding fathers warned against joining into such entangling alliances?

Treaty of Versailles

June, 1919 Created to punish/embarrass Germany German military reduced to 100,000 No tanks, no air force, no submarines Only permitted 6 naval ships No German military personnel permitted in western portion

of Germany near the Rhine River Germany had to pay war reparations

Allies given a blank check Lost key lands with valuable resources (coal fields)

Germany could not join Austria-Hungary and create a super-state.

Germany had to admit wrong-doing and blame for war. Germany’s options: sign the treaty or be invaded by the

allies.

A Sad Goodbye

With the Republicans holding a majority in Congress President Woodrow Wilson’s plans for the U.S. were stopped going forward.

He lost a great deal of support and in the election of 1920 the Republicans won the Presidency in Warren G. Harding and his Vice-President Calvin Coolidge.

Europe after WWI