Alexa RamirezApril Wachunas

5th period

Jan. 22,1917 Woodrow Wilson gave the most moving speech restating America’s commitment to neutral rights

Jan. 31, 1917 German warlords respond by announcing they would wage UNRESTRICTED submarine warfare, sinking ALL ships (including American) in a war zone. Germany hoped to bring Great Britain

down before US entered war. Wilson broke diplomatic relations with

Germany, but refused to enter war unless Germans overtook “overt” acts against American lives.

To defend American interest, Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm American Merchant Ships

Mar. 1,1917 the Zimmerman note was intercepted and published infuriating Americans German Foreign Secretary, Arthur

Zimmerman, proposed and alliance with Mexico tempting them with returning Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico.

On April 2, 1917 Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war due to German attacks on American Merchant vessels. April 6, 1917 America declared war after 4

days of debate between Congress members.- With 6 Senators and 50 Representatives

voting against the war declaration

Wilson’s biggest problem: Arising an isolated and neutral nation to a European war.The only hope was to

glorify American goals in the war.- American goal was

a crusade “to make the world safe for a democracy.” with no territorial or economic gain.

Woodrow Wilson

Jan. 89, 1918 Fourteen Points Address was delivered by Wilson to congress. It inspired drooping allies to make mightier efforts

and demoralized enemy governments. First 5 Points and the 14th:

1. No private international understandings all should be made public.

2. Freedom of the navigation throughout the seas.

3. Removal of economic barriers establishing an equality of trade conditions to all nations.

4. Reduction to the lowest point of national armament consistent with domestic safety.

5. Free, open-minded and impartial adjustment of colonial claims.

14.A general association of nations (foreshadowing the League of Nations)

The Committee of Public Information created to sell the people into war.

Headed by George Creel, who was a young journalist that was outspoken, tactless, imaginative and enthusiastic.- Employed 150,000 workers at home and

overseas- Sent out an army of 75,000 “four-minute

men” to deliver the countless “patriotic peps” to the people.

- Propaganda consisted of:1.Billboard posters2.Leaflets and pamphlets containing latest

Wilsonisms3.Booklets with red, white, and blue covers4.Hang-the-Kaiser movies

Creel typified American mobilization, which relied on passion and voluntary compliance, BUT oversold Wilson’s ideals leading the world to expect too much.

George Creel

8 million German Americans out of a population of 100 million.

Rumors of disloyalty to America spread and some German Americans were tarred and feathered, beaten, or in a very extreme case in Illinois lynched. Paranoia and hatred mounted resulting in:

1.Orchestras found it unsafe to play German-composed music. (Wagner or Beethoven)

2.German books were removed from libraries.3.German classes were canceled in high

schools and colleges.4.Beer brewers were also doubted in loyalties

if their names were like Shlitz or Pabst.5.And finally the Espionage Act of 1917 and

the Sedition Act of 1918.

Wilson was mildly prepared for war. 1915 created a civilian Council of National

Defense to study problems of economic mobilization..

Launched a shipbuilding program for either trade or war.

Improved US army with 100,000 regulars. (15th largest)

American’s had no range of production causing economic chaos.

March 1918, Wilson installed Bernard Baruch as head of War Industries Board which was disbanded within days.

War Dept.’s 1918 rule was “work or fight”. National War Labor Board motivated workers with high wages

and 8 hours per day, BUT did not support the government’s guarantee of the right to organize into unions

AF of L was a labor organization and supporter of the war efforts.

It doubled its members by the end of the war to over 3 million Coal mining manufacturing and transportation wages went up

20% over prewar levels 6,000 strikes broke out during the war 1919 steelworkers walked out of their jobs to try and force

their employers to let them organize into unions. Employers refused and brought 30,000 African American

strikebreakers, collapsing the strike African Americans migrated to the north causing interracial

violence. (gangs on the streets)

Thousands of women poured into factory jobs during the war.

National Women’s Party was headed by Alice Paul Quaker Activist. (against Wilson‘s pro-war)National American Women Suffrage Association (Pro war)

Wilson endorse women suffrage as “a vitally necessary ear measure.”

1917 New York voted for suffrage at state level; Michigan, Oklahoma, and South Dakota followed.

1920 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution giving women the right to vote.

Women’s Bureau emerged in the Labor Dept. after the war.

Women left their jobs, MEANWHILE congress passed the Sheppard- Towner Maternity Act in 1921.

Herbert C. Hoover was chosen to be head of the Food Administration .

He rejected issuing ration cards (Europe), instead he resorted to propaganda to gain volunteers.

1919 temporary amendment was passed : no alcoholic drinks

Fuel Administration made American’s save fuel. Treasury Dept. sponsored parades and invoked

slogans to promote Liberty Loan drives Together all this gave the United States 2/3 of the war

costs $21 billion Remainder was raised with tax increase. Government never used power against the people

except on occasions Took control of railroads and ships seizing enemy

merchant vessels, recycling them into concrete vessels

No one dreamed of sending men to France. America used its Navy to uphold free seas & sent

ship war materials to the Allies, plus loans. ($10) April & May 1917 European associates confessed

the need of man power. A large American Army was to be raise, trained

and transported QUICKLY! Wilson and congress issued the draft 6 weeks

after entering war. Men ages 18-45 except ship builders. 337,000 escaped draft & 4,000 were excused. Couple of months and 4 million registered plus

11,269 women in Marine and Navy African Americans too but in “construction

battalions” under white officers. 4 month training in US + 2 months overseas, BUT

some entered battle not knowing how to handle a bayonet.

Russian 1918 withdrawal from eastern front released Germans to the western front against France.

Germans predicted Americans would be to late to save Britain from KO No effective American fighting force entered fight until after a year of

declaring war. Germans predicted American inability to transport army. Shipping shortages plagues the Allies. Soon the Americans began fighting as replacement with French and

British armies. American armies didn’t exclusively go to France. (Belgium Italy and

Russia) U.S. troops helped in an Allied invasion of Russia at Archangel to

prevent munitions from falling into German hands. 10,000 troops were sent to Siberia part of Allied expedition to prevent

munitions from falling into Japanese hands, rescue 45,000 Czechoslovak troops, & preventBolshevik forces from snatching military supplies.

Bolsheviks resented this interference, which it felt was America’s way of suppressing its infant communist revolution.

May 1918, Germany attacks 40 miles from Paris 30,000 ill-trained American troops sent to

defend and help French troops at Château-Thierry

July 1918 German force was exhausted. American men participated in the Second Battle

of the Marne (beginning of German withdrawal) Sept. 1918, 9 American and 4 French divisions

joined to push Germans out of St. Mihiel salient. Americans demanded separate army, which

was given to Gen. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing. Sept. 26 - Nov. 11, 1918 Gen. Pershing

undertook defense at Meuse-Argonne.

Berlin turns to Wilson in 1918 in face of defeat seeking peace based on 14 points.

Wilson’s condition was that the Kaiser should leave before negotiating.

Kaiser was forced to move to Holland living his remaining 23 years “Unwept, Unhonored, and Unhung.”

Germans declared defeat on Nov. 11 at 11o’clock in 1918.

U.S. main contribution was foodstuffs, munitions, credits, oil and manpower.

They fought 2 major battles: St. Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne in the last 2 months of the war.

Wilson helped win the war and was popular and powerful.

In 1918, he appealed voters to give a Democratic victory.

Americans instead gave Republicans majority

Wilson went to Paris as a diminished leader outraging Republicans.

He did not take any Republican Senators esp., Henry Cabot Lodge who made Wilson Jealous of his reputation as the scholar of politics.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Wilson was received by masses of people in France, England and Italy in 1918 & 1919.

Paris Conference fell into the hands of the Big Four: Wilson (The Rich and Fresh Power), Premier Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Britain, and Premier Georges Clemenceau of France (“The Tiger”).

Conference opened on Jan. 18, 1918. Wilson’s ultimate goal was the League of

Nations compromising between imperialism and Wilsonian ideals.

Gained victory over the Old World Diplomats on Feb. 1918.