New Mexico in World War 1 Raids, Fighting, Pride, and
Disease
Slide 2
What Youre Going To Learn How the Mexican Revolution affected
New Mexico. New Mexicos role during the First World War. How New
Mexico was affected by the Spanish Flu in 1918.
Slide 3
Introduction Violence all day, every day. Mexican Revolution
from 1910 to 1920. WW1 starts in 1914 in Europe. Pres. Woodrow
Wilson avoided both conflicts. He kept us out of war. Why do you
think we got involved in these conflicts?
Slide 4
The Mexican Revolution Started in 1910 with overthrow of
dictator Porfirio Diaz. Ruled for 34 years!! Brutal, violent,
deadly. Revolutionaries fought each other for control. Pancho Villa
in the north and Emilano Zapata in the south.
Slide 5
The Mexican Revolution Americans landed in Veracruz, MX in
April 1914 to weaken Victoriano Huerta. America withdrew in
November. March 9, 1916: Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, NM.
Why???
Slide 6
The Mexican Revolution Pancho Villa raided with over 500 men.
11 Americans killed and Columbus was in ruins. Villa was chased
back to Mexico, but had the first successful attack on American
soil since the British during the War of 1812.
Slide 7
WHY?? Pancho Villas Raid Reason #1 Villa was angry at the
United States. Villa lost a battle to a rival revolutionary and
blamed the United States. Because the United States caused that
lost battle, it was RETALIATION.
Slide 8
WHY?? Pancho Villas Raid Reason #2 Germany paid Villa to raid
Columbus, NM This would draw the United States into the Mexican
Revolution. If Mexico and the United States were fighting, the US
wouldnt fight with Germany in Europe.
Slide 9
WHY?? Pancho Villas Raid Revenge on a local merchant. Most
residents of Columbus believed this. The local merchant is said to
have cheated Villa. Made Villa pay too much for war goods and
supplies. Villa got mad and sought REVENGE.
Slide 10
American Response The American public wanted justice for the
attack on Columbus. American Punitive Expedition seeking to punish
Villa and/or Mexico. Led by Gen. John Pershing.
Slide 11
American Response New Mexico National Guard helped secure the
border from additional raids. Pershing chased Villa over 400 miles
into northern Mexico no luck. Pershing withdrew in February 1917.
Was this a failure altogether?
Slide 12
Achievements of the A.P.E. First time airplanes and land motor
vehicles were used in combat. Problems with both forms of
transportation. How would this benefit the US? Valuable field
experience. Columbus had an economic boom with presence of
military.
Slide 13
New Mexico on the Eve of World War 1 Only 2 months after the
American Punitive Expedition, the US goes to war in Europe. Germany
wouldnt respect American neutrality. Woodrow Wilson make the world
safe for democracy. Have you heard this reasoning before?
Slide 14
New Mexico on the Eve of World War 1 January 1917; Zimmerman
Telegram from Germany to Mexico is intercepted. Telegram proposed
Mexico become Germanys ally. Whats the significance? Germany gets
an ally to fight the US. Mexico gets all land lost in
Mexican-American War back.
Slide 15
The Zimmerman Telegram Americans all over were outraged at the
message. Mexico, however, never even got the message nor responded
to it. Did this cause US entry into the war?
Slide 16
New Mexicos Reaction Once again, NM loyalty to the US was
questioned angering many. Were New Mexicans eager to fight for the
US? Why?
Slide 17
The Homefront Gov. Washington Lindsey had legislators assign
$750,000 in state funds to public defense. This helped coordinate
all the war efforts in the state. Was this easy to do? No: Big
state, many languages, no regular means of communication.
Slide 18
The Homefront Dealing with Communiation Problems New Mexico War
News printed in both Spanish and English. 1,100 posters showing how
NM can give time, energy, and money to the war. Patriotic plays.
Movies like The Beast of Berlin
Slide 19
The Homefront Dealing with Communication Problems Liberty
Choruses patriotic songs. Four Minute Men 250 speakers all over the
state firing people up for the war effort. Urging to buy Liberty
Bonds NM bought over $18 million.
Slide 20
The Homefront - Sacrifices 1/3 of New Mexicans had loyalty
menus. One meatless meal and one wheatless meal a week. Why? 3,000
families grew victory gardens. Helped feed themselves and troops.
Farmers increased production. every patriotic citizenproduce as
much as he can.
Slide 21
The Homefront Sacrifice and Profit Coal companies in Colfax,
McKinley, and Santa Fe counties boomed. But, there was a labor
shortage. UNM starts in October to men/women can work longer.
Criminals and Immigrants tapped for work. Why are Mexicans fleeing
Mexico to work?
Slide 22
The Homefront - Women Traditional and non- traditional roles.
What is traditional? Conserved food and fuel at home, but also:
Rolled bandages, knit clothes, and sent comfort kits Womens Land
Army: helped tirelessly in the fields and orchards.
Slide 23
Extreme Loyalty? Some New Mexicans went too far. Tarred and
feathering for not buying liberty bonds. Accusations of spying if
youre of German ancestry. UNM refused to teach German. Congress and
newspapers demanded killing suspected spies not convicted!
Slide 24
The Irony of Extreme Loyalty What is the irony in New Mexicans
accusing German-Americans of not being loyal? German-Americans
readily joined the military, bought bonds, etc. Why? Shouldnt New
Mexicans be more sympathetic?
Slide 25
New Mexicans Fighting 15,000 served; 8,000 of which were
drafted. 70% of male students at UNM served, including the entire
Lobo football team. NMSU only had 7 graduates that year mostly
female. Why mostly female? NM volunteer rate very high. Soldiers of
all creeds NMMI Multi-ethnic Rough Riders
Slide 26
New Mexicans Fighting Very few slackers. Some men were exempt
from fighting Disability Essential to workforce Exempt men were
often penned as cowards Doors painted yellow. Is this fair?
Slide 27
New Mexican Training Camps Camp Funston near UNM Camp Cody west
of Deming Training year round; good climate. Nebraska, Minnesota,
Iowa, and Dakotas. 34 th Infantry Division; Sandstorm Division
Slide 28
Germany Surrenders New Mexicans in the American Expeditionary
Force (AEF) helped cause German surrender. Led by Gen. Pershing
What else did he lead? Surrender on Nov. 11, 1918
Slide 29
The Spanish Flu Epidemic Misnamed; it was the deadliest flu
epidemic of all time. Global epidemic; many caught the flu in the
morning and were dead by nightfall. Most fatal for 25-40 year olds.
Is this normal?
Slide 30
New Mexican Prevention Surgical masks a requirement. People not
allowed to leave town by train. Closing of schools, churches,
courthouses, movie theaters, lodges, and dance halls.
Slide 31
New Mexican Prevention Sadly, none of these measures worked By
Nov. 1918, more than a thousand New Mexicans died. 1 in 5 families
had one person in it die. Really bad on the Navajo Reservation and
towns like Dawson and Chilili. Why?
Slide 32
Conclusion New Mexicans had to prove loyalty once again in WW1.
Many sacrifices were made to help win the war. Impressive war
record, but stung by the Spanish Flu
