Discuss with a Partner

Describe the transformation in Wilson’s outlook from “Peace without Victory” to “Making the World Safe for Democracy.”

Review

• How did the following lead to US entry into WWI?

• A. Loans to England?

• B. Sinking of Lusitania?

• C. Sussex Pledge?

• D. Zimmerman Telegram?

US in WWI

Home and Abroad

US Enters War

• Finally, Germans sank some US Ships and then America declared war on Germany.

• Wilson’s new goal is to make the world “safe for democracy.”

How do You think US entry into WWI changed America at home?

Organizing an Army• The US used conscription

(draft) to produce an army.

• Many Progressives were for this because they thought people from all classes and ethnicities would mix together.

• To pay for the war, the Govt. raised taxes and sold Liberty Bonds.

The Great Migration

• During the War, the American economy boomed.

• Also, many jobs in Northern factories became available as whites left to fight in France.

• From 1915 – 1920, over ½ a million blacks left the South for Northern cities.

Big Business, Labor and Government

• The Govt. and Big Businesses joined together to organize production for the war effort.

• War Industries Board (WIB)= govt. agency that coordinates (sets quotas and prices) business production of war material and supplies.

• War Industries Board (WIB)

• Bernard Baruch

• “Dollar-A-Year Men”

• National War Labor Board—mediates labor disputes.

Dissent

• Socialists oppose war because they feel it only benefits capitalists.

• Women

• Carrie Chapman Catt (Women’s Peace Party).

• Jane Addams

The Home Front

• The government set up a huge Propaganda machine—The Committee on Public Information (CPI).

• George Creel headed it.

• He sent out over 75,000 “4-minute men.”

• The propaganda was aimed at having people conserve food and resources, enlist in the army, buy war bonds, etc.

The War and Civil Liberties

• During the War, Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Amendment of 1918.

• These laws made obstruction of the war effort a crime.

• This included speaking against the war.

• “Loyalty Leagues” were formed to encourage Americans to spy on and report those that were “disloyal.”

• Many people lost the right of free speech.

Harassing of German Americans

• People of German descent were harassed. All things German were disparaged.

Crackdown on Radicals

• 1/3 of US socialist leadership imprisoned.

– Eugene Debs– Victor Berger (Congressman

from Milw.).

1/3 of the leaders of the IWW

Schenck v. The United States• Charles Schenck and other members of the socialist

party printed and mailed flyers urging draftees to oppose the draft.

• In the case, Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes established the principle of “Clear and Present Danger” in limiting free speech.

• He said that in a time of war, what Schenck was saying was the equivalent of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater.

• Case said that in times of crisis, the govt. could restrict free speech.

Women and African Americans

• 11,000 women volunteered as nurses, clerical workers, and telephone operators.

• It was during the war that Wilson finally began to support the idea of Women’s suffrage.

African Americans

• Over 370,000 blacks served in the armed forces during the war.

• There was segregation so they served in all black units (although they were commanded by white officers).

The American Expeditionary Force

• The A.E.F. was commanded by John Pershing.

• The American soldiers were called “Doughboys.”

• More than 2-million Americans soldiers went to France.

• On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered.

Revolution in Russia

• During the War, There was a Revolution in Russia.

• The Communists (Bolsheviks) took over.

• In March of 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany that ended Russian fighting.

• The Revolution was alarming to many of the Western Governments.

Deaths in WWI

• Russia 1,700,000

• Germany 1,733,700

• Austria-Hungry1,200,000

• France 1,357,000

• England 908,371

• Italy 650,000

• US 126,000

Review

• What were the 2 reasons that the US eventually joined WWI?

• How did the government try to drum up support for the war at home?

• How did the war effect African Americans?

• How did the war effect woman?

• How did the war effect civil liberties at home?

• Progressives were happy, and Business profits tripled between 1914-1919.

• Samuel Gompers and the AFL supported Wilson and the war.

• In return, The govt. secretly gave him money to discredit socialists in the labor movement.

• Also, much violence happened against members of the socialist IWW (wobblies) because they were against the war.