World War I

American Neutrality (1914 -1917)

Americans

Some pro-German

Irish

Some pro-British

Wilson issued a Proclamation of Neutrality

U.S. Commercial Interests in Europe

1914 - US had 800 million dollars in trade

with allies

1914 - Only 169 million dollars in trade with

the central powers.

1916 – 3 billion dollars in trade with the

allies.

US had a financial stake in the war on the British

side.

British Propaganda

British cut the Atlantic cable from

Germany to America.

English dramatized German brutality Submarines – barbaric

Stealth

Left survivors to die

Germans invaded neutral Belgium

German/American Tensions

German U-boats:

Lusitania – 128 Americans die

Sussex Pledge – Germans halt sub war

American Attitudes

Some Americans -

Preparedness

Neutrality

Woman’s Peace Party –

1915

Wilson’s Reactions

Wilson didn‘t want to go to war, but he wanted

the allies to win.

Campaign of 1916

Reelected on the “He kept us out of War”

“Peace Without Victory” Speech

Neither side could save face

Reasons for US entry

Most people were pro-allies

Economic investment in the allies

Unrestricted Sub Warfare

Zimmerman Telegraph

Germans Resume Unrestricted Sub Warfare.

German officials believed it was their best

chance for victory

They made two judgments…

Cut allied supplies – 1917 offensive

US couldn’t mobilize quickly

Zimmerman Telegram

From Germany to Mexico.

Germans invited Mexico into war Return Mexican land

Brits intercepted this letter

Outraged the US population.

Mobilization

US is pretty unprepared at start of US involvement.

Wilson centralizes economic power. Railway Administration – standardize/prioritize

railroads.

War Industry Board – fixed prices & managed production goals

Committee on Public Information – propaganda to support war effort

American Propaganda

Funding the war effort

Raised income tax

Graduated rate between 2%-15%

Excess profits tax

Tax on profits in excess of prewar profits

Liberty bonds

4 installments

4% - 4.5% interest

Draft

May 1917 –Selective Service Act –

established conscription

24 million Americans registered for the draft

3 million entered the armed forces

Drawn from a national lottery

Anti-War Dissent, Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights

Suppression of Anti-War Dissent

Espionage Act - 1917

Make false reports to interfere with military

operation

Cause insubordination/mutiny

Fined up to $10,000 and up to 20 years in prison

Sedition Act 1918 (amendment to espionage act)

crime for use of disloyal language against the US

Attack on all things German

People of German ancestry or

German names were

harassed

German was once a required

language

Sauerkraut was nicknamed

“victory cabbage”

The U.S. Military Effort U.S. enters war

By 1917 – allies were in tough shape.

Morale and economic boost.

German two front war ends

Czarist Russia falls - Nov of 1917.

Germany focuses on West.

Spring 1918, American Expeditionary Force in France

Impact of American Involvement

Energy

Supplies

Influx of 3 million men

Germany asks for Peace

Nov 11, 1918 – Armistice ends the war

More than 115,000 Americans were killed

Peace Conference opens in Jan 1919 at

Versailles

Fourteen Points Wilson tries to define the specific war objectives of the allies.

System of secret alliance be ended

Freedom of Seas for neutrals

Eliminate tariff barriers – free trade

Reduction of national armaments

Partial adjustment of colonial claims

Self-determination used in redrawing the map of Europe (Poland)

Formation of League of Nations Political independence and territorial integrity of members

Vision of the 14 Points New world order based on international law and collective security

This is very idealistic and also quite visionary.

Treaty of Versailles

Pragmatic, vindictive

Concerned about Germany in future

Signed by Germany under protest on June 28, 1919 War Guilt clause

Germany to pay the full cost of war for themselves and enemies Impossible number to expect Germany to pay

Territorial losses as well

US & the Treaty of Versailles

He fights hard to get the League of Nations (LON) included in Treaty of Versailles

US Senate has to approve the Treaty of Versailles

Factions in Senate Irreconcilables – opposed US participation in (LON) –

Reservationists – Felt it limited Congressional authority to declare war

Wilson appeals to the people and campaigns for the signing of the treaty.

US never ratifies the Treaty of Versailles. The US signed separate treaties to end the war