AMERICA & WORLD WAR I

Wilson, Mexico & US Foreign Policy• Woodrow Wilson

• Southern Democrat• History professor & intellectual• Mind for grand ideas- role of US in postwar world• Believed American economic expansion + democratic principles

= civilizing force in the world• Emphasized foreign investments and industrial exports• Open Door principles of John Hay

– Strong diplomatic and military measure to achieve economic supremacy

• 1913 Wilson became president• Continued progressive activism of TR

• Greater federal role in economic and business regulation• 16th Amendment- Federal income tax• Federal Reserve Act- created 12 reserve banks regulated by

Washington• Clayton Antitrust Act- recognition of union legality, check big

businesses• Federal Trade Commission- regulatory control of corporations

Wilson’s problems in Mexico

• 1911 Revolution in Mexico overthrows corrupt dictator (Porfirio Díaz)

• Francisco Madero- new democratic government in Mexico promised land reform (this made U.S. with $11 billion invested very nervous)

• Madero murdered by his own chief lieutenant, Victoriano Huerta

• Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s gov. because he was unlawful (viewed him as murderer)

• Wilson used a minor insult to attack & occupy Veracruz attempting to oust Huerta

• Carranza, leader of opposition to Huerta, ousts Huerta (w/ US arms), then denounces Wilson

• Poncho Villa, former ally turned enemy of Carranza & U.S., tries to draw U.S. into war – raids and kills Americans

• Villa evades 1,500 US troops for over a year• Wilson’s involvement leads to Mexican distrust of US• Wilson didn’t go to war with Mexico because he didn’t want to

weaken US position with Germany• Wilson believed capitalist development, democracy and free

trade were wave of future• Wilson believed in Moral Values WWI

The Great War Europe:• Triple Alliance (aka The Central Powers)

– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy• Triple Entente (aka The Allies)

– Great Britain, France, Russia• Competition of Great Britain and Germany

– GB: long-standing dominant power– Germany: aspirations of empire

• Alliances kept countries from going to war over small conflicts from 19th-20th century

• Inclusiveness was its weakness– Could draw others into war that did

erupt• 1914 archduke of Austro-Hungary

assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist– He thought Bosnia should be annexed

by Serbia• Germany backed retaliation by Austro-

Hungary• Serbia asked for Russian help• War declared by both sides• Stalemate in northern France• New weapons: machine guns, tanks, trench

warfare = 5 million killed in 2.5 years

Run-up to War

Wilson urged Americans to be “impartial in thought and action” Germany declares waters around British Isle a war zone May 7, 1915 German U-boat sinks Lusitania killing 1200, 128 Americans Americans demand strong stance against Germany but don’t want war March 1916 German U-boat torpedoes French Sussex injuring 4 Americans Wilson threatens to cut off diplomatic relations w/ Germany June 1916 National Defense Act doubles the size of US army and increases

spending of new battleships, cruisers and destroyers Anti-war feelings still very strong in US Wilson wins 2nd term w/ “He kept us out of war” campaign 1916 Germany declares unlimited submarine warfare gambling to destroy Allies

before America can arrive March 1, 1917 Zimmerman Note intercepted

Germany encouraging Mexico to take back New Mexico, Texas and Arizona

US merchant ships are armed and allowed to shoot Germans sink 7 US merchant ships killing many April 2, 1917 Wilson asks congress for war

Wilson’s case based on America’s special mission as mankind’s most enlightened and advanced nation to make the world safe for democracy

Selling the War Committee on Public Information – CPI agency for war

promotion led by George Creel Enlisted 150,000 people to work on CPI committees Produced more than 100 million pieces of literature-

pamphlets, articles, books- explaining causes and meaning of war

Created posters, slides, newspaper ads and films Used movie stars to help sell war bonds 75,000 “Four Minute Men” gave patriotic speeches before

stage and movie shows Aggressively negative campaign against Germans

Huns = bestial monsters/ uncivilized German music, language and books banned

War Propaganda

The Draft Lack of volunteers for service Selective Service Act- registration of all men

ages 21-35 Different from Civil War draft- couldn’t buy your

way out of service by paying for a substitute June 5, 1917 10 million register Aug. 1918 extended age limits to 18-45 Illiteracy rates among troops as high as 25% Low test scores of immigrants and African

Americans reflect biases of tests

African Americans in the Military Organized in segregated units Barred from Marines and Coast Guard Worked as cooks, laundrymen, stevedores Endured humiliating and violent treatment form southern white

officers Faced hostility from white civilians 200,000 served in France 1 in 5 saw combat compared to 1 in 3 white soldiers Black combat units served with distinction in some French

divisions The all black 369th US infantry served in trenches for 191 days,

longest of any American regiment French government awarded entire regiment the Croix de Guerre Enjoyed better treatment in military and by civilians in France than

in US

America’s Effect on the War AEF- American Expeditionary Forces = US troops Led by General John J. Pershing, independent of

European command 70,000 AEF soldiers arrived in early 1918, helped the

French stop the Germans from reaching Paris in June 1918

AEF troop numbers grew to 1 million by Sept. September 1918 AEF troops took over southern part of a

200 mile front in the Meuse-Argonne offensive German surrender

November 11, 1918 war ends Massive influx of American troops hastened the end of

the war by ending the stalemate 52,000+ Americans died in battle, 60,000 died from

influenza and pneumonia

WWI Part 2:Domestic Effects of the War

The Economy Economic boom began with exports to allies (between

1914-1916) War = government-business cooperation (organization,

regulation, subsidization) War Industries Board (WIB)- mobilized national industry to

support war effortLed by Wall Street speculator Bernard M. BaruchRegulation of production & pricesMaximization of productivity & efficiency= BIG government “voluntary cooperation” enforced w/ threats of military takeover

(Ford, US Steel Government saved $$, gained control of production, got

what it needed for the war Businesses expanded, saw high profits

The Economy (continued) 1917 Food and Fuel Act-

Gave President authority to regulate commodities (food & fuel) needed for the war effort

Hoover, millionaire engineer, leads FA (Food Admin)Uses price controls on agricultural commodities (pork,

sugar, wheat) to regulate consumptionGov. buys products, distributes to licensed dealers

who sell to public at high pricesUrged conservation ie. limit consumption, grow your

own veggies, reuse/recycle

Cost of War $33 billion dollars Paid for with increased

income & profit taxes Min. income for taxation

$1000 Highest brackets rates up

to 70% Liberty Bonds- $23

billion government borrowed

money from American public Federal debt jumps from

$1billion to $20 billion

Labor & Labor Unions Economic expansion + army mobilization + decline in

immigration = labor shortage Despite overcrowding & inflation workers enjoy higher

wages and standard of living AFL pledged support for the war, saw sharp rise in

membership (1mil) & increased influence, power National War Labor Board- led by Samuel Gompers-

avoid strikes & interruptions in production NWLB: ensured right to organize, higher wages,

less hours, over-time pay, equal pay for women

IWW- denounced “capitalist war,” attacked by gov. agents-> Espionage Act

Women & The War 8 million women already working gained higher

pay and access to new jobs Another million joined workforce Manufacturing jobs, munitions plants, train

engineers, drill press operators, etc. Women in Industry Service (WIS)- created

standards, not legally enforced ½ pay of men on average End of war = end of women in “men’s”

positions

The Great Migration Mass movement of African Americans from rural

south to urban north Labor shortage = job opportunities & higher wages 1914-1920, 300,000-500,000 migrated north Single women often found best opportunities Men worked on railroads, meatpacking plants,

shipyards, steel mills…..lower paying jobs, unskilled Violence and rioting against blacks in Northern cities NAACP membership grows to 60,000- provide legal

defense, influence legislation

Suppressing the Antiwar Movement Espionage Act (1917)

Replaced previous, expired law addressing seditious expressionUsed to crush dissent and criticismSevere penalties, up to 20yrs prison, $10,000 fineAiding the enemy, obstruction recruitment, causing insubordination in

the armed forcesAllowed postmaster gen. to censor mailPolice & surveillance machinery increaseLeads to creation of Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Sedition Act (1918)Amendment to Espionage ActOutlawed “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language

intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the government, Constitution, or flag (Freedom of Speech??)

Used to strike out against socialists, pacifists, labor radicalsEugene Debs (4 times presidential candidate) imprisoned for 2.5 yrs,

defending antiwar protestors

Women & The Vote Before WWI:

State battle rather than nationLed by western states (UT & WY 1st) In east suffrage linked to prohibition

During WWI:National campaign for constitutional amendmentLinked to patriotism2 opposing tactics:

○ NAWSA- more conservative, linked vote to war effort, moderate lobbying & orderly demonstrations

○ NWP- more aggressive, picketed White House, condemned the Pres. & Congress, dramatic demonstrations

19th Amendment: “war measure” passed Aug. 1920 after 2 years gaining states for ratification

Part III:Post-WWI

Labor and Unions After the War Wartime wage gains wiped out by inflation, high prices for food,

fuel, housing Government ended controls on industry, employers withdrew union

recognition 4 million Americans workers involved in 3,600 strikes in 1919 alone

(most ever) Strikes stir fear, question social order Seattle General Strike: 60,000 workers, city shut down for 3 days ->

federal troops occupy the city Boston Police Strike: National Guard called in, entire force fired Steel Strike: 350,00 workers, 4 months, state & federal troops used

to break it Public opinion turns against organized labor, propaganda calls

strikers revolutionaries Russian Revolution… fear it could happen here, Red Scare

Wilson’s Post-War Ambitions Fourteen Points & Versailles Treaty

Postwar European boundaries, division of empires

Principles for governing international conduct○ Freedom of the seas○ Free trade○ Open covenants instead of secret treaties○ Reduce armaments○ Mediation for competing colonial claims

League of Nations (14th point) Based in Geneva, Switzerland (neutral)Implement 1st 13 pointsCollective security to keep world peace

Downfalls:Allies resist the call for independence of colonies &

carve up former German and Ottoman empiresNo military to enforce peaceSimilar to previous alliances?US, German, Russia don’t join

Germany & the Treaty:Germans need to be made to hate warTerritories divided (WWII- trying to get it back)Wilson disagrees with Britain and France over

reparations ($33 billion)German resentment & rise of Nazis

Defeat of the League in US Party politics (Democratic President v

Republican controlled Congress)Oppose collective security & restraints on F.P.

(isolationism) Proposal of weakened version in Senate failsWilson’s refusal to compromiseEntire point for going to war wasted in Wilson’s

eyes US doesn’t sign Versailles Treaty or join

League of Nations

Ultimate Effects of WWI 112,000 Americans died (battle & illness),

200,000+ wounded 9 million Russians died 6 million Germans died 5 million French died 2 million British died 2 million Italians died Same nations fight again 20 years later Major European economies stifled US becomes dominant world economic power