World War I America

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World War IAmerica
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Woodrow Wilson at Princeton
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Woodrow Wilson

• Progressive Anti-trust (anti-monopoly) for
  womens suffrage for labor rights Anti-war.
• Often defined by his morality and idealism.

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Woodrow Wilson

• Birth of A Nation special showing at White House
  a clearly racist, pro-KKK film.
• Intervenes in Mexico with U.S. troops.
• Declares war against The Central Powers (Germany,
  Austria, Turkey)

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Why get involved in World War I?

•  This headline from the front page of the May
  8, 1915 edition of the "New York Times" reads,
  "Lusitania Sunk by A Submarine, probably 1260
  Dead."

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Why enter WWI?

• 1915 Lusitania sunk by Germans 126 Americans
  killed.
• 1917 Germans resume unrestricted submarine
  warfare around British Isles.
• 1917 Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico.
• World, Allied, and British-U.S. commerce and
  trade threatened.
• And, of course, for freedom and democracy.

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Preparing for war

• Selective Service Act institutes nationwide
  conscription/draft.
• U.S. armed forces from 200,000 to nearly 5
  million!

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Persuading for war

• Wilson creates the Committee on Public
  Information (CPI) to influence public opinion to
  support the war effort.
• George Creel is chairman.

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The U.S. Food Administration

• Headed by Herbert Hoover advised Americans to
  save certain foods for export to supply the
  Allied war effort.

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"Food will win the war, don't waste it."

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World War I Propaganda

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• World War I Propaganda

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George Creels Committee on Public Information
Propaganda Films

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The 4 Minute Men

• Volunteer Army of 75,000, organized by the
  Creels CPI, these men gave patriotic, pro-war
  speeches before stages and movie shows nationwide.

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Buy Government Bonds Its your patriotic
duty!
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All Quiet on the Western Front?
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• World War I SoldierMore than a 2 million
  American men were sent overseas to fight in World
  War I. 52,000 Americans died in battle. 60,000
  died of illness such as pneumonia and influenza.

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Poison gas warfare
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Modern War Technology and Progress
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(No Transcript)
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In the trenches
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Repression on the Home front

• The Espionage Act imprisonment and fine for
  anyone found guilty of aiding the enemy,
  obstructing recruitment, or causing
  insubordination in the armed forces.(1917)
• The Sedition Act outlawed any disloyal, profane,
  or abusive language intended to cause contempt,
  scorn, or disrepute to the government,
  Constitution, or flag.(1918)

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• Germans Board a Train for Deportation.
• The Alien Act (1918) allows for deportation of
  non-naturalized immigrants if they are deemed a
  threat to the government.

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Eugene Debs

• After giving an anti-war speech, Debs is arrested
  for obstructing the recruiting or enlistment
  service, under the Espionage Act.
• Sentenced to 10 years in prison (serves almost
  3).
• About 900 people went to prison under the
  Espionage Act.

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Women Working in Factories

•  A million women entered the American workforce
  during World War I. In this factory, women of all
  ages are packing hand grenade parts to be shipped
  overseas.

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Soldiers of the 369th Infantry, the Harlem
Hellfighters
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Post-war home frontDisappointment

• African Americans
• Women
• Labor Unions
• Immigrants
• But the U.S. economy is growing and international
  influence/power is stronger

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The War to End All Wars

•  Peace Treaty Signed at Versailles, 1919
  Woodrow Wilson leaving the Palace of Versailles
  after signing the Peace Treaty.

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Wilsonian Idealism

• 14 Points Wilson calls for lasting peace,
  diplomacy, free trade with all nations,
  self-determination and opportunity for autonomous
  development for all nations, and the re-drawing
  of national boundaries.
• League of Nations International body designed to
  enforce the new order rejected by Congress.