mobilizing the country for war military, industry, public opinion
TRANSCRIPT
Mobilizing the Country for War
Military, Industry, Public Opinion
SECTION 3: THE WAR AT HOME
The entire U.S. economy was focused on the war effort
The shift from a consumer economy to war economy required a collaboration between business and government
In the process, the power of the U.S. government expanded
Congress gave President Wilson direct control over the economy
WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD The War Industries Board
(WIB) encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques
Under the WIB, industrial production and wages increased 20%
Union membership almost doubled during the war years – from 2.5 million to 4 million
To deal with disputes between management and labor, President Wilson set up the National War Labor Board in 1918
Poster encouraging production
Preparing for War
-War Industries Board
• Encourage companies to increase efficiency and decrease waste in production (waste less)
• Set quotas on raw materials
-Conservation efforts
Victory Gardens – citizens plant gardens to conserve food
Daylight Savings Time – conserve fuel and energy
-Liberty Bonds, increased taxes
• Income taxes increased, war-profits tax passed, higher excise taxes
• Volunteers sold government bonds
-Opportunities for Women and Minorities
VICTORY GARDENS To conserve food, Wilson
set up the Food Administration (FA)
The FA declared one day a week “meatless” another “sweetless” and two days “wheatless”
Homeowners planted “victory gardens” in their yards
Schoolchildren worked after-school growing tomatoes and cucumbers in public parks
Farmers increased production by almost 30% by adding 40 million acres of farmland
SELLING THE WAR
The U.S. had two major tasks; raising money and convincing the public to support the war
The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war effort
The government raised about 1/3 of that through an income tax and “sin” taxes
The rest was raised through war bonds sold to the public (Liberty Loans & Victory Loans)
PROPAGANDA
To popularize the war, the government set up the nations first propaganda agency called the Committee on Public Information (CPI)
George Creel led the agency and persuaded many of the nation’s artists to create thousands of paintings, posters, cartoons and sculptures to promote the war
Conquering Minds
• The need to gain support of those who opposed the war
• Government propaganda– Committee on Public Information (CPI)
• Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense– Headed by Carrie Chapman Catt
Waging War in America
Common Objectives and Tools of PropagandaObjectives:
1. Recruitment of Soldiers
2. Finance the War
3. Eliminate Dissent/ Unify the Country
4. Conserve Resources
5. Participate in Home Front Efforts
Tools:
6. Demonization
7. Emotional Appeals
8. Name Calling
9. Patriotic Appeals
10. Half-Truths/ Lies
11. Catchy Slogans
12. Evocative Visual Symbols
13. Humor or Caricatures
Public Opinion-Committee on Public Information
• Propaganda agency to sell the war
George Creel
4 Minute Men – volunteers who spoke out about the war (draft, rationing, bonds, etc.)
“I Want You” Campaign
• Army and Navy recruitment
-Espionage and Sedition Act
• Fined $10,000 or jailed 20 years for interfering with the war effort or saying anything disloyal about the government
Schenck v. United States
Can limit freedoms in times of clear and present danger
-Anti-immigrant sentiment
• Discrimination and violence against immigrants
"Falsehood is a recognized and extremely useful weapon in warfare, and every country uses it quite deliberately to deceive its own people, to attract neutrals,
and to mislead the enemy.“
Arthur Ponsonby, Member of Parliament, England - 1928
ATTACK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES
As the war progressed, Civil Liberties were compromised
Anti-Immigrant feelings were openly expressed especially anti-German and Austrian- Hungarian
Espionage and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress
These acts were designed to prevent anti-war protests but went against the spirit of the First Amendment (Free speech)
Socialists and labor leaders were targeted
Any anti-American sentiments were targeted
during wartime
SOCIAL CHANGE DURING THE WAR
The greatest effect of the First World War on the African American population was that it accelerated the Great Migration
The Great Migration was the large scale population shift for hundreds of thousands of blacks from the south to Northern cities
They left to escape discrimination and to seek greater job opportunities
Popular destinations included Chicago, New York and Philadelphia
This African American family settled in Chicago
Social Changes
-African Americans
Great Migration brought increased opportunities
• Movement of blacks into the cities to escape discrimination and work in industry
Civil Rights Debated??
• Put aside differences to fight
-Women
took the jobs left by many men
• Jobs previously reserved for men ONLY
19th Amendment was passed
Women get right to vote
About 400,000 African-Americans served in the armed forces. More than half of them served on the Western Front in France. African-American soldiers served in segregated units and were excluded from the navy and marines. Most
African-Americans were assigned to non-combat duties, although there were exceptions.
Women and Minorities: New Opportunities, Old Inequities
• Women and war work– 100,000 women worked in munitions– New opportunities for black women
• Woman suffrage and prohibition• African Americans and war work
– Northward migration to Chicago, Detroit
Waging War in America
WOMEN IN THE WAR
Many women were called upon to take on jobs previously held by men who were serving in the war
They became railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, factory workers, and miners
Many women served as volunteers in organizations such as the Red Cross
Their service hastened the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 giving women the right to vote
THE FLU EPIDEMIC
In the fall of 1918, the United States suffered a home-front crises when a flu epidemic affected 25% of the population
Mines shut down, telephone service was cut in half, factory work was delayed
Cities ran short on coffins while corpses lay unburied for as long as a week
The epidemic killed as many as 500,000 in the U.S. before it disappeared in 1919
Worldwide the epidemic killed 30 million people
Seattle, like many other places, became a masked city. All police wore
them, as shown in this photo from "The Great Influenza"
Epidemic
-World War brought disease to a new level
-large groups of people were exposed
-Influenza (flu) outbreak of 1918 spread all over the world
-1/4 of the U.S. fell victim and ½ million died
-as many as 40 million dead worldwide
• Epidemic ended about the same time as the war
In the fall of 1918, about ¼ of the U.S. population was a victim of the international flu epidemic. The effect on the economy was devastating.
Mines shut down, telephone service was cut in half, and factories and offices staggered working
hours to avoid contagion. Cities ran short of coffins, and the corpses of poor people lay
unburied for as long as a week. The mysterious illness seemed to strike people who were
otherwise in the best of health, and death could come in a matter of days.
The Great War Ends
The end of one war leads to the
beginnings of the next
Despite the hero’s welcome he received in Europe, Wilson’s plan for peace would be rejected by the Allies
Wilson’s plan was called the “Fourteen points”
Included in his “points” were: No secret treaties
Freedom of the Seas
More free trade
Reduction of arms
Less colonialism
League of Nations to promote peace
SECTION 4: WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE
Wilson’s 14 points in his own
short hand
What was Wilson’s Plan to End the WarWilson’s 14 Point Plan (January 8,1918)- GOAL FOR POSTWAR SETTLEMENT. HOPED IT WOULD PREVENT
FURTHER INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS.
- 1st Point: Open treaties of peace (secret treaties were a cause of WWI)
- 2-5 Points: Called for freedom of the seas, free trade, limits on
armaments and the peaceful adjustment of all colonial claims.
- 6-13 Points: Involved territorial settlements in Europe.- This meant determining boarders on the basis of ethnic groups living in an area. Wilson also
supported self-determination by which the people could choose their own
governments.
- 14th Point: Called for a “general association of
nations” to guarantee the “political independence”
and territorial integrity of great and small nations.
- Eventually becomes the LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Treaty of VersaillesNovember 9, 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates and flees to the Netherlands.November 11, 1918: New Government signs armistice ending the Great War
In many ways the German population is surprised by the armistice. Why?1. German population not even aware the German Army had surrendered.2. Never witnessed any fighting within their own borders and therefore believed myth that the German Army was never really defeated.
What kind of peace agreementdo you think the German populationpopulation anticipated based on these beliefs?
ALLIES REJECT WILSON”S PLAN, SIGN TREATY
The Big Four leaders, Wilson (U.S.), Clemenceau (France), Lloyd George (England), and Orlando (Italy), worked out the Treaty’s details
Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in return for the establishment of the League of Nations
On June 28, 1919, the Big Four and the leaders of the defeated nations gathered in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and signed the Treaty of Versailles
Hall of Mirrors
Treaty of Versailles and the Paris
Peace ConferenceAllied Leaders and Expectations1) France (George Clemenceau)
- Return of Alsace-Lorraine region/Rhineland become part of France
- Germany pay reparations
2) Great Britain (David Lloyd George)
- Germany should not be treated to harshly
- Afraid they’d fall to Communism
- Allow Germany to recover
3) Italy (Vittorio Orlando)
- Wanted promises made during Treaty of London (Land)
4) United States (Woodrow Wilson)
- Brought “14 Points” program
- No more secret treaties
- Reduction of weapons/militaries
- Self-determination of nations
- Create League of Nations
TREATY OF VERSAILLES
The Treaty established nine new nations including;
Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia
The Treaty broke up the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire empires
The Treaty barred Germany from maintaining an army, required them to give Alsace-Lorraine back to France, and forced them to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies
The Big Four met at Versailles
Peace Treaty-nine new nations created and several borders moved
• Some new nations given to Britain and France until ready to be on own
-Germany is demilitarized
• Is not allowed to have army/navy
-reparations must be paid
• Germany pays $33 billion to the Allies
-Germany must acknowledge war guilt
• Germans admit sole responsibility Weaknesses of Treaty will lead to future wars
Germany can’t repay – depression leads to rise of Hitler
Russia is ignored – wants land back
Italy gets nothing
Colonialism remained
The treaty humiliated Germany. Although German militarism had played a major role in igniting the war, other
European nations had been no less guilty in provoking the diplomatic
crises before the war. The war-guilt clause caused Germans of all political
viewpoints to despise the treaty.
The Russian government felt the Big Four had ignored its needs. For three
years, the Russians had fought with the Allies and suffered higher casualties
than any other nation. Yet, Russia lost more territory than Germany.
Treaty of VersaillesWhat were the Key Points to the Treaty of Versailles?1) Germany required to reduce army to 100,000 men.
2) Navy reduced to 6 warships, 0 submarines.
3) Give land to Belgium, France, Denmark and Poland.
4) NO AIR FORCE
5) Turn over colonies
6) Pay reparations 5billion/year until 1921; pay rest in 30 years.
7) No military within 30 miles of the East bank of the Rhine River
8) War Guilt Clause: Accept all blame for the war. (Article 231)
What were the Perceptions of the Treaty
of Versailles?1) Germans- Horrified by Treaty
- Not allowed to participate: Told to accept terms or else
- Though clauses were to harsh, felt betrayed by their own
government
- People upset with new boundaries
2) Americans- Rejected Wilson’s idea of a League of Nations and the United States
Senate voted not to join the organization.
THE WEAKNESS OF THE TREATY
The harsh treatment of Germany prevented the Treaty from creating a lasting peace in Europe
The Treaty humiliated the Germans by forcing them to admit sole responsibility for the war (War-Guilt Clause)
Furthermore, Germany would never be able to pay $33 billion in reparations
Germans felt the Versailles Treaty was unfair
Answer in your notes
Do you think Germany “got what it deserved” or
were they treated to harshly by the victorious
Allies? Explain you answer.
In the United States, the Treaty was hotly debated especially the League of Nations
Conservative senators, headed by Henry Cabot Lodge, were suspicious of the Leagues’ joint economic and military commitments
Many wanted the U.S. Congress to maintain the right to declare war
Ultimately, Congress rejected U.S. involvement in the very League the U.S. President had created
DEBATE OVER TREATY AT HOME
The U.S. never did join the league
Opposition
-Some thought it too harsh
•Especially against Germany
-others thought it changed nothing
-U.S. leaders disliked the League of Nations
•Threatened U.S. policy of isolationism
Henry Cabot Lodge
•Leader against League of Nations
threatens our ability to stay out of foreign affairs
-Wilson sets out to appeal to the people – to back League of Nations
Wilson suffers a stroke
-U.S. Senate never approves the treaty
Battle over the League
• Most Americans supported the League of Nations
• Irreconcilables– Progressive Republicans
• Reservationists– Henry Cabot Lodge
• Wilson collapsed ‒ October 1919• Treaty rejected ‒ March 1920
Waging Peace at Home
Economic Readjustment and Social Conflict
• Influenza epidemic• Return to peacetime economy• Postwar battles: gender and race
– African Americans less willing to compromise• Fighting for industrial democracy
– American Federation of Labor– Seattle’s Central Labor Council strike– Boston police
Waging Peace at Home
The Red Scare
• Fear of Bolshevism– The Red Scare– Linked to labor, foreigners
• Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer– Palmer Raids
• Reaction set in– Faded in mid-1920
Waging Peace at Home
THE LEGACY OF WWI
At home, the war strengthened both the military and the power of the government
The propaganda campaign provoked powerful fears in society
For many countries the war created political instability and violence that lasted for years
Russia established the first Communist state during the war
Americans called World War I, “The War to end all Wars” --- however unresolved issues would eventually drag the U.S. into an even deadlier conflictWWI 1914-1918
Wilson’s Legacy
•Ushers the U.S. into a new era – the Roaring Twenties
-Progressive reformer
•Many Progressive changes
-Prohibition starts
•18th Amendment, no alcohol
-women’s suffrage
•19th Amendment
-Victory in the Great War
-vision of a world organization to prevent war
•League of Nations
-prediction of future wars
WW II
“The Germans never believe that they were beaten. It will
have to be done all over again.”
General John J. Pershing
Conclusion
• Participation in World War I changed the American government, economy, and society.
• Many of the changes had been building in the prewar years, such as centralization of the economy, woman suffrage, and prohibition.
• The suppression of civil rights and repression of radicals and minorities betrayed progressive principles.
The Election of 1920
• Less desire for cooperation• Warren Harding and “normalcy”
– Landslide victory
Waging Peace at Home