Did American foreign policy get America involved in world conflict?

LESSON 33 The War to End War (1917-1918)

How did Wilson redefine American foreign policy?I. NEW DIRECTIONS

IN FOREIGN POLICYA. MORAL DIPLOMACY:

Wilson’s turnaround of foreign policy

Less aggressive than predecessorsLessened emphasis on money as tool

How did Wilson redefine American foreign policy?

B. Wilson’s early foreign policy challenges

1. JONES ACT (1916): Granted full territorial status to Philippines promised independence (gained 1946)

2. Used American forces to put down violence and conflict throughout American spheres of influence California, Haiti, Dominican Republic

How did Wilson redefine American foreign policy?

3. STRUGGLES WITH PANCHO VILLA AND VERA CRUZ (1914-1916)

a. VICTORIANO HUERTA: Indian General elevated to Presidency (1913) sought revolt against U.S. but Wilson held back from defending

b. Wilson armed Mexican rebels to overthrow government Carranza, Pancho Villa

c. Arrest of American sailors led to problems with rebels Wilson ordered navy to take over Vera Cruz

d. PANCHO VILLA (1916): Murdered 35 Americans in Mexico and New Mexico Wilson sought capture, but Villa never caught

Did Moral Diplomacy work in Europe?II. Thunder Across the Sea

A. NEUTRALITY: Goal of Wilson’s foreign policy

1. Post-Franz Ferdinand: U.S. wooed by Allies (GB, France, Russia) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) U.S. meant supplies and cash

2. Mostly anti-German attitude existed in America anti-Kaiser, anti-Bismarck

B. “BLOOD MONEY”: American financiers lent great support to Allied Powers U.S. free to trade with Central Powers, but British control of sea lanes prevented it

How did World War I define Wilson’s foreign policy?III. World War I (1914-1918)

A. Fundamental causes of WWI M.A.I.N. MILITARISM: European nations greatly expanded

armed forces at turn of 20th century arms race

ALLIANCES: Long-standing defensive alliances were triggered

TRIPLE ENTENTE (Allied Powers): England, France, Russia

TRIPLE ALLIANCE (Central Powers): Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey

IMPERIALISM: European powers were in strong competition for raw materials and new markets

NATIONALISM: Smaller nations emerged from breakup of Ottoman Empire and revolutions in Europe

What led to America’s entry into the Great War?

B. Factors Behind U.S. Entry into WWI1. Sinking of the

Lusitania (5/1915): British passenger liner sunk by German u-boat• 1,198 total dead (128

Americans)• Triggered U.S. support of

British• Germans sternly warned

2. Sinking of the Sussex (3/1916): Germans torpedoed French steamer Wilson delivered ultimatum promising break of diplomatic relations with Germany

What led to America’s entry into the Great War?

3. German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare (1/1917)1. Sussex Pledge

broken with Lusitania incident

2. Justified policy after U.S. did not help end blockade

4. Propaganda: Reports from war somewhat exaggerated by British press built up war fever in U.S.

SUSSEX PLEDGE (3/1916): Germans promised to not sink unarmed vessels without warning… but U.S. must get British to stop blockade

What led to America’s entry into the Great War?

5. Zimmermann Note (3/1917): Proposal from German Ambassador to Mexican government requesting them to invade U.S.

6. American economic interests: Naval blockades in Atlantic were hurting American trade; U.S. government afraid to lend Allies money

What led to America’s entry into the Great War?

7. Idealism: Wilson promoted war to as effort to “make the world safe for democracy” “peace without victory” couldn’t be sold!• COMMITTEE OF

PUBLIC INFORMATION: Created to “sell” war to public eventually backfired and led to disillusionment

WILSON DECLARED WAR (4/2/1917)

Motivations for war:

1. USW

2. Zimmermann Note

3. Russian Revolution

4. U.S. could force quick end

5. Moral reason (i.e., German mass-killing of civilians)

How did the American government coordinate a war effort?C. America at War: The Home Front

1. Enforcement of American loyaltya. 1917: ESPIONAGE ACT

Set penalties for spying on American war activities or obstruction of war effort • Schenck v. U.S. (1919) “clear and present danger”

principle established by Supreme Court• Prosecuted “Wobblies” (IWW members)

socialists!b. 1918: SEDITION ACT

Set penalties for speaking out against the government during wartime

2. Buildup of military force SELECTIVE SELECTIVE SERVICE ACTSERVICE ACTDrafting of nearly 3 million Americans to fight in Great War originally opposed by Wilson and Congress

How did the American government coordinate a war effort?3. Presidential management of war economy

a. Unemployed immediately made available for conscription forced galvanization of labor unions

b. FOOD ADMINISTRATION: Supervised rationing of key supplies for troops promoted spirit of sacrifice (propaganda)

c. FUEL ADMINISTRATION: Limited use of gas, electricity, and oil for home use also promoted daylight savings time

d. War finance fostered war effort Income and excise taxes raised Sale of Victory and Liberty Bonds to pay for war

e. Self-sacrifice helped spur Prohibition movement led to 18th Amendment

f. Nationalization of railroads

How did the American government coordinate a war effort?4. Opportunities for women and blacks

a. WOMEN Women’s role in workplace increased helped

suffrage movement (20th Amendment) WOMEN’S BUREAU (1921): Helped women gain

federal job protection after war not very effective

SHEPPARD-TOWNER MATERNITY ACT (1921): Provided federally financed education in maternal and infant health care

b. BLACKS Increased migration to North to fill industrial

jobs Typically used as strikebreakers sparked

violence in some all-white towns

How does the world accept Wilson’s Fourteen Point plan for peace?D. President Wilson’s Fourteen

Points: Presented to Congress (1/1918) Open treaties of peace no more secret

treaties Freedom of the seas maintained Removal of international trade barriers Reduction of armaments (weapons and

armed forces) Self-determination for former colonies Adjustment of European boundaries

(points 6-13) Establishment of international

organization of collective security precursor to League of Nations

Why was Wilson’s plan rejected?IV. Controversy over Wilson’s Peace Plan

A. Paris Peace Conference (1919)1. Led by BIG FOUR who dictated terms of original treaty2. WILSON: Disappointed by lack of international (and Big

Four) support although popular, Wilson seen as too idealistic

3. EUROPEAN FEARS: American imperialism, anarchy, socialism

B. Establishment and purpose of League: Outlined by Wilson in Treaty of Versailles

1. Deal with economic and social problems2. Encourage disarmament3. Settle disputes among nations; fight aggression with

sanctions or military force

Why was Wilson’s plan rejected?

C. Why Wilson’s plan does not end up in Treaty

1. BRITISH/FRENCH: Forced Germans to accept “blame” for war (Article 231) war guilt clause

2. WILSON: Shut out of final process left Paris Conference in hands of Brits/Francs and treaty to their whims

3. “IRRECONCILABLES”: Isolationists and Republicans opposed League as Wilson arranged no exit plan