Chapter 31 The War to End War

War to End War  Wilson- “peace without victory”  Unrestricted submarine warfare- Germany would sink all ships, including America’s, in the war zone No longer distinguished between combatants and non-combatants No longer distinguished between combatants and non-combatants

War By Act of Germany  Wilson asked congress for authority to arm American merchant ships  Zimmerman Note- March 1, 1917 March 1, 1917 German foreign secretary secretly proposed a German- Mexican alliance German foreign secretary secretly proposed a German- Mexican alliance tempted Mexico w/ promises of recovering US land that previously belonged to them if they declared war on US tempted Mexico w/ promises of recovering US land that previously belonged to them if they declared war on US

War by Act of Germany  German u-boats sank 4 unarmed merchant vessels in first two weeks of March  Revolution in Russia toppled tsars  April 2, 1917 Wilson asks Congress to declare war (war declared April 6) Wilson asks Congress to declare war (war declared April 6) No longer believed US could trade neutrally w/o being sucked into war No longer believed US could trade neutrally w/o being sucked into war “Made in Germany” “Made in Germany”

War Message  “We shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts. For democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their government, for the rights of liberties of small nations… to such a task we can dedicate our lives and our future”  “It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war”

Wilsonian Idealism  Not getting support for the war in the midwest  2 goals: 1. War to end war 2. Make the world safe for democracy (w/o fear of power-crazed autocrats)  Wilson’s appeal worked- increased American support for war

Fourteen Points  Wilson=moral leader of Allied cause  14 points inspired Allies & demoralized Central Powers  1-5: broad in scope  Self determination  #14 foreshadows the League of Nations  Not universally accepted

George Creel  Head of the Committee of Public Information  Job: sell America on the war & Wilson’s war aims  Four Minute Men  Propaganda: posters, leaflets, booklets, “hang the kaiser” movies, songs  Oversold Wilson, led world to expect too much

Anti-German Sentiment  8 million German-Americans in US  Hatred of Germans rose German books removed German books removed German classes cancelled German classes cancelled Sauerkraut= liberty cabbage; hamburger=liberty steak Sauerkraut= liberty cabbage; hamburger=liberty steak

Anti-German Sentiment  Espionage Act of prohibited support of US enemies during wartime Eugene V. Debs Eugene V. Debs  Sedition Act of prohibited speech that cast government/war effort in negative light  Any criticism of government could be punished  Shenck v. United States (1919)- Supreme Court affirmed legality of laws, not violating freedom of speech “clear and present danger” “clear and present danger”

Factories go to War  Council of National Defense- studied problems of economic mobilization  Built ships & built up the army  War Industries Board formed, disbanded days after armistice  American preference for laissez-faire & weak central gov. proved strong even during war

Workers in Wartime  “Labor will win the war”  War Department- “work or fight”  National War Labor Board (Taft)- prevented labor disputes that would hamper the war effort  AFL supported war  International Workers of the World (IWW) did not support war, caused damage to war effort

Workers in Wartime  AFL loyalty rewarded- wages had risen more than 20% by end of war  Still, labor harbored grievances greatest strike in US history in steel industry greatest strike in US history in steel industry Owners brought in African Americans to work instead, strike collapsedOwners brought in African Americans to work instead, strike collapsed

Women’s Suffrage  Women flooded into factories & fields  National Women’s Party Led by Alice Paul Led by Alice Paul Gave a voice to women Gave a voice to women  Fighting for democracy abroad  true democracy at home  19 th amendment- gave all American women the right to vote 80 yrs after Seneca Falls 80 yrs after Seneca Falls

Political Victory…  Women’s Bureau emerged to protect women’s working rights Most women left wartime jobs after war Most women left wartime jobs after war  Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of provided federally financed instruction in maternal & infant healthcare

War Economy  Food Administration, led by Herbert Hoover Rejected use of ration cards Rejected use of ration cards Voluntary Voluntary  Propaganda Campaign Meatless Mondays & Wheatless Wednesdays Meatless Mondays & Wheatless Wednesdays  “Victory Gardens”  18 th amendment- Prohibits all alcoholic drinks

War Economy  Hoover’s approach worked Farm production increased by ¼ Farm production increased by ¼ Food exports to Allies tripled Food exports to Allies tripled  Fuel Administration Heatless Mondays, Lightless Nights Heatless Mondays, Lightless Nights  Liberty Loan Drives- “Halt the Hun”  Increased taxes

American Army  Europe needed America to send a trained army to fight  Conscription All males All males No one could buy exemption No one could buy exemption  Army grew to 4 million men  Women allowed in armed forces for 1 st time  African Americans in segregated units

Americans Fighting  1 year after Congress declares war (France) Initially not that effective Initially not that effective  Also in Belgium, Italy & Russia  10,000 troops to Siberia Purpose: prevent Japan from getting a hold on Siberia, rescue Czechoslovak troops & get military supplies Purpose: prevent Japan from getting a hold on Siberia, rescue Czechoslovak troops & get military supplies

America Helps Defeat Germany  German drive on western front Threatened to knock out France Threatened to knock out France  30,000 American soldiers to Chateau Thierry in France First significant engagement of American troops in European war First significant engagement of American troops in European war American giant rose to replace Russia American giant rose to replace Russia Slowed down German drive Slowed down German drive

America Helps Defeat Germany  Second Battle of the Marne (July-August 1918) Counteroffensive that marked the beginning of German withdrawal Counteroffensive that marked the beginning of German withdrawal  St. Mihiel (Sep. 1918) Americans & French pushed Germans from St. Mihiel, France Americans & French pushed Germans from St. Mihiel, France  Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Sep.-Nov. 1918) Lasted 47 days Lasted 47 days Engaged 1.2 million American troops Engaged 1.2 million American troops 10% of people involved killed 10% of people involved killed Slow progress, inadequate training, severe loss from machine guns Slow progress, inadequate training, severe loss from machine guns  Victory was in sight for Allies

14 Points Disarm Germany  Berlin ready to surrender, turn to Wilson for peace based on 14 Points  Kaiser must be overthrown before Wilson would negotiate  Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918 Germany surrenders Germany surrenders  Americans rejoice- Great War ended

14 Points Disarm Germany  US contributions to the war: food, ammunition, credit, oil & manpower  US only fought 2 major battles  Prospect of endless U.S. troops that demoralized Germans, not US actual military performance  General Pershing (American general who led US troops) relied on England & France as much as they relied on him

Wilson at War’s End  Wilson at peak of his popularity  “moral leader of the world”  Series of tragic mistakes Personally appealed for Democratic victory in Congress Personally appealed for Democratic victory in Congress Travels to Paris to negotiate peace Travels to Paris to negotiate peace Neglected to include Republicans in his official party Neglected to include Republicans in his official party

An Idealist in Paris  Wilson welcomed in Europe (1919)  Big Four: Wilson Wilson Premier Vittorio Orlando (Italy) Premier Vittorio Orlando (Italy) Prime Minister David Lloyd (Britain) Prime Minister David Lloyd (Britain) Georges Clemenceau “The Tiger” (France) Georges Clemenceau “The Tiger” (France)  Wilson’s goal: League of Nations Victors of territory would not receive it outright, but as trustees of L.o.N. Victors of territory would not receive it outright, but as trustees of L.o.N. Made an integral part of peace treaty Made an integral part of peace treaty

Treaty of Versailles Disagreements  Republican senators would not accept League of Nations as it is Henry Cabot Lodge Henry Cabot Lodge  Wilson had to negotiate w/ several countries over territory France: Rhineland & Saar Valley France: Rhineland & Saar Valley Italy: Fiume Italy: Fiume Japan: Shandong Peninsula Japan: Shandong Peninsula  Security Treaty: Britain & US pledged to come to French aid if ever invaded by Germany

Treaty of Versailles  June 1919  Germany did not get peace based on 14 Points  anger in Germany  Required Germany to take responsibility for the war & pay reparations  Wilson forced to compromise on some of 14 points to get League of Nations  Wilson now a fallen idol  Liberated Poland

Domestic Problems  Isolationists in America protested against treaty Wanted no part of an entangling alliance Wanted no part of an entangling alliance  Anti-Germans thought pact was not harsh enough  Some liberals thought it was too harsh

Wilson’s Collapse  Wilson tours America to increase support for treaty  not received well in Midwest (German- Americans)  Applauded in Rocky Mountain region  Wilson collapsed on tour from physical exhaustion, later had stroke

Defeat through Deadlock  Senator Lodge came up w/ 14 formal reservations against treaty  Wilson wanted all or nothing- told Democrats to vote AGAINST treaty w/ Lodge’s reservations  Treaty defeated 55 to 39 in Senate  March treaty brought up again Had majority but not 2/3 majority Had majority but not 2/3 majority

Solemn Referendum of 1920  Wilson hoped to appeal to people for solemn referendum in next presidential election  Republican: Warren G. Harding & Calvin Coolidge  Democrat: James M. Cox & FDR Supporters of the League Supporters of the League  Harding elected US looking for change & tired of idealism US looking for change & tired of idealism

Betrayal of Great Expectations  League of Nations weakened by US refusal to join  Collapse of Treaty of Versailles- America at fault  US could have taken new power as a world leader, instead drifted into isolationism