1. WORLD WAR I Unit VD AP United States History

2. Fundamental Question  To what extent was the American public supportive of increased foreign involvement?

3. Great War in Europe (1914-1919)  Archduke and wife of Austria-Hungary assassinated by Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914  Alliances and ultimatums dragged Europe into a destructive conflict

4. American Neutrality and Opinion  Wilson proclaims neutrality on August 4, 1914  Economic prosperity key to American progress and continue trade with both sides  American ships seized by British and sunk by Germans violating freedom of the seas  American loans toward Allies  American public and American and British press favored Allies while depicting Central Powers as brutal aggressors  Ethnic opinions based on nation’s allegiance  Populists, Progressives, William Jennings Bryan, Socialists, Midwest, West, women, Jane Addams opposed becoming more involved in war

5. Toward American Involvement  German U-Boats  Lusitania sunk on May 7, 1915 killing 128 Americans  Sussex in March 1916  Wilson threatened sanctions and Germany promised to abide by freedom of the seas  National Security League  Preparedness by developing and increasing military during 1915-1917  Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany  Russian Revolution  Zimmermann Telegram  German request for Mexico alliance in return for lost land by U.S.  Wilson requested declaration of war by Congress against Germany  Given on April 6, 1917 by near unanimous vote

6. American Home Front  War agencies  War Industries Board – prioritized production, limited use of resources, set prices  Food Administration – rationing of food  National War Labor Board – union concessions, no strikes  Liberty Bonds  Americans purchase government bonds to finance war  Committee on Public Information  Provide a pro-Allies perspective in the newspapers, arts, literature, theaters, music  American Protective League  Prejudice-based propaganda, especially against Germans  Espionage Act of 1917  Prohibit interference in military and obstruct the draft  Schenck v. United States upheld; “clear and present danger”  Sedition Act of 1918  Prohibit criticism of U.S. government  Selective Service Act of 1917  American Society Effects  Women  Filled in jobs as men fought war  Blacks  Segregated as troops  Job opportunities  Mexicans  Job opportunities

7. American Propaganda

8. American War Front  American Expeditionary Force (AEF)  Inspired to preserve democracy and defend American honor  Reality of trench warfare and war of attrition  Naval convoys escort merchant ships to supply Allies  Spring Offensive (1918)  German offensive in Western theater  Hundred Days Offensive (1918)  Allied counteroffensive; leads to end of the fighting  Armistice (11/11/1918)  German capitulation  117,000 American casualties, most due to influenza  Over 16 million total dead  1 million British, 1.6 million French, 3.3. million Russian, 2.4 million German, 2.9 million Ottoman, 1.5 Austrian-Hungarian  650,000 Americans die due to Spanish Flu/Influenza outbreak across the world

9. Wilson and Peace  “Peace without victory” and Fourteen Points  Self-determination and League of Nations  Treaty of Versailles  German guilt, reparations  League of Nations  Treaty Ratification in U.S.  Republican majority in Congress – 2/3 majority needed for ratification  Henry Cabot Lodge and Republicans  Irreconcilables and Reservationists  Never ratified; separate peace couple of years later

10. America After the War  Economic turmoil  Recession hit in 1919 and more severely in 1920-1921  Overproduction, increased labor force, adjustment from war production to peace production, labor strife/unions, Fed and interest rates  First Red Scare  Fueled by Russian Revolution and labor strikes  Targets included socialists, communists, anarchists, Wobblies  1919 Bombings  Newspapers and government spearheaded raids and deportations, but public soon detested actions as violations of civil liberties  Strikes  Led to anti-union sentiment as national security and welfare threatened by strikes  Race riots  Increased competition led to increased racism in Northern cities and South