Essential Question: – What was the role of the United States during World War I? –How did American efforts at home help win the war and transform the American economy & society?

Governments committed all their nation’s resources and took over industry to win the war Combatants in World War I quickly began to use total war tactics

Soldiers were drafted, the media was censored, propaganda was created to support the war

New, industrial weapons were introduced on the battlefield such as machine guns, airplanes, blimps... These weapons led to unprecedented deaths and casualties …heavy artillery, tanks, poison gas, flame throwers, submarines

To protect soldiers from enemy fire, both the Allies and Central Powers built trenches Trench warfare made it difficult for either side to gain an advantage

Fighting on the Western Front slowed to a stalemate as neither side could gain an advantage 2 million soldiers were killed or wounded during the battles of Verdun and Somme German u-boats patrolled the Atlantic Ocean attacking Allied cargo ships

Russia was struggling to produce enough weapons or food to support the war effort Millions of Russian soldiers and civilians died in the war By 1917, Russia was on the brink of collapse Russian women training for combat On the Eastern Front, the Russian army was struggling to hold on against the German military

In Nov 1917, Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian government and established the Soviet Union, the first communist nation

The USA remained neutral in World War I from 1914 to 1917… Due to German violations of free trade, the USA declared war in April 1917

“Over There “Over There” American Military Participation in WWI

WWI Alliances & Battlefronts, When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, the Allies were on the brink of defeat U-boats effectively limited Allied supplies The Russian armistice in 1917 allowed Germany to move its full army to the western front Mutinies were common in the French army & the British lost at Flanders, Belgium

Mobilization ■Despite Wilson’s preparedness campaign, America was not ready for war ■America only had about 100,000 men in the standing army ■At first support looked like sending weapons, supplies, naval support and loans The military needed massive supplies of armaments and a larger military. President Wilson and Congress created 5,000 bureaucratic agencies to manage and win the war

The USA supported the Allied Powers, but the Americans entered the war for their own reasons… The American Expeditionary Force was led by John Pershing as an independent American military. They were known as doughboys. …President Wilson wanted to keep the U.S. military separate from the other Allied forces The army & navy increased in size but military leaders had not prepared a plan for war (“To plan for war is to violate the terms of neutrality”)

Although many wanted volunteer army, including Wilson, Wilson asked Congress to pass the Selective Service Act to draft men between the ages of 18 and 45 into the army 2.8 million Americans were drafted This time, there was no way to buy one’s way out of the draft. Women were admitted for the first time: to navy & 269 to the marines.

African-Americans were subject to the draft & 400,000 fought during WWI in segregated units Most did menial tasks except for 369 th Infantry Regiment known as Harlem Hell Fighters.

Mobilization ■Within a few months, the armed forces had grown to 4 million ■AEF forces usually received several months of training in America before being shipped to France ■To protect troop ships from U-boats, all merchant and troop ships began traveling in convoys in May ■Pershing kept American troops independent from Allies

To combat German u-boats, the USA used a convey system to deliver soldiers and supplies to Europe

With the military and economy mobilized for war, the first U.S. troops were sent to Europe

The 1 st U.S. troops arrived via convoy in June 1917 but did not see action until early 1918

To Europe… ■Germany correctly assumed that it would take America an entire year to mobilize. They hoped to starve the British out before America could enter the war. ■Nevertheless, American troops slowly poured into France.

Early Activity ■The first trainees were used as replacements in the Allied armies Small detachments fought in Belgium and Italy ■U.S. troops helped in an Allied invasion of Russia at Archangel to prevent munitions from falling into German hands. ■10,000 troops were sent to Siberia as part of an Allied expedition whose purpose was to prevent munitions from falling into the hands of Japan, rescue some 45,000 trapped Czechoslovak troops, and prevent Bolshevik forces from snatching military supplies.

The arrival of fresh American soldiers and war supplies helped the Allies and raised morale at a crucial time

Throughout 1918, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) fought with Allied forces to turn the tide of the war

Turning the Tide ■The Russians had withdrawn from the war in ■German attempt at one last offensive with reinforcements from Russia –Able to break Allied lines and make it within 40 miles of Paris –Allies were organized under leadership of Frenchmen Marshal Foch –Resisted by American troops who were beginning to arrive in France

The U.S. on the Western Front, 1918 American soldiers saw their 1 st action in May 1918 at Chateau Thierry outside Paris & helped resist a last-ditch German offensive The Allied counter-attack led by the U.S. & France pushed into Germany

The U.S. on the Western Front, 1918 By July 1918 the German drive was spent, and the Americans participated in the Second Battle of the Marne. The German withdrawal that was never again effectively reversed.

Turning the Tide ■By August, Allies stopped German offensive and regained most of what they had lost. ■German military talks to Kaiser to arrange peace talks  Allies refuse with one requirement of unconditional surrender ■By September, Americans launched major offensive and eventually drive Germans out of France.

The U.S. on the Western Front, 1918 In September 1918, 9 American divisions joined 4 French divisions to push the Germans from the St. Mihiel salient.

47 days 1.2 million troops 120,000 American casualties As part of Allied offensive, Pershing’s army undertook the Meuse-Argonne offensive (September 26 to November 11, 1918), which objective was to cut German railroad lines to western front.

By October 1918, the German government knew the war was over. Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire surrendered. American forces and reinforcements proved too much. Germans were being deserted, starved from British blockade, & Wilsonian promises in pamphlets were raining down. On Nov 9, German Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne.

On November 11, 1918 Germany signed an armistice with the Allies and World War I came to an end

The USA reluctantly entered WWI and played only a supportive role in the fighting, but the war changed America economically, politically, and culturally.

America fought for only 8 months (not 4 years) and had 7% casualties (not 52% like most Allied Powers)

The commitment to “total war” stimulated American industry and transformed lives on the home front

Conclusions U.S: 6.8 % casualties, 50,000 deaths of 320,000 casualties 8 million Europeans died Worst killer: flu epidemic that broke out after fighting stopped The Allies had 52% casualties; the Central Powers had 57% 5 million civilians died American soldiers were only engaged in battle for 8 months Artillery, poison gas, grenades, machine guns led to trench warfare & war of attrition More American soldiers died from disease than bullets 500,000 deaths from flu Estimate: 30 million people died from flu worldwide

Why Did We Go “Over There”? ■Wilson was re-elected in 1916 largely due to his campaign rhetoric “He kept us out of the war.” By 1917, the U.S. joined the Allies. Why? ■Examine the 7 reasons for U.S. entry into WWI & rank order each as to which were the most powerful forces in causing the USA to join the Allied cause.

“Over Here “Over Here” The Homefront During World War I

“Over Here” over there over here ■To win over there, the U.S. had to effectively mobilize over here –Wilson consolidated federal authority to organize U.S. war production & distribution –Wilson began a massive propaganda campaign aimed at winning over the American public to support the war effort

Homefront Propaganda ■News and info was censored by government—mobilize the mind ■Govt. sponsored propaganda campaign to dehumanize Germans and win support for war ■Wilson formed the Committee on Public Information (CPI) & hired muckraker George Creel to publicize the U.S. war effort –150,000 employed here & overseas

Homefront Propaganda ■CPI efforts included: –Voluntary censorship in press factsemotions –75,000 “4-minute men” gave speeches (facts or emotions?) –Propaganda motion picture films ■Led to sweeping anti-German sentiment & some vigilantism Speeches: “Why We Are Fighting” & “The Meaning of America” Movies: To Hell with the Kaiser & The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin Movies: To Hell with the Kaiser & The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin

American Propaganda American Propaganda: George Creel’s Committee on Public Information (CPI) Posters, leaflets, and pamphlets distributed.

all “The Flag of Liberty represents us all” Which groups are these posters targeting?

“Emotional” Wartime Propaganda Pillaging & Kidnapping Rape Murder

A “Creel Commission” Film

Homefront Propaganda ■Propaganda led to nativism & anti- German sentiment –Literacy test for immigrants –Germans were called “huns” and civil liberties were violated –German related culture was renamed to make it more “American” Bach, Beethoven, & Brahms were not played in symphonies Sauerkraut was renamed “Liberty Cabbage,” hamburger “Liberty Steak,” & pretzels were no longer served in bars

Find image of vigilantism IWW anti-war critic Frank Little was dragged through the streets of Butte, Montana & lynched Anti-German Vigilantism "It's all right, pal; just tell them he was a traitor"

Homefront Censorship ■Wilson encouraged censorship: –Espionage Act (1917) –Espionage Act (1917)—aiding the enemy, obstructing troop recruitment (draft), or encouraging “disloyalty” were declared illegal Led to witch hunt Most famous spy executed: Mata Hari, dancer who spied for Germany and France –Trading-with-the-Enemy Act –Trading-with-the-Enemy Act—censored the foreign press Wilson set out to encourage U.S. unity (like Lincoln during the Civil War, Wilson was willing to use force if needed)

Homefront Censorship ■Espionage Act was amended in 1918 to include the Sedition Act, which violated the 1 st Amendment by prosecuting critics of the war ■It made it illegal to speak “disloyally” towards the U.S. gov’t, the flag, or U. S. troops

Homefront Censorship ■First Amendment restrictions were upheld by the Supreme Court: –3 cases were decided in 1919: Schenk v US, Debs v US, Abrams v US that supported gov’t convictions under the Espionage Act of 1917 –The gov’t used the wartime climate to undermine radical labor unions (IWW) & socialism Schenk was sentenced for conspiracy to circulate pamphlets encouraging soldiers to mutiny 1 st Amendment rights can be restricted when it presents a “clear & present danger” (Like “yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded theater) Eugene V. Debs was jailed when his Socialist newsletter Appeal to Reason encouraged Americans to resist enlisting in the military to fight a “capitalists’ war” Defendants passed out documents that denounced the sending of U.S. troops to Russia (to resist the Bolshevik Revolution) & that called for a general strike & other “revolutionary actions” Socialism in the U.S. never recovered from WWI attacks

A Bureaucratic War

America Unprepared ■Although Wilson had created Council of National Defense… –Army was only 15 th in world ■No one knew how much America could produce ■Laissez faire economics provided resistance to government control of economy

A Bureaucratic War ■To coordinate the war effort, 5,000 new gov’t agencies were created: Board (WIB) –War Industries Board (WIB) oversaw all factories, determined priorities, set quotas, allocated raw materials, & fixed consumer prices –Returned to laissez faire after war, but set precedent for using control during crisis dictator WIB director Bernard Baruch became the “dictator of the American economy” in March 1918

■RR Admin, War Shipping Board, & War Trade Board helped move resources to troops ■Also fined firms suspected of trading with enemy states or businesses

■Food Administration supplied food to soldiers by appealing to civilians ■Led by Herbert Hoover ■Created to manage consumption ■Hoover had power to impose price controls and ration foods ■Preferred voluntary cooperation over compliance Asked for a spirit of self-sacrifice, imposed “meatless” & “wheat-less” days & encouraged Americans to plant “victory gardens”

U.S. Food Administration

A Bureaucratic War ■Other agencies adopted Hoover’s methods. ■Fuel Admin rationed coal & oil –Daylight savings time to extend workday and save on fuel Imposed “heatless Mondays,” “gasless Sundays,” lightless nights,” ”& shut down factories for days to divert or conserve fuel

U.S. Fuel Administration

U.S. Shipping Board

A Bureaucratic War ■WWI was expensive, costing the U.S. $32 billion, but was paid for by –Liberty Bonds (raised $23 billion) –A boost in personal & corporate income taxes (led to $10 billion) ■The partnership between business & the gov’t met the war demand & increased business profits 300% An unprecedented alliance Government control of economy and represented threat to America;s freedom at home.

Liberty Bonds ■Government sells bonds to public in order to borrow money ■After the time length (term) of the bond ends (matures), the holder of the bond receives original payment with interest ■Government was able to raise/borrow $20 billion through selling bonds, loaning half to the Allies

Liberty Bonds ■Massive campaign using actors, 4 minute men, artists, and scouts ■Remember-this creates debt, which will ultimately be paid for through taxes

The American War Society & Workforce

Society ■Scouting (Boy Scouts) became popular recreation for children and introduced military styles and activities ■Immigration is severely reduced

Workers in the War ■Slogan: “Labor will win the War” –Congressional rule: Work or fight ■War Labor Board (WLB) ■War Labor Board (WLB) was formed to standardize wages & hours, protect union rights, & give equal pay for women –Headed by William H. Taft –Stopped short of legal right to organize into unions

Workers in the War ■WWI led to a new alliance between the gov’t & labor unions: Council of Nat’l Defense –AFL headman Gompers was named to the Council of Nat’l Defense to help enlist union support for the war effort –AFL (skilled workers) supported war & its membership doubled by war’s end –HOWEVER, IWW did not support Industrial sabotage frequently due to horrible working conditions

Labor Problems ■No right to organize, inflation eclipsed wages, & 6,000 strikes during war ■250,000 steelworkers walked off job (1919) –Brought in 30,000 blacks to break the strike –Hurt the strike and labor cause

“Keeping Warm” Los Angeles Times Coal Miner’s Strike 1919 But the WLB seized companies during strikes (national interests come first!)

Workers in the War ■The war called for more laborers: women –8 million women found new, better- paying jobs in war industry (but few housewives entered the workforce, unlike WW2) blacks –450,000 Southern blacks moved north for new industrial jobs & better pay (led to race riots in Chicago & St. Louis) Called The Great Migration Mexican –100,000 Mexican laborers worked in SW farms & ranches

Women Helped Recruit & Sell War Bonds

Women Joined the Red Cross

The True Sons of Freedom Returning black soldiers: “I’m glad I went. I done my part & I’m going to fight right here until Uncle Sam does his.” Du Bois’ New Negro: “We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting.”

The African American “Migration” Northward, “Rescuing a Negro during the race riots in Chicago, 1919”

Conclusions ■World War 1 changed America: –The U.S. emerged as the world’s strongest economic power & ushered in the “Roaring 20s” –But the U.S. gov’t intervened in American lives as never before: draft, censorship, propaganda, war bonds, partnering with big business & unions Acceptance of Americans At the beginning of the war, the United States owed $3 billion to foreign nations At the end of the war, foreign nations owed the U.S. $13 billion