CHAPTER 31 CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I LUSITANIA SINKS GERMAN U-BOAT ATTACKS ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM

U.S and the War in Europe U.S. was making money from war production Trade between Germany and America had been cut due to British trade rules German naval improvements brought new international laws to submarine warfare Wilson took a pacifist approach to the Lusitania incident.

Wilson’s reaction After Wilson gave his speech about the nature of the war in Europe, Germany announced an “unrestricted submarine warfare” tactic. Wilson then broke diplomatic ties with Germany and asked Congress to allow armament of U.S. merchant ships

Zimmerman Note March 1 st, Zimmerman telegram was intercepted Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico Vowed to return Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico if they teamed up with Germany against the U.S.

Retaliate or Resume? The U.S. was being scolded by citizens for not fighting back against the blatant provocation of Germany Russian revolution broke the tsarist regime and allowed the U.S. to fight alongside the Allied forces for democracy without being affiliated with a fascist government Wilson realized he no longer could reap the benefits of profitable, neutral trade during a time of war

Wilson’s Fourteen Points 1.Abolish secret treaties 2.Freedom of the seas 3.Remove economic barriers among nations 4.Reduce armament 5.Adjust colonial claims *Remaining points illustrated ideas on “self- determination” for minority groups* -Last point was a foreshadowing for Wilson’s League of Nations

Wilson’s Intentions Guarantee political independence and territorial integrity for all countries Task: GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE WAR EFFORT Committee of Public Information: George Creel -“sell” the idea of American war interest and Wilson’s aims to the public -75,000 men distributed the message across the country delivering “pep talks” to citizens

War Propaganda

Domestic Issues Labor Unions & Strikes Race Riots Suffrage

Espionage Act of 1917 Prohibited any attempt to interfere with any military operation, promote insubordination, support U.S. enemies during wartime or interfere with military recruitment Those convicted under its provisions stated that their 1 st amendment civil liberty was violated Schenck vs. United States Supreme Court decision ruled in the laws favor stating such speech creates a “clear and present danger” to the safety of the United States

Sedition Act of 1918 Forbade the use of “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the United States government Essentially, if anyone was caught saying anything that put a negative light on the United States, armed forces or war effort they were to be incarcerated.

Labor Union Organizations IWW or “Wobblies” were a radical labor union organization led by William Haywood who opposed the war effort and known for their industrial sabotage tactics American Federation of Labor (AFL) leader Samuel Gompers represented his labor organization and supported the war effort Eugene Debs was convicted under the Sedition Act and sentence to ten years in prison

Strikes Pittsburgh, PA. Steel Workers go on strike Workers resisted the unionization of the steel industry Police forced to break up the strikes on the streets and restore order

Chicago Race Riots 1919 Labor unions on strike in Chicago Many industries call upon African American workers to come into the factories so production would continue Integration of beaches and rather tensions caused the death of a young African American man which spurred the Chicago Race Riots of 1919