1. Chapter 24, Section 2: From Neutrality to War
Main Idea: The United States tried to remain neutral, but German submarine warfare finally brought the country into the war.

2. A. “He Kept Us Out of War”
President Wilson wanted peace, but also wanted the U.S. to be prepared for war
He won reelection in 1916 on the slogan, “He kept us out of war.”
Wilson pushed for “peace without victory” (both sides stop fighting; no winner), but was ignored by Europe

3. B. Moving Toward War
Germany resumed submarine warfare, causing Wilson to end diplomatic relations
The Zimmermann Telegram- the U.S. learned of a secret letter sent from Germany to Mexico urging them to attack the U.S. if the U.S. declared war on Germany. In return, Germany would help Mexico get back the land lost in the Mexican Cession. This telegram caused anti-German feelings to soar in the U.S
Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. Congress voted 455 to 56 in favor of war. War is declared on 4/6/17.

6. Germans Torpedo Lusitania German U-Boats Sink US Ships Trading with GB
US Enters World War I
Zimmerman Telegram
Germans Torpedo Lusitania
German U-Boats Sink US Ships Trading with GB
Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming everywhere. So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware. We'll be over, we're coming over,
And we won't come back till it's over Over there.

7. C. Calling Up the Troops
Selective Service Act- required all men 21 to 30 to register for the draft
Over 4 million join in next 18 months
Men trained w/ broom sticks (not enough guns); spirit was high (adventure “over there”)
Blacks were not allowed to join at first; when they finally did, they had to fight in segregated units led by white officers

8. 1917 – Selective Service Act
24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918.
4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000 saw active combat).
400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units.
15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units.

9. D. Organizing the War Effort
Food- “victory gardens,” “wheatless Mondays,” “meatless Tuesdays”
Labor- War Industries Board told factories what to make; War Labor Board prevented strikes and settled labor problems
Public Support- Liberty Bonds raised $ for the war($21 billion); “Four-Minute Men” gave speeches urging Americans to make sacrifices during the war
Women- took over “mens” jobs (factories)

16. Speech by a Four Minute Man
· “Four-Minute Men” made speeches urging Americans to make sacrifices for the goals of freedom and democracy.
Speech by a Four Minute Man
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have just received the information that there is a German spy among us— a German spy watching us.
He is around, here somewhere, reporting upon you and me—sending reports about us to Berlin and telling the Germans just what we are doing with the Liberty Loan. From every section of the country these spies have been getting reports over to Potsdam—not general reports but details—where the loan is going well and where its success seems weak, and what people are saying in each community.
For the German Government is worried about our great loan. Those Junkers fear its effect upon the German morale. They’re raising a loan this month, too.
If the American people lend their billions now, one and all with a hip-hip-hurrah, it means that America is united and strong. While, if we lend our money half-heartedly, America seems weak and autocracy remains strong.
Money means everything now; it means quicker victory and therefore less bloodshed. We are in the war, and now Americans can have but one opinion, only one wish in the Liberty Loan.
Well, I hope these spies are getting their messages straight, letting Potsdam know that America is hurling back to the autocrats these answers:
For treachery here, treachery in Mexico, treachery everywhere—one billion.
For murder of American women and children—one billion more.
For broken faith & promise to murder more Americans—billions & billions more.
In the world fight for Liberty, our share—billions and billions and billions and endless billions.
Do not let the German spy hear and report that you are a slacker.

19. E. Tensions & Protest
Racial Violence- competition for housing & jobs led to race riots (“The Great Migration” – see map)
German Americans- many were suspicious of them and questioned their loyalty; many were attacked; German words were changed (sauerkraut, hamburger, etc)
Critics- pacifists were anti-war; Congress made it illegal to criticize the govt or the war with the Sedition Act (1600 arrested); Is this a violation of the First Amendment?

21. “Nobody Would Eat Kraut”:
· German Americans faced discrimination and their loyalty to the U.S. was questioned.
“Nobody Would Eat Kraut”:
Lola Gamble Clyde speaks about Anti-German Sentiment in Idaho During World War I
Lola Gamble Clyde (audio): There were some boys that got draft deferments for this and other reason, and they rode 'em on a rail and they took off their clothes and tarred and feathered some of them. Some of them as old men dying still resented and remembered those violent episodes. I remember when they smashed out store windows at Uniontown that said Kraut on it. And Kraut on the window. Nobody would eat Kraut. Throw the Kraut out, they were Germans. You know. And all that was pretty vile, you know. I remember even the great Williamson store, he went in and gathered up everything that was made in Germany, and had a big bonfire out in the middle of the street, you know. Although he had many good German friends all over the county that had helped make him rich. And there was all that went on, you know. And some people changed their name. And if it was a German name—we’ll just change our name. We don’t want anything to do with it. And there was lots of that kind of hysteria going on.
"Where he can be kept out of mischief?”

22. Patriotic Murder
"Among the more regrettable and bloody episodes of this kind of wartime hysteria took place in the Midwest when a mob seized a German-American man named Robert Prager.
They stripped him of his clothes, bound him with cloth made from an American flag and lynched him in front of a crowd of some 500 or more people – all of whom cheered the effort on. The perpetrators of the lynching were arrested and brought to trial. A jury acquitted them in 20 minutes saying that what they had done was patriotic murder.
Robert Prager, in fact, was a young man who had tried to enlist in the American navy and was then rejected for medical reasons. He had been known to say publicly political opinions of a socialist sort. He was thought to be (mistakenly, I believe) some kind of a pacifist. And his worst crime was that he was German-American.“ – Prof. David Kennedy, Stanford University

23. · Many Progressives opposed the war. In response, the U. S
· Many Progressives opposed the war. In response, the U.S. made it illegal to criticize the government or to interfere with the war.
- Nearly 1,600 people were arrested for breaking these laws.
- Eugene Debs, Socialist candidate for President, was arrested for protesting the draft.
Eugene V. Debs

24. The Espionage Act of 1917 was passed shortly after the U. S
The Espionage Act of 1917 was passed shortly after the U.S. entered World War I. It made it a crime for a person to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies. It was punishable by a maximum $10,000 fine (almost $170,000 in today's dollars) and 20 years in prison.
Debs in the Atlanta Penitentiary