{ The End of WWI and the Fourteen Points

{ The End of WWI

 April 6, 1917: Congress declares war on Germany  US contributions to the Allies:  4.4 million troops; 323,000 casualties  Naval power to reinforce blockade of Germany  Economic resources – weapons, food, supplies, loans The US Enters WWI

 “Doughboys” were poorly trained, but came in great numbers  Arrival of US troops strengthened Allies and raised morale  October 1918: German navy revolts; war effort collapses  November 11, 1918: armistice signed and fighting ends The War Ends

{ The War at Home

 Conscription ( )  Mandatory military service  Way to rapidly build the US’ small military  Committee on Public Information ( )  Known as the “Creel Committee”  Produced propaganda to get Americans to support the war  Goal: to get ordinary citizens to support the war Total War

 Women began taking “male” jobs  African Americans  200,000 black soldiers served in segregated units  Great Migration: 500,000 African Americans migrated north in search of factory jobs  Civilians urged to contribute resources Social Effects

 Espionage and Sedition Acts  Enacted  Banned speech that interfered with military operations or supported US enemies  Still in effect  Schenck v. United States (1919)  Supreme Court rules that Espionage and Sedition Acts do not violate the right to free speech  “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic…” Civil Liberties

{ So what happens next?

 January 8, 1918  President Woodrow Wilson’s agenda for peace after WWI  Four major goals  Democracy  Open markets  Peace  Larger role for the US The Fourteen Points