LECTURE 4 AMERICA IN THE GREAT WAR

THE EUROPEAN THEATER The formation of secret alliances Entente Cordiale (Allies) England, France, Russia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Turkey Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarayevo, July 1914

BACKGROUND OF THE WAR Tripling of Europe’s population Rise of nationalism Rise of militarism Division of the world among colonial nations Secret alliances

Mutual war declarations North Sea becomes a war zone Invasion of Belgium 1915: U-boats, (submarines) sink the Lusitania Unrestricted submarine warfare European ”funny war,” war of attrition

EUROPEAN FRONT 1914 German advance stopped at Marne Stalemate, trench warfare A continuous immovable front from Flanders to Switzerland, 25,000 miles of trenches Poison gas (Ypern), tanks, German siege of Verdun, battle of the Somme 1917: Russian Revolution, Brest Litovsk Peace Treaty

AMERICAN RESPONSE A strained neutrality Identification with France, England Sympathy for Belgium German militarism, authoritarianism vs. American democracy Pro-British high officials (Col. Edward House, Robert Lansing)

WOODROW WILSON Democrat Strong WASP background Princeton University president, historian, political scientist Pro-British Wins election of 1916

CAUSES OF U.S.ENTRY Fatigue of allies, defection of Russia Successful anti-German propaganda Freedom of the seas doctrine Desire to be at peace table Wilson’s war message: The world must be made safe for democracy

Anti-German propaganda

MOBILIZATION FOR WAR Total mobilization of the economy Wilson’s war dictatorship Exercising power through committees Food Administration Fuel Administration War Industries Board

TOTAL MOBILIZATION FOR WAR Mobilizing society Committee on Public Information-propaganda machine Anti-German hysteria, attack against radicals Espionage and Sedition Act of 1917 Schenck v. U.S., US Supreme Court upholds ”clear and present danger”

NATIVISM Forced Americanization-superpatriotic national unity American Protective League Persecution of Socialists, union members, social reformers, pacifists, consciencious objectors

THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE The Doughboys The Selective Service Act 24 million registered, 3 million drafted Volunteers (adventure, advance in life, impress women) Segregated military units Intelligence testing, temperance, chastity

ADVANCES IN EUROPE General John J. Pershing AEF commander Fresh infusion of blood to tired allies 1918: battles at Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, and Saint Mihiel 900,000 American troops in the Meuse-Argonne campaign

WILSON’S PEACE PLAN Fourteen Points Open diplomacy Freedom of the Seas National self-determination for Central Europe Disarmament Association of nations to prevent war

WINNING THE WAR, LOSING THE PEACE 1918 Nov. 11 Armistice Paris peace talks Skepticism of Fourteen Points Wilson fails as a peace maker Allies punish Germany: reparations, loss of colonies Failure of League of Nations, U.S. does not join

LEGACY OF WORLD WAR ONE U.S. becomes an economic superpower Americans experience centralized economy Divisions within American society -pacifists v. interventionist, nativist v. immigrant, dry v. wet America becomes more cosmopolitan and urban