Jeanette Rankin

I didn’t Raise My Son to be a Soldier

America, Here’s My Boy for You

The following are two songs from WWI. The first was

popular in 1915 and the second in 1917. Compare the

attitudes expressed in both and explain the differences.

America Here's My Boy

First Verse There's a million mothers knocking at the nations door, A million mothers, yes and there'll be millions more, And while within each mother heart they pray, Just hark what one brave mother has to say.

Second Verse There's a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. And while within each heart there'll be a tear, She'll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.

Chorus America, I raised a boy for you. America, You'll find him staunch and true, Place a gun upon his shoulder, He is ready to die or do. America, he is my only one; My hope, my pride and joy, But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; America, here's my boy.

I Didn't Raise My Son To Be A Soldier

•(Trad) I didn't raise my son to be a soldierI raised him up to be my pride and joyWhy should he put a musket to his shoulderTo kill another mother's darling boyWhy should he fight in someone else's quarrelsIt's time to throw the sword and gun awayThere would be no war todayIf the nations all would sayNo I didn't raise my son to be a soldier

•I didn't raise my son to be a soldierTo go fighting in some far-off foreign landHe may get killed before he's any olderFor a cause that he will never understandWhy should he fight another rich man's battleWhile they stay at home and while their time awayLet those with most to loseFight each other if they chooseFor I didn't raise my son to be a soldier

•I didn't raise my son to be a soldierTo go fighting heathens round the HornIf God required to prove that boys are bolderThey'd have uniforms and guns when they were bornWhy should we have wars about religionWhen Jesus came to teach us not to killDo Zulus and HindoosNot have the right to chooseFor I didn't raise my son to be a soldier

U.S. Declares War

After years of reluctance, the US was finally at war. Why? In the United States, people believed that Germany’s refusal to respect

American claims to neutrality had forced the US to retaliate. From Germany’s perspective,

America’s claim of neutrality was far from neutral. The US was providing money and ammunition to the Allies long before the

troops ever left for Europe.

Reasons for Entering the WarGerman Submarine Warfare

•German U-boat (submarine)

•Changed the rules of naval warfare

•Element of surprise – give no warning to their targets

•Americans felt like this was unfair and unjust

Irony: Britain had set up a blockade of the seas trying to lead to the starvation of the German people (America felt this was justifiable in wartime), however, the use of U-boats to destroy these blockades was uncivilized in the American eye.

British Influence

•Britain had destroyed the transatlantic cable connecting Germany and the US so all communication came through Britain

•Information bias – helped shape the attitudes of US in favor of Britain

•Exaggerated stories to try and create a reaction. A common story in newspapers was that German troops would chop off the hands of Belgian babies. After the war this was proved to be untrue.

Sinking of the Lusitania: British passenger liner

•Germany spotted the Lusitania in the Irish Sea and suspected correctly that it was carrying weapons for Allies

•Fired on the line and within 18 minutes the ship sunk with its 1,198 passengers

•128 of the dead were Americans

•Sparks started flying at home

The Lusitania Here are two editorials from two newspapers about the sinking of the Lusitania.

“Germany ought not to be left in … doubt how the civilized world regards her latest display of ‘frightfulness.’… No plea of military necessity will [help Germany] before the … conscience of the world…. Some atrocities … fall under … universal condemnation …” —  New York Nation, May 13, 1915

“If ever the American people stood in need of calmness … it is at this hour. While every other nation is ‘seeing red,’ let us do what the German military authorities apparently have not done—count the cost [of any further action]…. We must protect our citizens, but we must find some other way [to do so] than war.” —  Chicago Standard, May 13, 1915

Analyzing Primary Sources  What is the difference between the two editorials?

Germany had issued a warning reminding all potential travelers there was a war going on and to sail at their own risk. They took no blame for the incident.

Wilson demanded that Germany renounce unrestricted submarine warfare and make payments to the victims survivors. Germany laughed.

Wilson ordered a second stronger note – Germany says they will stop sinking ships without warning… but continued to do so

Wilson had just been re-elected on the promise to “keep us out of war.” What would you do?

Zimmermann Telegram

A telegram from Germany was intercepted on its way to Mexico by Britain and they released it to the US. It was an agreement that if the US decided to declare war, Germany would form an immediate alliance to Mexico promising them that if they would fight, Germany would recover their lost lands: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Russian Revolution

By 1917, Russia had suffered enormous casualties:

1.8 million killed

2.4 million taken prisoner

2.8 million sick or wounded

In the middle of this, Russia had its own revolution and the czar was overthrown. The US did not like the czar and once he was gone it was one less stumbling block.

                                     

                                                                                               

April 6, 1917

Wilson declares war.

“The world must be made safe for democracy.”

IN SMALL GROUPS:Referring to the propaganda posters, you are

going to break into four groups and create a brief presentation on the following themes: Explain to America why we entered the war

Encourage People to Enlist Now!

Speak to the role women need to play

Defend how war will help create jobs for all

Imagine this morning you woke up to the headlines “US Declares War.”

Write a journal entry of your thoughts and feelings.

What is going through your head right now?