Woodrow Wilsons War Progressivism and The Great War

Woodrow Wilson’s War Progressivism and The Great War

The Great War Begins AKA: The War to End All Wars

Causes of WWI �Militarism �Alliances �Nationalism �Imperialism �Assassination

Militarism �Definition: Having a large standing army who is continually prepared for war. �Effect: Some people felt patriotic… other countries felt nervous and boosted their own armies

Alliances � Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy � Triple Entente: (on-tahnt) France, Great Britain, Russia

Nationalism Definition: the belief that people should be loyal mainly to their nation (the people they share a culture and a history with), rather than a king or an empire. Nationalism v. patriotism Caused intense competition between countries and nations

The Balkan Powder Keg The Balkans are an area of Southeastern Europe Home to a variety of ethnic groups, primarily Slavs wanted their own country to celebrate their ethnicity

Imperialism Countries bitter after age of imperialism – many had lost territories to other countries in minor wars and battles Competition = mistrust Conquered nations hoped that if their side won the war, they would be rewarded with independence.

Assassination! Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand June 28, 1914 – The archduke and his wife are murdered during a parade in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a member of the Black Hand: a secret society of Slavs committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule

The Match Up! Central Powers Allied Powers Germany Great Britain Austria Hungary France Ottoman Empire Russia Italy United States Japan

The Schlieffen Plan 1. Attack and defeat France Seen as the more formidable opponent 2. Attack and defeat Russia Military was nowhere near ready for modern warfare, and would be easy to defeat Avoids a two-front war

Fighting the Great War Failure of traditional fighting strategies quickly resulted in trench warfare Positives: Built-in protection Negatives: High loss of life with little forward movement Quickly resulted in stalemate for the first three years of war.

Bell Ringer 12/5 (Left) What situations justify going to war? Respond in 2 -3 sentences

America’s Entrance into the Great War Sending in fresh athletes in the fourth quarter

American Involvement in WWI Adding on from last year, there a few new reasons why America will join the Great War: ANIMAL A – Alliances and friendships with certain countries urges American involvement N – Nationalism Some Americans identify with the idea of throwing off colonial ties I – Imperialism The U. S. sought to gain more international influence M – Militarism We were already prepared for war after fighting Spain and dealing with Mexico A – Anarchy We were afraid of the spread of un-democratic ideas, like anarchy, socialism, and communism L – Leadership

America Declares “Neutrality” President Wilson declares neutrality the same day Europe goes to war. Wilson’s cabinet and military leaders all supported the Allied cause. Most Americans quickly chose sides Germans and Irish supported the Central

Business Links The country’s official neutrality allowed American businesses to trade with both sides Business interests heavily leaned toward the Allies. US banks heavily loaned money to the Allies over $2 billion As a result we needed the Allies to win, so we would be repaid

� Germany announced it would employ “unrestricted submarine warfare” on all ships in the waters around Britain. � The British passage liner, Lusitania, was torpedoed and sunk by German Uboats; 128 Americans were killed. � Americans edged towards war with Germany. � America issued the Sussex Ultimatum – Germany was to cease its attacks on ships without warning. � Germany agreed, then promptly reneged, since that would negate the purpose of Sinking of the Lusitania

The Election of 1916 Wilson runs for reelection against Charles Evans Hughes on the slogan “He kept us out of war. ” America’s neutrality was slipping away, but the slogan was enticing.

Sent January 1917 by the German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German ambassador in Mexico Proposed a German. Mexican alliance against the U. S. if they joined the war Mexico would be given back New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas – lands taken from them by the U. S. Figured Mexico could keep America busy while Germany focused on Britain, considering the bad relationship that already existed Zimmerman Telegram Oh no, you DIN’T!

America Declares War “The world must be made safe for democracy… [The United States has] no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion… We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind… It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But… we shall fight for the [idea] which we have always carried nearest in our hearts – for democracy. ” Woodrow Wilson’s War Speech in Congress April 2, 1917 � When Wilson finished his speech, Congress rose to its feet in thunderous applause. Wilson later told his secretary, “My

America Declares War Not everyone supported the declaration of war. Six senators and 50 representatives voted against the war. Many cited Washington’s Farewell Address as their justification. Jeannette Rankin: The first U. S. Congresswoman; voted against BOTH

Selling the War Britain began selling Americans on the idea of war long before its actual involvement. Britain cut the transatlantic telegraph cable from Europe to the U. S. , limiting war news to mainly British reports. Used propaganda posters to influence opinion Leaked stories depicting numerous German war atrocities, e. g. Germans used

Committee on Public Information � The Committee on Public Information was created to sell the war; headed by George Creel. � Sent 75000 “four-minute men” to give patriotic speeches � Created propaganda posters encouraging people to join, support, or finance the war � Leaflets and pamphlets told the ideals of the war � Created movie shorts and propagnada films (often starring Charlie Chaplin) � Patriotic songs were promoted

WWI Propaganda Poster (Left) On a left hand side of your notebook, create your own American Propaganda poster in support of America (or the Allies) during WWI. It should take up the entire space and be in color.

“Over There” Johnnie get your gun, Take it on the run, Hear them calling you and me; Every son of Liberty Hurry right away, no delay, go today, Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad Tell your sweetheart not to pine, To be proud her boy's in line. Chorus: Over There, Over There Send the word, send the word, Over There That 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 be back till it's over there! Johnnie get your gun, Johnnie show the Hun, you're a Son-of-a-Gun, Hoist the flag and let her fly Like true heros do or die Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit, Soldiers to the ranks from the towns and the tanks, Make your Mother proud of you and to Liberty be true.

War on the Home Front

The Draft � U. S. needed massive military force � June 5, 1917 – Draft implemented for men 1845 � No longer allowed to purchase an exemption � 24 million men registered; 6, 400, 000 actually called into service � Were supposed to get six months training – were lucky to get six weeks. � Women served as nurses, and blacks served in segregated units, mostly New York City men wait to register for the draft

Anti-German Sentiment German-Americans were largely loyal to the United States, but were branded as spies and saboteurs. German names were re -branded to more “patriotic” names.

War Industries Board and National War Labor Board War Industries Board: created to coordinate production of materials for the war effort National War Labor Board: created to settle any worker disputes and keep people on the job Businesses were encouraged to keep wages high and hours long The AFL supported the war as a patriotic effort that would benefit workers in the long run. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) did not, gaining the nickname “I Won’t Work”

Food and Fuel Administrations Food Administration: Headed by Herbert Hoover, it relied on volunteer efforts to conserve food for the soldiers; was wildly popular Meatless Mondays, Wheatless Wednesdays, etc. Encouraged citizens to plant victory gardens to relieve food for the war effort

Food and Fuel Administration: Not nearly as popular; Lightless Nights, Heatless Tuesdays Instituted Daylight Saving Time to help conserve energy and

America on the Move The Great Migration – Millions of minorities moved to Northern industrial cities to fill jobs left by men who left for war. Vastly changed city demographics Influx of Mexican immigrants into Southwest

Epidemic!: The Spanish Flu The Spanish flu began in France, hit Great Britain, and then quickly spread around Europe and the United States. The influenza epidemic killed soldiers and civilians alike.

Epidemic!: The Spanish Flu In India, 12 million people died of the disease. In Berlin, 1, 500 died on a single day. Overall, the flu killed at least 20 million people worldwide… DOUBLE the number of soldiers killed in WWI.

Espionage and Sedition Acts Espionage Act: sought Sedition Act: sought to to prosecute “spies” prosecute anyone engaging in “seditious” 1, 900 prosecutions activity followed, including Eugene V. Debs, the Essentially negated the Socialist leader first amendment Trading With the Enemy Act: sought to prosecute those who traded with the Central Powers during wartime Also imprisoned those who communicated with the

Protecting Liberties? ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union Created to protect the basic rights of Americans; used legal system to protect citizens and release the unrightfully imprisoned Schenck v. United States: the Supreme Court invented the famous "clear and present danger" test to determine when a state could limit an individual's right to free sspeech

America Saves the Day! Hi, I’m America. I’m here to kick butt and chew bubble gum… and it looks like I’m all out of bubble gum. America enters the war on April 6, 1917. American soldiers were patriotic, enthusiastic, fearless, and not war weary like their European allies The War ends 19 months

11, 11 The war officially ended on the 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th Month of the year 1918 Nov. 11, 1918 @ 11 am The anniversary of the end of the war became known as Armistice Day; now

Ending the War: The Armistice November 11, 1918 Temporary agreement to stop fighting Peace negotiations and treaty followed

Central Powers Germany -1. 9 million Austria Hungary - 1. 2 million Ottoman Empire - 19% Allied Powers Great Britain - 900 thousand France - 1. 3 million Russia - 1. 7 million Italy - 600 thousand

Wilson’s Plan for Peace

A Plan for Peace: Wilson’s Fourteen Points Outlined a plan for creating a “just and lasting peace” Points 1 -4: Ending secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade, and reducing national armies and navies Point 5: Adjustment of colonial claims with fairness toward colonial peoples Point 6 -13: Specific suggestions for changing borders and creating new nations Point 14: Proposed a “general association of nations” that would protect “great and small states alike”

League of Nations The League’s member nations would help preserve peace and prevent future wars by pledging to respect and protect each other’s territory and political independence. Talk it ou t inste of fig ad hting i t out

End of WWI Treaty of Versailles ends WWI. Germany is blamed for everything. World enters depression soon after.