World War I: World War I: The US The US

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America at the Outbreak of WarAmerica at the Outbreak of War

IsolationistIsolationist Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson

elected in 1912 & elected in 1912 & 19161916

‘‘Americans Americans thanked God for thanked God for the ocean moats…the ocean moats…and congratulated and congratulated themselves having themselves having had ancestors wise had ancestors wise enough to have enough to have abandoned the hell abandoned the hell pits of Europe.’pits of Europe.’

A A Precarious Precarious NeutralityNeutrality

Wilson issues Wilson issues neutrality neutrality proclamationproclamation His wife, Ellen, had His wife, Ellen, had

just died on Aug 6just died on Aug 6thth, , 19141914

Wilson calls on Wilson calls on Americans to be Americans to be neutral neutral ‘in ‘in thought and thought and deed’deed’

America WooedAmerica WooedBritainBritain

Stronger cultural & Stronger cultural & linguistic tieslinguistic ties

Stronger economic tiesStronger economic ties Controlled most Controlled most

transatlantic cablestransatlantic cables Censors deleted negative Censors deleted negative

stories of Allies but passed stories of Allies but passed on all tales of German on all tales of German atrocitiesatrocities

GermanyGermany

US huge population of US huge population of transplanted Germans & transplanted Germans & Austro-HungariansAustro-Hungarians

Kaiser had a poor imageKaiser had a poor image Mustache like a villainMustache like a villain Ruthless autocratRuthless autocrat

Germany seen as aggressorGermany seen as aggressor Helpless, innocent for Helpless, innocent for

BelgiumBelgium German spy left documents German spy left documents

on a NY elevated trainon a NY elevated train Documents detailed Documents detailed

industrial sabotageindustrial sabotage

US Population StatisticsUS Population Statistics

Central Powers/Allies

Country Total Foreign Born or 2nd generation in US (in millions)

Central Powers Germany 8.3

Central Powers Austria-Hungary 2.7

Allied Powers Great Britain (including Ireland)

7.7

Allied Powers Russia 2.8

Allied Powers Italy 2.1

Allied Powers France & Others ?

The Business of WarThe Business of War British & French war orders British & French war orders

pull US out of recessionpull US out of recession US bankers loan Allies US bankers loan Allies

money to purchase US money to purchase US goodsgoods $2.3 billion$2.3 billion

Germany complained but Germany complained but the trade was legalthe trade was legal

Germany could not trade Germany could not trade because of British blockadebecause of British blockade Britain controlled sea lanesBritain controlled sea lanes Britain blocked German portsBritain blocked German ports Britain forced US ships to go to Britain forced US ships to go to

British portsBritish ports

Trade Between US & War PowersTrade Between US & War Powers

Belligerent 1914 1915 1916 1916 as % of 1914

Britain $594,271,863

$911,794,954

$1,526,685,102

257%

Germany $344,794,276

$ 28,863,354

$ 288,899 0.08%

While trade with Britain > doubles from While trade with Britain > doubles from 1914 to 1916, trade with Germany 1914 to 1916, trade with Germany becomes negligiblebecomes negligible

War on the War on the SeasSeas

Germany announces submarine war area around Britain in Feb Germany announces submarine war area around Britain in Feb 1915 in response to blockade1915 in response to blockade Unterseeboat, or U-BoatUnterseeboat, or U-Boat Under international law a warship is required to stop & board a commercial Under international law a warship is required to stop & board a commercial

vessel to searchvessel to search But subs could easily be sunk if they surfaced (shot or rammed)But subs could easily be sunk if they surfaced (shot or rammed)Few options Few options except to sinkexcept to sink or leave aloneor leave alone

US warns GermanyUS warns Germanyit will be heldit will be heldaccountable foraccountable forattacks on US shipsattacks on US shipsor citizensor citizens

German German Submarine Submarine War ZoneWar Zone

Declared Declared February 1915February 1915

German U-boats go to Work

1st months sank ~90 ships in war zone

World War I eraU-9 U-boat

German German Warning Warning Printed in Printed in

NY NY NewspapersNewspapers

German U-Boat DamagesGerman U-Boat Damages

May 7, 1915 May 7, 1915 LusitaniaLusitania British shipBritish ship 1200 drowned1200 drowned 128 Americans128 Americans

Ship carried war Ship carried war supplies supplies manufactured in manufactured in USUS 4,200 cases of 4,200 cases of

small-arms bulletssmall-arms bullets US swept by wave US swept by wave

of shock at act of of shock at act of ‘mass murder’ & ‘mass murder’ & ‘piracy’‘piracy’

US ResponseUS Response Wilson remains committed to Wilson remains committed to

neutralityneutrality But sent a series of stern notes to But sent a series of stern notes to

GermanyGermany Strongly criticizedStrongly criticized

Deep division in US feelings towards warDeep division in US feelings towards war Sec of State Bryan resignedSec of State Bryan resigned

Felt Wilson was encouraging warFelt Wilson was encouraging war Ex-President Teddy Roosevelt said the Ex-President Teddy Roosevelt said the

‘pacifistic professor’ used ‘weasel words’‘pacifistic professor’ used ‘weasel words’ Strongly desired US to go to warStrongly desired US to go to war

East Coast in favor (closer to Europe)East Coast in favor (closer to Europe) Rest of US against warRest of US against war

US ResponseUS Response August 1915 Germans sink British ship August 1915 Germans sink British ship ArabicArabic

2 US deaths2 US deaths Wilson gets Germany’s promise to not fire ‘without Wilson gets Germany’s promise to not fire ‘without

warning’ firstwarning’ first March 1916 French passenger ship March 1916 French passenger ship SussexSussex

torpedoedtorpedoed Wilson ultimatum: no passenger ships or US will Wilson ultimatum: no passenger ships or US will

sever relationssever relations Germany agreed & unsteady neutrality remained Germany agreed & unsteady neutrality remained

for another year (until unconditional sub warfare for another year (until unconditional sub warfare declared)declared)

HMS Sussex 1916

Election of 1916Election of 1916 Wilson is re-elected in Wilson is re-elected in

November 1916 in close race November 1916 in close race (277 to 254)(277 to 254)

Defeats war hawk Charles Defeats war hawk Charles Evans HughesEvans Hughes TR supported Evans HughesTR supported Evans Hughes Evans Hughes ran an Evans Hughes ran an

ineffective campaignineffective campaign Wilson campaigned little on Wilson campaigned little on

the theory:the theory: ‘‘One should not try to murder a One should not try to murder a

man who is committing suicideman who is committing suicide Slogan, ‘he kept us out of Slogan, ‘he kept us out of

war’war’

Wilson Attempts Peace

‘Peace without victory’ Speech given January 22,

1917 Beginning of 14 Points

Germany announces they will begin unlimited submarine warfare Sink all ships, including US,

in the war zone Wilson calls for arming US

merchant ships Isolationists in Senate

blocked measure US still not completely

ready for war

Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note TelegramTelegram

From German Foreign From German Foreign Affairs Secretary Arthur Affairs Secretary Arthur ZimmermanZimmerman

To German ambassador to To German ambassador to MexicoMexico

Intercepted by BritishIntercepted by British Delivered to US Delivered to US

governmentgovernment Printed in US newspapersPrinted in US newspapers If Mexico joins Germany If Mexico joins Germany

in fighting the USin fighting the US Then, Mexico receives:Then, Mexico receives:

TX, NM, & AZTX, NM, & AZ

Brings US closer to warBrings US closer to war

Germany Ups the AnteGermany Ups the Ante Germany declares unrestricted submarine Germany declares unrestricted submarine

warfare to resume February 1, 1917warfare to resume February 1, 1917 Germany knew US would very likely now declare Germany knew US would very likely now declare

warwar Militarists believed it would take US 1 year to mobilize Militarists believed it would take US 1 year to mobilize

(correct)(correct) Militarists believed they could defeat Britain / France in 6 Militarists believed they could defeat Britain / France in 6

months (incorrect)months (incorrect)

Germany Ups the AnteGermany Ups the Ante Germany sinks several more ships (military & Germany sinks several more ships (military &

commercial)commercial) Feb 1917: Germans sank 540,000 tons of shippingFeb 1917: Germans sank 540,000 tons of shipping March 1917: 578,000 tonsMarch 1917: 578,000 tons April 1917: 874,000 tonsApril 1917: 874,000 tons Many ships are US -- Many ships are US --

chipping away at chipping away at American neutralityAmerican neutrality

Philadelphia newspaper:Philadelphia newspaper:‘‘the difference betweenthe difference betweenwar and what we have war and what we have now is that now we now is that now we aren’t fighting back.’aren’t fighting back.’

US Declares WarUS Declares War

News from Russia of revolutionNews from Russia of revolution Cruel regime of the tsars endedCruel regime of the tsars ended

US now fighting on side of US now fighting on side of democracy against despotismdemocracy against despotism

Sub warfare + Zimmerman + Sub warfare + Zimmerman + Russian revolution = US entry Russian revolution = US entry into WWIinto WWI

April 6, 1917April 6, 1917 US declares warUS declares war

Wilson Selling the War

Wilson had to sell the Wilson had to sell the war to many who war to many who remained isolationistremained isolationist

He used idealismHe used idealism ‘‘Crusade’Crusade’ ““to make the world safe to make the world safe

for democracy”for democracy” ‘‘a war to end war’a war to end war’ ‘‘peace without victory’peace without victory’

US quickly converted US quickly converted to war mentalityto war mentality ‘‘Hang the Kaiser’Hang the Kaiser’

Wilson Issues 14 Points

January 8, 1918 At this point

Congress enthusiastic

Inspired allies to make a greater effort

Demoralized Central Powers by inspiring their dissatisfied minorities

Wilson Issues 14 Points

Abolish secret treaties

Freedom of seas Remove trade

barriers Reduce arms Adjust colonial

claims Self-determination League of Nations

US Psychological Effects of Declaring War for Allies

Germans believe US Germans believe US will take 12 months to will take 12 months to mobilizemobilize Basically correctBasically correct

Allies must hold out Allies must hold out until help arrivesuntil help arrives

British & French must British & French must continue to hold the continue to hold the lineline ““I am waiting for the I am waiting for the

Americans and the Americans and the tanks” --French tanks” --French Marshall Philippe PetainMarshall Philippe Petain

U-Boat CountermeasuresU-Boat Countermeasures

Allies respond with Allies respond with U-Boat U-Boat countermeasurescountermeasures

Sonar, mine barges, Sonar, mine barges, depth charges, depth charges, airplane recon, & airplane recon, & convoyconvoy Convoy--100 or Convoy--100 or

more commercial more commercial ships escorted by ships escorted by military shipsmilitary ships

End of 1917 U-boats End of 1917 U-boats lose effectivenesslose effectiveness

Manipulating Minds

CPI formed Committee on Public

Information Led by George Creel Basically large-scale

propaganda 150,000 employees

Including 75,000 ‘4-minute men’: patriotic speech-givers

Posters, leaflets, pamphlets, movies, songs

Lyrics to ‘Over There’Over there, over thereSend the word, send

the word over there,That the Yanks are

coming, the Yanks are coming

The drums rum-tumming ev’rywhere

Stifling Dissent

German-Americans 8 million (8%) of

Americans Overwhelmingly loyal

Rumors Spying, sabotage, etc

No: Beethoven or Wagner German language in

schools Sauerkraut became

‘liberty cabbage’ Hamburger became

‘liberty steak’

Stifling Dissent

Espionage Act 1917 Spying

Sedition Act of 1918 Inciting rebellion

1,900 prosecutions Socialists Labor unions Eugene V. Debs

Received ~1,000,000 votes for president in 1920 from prison

Censorship

US Preps for WarUS Preps for War US army slowly grew to US army slowly grew to

100,000 men100,000 men 15th in the world15th in the world About the size of Persia’sAbout the size of Persia’s

US had resources but did US had resources but did not know how to ‘tap’ themnot know how to ‘tap’ them

War Industries Board (WIB), War Industries Board (WIB), 19171917 Headed by Bernard BaruchHeaded by Bernard Baruch Encouraged:Encouraged:

Mass production, especially Mass production, especially ships (from 1 to 10 million ships (from 1 to 10 million tons)tons)

Elimination of wasteElimination of waste StandardizationStandardization

Established price controlsEstablished price controls

War & IndustryWar & Industry

‘‘Labor Will Win the War’ Labor Will Win the War’ sloganslogan

‘‘work or fight’work or fight’ Any unemployed male Any unemployed male

available for immediate available for immediate draftdraft

National War Labor BoardNational War Labor Board Led by former President Led by former President

TaftTaft Cooperation with unionsCooperation with unions

8 hour day8 hour day Higher wagesHigher wages

War Production & Unions Most unions supported warMost unions supported war Union membership doubledUnion membership doubled Some radical groups Some radical groups

sabotaged industrysabotaged industry Industrial Workers of the World, Industrial Workers of the World,

‘Wobblies’ or IWW‘Wobblies’ or IWW Despite gains in wages, Despite gains in wages,

inflation ran highinflation ran high Strikes were numerous & Strikes were numerous &

often severeoften severe 1919, 250,000 workers went on 1919, 250,000 workers went on

strike in steelstrike in steel Steel companies replaced with Steel companies replaced with

African AmericansAfrican Americans Violence killed more than a Violence killed more than a

dozendozen

War & African Americans

Massive northern migration Ex-plantation slave

descendants Extreme racial

tensions Many northern cities

were almost all-white Race riots Many deaths sparked

by blacks at beaches or breaking strikes

The Great Migration

From 1910 to 1930 ~4.1 million African-Americans moved out of the southern US 12 states largest net loss (red) and net gain (blue)

Women in Factories

1,000s enter factories to replace men who went to war

Contribution convinced Wilson to support woman suffrage

19th amendment right to vote for women Passed in 1920

In reality after WWI most women went back to housewife role But Constitution allowed

the vote & precedent had been set

Forging the Economy

Gov’t encouraged voluntary:Gov’t encouraged voluntary: Meatless TuesdaysMeatless Tuesdays Wheatless WednesdaysWheatless Wednesdays Heatless MondaysHeatless Mondays Lightless nightsLightless nights Victory GardensVictory Gardens

Some items also rationedSome items also rationed Canned meat, milk, Canned meat, milk,

vegetablesvegetables ChocolateChocolate

Alcohol production limitedAlcohol production limited Many German ownedMany German owned Led to prohibition Led to prohibition

amendment in 1919amendment in 1919

Victory Loan Campaign

Government promoted purchase of war bonds Netted $21 billion

Citizens also pressured others, especially German-Americans to contribute House painted in yellow

if no bonds One man signed for

bond with a rope around his neck

Canadian German

Selective Service ActSelective Service Act

Conscription or draftConscription or draft Males 18-45 must registerMales 18-45 must register

24 million men registered24 million men registered Draft went smoothlyDraft went smoothly

No violenceNo violence Few ‘dodgers’Few ‘dodgers’

Army #s:Army #s: 1916 130,0001916 130,000 1918 4,000,0001918 4,000,000

2 million to Europe2 million to Europe Many with little training due Many with little training due

to necessityto necessity

Famous British ‘Join the War’ Campaign Poster w/Lord Kitchener

Uncle Sam recruiting poster modeled after Lord Kitchener’s posterCreated 1917

Germany

Irish

FranceEncouraging US pilots to cometo France to fight Germany(Flyboys)

US Troops to Europe

Bolsheviks surrender to Germans

German focuses on western front Massive assault reaches

~40 miles from Paris in spring 1918

American ‘doughboys’ begin pouring in ‘an inexhaustible flood of

fresh and gleaming youth’ Late summer 1918

Germany on the defensive Germany never recovered

Leadership

Allies accept Marshall Foch as supreme commander ‘to make war is to

attack’ US allowed separate

army Attacking 85 mile

front near Switzerland Led by General John J.

‘Blackjack’ Pershing

Sergeant Alvin York

US infantry Originally from

anti-war sect Single-handedly

killed 20 Germans & captured 132 more

Made a movie (of course)

Victory

It was the US reserves moreso than actual US military men fighting that discouraged Germany i.e., they knew what was

coming Germans running out of

supplies German allies fell apart Propaganda rained down

Extolling ‘Wilsonian peace’ Surrendered November

11, 1918