US Involvement in WWI

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US Involvement in WWI IB 20 th Century Topics

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US Involvement in WWI. IB 20 th Century Topics. In this cartoon, “The Great Wall” (1914), the Monroe Doctrine is shown as a protective shield for the United States. Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?. America was isolationist. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of US Involvement in WWI

Page 1: US Involvement in WWI

US Involvement in WWI

IB 20th Century Topics

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Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the war?

• America was isolationist.– “Why should I get involved in someone else’s

problems?”

• The Monroe Doctrine (1823) sought to isolate “the American continents” from European influences and problems.

In this cartoon, “The Great Wall” (1914), the Monroe Doctrine is shown as a protective shield for the United States.

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Thinking Slide:• Is isolationism really an option for

a country as powerful as the United States?

• What are the disadvantages of isolationism?

• What are the advantages?

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The American Response to WWI

• Neutrality!• Economic, cultural

and linguistic ties with Britain

• Most Americans were anti-German, especially after they discover plans for industrial sabotage.

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WWI: A Boom to the US Economy

• Britain and France bought products in great amounts.

• American bankers gave private loans to Allies.

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German Threats Escalate

• Germans kept out of American trade by the British blockade.

• Began submarine warfare around British isles to break through blockade.

• Germans warned US might sink merchant ships.

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Submarine Warfare

• The Germans warned Americans their merchant ships might be hit.

• Reaches a crisis point after Lusitania is torpedoed in 1915—128 Americans died.

• After sinking of British and French liners, Germans promised they would not sink unarmed ships without warning SUSSEX PLEDGE

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The Lusitania

• Germans warned British their passenger liners were in danger

• England still sailed Lusitania from New York to England• German U-boat torpedoed Lusitania in May 1915

– Sunk in 18 minutes– 2,000 on board, 1200 died including 128 Americans– Ship was carrying secret cargo of war materials.

• Wilson still wanted US to stay neutral, campaigned on promise “He kept us out of war”

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Wilson Wins Reelection (1916)

• Progressives die out in election after Roosevelt refuses to run again.

• Wilson wins over Charles Evans Hughes with his promise “He Kept Us Out of War.”

• Very close election, Wilson’s victory linked to his promise of further neutrality.

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The Zimmerman Note (1917)

• Sent by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico

• Was intercepted and decoded by British• Telegram stated Germany would again begin

unrestricted submarine warfare• Even worse, telegram proposes alliance

between Germany and Mexico– Germany promises will help Mexico get land back

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America Enters the War

• 1917—Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare.

• US finds Zimmerman Note on 1917.

• “Overt” acts—German U-boats sank four unarmed American merchant vessels in two weeks.

• April 6, 1917: US declares war because of these German actions.

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How was the war looking for the allies?

• Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917.

• Russia’s withdrawal allowed Germany to fight a one- front war with all its troops concentrated on France (remember this point when you study WWII!).

• Not Good...

Calling for a Communist revolution, anti-Tsarist protesters gather outside the Winter Palace in Petrograd, Russia, February 1917.

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Russia Leaves the War

• The Bolsheviks, who were communists, overthrow the Russian government

• The Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir Lenin

• 1918- the Russians signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers

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Convincing the American People

• Posters

• How do you think these posters helped to

convince the American people that the war was

a good idea?

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Getting Public Support for the War

• Difficult given traditions of isolationism and neutrality.

• Wilson cast war in moral terms— “making the world safe for democracy”

• This played on people’s ideas of America as the savior.

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U.S. Entry Into WWI• U.S. Position

– Most Americans wanted to stay neutral at first (why fight a war that was 3,000 miles away)

– U.S. tried to maintain trade with both Allied and Central Powers

– Americans eventually supported our involvement on the side of the Allies for two reasons:• Ensure Allied repayment of debts to the U.S.• Prevent Germans from threatening U.S.

shipping

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U.S. Mobilizes for War

• Selective Service Act is passed in Congress- men between 21 and 30 can be drafted

• War Industries Board meets war demand

• Raise taxes and issue liberty bonds

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U.S. Enters the War

• General John J. Pershing leads the U.S. troops, known as the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• Unlike European soldiers who were fighting for three years, Americans were energetic and fresh

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Propaganda in the War

• Government created Committee on Public Information—headed by George Creel.

• Goal—to sell the war to America and convince the world of the righteousness of Wilson’s war aims.

• posters, movies, songs

• Anti-Germanism on the rise

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The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”The “Mad Brute”

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Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Threats to the Civil

Liberties of AmericansLiberties of Americans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats to the Civil Threats to the Civil

Liberties of AmericansLiberties of Americans1. Espionage ActEspionage Act – 1917 – 1917

- forbade actions that - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote efforts to promote insubordination in the insubordination in the military.military. - ordered the Postmaster - ordered the Postmaster GeneralGeneral to remove Leftist materials to remove Leftist materials from the mail. from the mail. - fines of up to $10,000 and/or - fines of up to $10,000 and/or up to 20 years in prison. up to 20 years in prison.

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Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

2. 2. Sedition ActSedition Act – 1918 – 1918 - it was a crime to speak against the - it was a crime to speak against the purchase of war bonds or purchase of war bonds or willfullywillfully utter, print, write or publish any utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language abusive language about this form of USabout this form of US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US Govt., the US Constitution, or the US armed forces or to armed forces or to willfully urge, incite,willfully urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of or advocate any curtailment of production production of things of things necessary or necessary or essential to the prosecution of the essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder, the US in the cripple or hinder, the US in the prosecution of the war. prosecution of the war.

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Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

Government Excess & Government Excess & Threats Threats

to the Civil Liberties of to the Civil Liberties of AmericansAmericans

3. 3. Schenck v. USSchenck v. US – 1919 – 1919 - in ordinary times the mailing of the - in ordinary times the mailing of the leaflets would have been protected leaflets would have been protected by by the 1the 1st st Amendment.Amendment. - BUT, every act of speech must be - BUT, every act of speech must be

judged according to the judged according to the circumstances in circumstances in which it was which it was spoken.spoken. - If an act of speech posed a - If an act of speech posed a clear andclear and present dangerpresent danger, then Congress had , then Congress had the power to restrain such speech. the power to restrain such speech.

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Council of National Council of National DefenseDefense

Council of National Council of National DefenseDefense

e War Industries Board – War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Bernard Baruch

e Food Administration – Food Administration – Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover

e Railroad Administration – Railroad Administration – William McAdoo William McAdoo

e National War Labor Board – National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

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U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

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U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

U. S. Food U. S. Food AdministrationAdministration

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National War Garden National War Garden CommissionCommission

National War Garden National War Garden CommissionCommission

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U. S. School Garden U. S. School Garden ArmyArmy

U. S. School Garden U. S. School Garden ArmyArmy

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Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the

Economy?Economy?

Results of This New Results of This New Organization of the Organization of the

Economy?Economy?1.1. Unemployment virtually Unemployment virtually

disappeared.disappeared.

2.2. Expansion of “big Expansion of “big government.”government.”

3.3. Excessive govt. regulations in Excessive govt. regulations in economy.economy.

4.4. Unprecedented opportunities Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups. for disadvantaged groups. (Women and Minorities– we will (Women and Minorities– we will discuss next week)discuss next week)