Introducton to American History
Donbonano
1104_AmericanHistoryComb_9e_22.pptxChapter 22: America and the Great War
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
Learning Objectives
Explain the situation in Europe in 1914 and the factors that eventually led to armed conflict.
Explain each nation’s (other than the United States) motivation for entering World War I.
Evaluate Wilson’s efforts to keep the United States out of the First World War. Why would neutrality be difficult?
Discuss the impact of war on American society.
Discuss hyperpatriotism and rights limitations during WWI, including a discussion of Vigilante activities.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
Learning Objectives (Continued)
Discuss the new weapons of WWI and their impact.
Discuss the Allied Victory in WWI and the reasons for the defeat of Germany.
Evaluate Wilson’s Fourteen Points and its problems.
Discuss the Versailles Treaty and its problems. How does it reflect Wilson’s Fourteen Points and in what ways does it violate them?
Discuss the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-1919, its impact, and its possible causes.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1 Europe Before the War
Europe divided into two competing alliances.
British converted its navy to using oil.
Germany defeated France in 1870 and took Alsace Lorraine.
Austria was left out of German unification in 1870 due to its ambitions in the Balkans.
Austria defeated Serbia in a war and then annexed Bosnia (1906).
Italy unified in the Revolution from Above in 1870, but Tyrol remained in Austria.
Russia considered itself defender of the Slavs.
Belgium was recognized universally as neutral.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1a Outbreak of Hostilities
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian nationalist on June 28, 1914.
Germany promised full support to Austria for war on Serbia.
Russia mobilized army against Austria.
Germany declared war on Russia to defend Austria.
France joined the war against Germany as part of Triple Entente and to regain Alsace Loraine.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1a Outbreak of Hostilities (Continued)
England joined war to defend Belgian neutrality and limit German power.
Italy joined war on Austria to gain Tyrol.
Ottomans joined the war to gain territory in Russia.
Bulgaria joined war to gain territory in Serbia.
Japan joined the war to gain Germany’s Pacific possessions.
War began Sep. 1.
Wilson declared neutrality, but bias toward Britain and France predominated.
German submarine warfare added to the general fear.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1a Outbreak of Hostilities (Continued)
British propaganda inflamed passions.
Anglo-Saxon liberty pitted against German militarism.
Eight million German-Americans were sympathetic to homeland; 4.5 million Irish-Americans were also anti-British.
Poles and Jews were anti-Russian.
Wilson told his cabinet, in 1915, “The Allies are standing with their backs to the wall fighting wild beans.”
He did not challenge British control of the seas and protested, but accepted, their definition of contraband.
Exports to Allies reached $3 billion by 1916.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1b German Submarine Warfare
The war quickly stalemated into trench warfare.
Germans began a submarine blockade of England in Feb. 1915.
British liner Lusitania was sunk May 7, 1915; the 1,198 dead included 124 Americans.
Wilson called upon German to “respect rights of humanity.”
A stern second note led to Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan’s resignation because he did not want to provoke Germany into war.
On June 6, Germans ordered U-boats to spare large liners.
March 1916: French liner Sussex was sunk off the coast of France.
One hundred Americans were killed.
Then Germans pledged restraint.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1c Steps Toward U.S. Preparedness
Wilson was reluctant to commit the US to the war.
Wilson supported major increases in military spending during the summer of 1915.
Progressives opposed preparedness, saying it was capitalist greed.
Organized labor and farmers opposed war, as did Bryan Democrats.
Wilson agreed to inheritance tax, munitions-profits tax, and progressive income tax to win support for military spending.
Congress approved only moderate increases.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1d The Election of 1916
Wilson was reelected.
“He Kept Us Out of War” was the Democratic theme.
Republican platform did not call for war (except against Mexico); Republicans chose Justice Charles Evans Hughes.
Wilson won by only 500,000 votes.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1e The Failure of Mediation
Wilson was still neutral at the time of his election.
December 18, 1916: Wilson called for each side to state its war aims.
British said that it was liberty.
Germany responded that it was territory.
Jan. 22, 1917: Wilson called for creation of a League of Nations and for a “peace without victory … a peace between equals.”
January 31, 1917: Germans reopened unrestricted submarine welfare, and Wilson severed diplomatic ties.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1e The Failure of Mediation (Continued)
February 25: Wilson received copy of the “Zimmerman note” from British intelligence.
It proposed Mexico join in war against the US.
Mexico would then get back land it had lost during the Mexican American War (1846-48).
Wilson asked Congress for right to arm American ships.
March 19: Three American ships were sunk, with heavy losses.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1e The Failure of Mediation (Continued)
Liberal revolution in Russia removed the czar from power.
Wilson decided in favor of war.
American aid would bring war to quick end.
Only American participation at a peace conference would assure a rational reconstruction of the world order.
April 2, 1917: He asked for a declaration of war—”The world must be made safe for democracy.”
War was declared on April 6.
Vote was 82 to 6 in Senate, 373 to 50 in House.
Many Republican supporters denounced any idea of a League of Nations.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.1f The Carnage and Stalemate of WWI
After the initial failed German offensive, the war settled into a stalemate along a 500-mile front.
Trench warfare became the norm.
Weaponry had advanced more quickly than tactics, making a very deadly conflict.
Verdun resulted in one million deaths.
Six hundred thousand died at the Somme.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2 A People at War
In Europe disaster loomed on every side.
The US insistence on convoy system cut shipping losses dramatically.
The Bolshevik Revolution allowed Germany to sign peace with Russia and shift 600,000 troops to Western Front.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2a Mobilization for Victory
Selective Service Act passed in 1917.
Three million were drafted and two million volunteered.
“Doughboys” changed fashion in American culture on multiple fronts.
The US used primarily European artillery shells and planes.
The War Industries Board was created to coordinate the economy under Bernard Baruch.
Herbert Hoover directed the Food Administration.
The Fuel Administration worked well, rationing coal; but the shipbuilding program was a failure.
All railroads were brought under government control (William G. McAdoo).
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2b The War on Land
US troops arrived in Europe in Oct. 1917, ahead of schedule.
In Aug. 1918, U.S. troops helped repel last major German drive at the Marne.
English and French successes brought Germany to sign armistice on Nov. 11, 1918.
Germany was not defeated on battlefield, but rather because it was out of fuel and food.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2c Heroes and Weaponry
War produced new heroes and weaponry on both sides.
Airplanes
Manfred Von Richtoven, “Red Baron,” shot down 80 planes.
Eddie Rickenbacker, US Ace, had 27 kills.
Sergeant Alvin York killed 17 Germans and captured 132 single-handedly.
Tanks, zeppelins, and poison gas
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2d Progressivism in War Time
War was generally a time of harmony between labor and management.
Over a third of the $38.5 billion war bill was paid for by war profits, income taxes, and luxury taxes.
Length of working hours declined, and wages rose—but controls went off as soon as war ended.
Women and African Americans had been recruited into the workforce to take jobs vacated by the men who went off to war.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2e Propaganda and Civil Liberties
Civil liberties suffered during the war.
Committee on Public Information (CPI) helped create the will to fight.
The public bought war bonds and accepted the draft.
Pacifists, pro-Germans, and radicals were persecuted.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2f Vigilantes
Vigilante organizations developed to enforce American patriotism.
American Protective League was formed to root out disloyal Americans.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2g Espionage and Sedition Acts
Espionage Act of June 1917
It forbade interference with draft and other actions that might help the enemy.
Wobblies were jailed.
Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited criticism of the war; 1,500 people were convicted of violating this law.
Vigilante organizations “shook down” American citizens in search of disloyalty.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2h The Lost Peace
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Wilson proposed fourteen points for peace, but Republicans won control of Congress in 1918 elections.
Wilson won some concessions at the Paris Peace Conference and won support for the League of Nations.
Fourteen Points was violated by imposing punitive reparations on Germany.
The US Senate rejected ratification, twice falling short of two-thirds majority required by Constitution.
Republicans attach Fourteen Reservations to Fourteen Points.
Treaty failed both with and without reservations.
The US never joined League of Nations.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2H The Lost Peace (Continued)
Germany was saddled with an enormous reparations debt.
Treaty of Versailles ended the war and created the League of Nations.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and a powerful group of Republican senators opposed the treaty.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
22.2i Spanish Flu Pandemic
Worldwide flu outbreak began just as the war ended.
Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 killed 20-40 million worldwide.
In the pandemic 675,000 Americans died.
Half of American soldier deaths in the Great War were from the flu.
It was suggested that the mass movements and concentrations of men during the Great War helped spread the pandemic.
Introduction to American History Combined
Ninth Edition, by Farmer © 2019
BVT Publishing
Better textbooks, better prices.
