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"Peace Without Victory" Speech
A. This was Wilson's Attempt at compromising to end war
B. Germany Responded on jan. 31 by waging unrestricted submarine warfare (sink all ships regardless)
C. US began arming merchant cships after 4 ships were sunk -
Zimmermann Note
US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico asking for an alliance, they promised to help mexico get land in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona -
Russian Revolution
The russian tsar was overthrown by the Bolsheviks and they decide to retreat and pull out of the war freeing the eastern front of germany. they then set up a communist state. -
War Declaration
On April 2, 1917 Wilson asks Congress to declare war
"It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war"
US moves out of isolationism
Reasons for going to war: its was a "war to end all wars" also said that it would "make the world safe for democracy -
The Great migration
Many blacks moved into northern industrial cities to work in factories in place of the soldiers during wartime -
Period: to
Wave of anti-german sentiment hit America
A. sauerkraut = Liberty cabbage
B. Hamburger = Ilberty steak
C. Some germans were even beaten -
Espionage (1917) and Sedition Acts (1918)
A. People could be fined or placed in jail for interfering with or criticizing the war effort
B. Eugene V. Debs =Sentenced to 10 years in jail under espionage act
1. William Haywood was similarly convicted -
Period: to
The Doughboys
A. Draft Bill wa put into affect requiring the registration of males 18 to 45; Draft dodgers called "doughboys" could not buy their way out -
Period: to
Factories go to war
A. War Industries Board, Led by Bernard Baruch
1. encouraged factoried to use mass production to increase efficiency
B. "work or fight" rule = unemployed men would be drafted if they did not work
C. National War Labor Board = Tried to head off labor disputes that might hamper production
1. AF of L supported war effort; membership increased
2. "wobblies" tried to sabotage the war effort
3. still had problem of inflation, which caused many labor strikes/disputes -
Wilson's "Fourteen Points" Address
A.14 ways in which to keep peace and avoid future wars
B. The First Five points
1. To Abolish secret treaties
2. To have freedon of the seas between the nations
3. to remove economic barriers
4. a reduction of arms
5. to have an adjustment of colonial claims
C. Two other main points:
1. Self-dtermination = Hope of independence for minority groups
2. League of Nations = 14th point; international Peacekeeping organization -
Period: to
German Spring Offensive
-the Russian Revolution made it possible for germans to push on the western front toward France
-it took almost a year for US to reach europe after it declared war
-periodical confrontations all over the western front -
Forging a War economy
A. Food and Drug Administartion = led by Herbert Hoover
1. rejected idea of rationcards and instead focused on propaganda campaign and volunteers
2. "Victory Gardens" = Gardens grown in the backyard to supplement food
3. Farm production increased by 25%
B. 18th Amendment ( Jan 16,1919) = Bill on the Prohibition of alcohol is passed
C. Liberty/Victory Loans were sold to rais money for the war effort; they netted about $21 billion -
General John J. Pershing
he led Americans at the Meuse-Argonne offensive, cutting german RR lines to western front -
November 11th, 1918
A. At the 11th hour Germany surrendered
1. British blockade caused food and trade shortages for germany
B. Known as Armistice Day (Veteran's Day in the US) -
Paris peace conference
-Wilson snubbed republicans by not including any in delegation
-Henry Cabot Lodge was the Chairman of Foreign Relations committee; disliked by Wilson -
Schenck vs. United States
A court case on the argument that Speech is not protected if it poses a "clear and present danger" -
Treaty of Versailles
The League of Nations
-wilson wanted this world parliament to prevent future wars and keep the peace; it was opposed by many senators including Henry Lodge
Wilson was not happy with the results of the treaty and hoped the League would "iron out inequalities"
Big 4: Wilson, Vittorio, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau -
Treaty Rejection
at first the public was too shocked by the verdict to accept first vote in the senate.
the US never ratified the Treaty or joined the League of Nations -
"Solemn Referendum"
wilson asked the US to settle treaty issue in 1920 election with a referendum -
1920 election
it was between Warren G. Harding (a republican) and James Cox (a democrat)
Harding had promised a "return to normalcy"
Harding wins election -
Woman suffrage
many women had helped in factories during wartime
The National Woman's Party (led by Alice Paul) led marches and hunger strikes against "kaiser Wilson"
19th amendment(1920) finally gave women the right to vote - their war efforts were partly responsible for this -
Failure to Ratify
Wilson's speechmaking tour in 1919 tried to gain support for The Treaty of Versailles in the US. Many "irreconcilable" senators followed after him criticizing the Treaty. The strenuous trip caused wilson to have a stroke.
Lodge had 14 "Reservations" to counter wilson's points: he stated we should Protect american sovereignty, reserve US rights under Monroe Doctrine and Constitutuion, and that the League wanted to morally bind US to help victimized countries.