How did the war 1 start?
1914, Serbs kill Francis Ferdinand(austrian) –> Austria gives serbs a harsh ultimatum (they decline and Austria invades them) –> Germany declares war against Russia for mobilizing and serbs ally–> Germany declares war on France for supporting Russia –> Germany invades Belgium to get to France and take them out first(weaker), then concentrate on Russia–> Britain declares war on Germany
Transition of US stance on the war 1
neutral(but difficult to maintain neutrality), then make it a war for peace/democracy, then victorious world power, then isolated
Lusitania 1
1915 British ship with American travelers bombed by Germans, Wilson sends warning
(had also sunk Sussex, Arabic)
Sussex pledge 1
for the remainder of 1916 Germany would warn ships before bombing them
US eco. before the war 1
business recession
Eco ties with B, F, and G during the war 1
US trade with allies increased (times 4) while trade with Germany decreased to almost 0
Democrat/Republicans opinions on war 1 entry
Republicans support the war(started preparations–> National defense act to increase army, warships. )
US people opinions about war 1 entry
Most anti war(populists, progressives, socialists, suffragists)
Election of 1916
-Roosevelt ends progressive party by joining republicans(rep candidate charles evans hughes);
-Dem Wilson wins with slogan”He kept us out of the war”
- Dem power in S and W > Rep power in E
Wilsons thoughts on war 1 and peace efforts
- sent peace negotiators(failed)
- committed to peace without victory
- enters war because Germany resumed unrestricted warfare
Zimmerman telegram 1
- G offer to help MX regain land lost to US if allied with G in war
- Sparked US interest in war
Causes for war 1
-Zimmerman telegram
-Revolution in Russia(now republic, and not monarchy–> war for democracy “moral diplomacy)
Selective Service Act 1
US prepares to raise an army through the draft
War Industries Board 1
-suspension of Anti-trust laws
-Government buys military supplies
- Factories convert to wartime
Production
How did the US finance the war 1
Liberty bonds, tax increases,
Propaganda 1
- fueled Anti-German hysteria
- ## German language classes canceled
American Protective League 1
- citizens group encouraged - acts as ”agents” prying into activities of people – 100% ”American”
Wilson’s vision of peace post WWI 1
14 points (most important):
-Abolish secret treaties
-Freedom of the seas
-Removal of economic barriers among nations
-Reduction of armaments
-“self determination” for minority groups in a country
-League of Nations
Big Four and Treaty of Versailles 1
-G disarmed and stripped of colonies in Africa/ Asia,
- admit guilt for war
- French occupation of Rhineland for 15 years
- pay huge sums of money ($56 billion) to B and F
- Self-determination given to countries once controlled by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia - Independence granted to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland
New nations of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia created
- League of Nations
Opposition to league of nations
- isolationists refuse to support the League of Nations - anti-German saw the treaty as too lenient
- Liberals saw treaty as harsh, violation of 14 Points
- G and Italians saw treaty as too harsh
Reservationist v irreconcilables v Wilson
- reservationist- willing to make modifications to join league of nations
- irreconcilables- not willing to join at all
- Wilson - not willing to make changes to join
18th Amendment passed in 1919
after war; reinforced by the fact that many alcohol brewers were German
The Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1918)
- government to stop criticism of the war – imprisonment up to 20 years for those who tried to incite rebellion/obstruct the draft
- could not make “disloyal” or “abusive” remarks about the US gov
Schenck v. United States (1919)
The Court upheld the legality of the Espionage Act;
(Free speech limited/taken away when it was a “clear and present danger” to the nation)
