The War to End All War
1917-1918
“The World must be made safe for
democracy. Its peace must be planted
upon the tested foundations of political
liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for sacrifices
we shall freely make”.
Woodrow Wilson, War Message, April 2,
1917
Germany moves America to War
Jan. 22, 1917- Wilson reaffirmed US neutrality rights &
declared a negotiated “peace without victory” would
work.
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Jan. 31, 1917- Germany announced that they would
resume “unrestricted” sub warfare- sinking all ships in
the war zone.
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Wilson broke all diplomatic relations with Germanyrefused to go to war unless Germany took “overt” acts
against the US
Why would Germany insist on unrestricted sub warfare?
1.
Germany had been fighting to a bloody stalemate for 3
long years2.
Hoped to make Britain submit before the US could
intervene
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Germany Provokes War
Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm US merchant ships
Mid-West Senators (“little group of willful men”) filibustered=
demonstrated US isolationist tendencies.
•**The Zimmermann Note (Telegram)- March 1, 1917-
German foreign secretary (Arthur Zimmermann) secretly proposed
a German-Mexican Alliance & hinted that if Mexico allied with
Germany it could recover Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona.
• the note was “intercepted” & published in US PAPERS= angered
US citizens.
• Oct 1917- communist Bolsheviks held a revolution & overthrew
the tsars – Russia will pull out of the war
•Early March 1917- German U-Boats sank 4 unarmed US merchant
ships
• April 2, 1917- Wilson asked Congress for war declaration
• 6 Senators & 50 representative (including the 1st woman in
Congress -Jeanette Rankin) voted against going to war.
Vladimir Lenin
Czar Nicholas
Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Family would
be overthrown by Lenin who eventually would
start the first Communistic state……
CAUSES
•Food and fuel shortages
•Striking workers
•Terrible loses in WWI
•Czar was a weak ruler
•Marxist (communist)
propaganda spread by Lenin
EFFECTS
•Czar overthrown
•Russia pulls out of the war
(Treaty of Brest-Litovsk)
•Russia becomes a
communistic country
•Germany sends
Zimmerman Note to Mexico
battle fronts
The Yanks
Are Coming!
congress actions
pershing
General John J. Pershing, commanding general of the
AEF. Referred to as the Doughboys and Yanks. 2
million in France by Sept. 1918
Americans in the Trenches
Was America dragged into the war by
War industries & Moneyed Interests?
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Weapons merchants & US banks were thriving
before we entered the war
POST WWI, a Congressional investigation (The Nye
Committee) will determine otherwise
Wilson showed reluctance in entering such a warbroke with American tradition of avoiding European
wars
Wilson’s goal- “make the world safe for
democracy”
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
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5.
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Wilson became the moral leader of the Allied cause
Jan. 8, 1918- delivered his *Fourteen Point Plan to Congress
Purpose- keep Russia out of the war; also inspired the Allies, &
demoralized the enemies.
Abolish secret treaties
Freedom of the seas (appealed the Germans & US)
Removal of barriers to trade (tariffs etc.)
Reduction of militarization (pleased all)
Adjust colonial claims- in the interest of colonizers & those people
who were colonized
Helped destabilize old empires= national independence for millions
Independence for oppressed minorities (self-determination)
14th Point--- called for an international body for collective security
(LATER CALLED the League of Nations)
Groups not applauding Wilson’s plan- Allied leaders & Republicans
The World was hopeful
America “Sells” the War
Committee on Public Information- headed by George
Creel; purpose- sell the war to the American people.
 GOAL: PUSH Wilson’s war aims to the world using
Propaganda
 Employed 150,000 at home & overseas
 Tactics: “Four minute men” (75,000) delivered
propaganda speeches at movie houses etc.
 Posters, leaflets, pamphlets, movies “The Kaiser, the
Beast of Berlin” & “To Hell with the Kaiser”
 Music of George M. Cohan “Over There”- patriotic
* Creel over sold Wilson’s ideals-the world expected
too much
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Committee on Public Information
presidents
actions
Enforcing Loyalty & Stifling
Dissent
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German-American = 8 million out of 100 million; one
parent was foreign-born
Most were loyal to the US
Americans targeted German-Americans during the war (tar
& feathered, beaten)
German books were banned, German-composed music
banned, German classes canceled
*The Espionage Act & Sedition Acts 1917-1918-made
it possible to arrest anyone suspected of espionage &
outlawed anyone speech that seemed treasonous.
1,900 convictions ( targeted anti-war Socialists & radical
union members)
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) “Wobblies”; leader
William “Big Bill” Haywood arrested with 99 associates.
Eugene V. Debs- sentenced to 10 years; pardoned 1921
*Schenck v. United States 1919
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Charles Schenck- Secretary for the Socialist Party issued
pamphlets to men of draft age urging resistance to the
draft. He was arrested under the Sedition Act.
Supreme Court affirmed the legality of laws passed by
arguing that freedom of speech could be curbed when it
posed “ a clear and present danger” to the nation.
i.e. “ yelling fire in a crowded theater”
Voluntary Methods: Factories &
War
There was very little preparation before the war.
1.
1915- Council of National Defense created- to study
problems of economic war mobilization.
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No one knew how much steel or powder the country could
produce
1.
Shipbuilding program- of little military consequence
2.
Beefing up the army with 100,000 regulars (ranked 15th in
the world)
Obstacles:
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States-rights Democrats
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Business people
*The War Industries Board- 1918
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Led by Bernard Baruch
US agency: coordinated production of war materials in the US;
increased war production by 20%.
Set production quotas, allocated raw materials, mitigated labor disputes
Disabled within days of the armistice (cease fire) January 1919
Labor & the War Effort
AFL- led by Samuel Gompers supported the war- “Labor will
win the war”
1.Work or Fight Law (1918)- any unemployed man could be
immediately drafted- kept labor strikes to a min.
2.The National War Labor Relations Board- led by Taft;
mediated labor disputes to prevent strikes= higher wages & 8
hour days.
**The IWW-union whose workers worked in worst conditions
for lowest pay protested the war and became targets of the
government.
Labor’s Reward:
1.Membership in AFL more than doubled (3 million)
2.Real wages (after adjusting for inflation) rose 20%
•Recognition
of unions had not occurred yet
•Wartime inflation was cutting into wage gains (prices doubled)
Labor and the War
Patriotism could not stop all strikes during the war.

6,000 strikes 1914-1920 (including the largest in US
history)
**1919 Steel Strike- largest; 250,000 Pittsburgh steel
workers & involved government clashes with workers.
Steel company refused to negotiate- brought in AA strike
breakers.
* A dozen workers dead.
* Steel strike collapsed= set labor back a decade
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*The Great Migration
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Beginning 1915- millions of African-Americans
fled the South & moved north to take jobs in war
factories.
Effects: changes the make up of cities like
Chicago, lead to racial unrest
Riot- East St. Louis, Missouri (July 1917)- 9
whites; 40 blacks dead.
Chicago Riots- African-Americans moved to
Chicago; used as strike breakers & moved into
working class white neighborhoods= racial unrest
.
July 1919- 2 week race riot= 15 whites & 23
blacks dead.
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Chicago Race Riots 1919
Women Suffrage & The War
Women flooded into factories & fields during the war.
 The war split the women’s movement deeply
 Progressive era militant feminist opposed the war= Alice
Paul organized the National Woman’s Party &
demonstrated against the war with marches & hunger
strikes “Kaiser Wilson” marches
 The National American Woman Suffrage Association
(NAWSA) – led by Carrie Chapman Catt held most
members- supported the war.
 If women support the war-they can help shape the peace
 Wilson noticed women’s support as vital & finally endorsed
suffrage (NY, Michigan, Oklahoma, SD gave suffrage)
 19th Amendment (1920) gave all women the right to vote.
 Most women workers gave up war jobs-after the war
Post War Life for Women:
•Department of Labor created the Women’s Bureau to protect women in the
workplace.
•Most women gave up their jobs in war factories after the war.
•Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act (1921): federally funded instruction in matern
and infant care.
The War Economy
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1.
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Voluntary Programs- successful= food production
increased by 25%, food exports to Allies increased times
3.
US issued no ration cards (done in Europe)
The Food Administration- led by Herbert Hoover;
urged food conservation.
Used propaganda pamphlets & programs
“wheatless Wednesdays” , “meatless Tuesdays”
“victory gardens”Congress restricted foodstuffs that would be used to
manufacture alcohol= only helped the wave of prohibition
in the country.
1919- 18th Amendment- prohibited all alcoholic drinks.
U. S. Food Administration
U. S. School Garden Army
National War Garden Commission
The War Economy
2. The Fuel Administration- called on
Americans to save energy; “heatless
Mondays”, “lightless nights”
 Standard Time Act (1918)- set daylight
savings time to conserve fuel for the first
time nationally; ended nationally at the end
of WWI.
U. S. Fuel Administration
3.Financing the
war:
•Dept. Of Treasury
•Sale of war bonds.
•Liberty and victory
loans raised $21
billion.
•Raised income taxes
($112 Billion)
congress actions
Government Forced Actions of the War
1917- US government took control of the nation’s
Railroads.
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Seized enemy merchant ships in US ports
2. Draft/Conscription Act- registration of all males aged
18-45 (exempted key industrial workers only)
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Army grew from 100,000 to 4 million
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337,000 “slackers” escaped draft; 4,000 conscientious
objectors
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Women admitted into armed forces for 1st time= 11,000
in the navy, 269 in Marines
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African-Americans served in segregated units led by
white officers; not allowed to fight early on
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US troops (‘doughboys”) supposed to get 6 months
training in US & 2 overseas=most did not.
1.
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Results of This New Organization
of the Economy
Is it a move towards socialism?
1.
2.
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6.
Unemployment virtually disappeared.
Expansion of “big government.”
Excessive govt. regulations in eco.
Some gross mismanagement -->
overlapping jurisdictions.
Close cooperation between public
and private sectors.
Unprecedented opportunities for
disadvantaged groups.
Fighting in France
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1918- Russia pulled troops out of the war (due to
Bolshevik Revolution & Treaty of Brest-Litovsk).
Germany pulled troops from the eastern front to the
western front in France.
Hoped to knock Britain off in 6 months before the US
could get troops over (took US 1 year to get troops over)
Allies had trouble shipping as well
American troops fought in France, Belgium, Italy, &
Russia
5,000 US troops to northern Russia (Archangel), 10,000
US troops to Siberia & 70,000 Japanese soldiers=
prevent Japan from getting control of Siberia, rescue
45,000 Czech troops, take military supplies from
Bolsheviks
* Bolsheviks resented American intrusion
America Helps Fight the Hun
Spring 1918- Germany launched attack on the Western
Front (500,000 troops)
 Supreme Allied Commander- Ferdinand Foch
 May 1918- the German army was within 40 miles of Paris
 US troops (less than 30,000) newly arrived- helped stop an
advance at Chateau-Thierry (1st significant engagement
of US troops on foreign soil)
 July 1918- the German advance had ground to a halt
Second Battle of the Marne- Foch launched a
counteroffensive (begins German withdrawal).
 Sept. 1918- 9 US divisions joined 4 French divisions to push
the Germans back at St. Mihiel
 Gen. John Pershing- assigned a 85 mile area to Swiss
border- Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Sept. 26-Nov. 11,
1918 (47 days battle; 1.2 million US troops)
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•German offensive in
the summer of 1918
battle fronts
to capture
Paris,
France and win the
war.
•With the help of the
U.S., the French and
British were able to
stop the German
advance.
•Germans surrender
and sign an armistice
on Nov. 11, 1918 to
end the war.
troop buildup
American Heroes
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Alvin York- former conscientious objector;
captured 132 Germans & killed 20 at
Meuse-Argonne Forest battle.
Eddie Rickenbacker- American flying Ace;
26 verified kills.
Germany Surrenders
Oct. 1918- negotiated with Wilson to arrange an
armistice (cease-fire) based on his 14 Point Plan.
 US demands- Kaiser must be deposed (died in
Holland 23 years later)
 Armistice signed November 11, 1918 (today
celebrated as Veteran’s Day)
US Contributions:
 Food, munitions, oil, credit, manpower
 Prospect of endless US troops boosted morale of
Allies
 US not the main supplier like WWII.
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Peace
What form would it take (idealized peace-14 Points) or a
return to colonialism?
 Wilson seen as the moral leader of the world (Moral
Diplomacy)
Wilson Stumbled at Home:
 Wilson campaigned for Democrats in the congressional
elections of 1918= voters gave Republicans a majority in
Congress.
 Wilson goes to Europe personally (seen by Republicans as
grandstanding- 1st president to travel to Europe)
 Wilson did not include a single Senate Republican in the
European peace trip (snubbed Henry Cabot Lodge
Republican Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee)
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big4
•When President Wilson went
to Paris, France, he was
welcomed like he was a God.
•Countries were convinced that
his 14 points could “end all
war”.
•But, the hatred of the Allied
nations led to the Treaty of
Versailles to be a “Treaty of
Revenge” against Germany.
The Versailles Treaty
“The Big Four” met in France to negotiate a peace.
 Vittorrio Orlando – Italy
 Georges Clemenceau – France
 David Lloyd George- Britain
 Woodrow Wilson- US
 Germany not allowed to participate
• Starting point- 14 Points Plan & “peace without
victory” was the starting point
• 14th Point –League of Nations (created by treaty Feb.
1919- without US joining)
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Wilson Forced to Compromise
•Although Wilson claimed that he was not interested in the
spoils, or rewards, of war, his Allied colleagues were interested
in making the Central Powers pay for war damages.
•Wilson was forced to compromise on his 14 Points so he
could negotiate for the League of Nations.
David Lloyd George Vitorio Orlando
Great Britain
Italy
George Clemeneau Woodrow Wilson
France
U.S.
One of Wilson’s ideas, the formation of a League of Nations.
The League of Nations was designed to bring the nations of the world
together to ensure peace and security.
Collective Security of larger nations to keep world peace.
Outcome of the Versailles
Treaty
Resorted to prewar colonialism- victors could claim
conquered territories (“protectorates”) as
“trustees” of the League of Nations.
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* Syria went to France
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* Iraq went to Britain
2.
New European map
3.
Germany forced to pay huge “Indemnity”
payments for starting the war; lost colonies, had
to admit guilt for the war
* Treaty was not an idealistic success- only 4 of 23
Wilson ideas adopted.
1.
New Countries
Czechoslovakia
Austria
Hungary
Yugoslavia
Poland
Lithuania
Finland
Latvia
Estonia
Turkey
Iraq
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•Wilson believed he could
“end all war” with his 14
points for world peace.
•But, Allied countries had their
own self-interest and agendas
in mind.
•Wilson had to compromise
most of his 14 points to get his
“league of nations”
•Wilson warned Allies not to be to harsh on Germany
because it could lead to future problems.
Ratifying the Treaty at Home
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US Senate must approve the treaty for the US to
participate (65 votes)
*Irreconcilables (the Battalion of Death)-led by
Republican Henry Cabot Lodge & core group of
isolationists.
William Borah- Idaho
Hiram Johnson- California
Mainly concerned about Article X of the LeagueUS morally bound to aid any member of the League
of Nations
Congress wanted to reserve its war powers, avoid
foreign entanglements
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ARTICLE 10
The Members of the League undertake to respect and
preserve as against external aggression the territorial
integrity and existing political independence of all Members
of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of
any threat or danger of such aggression, the Council shall
advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be
fulfilled.
Problems Senator Lodge Had With LON
•Power of Congress to declare war
•Get US involved in a war with no self-interest
•How would it effect the Monroe Doctrine Policy?
•Will the LON guarantee a just and lasting peace?
•Goes against our policy of no “foreign alliances”
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Wilson Promoted the Treaty in the
US
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Wilson returned to the US July 1919- to promote
the Treaty & League
Cabot Lodge hoped to “Americanize” it-used
delay tactics
Wilson traveled the US to promote the League=
had a stroke (paralyzed the left side of his bodyblinded in left eye- for 7 months did not meet
with anyone)
Senate voted no on the Versailles Treaty (twice)
Wilson told Democrats to veto the Treaty
because of Lodge amendments that weakened it
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Afghanistan—1934
Albania—1920 (taken over by Italy
in 1939)
Argentina
Australia
Austria (taken over by Germany
In 1938)
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil (withdrew, 1926)
Bulgaria---1920
Canada
Chile (withdrew, 1938)
China
Colombia
Costa Rica—1920, withdrew, 1925
Cuba
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic—1924
Ecuador—1934
Egypt—1937
El Salvador (withdrew, 1937)
Estonia—1921
Ethiopia—1923
Finland—1920
France
Germany—1926, withdrew,
1933
Greece
Guatemala (withdrew, 1936)
Haiti (withdrew, 1942)
Honduras, (withdrew, 1936)
Hungary—1922, withdrew,
1939
India
Iraq—1932
Ireland—1923
Italy (withdrew, 1937)
Japan (withdrew, 1933)
Latvia—1921
Liberia
Lithuania—1921
Luxembourg--1920
Mexico--1930
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua (withdrew, 1936)
Norway
Panama
Paraguay (withdrew, 1936)
Persia
Peru (withdrew,1939)
Poland
Portugal
Romania (withdrew, 1940)
Siam
Spain (withdrew, 1939)
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey--1932
Union of South Africa
USSR—1934, expelled, 1939
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela (withdrew, 1938)
Yugoslavia
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Significance of US failure to
sign the Treaty
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US failed to join the League
US made separate peace treaties with
belligerent nations
Weakens of the League of Nations &
Treaty of Versailles led to WWII???
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•“…there can be no doubt
that the orphaned League
of Nations was undercut
by the refusal of the
mightiest power on the
globe to join it.” p. 717
•Are historians and the
Europeans being
hypocritical?
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•Was Wilson’s
League of Nations
and his belief in
“ending all war”
based on idealism or
reality?
•Could the world
eliminate war?
Election of 1920
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1st election in which women can vote
Republicans (united again)-nominate Warren G.
Harding (Ohio) & VP running mate Calvin Coolidge
Platform: appealed to pro-League & anti-league
Republicans (“would work for a league but not the
League”)
Advocated for a “RETURN TO NORMALCY”
Democrats (met in San Francisco) nominated James
M. Cox (Ohio) & Franklin Roosevelt as VP.
Platform- pro-League of Nations
Socialist Eugene V. Debs (imprisoned) garnered
919,000 votes
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Return to a peacetime industry and economy
War boosted American economy and industry.
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United States became a world power, largest creditor
and wealthy nation.
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Soldiers were hero’s but found that jobs were scarce.
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African American soldiers, despite their service
returned to find continued discrimination.
The Lost Generation of men who were killed in WWI.
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US returned to neutrality and isolation.
Did not accept the responsibility of a world power that
President Wilson believed the US should take on.