Wilson and World War One

Wilson and World War OnePart IWoodrow WilsonBelieved America was a city on a hillA light to the worldSaw himself in a messiah role of sortsBrilliant and charismaticPresident of Princeton University as well as USPresident of USAPresident became most powerful man in America under Wilson

Wilsons Four PrinciplesConcentration of power by gov. leadersEven though he said accountability was importantCongressional GovernmentAccountability stems from democratic processElectionsPragmatismNo absolute values or lawsThings change depending upon needSociety was more important than individualThere is nothing private in America. Everything is public

New FreedomWilsons presidential campaignStricter regulation of businessGovernment control of money supplyIncome tax utilizedGood:Prevented business from abusing the lowlyHelped societys marginalizedBad:More power in the hands of governmentGovernment could assert its own moralityThree StrugglesWilson had to win over 3 groupsDemocratic PartyCongressAmerican PublicDemocratic PartyDivision w/in Democratic PartyProgressives vs. old line DemocratsWilson sided w/ the stronger sideOld line democratsUsed patronageRewarded friendsPunished enemiesEncouraged loyaltyCongressMade own legislative programPersonal appearances at the CapitolPersonal conferences w/ congressmenDelivered messages to Congress in personMade Congress sit for longest session in its history at that time Passed his New Freedom legislationAmerican PublicGreat oratorMade people believe they were on a moral crusadeInformal press releases to influence public

Wilson as PresidentCreated the Federal Reserve BoardComposed of 12 regional banksGovernment can control inflationFederal Trade Commission ActGovernment given more control over commerceClayton Antitrust ActGovernment given more power to break up big businessUnderwood-Simmons TaxSmall income taxSocial Welfare Legislation (laws enacted to assist individuals)Federal Farm Loan ActLoans to farmersAdamson Act8 hour day for interstate railroad workersChild Labor ActProhibited kids under 14 from working in factories

Supreme CourtWilson appointed Louis D. BrandeisIn the tradition of Oliver Wendell HolmesBrandeis believed law and morality were relativeIt was questionable whether or not the Senate would approve Wilsons nominationWilson said that they had to approve or he would not favor them through patronageNomination confirmedPart IIThe Election of 1916Wilson (Dem)Slogan: He kept us out of warWWI going on in Europe at this timePointed to the legislation hed passedCharles Evans Hughes (Rep)Left the Supreme Court to accept nominationAlso believed in expanded government powerMany expected Hughes to winRepublicans were majority party

Why Wilson WonRepublicans advocated warOr at least building up Americas military in caseLost many votes of German immigrantsHughes appeared less progressiveLost votes of intellectuals/reformersCalifornia incidentHughes did not meet with progressive candidate for CA governor, Hiram JohnsonEven though they stayed in same hotelAppeared that Hughes snubbed himStory spread, even though it was Johnson who had intentionally avoided HughesHughes most likely didnt know Johnson was thereHughes criticized Wilson as being collectivistBusinesses supported HughesIdea of Democrats being liberal, Republicans being conservative emergedThe ResultsClose electionHughes confident he had won when he went to bedPhone call to his house shows thisThe President has gone to bedWhen he wakes up, tell him he is not the PresidentWilson won by 23 electoral votes4 MAIN Causes of WWIMilitarismArms raceAlliancesTriple AllianceGermany, Austria-Hungary, SerbiaTriple EntenteBritain, France, RussiaImperialismCountries had taken over others all over the world, and therefore competed w/ one another globallyNationalismBelief that ones country was superiorLed people to be cocky about start of warExpected quick, easy victory in monthsParades at outbreak of warWar to End All Wars

MAIN or MANIA?AssassinationArchduke Franz Ferdinand of AustriaAssassinated by member of The Black HandSerbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip (19) shot him Sarajevo, Bosnia

World War I28 July, 1914 11 November, 1918AlliesGreat Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, RomaniaCentral PowersGermany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria

Pressure Builds in AmericaLusitaniaBritish passenger linerTorpedoed by a German submarineSecretly carrying war materials from US to Britain1,198 killed, including 124 AmericansMany wanted warWilson remained neutral, made agreements with GermanyGermany turned to unrestricted sub warfareFigured it could win war quickly, even if US enteredWilson ended relations with Germany, did not enter war

America EntersZimmerman TelegramGerman minister in Mexico sent message to GEREncouraged alliance w/ MEX against USMexico to get NM, TX, and AZ if war was wonIntercepted by British, given to AmericansLaconiaShip torpedoed by U-boat2 Americans deadUS entered war on APR 4, 1917EnthusiasmWilson: US fighting to make the world safe for democracyStyle of WarfareTrench warfareSlow and costlyBattle of the Somme1,100,000 casualties over 7 milesMonths longTrenches and machine gunsOld war strategies with new weaponryTanks and barbed wireNaval WarfareBritish used traditional blockade of GermanySearched goods going from neutral countries into GermanyGermans used submarine warfareU-boatsTorpedoed suspicious vessels instead of searching themOnly way to compete with Britains NavyArial WarfarePlanesSopwith CamelBricks and bulletsChemical WarfareMustard Gas

Part IIIWar Drags OnOur Lady of Fatima appeared, begging for peace in the worldCompromise possible, but war continuedSecret treaty between England/France and ItalyThey were to get land for joining the alliesConfidence in total victory w/ US helpUS could have helped negotiate peace from their position, but didnt explore that optionEmperor CharlesAustria-HungaryCame to power in 1916Desired peace, but already in warConcerned with welfare of his peopleGave freedoms/rights to different nationalities within his empireActed as a protector for his peopleAsked for peace, but no one listenedFourteen PointsA statement by Wilson which he wanted to be the basis for peace negotiationsPoint 1: Open peace, no secret treatiesUpset alliesPoint 2: Absolute freedom of seasHurt British naval powerPoint 5: Free and impartial adjustment of coloniesUpset imperial nationsPoint 10: Self-determination for the peoples of Austria-HungaryStemmed from belief that Charles needed to be elected to be rightfully in powerCharles said that the people near Italy in his territory didnt want to be Italian, but that Wilson had allowed thatHis point was rejected Austria-Hungary to be split up according to the various nationalitiesUS and the War EffortUS not militarily prepared for the warDraft Munitions factoryNeed to train troops and officersSignificant US involvement not until 1918American Expeditionary ForceGeneral John J. Black Jack Pershing

America and the Wars Final PushGermans launched surprise attackPushed within 37 miles of ParisAmericans arrivedRan into retreating FrenchRetreat? We just got here!Forced German retreatAmericans helped win a major victory in the Battle of Belleau WoodStopped another German offensive at the Second Battle of the MarneUS on the attackMeuse-Argonne Offensive (SEPT 26, 1918)Airpower plays a significant factorArmisticeAn armistice ended WWIOfficially signed at 5AMWar ended at 11AM on November 11 1918Celebrated even todayVeterans DayPoppy Day

Versailles Peace ConferenceFrench Palace of VersaillesMajor FiguresGeorges ClemenceauFrances Prime Minister (PM)Wanted to punish/weaken Germany, giving France the most strength in continental EuropeDavid Lloyd-GeorgeEnglands PMRealized long-term danger of harsh punishmentsEnglish people wanted GER punished, so he pushed for it in order to stay in officeWoodrow WilsonWanted to create international organization which could bring peace to the world through democracyCompromise at the ConferenceWilson wanted to create League of NationsBelieved it could establish brotherhood of manWilson opposed harsh punishments FRA threatened to oppose League, so Wilson gave in time and time againSelf-determination the guiding principle in re-drawing the mapCreated countries based on languageCzechoslovakia (Czechs and Slovaks), YugoslaviaAustrias South Tyrol given to ItalyBecause ancient map had shown that the land once belonged to ItalyRomania received Hungarian land due to secret treatyUkraine not allowed to be free of Communist RussiaGermany and Austria not united even though they had a common languagebut this would mean the establishment of a great central Roman Catholic nationThe Treaty is SignedGermans told to accept treaty as it was, or else the war would be resumedThey begged for revisionsClemenceau refused to allow themWilson listened to Germanys objectionsVersailles Treaty signed as was, June 28thGerman Kaiser overthrownPower vacuumLead in part to rise of Nazi GermanyVoting for the League in AmericaSenate had to vote to approve League of NationsSenate was Republican and isolationist Henry Cabot LodgeSenate Majority LeaderIsolationist and anti-WilsonSaid America would never accept the treaty as it wasWilson said he would make no changesWilson couldnt get Senate behind itDecided to take it straight to American peopleHoping they would get their Senators to back the League

To the PeopleNationwide tour21 days, 29 cities, 37 speechesLeague of Nations is the only thing that can prevent recurrence of this tragedyWilson had a stroke in ColoradoParalyzed his left sideWanted to finish tourWife wouldnt allow itBed riddenWife virtually ran countryThe VoteWilsons advisors told him to make last second changes to get people to support the League of NationsWilson refusedTreaty was defeated by the SenateThey signed a different treaty to end the warDid not allow the US to join the League of NationsRepublicans went on to win election of 1920Warren G. Harding