THE LEGACY OF WORLD WAR I Chapter 24, Section 4

BELL RINGER These questions will help students analyze the effects of World War I. 1. Look at the map on page 697. How many new nations were created? 2. What kids of problems do you think these new nations will face?

KEY TERMS League of Nations – an organization set up after World War I to settle international conflicts Fourteen Points – President Woodrow Wilson’s goals for peace after World War I Treaty of Versailles – the 1919 treaty that ended World War I Reparations – money that a defeated nation pays for the destruction caused by a war Red Scare – in , a wave of panic from fear of a Communist revolution Palmer raids – in 1920, federal agents and police raided the homes of suspected radicals

Additional Key Terms and People self-determination – the right of a group to decide its own form of government Henry Cabot Lodge – a powerful Republican senator who opposed U.S. membership in the League of Nations deport – to forcibly return an immigrant to his or her home country

Examine Woodrow Wilson’s plan for a lasting and just peace. Understand how the Treaty of Versailles punished Germany. Explain why many Americans opposed membership in the League of Nations. Objectives

After World War I, President Wilson wanted the United States to approve the Treaty of Versailles and join a worldwide peacekeeping organization, the League of Nations. Congress rejected both of these plans. How did the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations disappoint President Wilson?

Before the war ended, President Wilson had presented a peace plan to Congress. Wilson’s Fourteen Points These points targeted the causes of the war. They included free trade among nations and a reduction of military forces.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points These points addressed territorial issues. Wilson called for self- determination for minority groups in Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points 14. This was Wilson’s most important point. He wanted to set up an international organization to guarantee world peace.

WILSON’S FOURTEEN POINTS 1. What were President Wilson’s goals for peace?  Fourteen Points  Smaller military forces  An end to secret treaties  Freedom of the seas  Free trade  Changes in national boundaries 2. Why was formation of the League of Nations especially important to Wilson?  To have “peace without victory”  Settle disputes peacefully

Wilson presented his plan at a peace conference in Paris attended by the “Big Four.” But the other Allies wanted to punish Germany. The Big Four included Vittorio Orlando of Italy, David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson.

After much debate, the Big Four drafted the Treaty of Versailles. Treaty Terms The German military was limited. Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war. Germany had to pay full reparations to the Allies. Germany lost some territory and colonies.

Wilson opposed the treaty’s harsh demands. He agreed with it because he wanted to form his peacekeeping organization, the League of Nations. On June 28, 1919, German delegates signed the treaty. German anger at the treaty was one cause of World War II.

Wilson’s idea for the League of Nations sparked heated debate in America. The United States must accept its “destiny” to lead the world on a new path. Membership in the League will restrict the United States from acting in its own interest. President WilsonSenator Henry Cabot Lodge

Other peace treaties applied the principle of self- determination to some of the Central Powers. Austria-Hungary was divided into Austria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Serbians and other Balkan peoples formed Yugoslavia. Poland declared independence.

The peacemakers did not apply self-determination to non-Europeans. Britain and France divided Germany’s African colonies and the Middle East. Britain Germany’s African Colonies Middle Eastern lands of Ottoman Empire France Residents of these lands felt betrayed.

After the war, Europe’s borders were redrawn. In 1918, Russia gave territory to Germany. The 1919 peace treaties brought more changes.

President Wilson lost his battle for the League of Nations. He toured the country to promote his plan. He suffered a massive stroke, but continued to support his plan from his sickbed. In November 1919, the Senate voted to reject the treaty. The absence of the United States crippled the League’s ability to solve worldwide crises in the 1930s.

TREATY OF VERSAILLES 3. How were Wilson’s goals for peace different from the aims of Britain, France, and Italy?  They wanted Germany to pay heavily for its part in the war 4. What were the key terms of the Treaty of Versailles?  Forced Germany to accept full blame for the war  Germany was stripped of its colonies and most of its armed forces  Had to pay $33 million in reparations  Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires were broken up 5. Why was the treaty controversial?  Americans did not want more foreign commitments, and Wilson would not compromise on the League of Nations to get the treaty passed.  The treaty failed to make Europe “safe for democracy.”

The nation rejected a major role in world affairs and instead turned inward. What problems at home and abroad challenged the nation after World War I? The United States emerged from World War I as a world power.

President Wilson and the Democrats became unpopular for several reasons. Mishandling of the Treaty of Versailles Economic recession Labor strikes Fear of Communists

In 1920, Republican Warren Harding ran for President against Woodrow Wilson. Harding promised the return to “normalcy” that many Americans wanted. Harding won by a landslide. Many Americans hoped a change in leadership would lead to peace and prosperity.

Harding filled his administration with friends and men who supported business. Wealthy banker Andrew Mellon became Secretary of the Treasury. He slashed the federal budget and lowered taxes on the wealthy. Other appointees used their jobs to make personal fortunes. Several were involved in scandals such as taking bribes.

Harding’s presidency was marred by scandal. The billboards in this cartoon show the “sale” of government institutions. Harding did not live to regain the public’s trust. He had a fatal heart attack in 1923.

Calvin Coolidge, Harding’s Vice President, took over after Harding’s death. He cooperated with the Harding scandal investigations and restored public trust. He easily won the 1924 election. Also, the recession ended while he was in office.

After World War I, most Americans supported isolationism. However, Americans continued to promote peace and disarmament. In 1928, the U.S. and France sponsored the Kellogg-Briand Pact to prevent military aggression. In 1921, the U.S. and other countries agreed to limit the size of their navies.

Coolidge chose to aid Russia, even though America opposed its Communist government. The Soviet Union, the world’s first Communist state, was formed. The Communist Party crushed all opposition. The U.S. aided the opponents of communism. The U.S. sent aid to Russia to fight famine

Fear of communism abroad led to a “Red Scare” in the United States. In 1919, foreign anarchists bombed several targets in the U.S. Many Americans came to fear all foreigners. Thousands of anarchists and Communists, or “Reds,” were arrested, and many were deported.

The case of two Italian immigrants shows the mistreatment of foreigners during this time. Sacco and Vanzetti were accused of robbery and murder with little evidence. Both men were anarchists. They were found guilty and executed in Sacco and Vanzetti

STRIKES AND THE RED SCARE 6. What were the causes of the Red Scare?  Fears that strikes and mail bombs were signs of a coming Communist revolution 7. What groups were most affected by the Red Scare?  Foreigners and radicals, like anarchists

Fears about radicals led to new limits on immigration to the United States. Americans worried about losing their culture and having to compete for jobs. Congress passed laws limiting immigration in 1921, 1924, and 1929.

The new immigration limits did not apply to people from the Americas. 950,000 people migrated to the U.S. from Canada. They took jobs in New England factories. Nearly 500,000 migrated from Mexico. They helped develop the American Southwest.

An influenza epidemic killed over 500,000 Americans in 1918 and Peacetime brought high unemployment. In 1919, four million U.S. laborers went on strike. Fear of communism led to the “Red Scare.” Many immigrants were rounded up and deported. The postwar years brought troubles to the United States

Fear of social change also caused racial tensions. Many African Americans served in World War I. Many moved to northern cities. This was called the Great Migration. Violent race riots broke out in several cities. They hoped to gain equality in America. Great Migration

RACIAL TENSIONS INCREASE/LONGING FOR “NORMALCY” 8. What social changes caused racial tensions to increase in the postwar years?  The Great Migration  Resentments over housing, job competition, and segregation 9. Why might African American soldiers have expected less prejudice and discrimination at home after the war?  They had fought to make the world “safe for democracy,” but didn’t find it at home. 10. Why did Harding’s promise of “normalcy” appeal to voters?  They were worn out from labor strikes, race riots, the Red Scare, and the fight over the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations.