Chapter 30: “The War to End War”
Topic: The Home-front
Essential Question 1: Evaluate the impact of government policies
(i.e., the Espionage and Sedition Act) designed to promote patriotism
and to protect national security during times of war on individual rights.
I. January 1917, Wilson made an address that declared that
only “peace without victory” would be lasting.
i. What does this mean?
ii. Germany reinstates unrestricted submarine warfare
February 1917
a. What does this violate? Why are the German’s
violating their agreement?
II. Then, the Zimmerman note was intercepted and
published on March 1, 1917.
i. Written by German foreign secretary Arthur
Zimmerman, it secretly proposed an alliance
between Germany and Mexico, and if the Central
Powers won, Mexico could recover Texas, New
Mexico, and California from the U.S.
ii. Coded message intercepted by British officials
III.
The Germans also began to make good on their
threats, sinking numerous ships
IV.
On April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked for
Congress to declare war, which it did four days later.
II.
America’s reaction to declaration of war
I. Many people still didn’t want to enter into war
i. Distant war, not our war to fight
ii. Wanted to remain isolationists
II. Six senators and 50 representatives, including the first
Congresswoman, Jeanette Ranking, voted against war.
III.
To gain enthusiasm for the war, Wilson came up
with the idea of America entering the war to “make the
world safe for democracy.
III. The propaganda machine
I. The Committee on Public Information, headed by
George Creel, was created to “sell” the war to those
people who were against it.
i. The Creel organization sent out an army of 75,000
men to deliver speeches in favor of the war – 4
minute men
ii. posters and billboards that had emotional appeals to
get Americans to sign up for the military, conserve
goods, and/or buy bonds to contribute money to the
war effort
iii. Showed anti-German movies like The Kaiser, the
Beast of Berlin.
IV. Restricting Freedom in times of war
I. Germans in America were surprisingly loyal to the U.S.,
but nevertheless, many Germans were blamed for
espionage activities, and a few were tarred, feathered, and
beaten.
II. The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918
showed American fears/paranoia about Germans and
other perceived threats. MOST TARGETED AND
ARRESTED WERE ACTUALLY SOCIALISTS, NOT
NECESSARILY GERMANS.
i. Espionage Act - passed by Congress in 1917 after
the United States entered World War I.
a. $10,000 fine and 20 years' imprisonment for
interfering with the recruiting of troops or the
disclosure of information dealing with national
defense.
b. Additional penalties were included for the
refusal to perform military duty.
c. Over the next few months around 900 went to
prison under the Espionage Act.
ii. Sedition Act – amendment to espionage
a. Forbade Americans to use "disloyal, profane,
scurrilous, or abusive language" about the
United States government, flag, or armed
forces during war. The act also allowed the
Postmaster General to deny mail delivery to
dissenters of government policy during
wartime.
b. The Sedition Act was an attempt by the United
States government to limit “freedom of
speech,”
c. The Espionage Act made it a crime to help
wartime enemies of the United States, but the
Sedition Act made it a crime to utter, print,
write or publish any disloyal, profane,
scurrilous, or abusive language about the
United States' form of government.
d. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10
years in prison under this law.
e. Anti-war protestors were arrested by the
hundreds
f. Fortunately, after the war, there were
presidential pardons (from Warren G. Harding),
but a few people still sat in jail into the 1930s.
Wilson’s 14 points: Perfect example of his Missionary
Diplomacy
III.
On January 8, 1918, Wilson delivered his Fourteen
Points Address to Congress.
IV.
The Fourteen Points were a set of idealistic goals for
peace
V. Inspired Americans to get behind the war effort and make
the world safe for democracy!
i. No more secret treaties, all treaties should be made
entirely public ( brought Europe into war)
ii. Freedom of the seas was to be maintained. ( Meant
to address problems faced by US when we tried to
ship goods and remain neutral)
iii. A removal of economic barriers among nations.
( free trade , no huge reparations after the war)
iv. Other points included: “self-determination,” and a
League of Nations, an international organization that
would keep the peace and settle world disputes.
v. Wilson wanted this to have a huge influence on
Treaty of Versailles Negotiation.
Americas industry and workers gear up for war
VI.
America was unprepared for war, only moderate
build-up of military prior to declaration
i. America’s army was only the 15th largest in the
world.
ii. no one knew how much America could produce
iii. had to convince private company’s to conserve
materials for the war
VII. Congress imposed a rule that made any unemployed
man available to go into the war
A War Economy
VIII. Mobilization relied more on passion and emotion
then laws.
IX.
Herbert Hoover was chosen to head the Food
Administration,
i. he had organized a hugely successful voluntary food
drive for the people of Belgium when they were
invaded by Germany.
ii. He was against ration cards and in favor of using
posters, billboards, and other media to whip up a
patriotic spirit which encouraged people to
voluntarily sacrifice some of their own goods for
the war.
iii. After all, America had to feed itself and its
European allies.
X.Hoover’s voluntary approach worked beautifully, as
citizens grew gardens on street corners to help the
farmers, people observed “heatless Mondays,” “lightless
nights,” and “gasless Sundays” in accordance with the
Fuel Administration, and the farmers increased food
production by one-fourth.
XI.
The wave of self-sacrifice also sped up the drive
against alcohol, culminating with the 18th
Amendment, which prohibited the sale, distribution, or
consumption of alcohol.
XII. Money was raised through the sale of war bonds
called Liberty Loans and increased taxes.
i. Private citizens loaned the government money by
purchasing these bonds. If they could not afford the
cost of a bond, they could instead purchase war
stamps and savings certificates for smaller amounts
of money. At a later date, once the war was over, the
government would pay back the loans with interest.
Getting the troops ready
 America would have to raise and train an army to send over to
Europe, or the Allies would collapse.
ii. Selective Service Act
a. The draft bill ran into heated opposition in
Congress but was grudgingly passed.
b. Passed 6 weeks after we declared war
c. Luckily, patriotic men lined up on draft day,
disproving ominous predictions of bloodshed
by the opposers of the draft.
d. All men 18-45 had to register,
a. couldn’t purchase a substitute or buy your
way out of war
iii. Within a few months, the army had grown to 4
million men and women.
iv. African-Americans were allowed in the army, but
they were usually assigned to non-combat duty
v. Training was so rushed that many troops didn’t
know how to even use rifles, much less bayonets,
but were sent to Europe anyway!
a. Supposed to receive 6 months training at home
and 2 more months abroad, they got a few
weeks if they were lucky!
Problems and changes on the home front
 National War Labor Board,
o headed by former president William H. Taft
 heard thousands of cases dealing with labor
disputes during the war and helped to avert strikes
 Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor (AF
of L), which represented skilled laborers, loyally supported the
war, and by war’s end, its membership more than doubled
to over 3 million.
 Yet, there were still labor problems
o price inflation threatened to outweigh salary increases,
strikes broke out during the war
o the greatest occurring in 1919, when 250,000
steelworkers walked off the job.
 But the steel owners brought in 30,000 AfricanAmericans to break the strike, and in the end, the
strike collapsed, hurting the labor cause for more
than a decade.
 During the war, African Americans migrated to the North
to find more jobs, and did, but the appearance of African
Americans in formerly all-White towns did spark violence,
such as in Chicago and St. Louis.
o Called the Great Migration
 Women also found more opportunities in the workplace, since
the men were gone to war.
vi. This gained support for women’s suffrage, which
was finally achieved with the 19th Amendment,
passed in 1920.
vii. Although a Women’s Bureau did appear after the
war to protect female workers,
a. most women were fired or gave up their jobs at
war’s end,
b. and Congress even affirmed its support of
women in their traditional roles in the home
with the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of
1921, which federally financed instruction in
maternal and infant health care.
V.
Russia bows out
I. A Costly War for Russia
i. Over the first two and a half years of the war, Russia
had experienced heavy defeats against Germany but
at the same time had significant successes against
Austria-Hungary.
ii. The war had become hugely unpopular at home.
 Russian death toll was enormous
o 1.7 million military deaths
o 3 million civilian deaths
 Russia was continuously losing territory, and the
war had sparked food shortages throughout the
country.
2. The February Revolution
 In early March 1917 (late February by the Julian calendar in
use in Russia at the time), the tsar’s entire regime
unexpectedly collapsed after a series of large demonstrations
in the Russian capital of Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
o Moved in exile to Siberia by Bolsheviks (communists)
 As the struggle for control of the country began, parts of the
military continued to fight on the war front, others quit
fighting altogether, and others even fought each other.
 Germany quickly recognized an opportunity and made
arrangements to help Russian revolutionaries in Europe,
including Vladimir Lenin, to get back to Russia in order to
fuel the ensuing chaos there. Lenin arrived in Petrograd on
April 16 on a train provided by Germany.
4. The Bolshevik Revolution
 Russia’s position in the war remained in question throughout
the summer and fall of 1917
 The debate continued throughout the summer and fall until
November 6, 1917 (October 24 by the Russian calendar). On
that day, the Bolsheviks seized total control of the country
with the help of the military.
o The next day, Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin issued
his first decree, declaring Russia to be at peace.
o Negotiations with the Germans begin in December 1917
and Russia is officially out of the war March 1918: Brest
–Litovsk Treaty
o July 1918 the Bolsheviks murder Nicolas and his family
VI. American troops join the war
I. After the Bolsheviks seized control of Russia, they
withdrew the nation from the war, freeing up thousands
of German troops to fight on the Western Front.
II. American doughboys slowly poured into France,
Belgium and even Italy
VII. Americans to the rescue! ( France)
I. Allies terrified of the Germans unite under 1 Supreme
Commander – Foch ( French)
i. Cantigny: May 1918 The first offensive that the US
was involved in; gained only 1 mile of territory seen
as more of a moral victory than significant military
victory
ii. Chateau –Thierry : July 1918 first significant
engagement of American troops in a European
battle, pushed Germans away from Paris and across
the Marne
iii. Marne – July 1918 last German attempt at an
offensive, Germans never recovered from the failed
attempt, secretly most German commanders began
to have doubts about a German victory
iv. Meuse-Argonne
a. Sept – Nov 1918
a. 1.2 million Americans fought in this
prolonged battle -10% casualty rate
b. Cut off German supplies and relentlessly
barraged them with artillery.
c. Allies win this crucial battle and the war is
virtually over
d. It was a good thing, too, because
American victories were using up
resources too fast.
e. Also, pamphlets containing seductive
Wilsonian promises rained down on
Germany, in part persuading them to give
up.
v. Austria Hungary gives up in October 1918 and
officially splits into 4 separate countries amid a
virtual revolution in the country
a. Yugoslavia (Slavs & Serbians), Austria
(Germanic),
Hungary
(Magyars),
Czechoslovakia ( Czechs and Slovaks) – based
on the main ethnic groups
vi. German surrender is soon to follow
a. Losing battles, surrender of A/H, and demand
of the people cause surrender, hoping for peace
based on 14 points, and fear of endless
American troops
b. Kaiser Wilhelm is forced to step down
a. we will only negotiate with reps of the
German people
b. he flees to avoid prosecution by Allies
c. Germany becomes a republic
i. Chancellor and Parliament
VIII. Germany surrenders
I. At 11:00 am of the eleventh day of the eleventh month
(Nov) of 1918, Germany surrenders
IX. Wilson goes to France
I. Wilson went to Paris as the only leader of the Allies not
commanding a majority at home.
i. As of election of 1918 Republicans controlled
Congress
II. Wilson goes to Versailles to negotiate treaty
i. he didn’t include a single Republican,
a. not even Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
a. highest ranking republican in Senate
b. also head of foreign relations committee
c. Republicans MAD!!!!!
III.
The Big Four—Italy; led by Vittorio Orlando,
France; led by Georges Clemenceau, Britain; led by
David Lloyd George, and the U.S.; led by Wilson—
basically dictated the terms of the treaty.
i. Early in negotiations Wilson managed to get his
League of Nations accepted by the other nations
ii. Henry Cabot Lodge, William Borah, and Hiram
Johnson bitterly opposed to the League and let
everyone know!!!!!!(Republicans in Senate)
IV.
Upon seeing Wilson’s lack of support, the other
European nations had stronger bargaining chips, they
fought over who would control what territory
i. France got back Alsace – Lorraine
ii. US and Great Britain agreed to help France if
Germany invaded again
V. Japan got to keep Germany’s colonies in China,
outraging the Chinese.
VI.
Germany could not build up an army greater than
100,000 men
i. No air force, no Navy
VII.
had to pay huge reparations ($33 billion)
VIII. Rhineland became a demilitarized zone –border of
France and Germany on the German side
IX.
Germany has to admit guilt for the war
X.
The Treaty’s reception at home
I. Returning to America, Wilson was met with fierce
opposition to the League in Congress
II. Senator Lodge feared he couldn’t defeat the treaty, so he
filibustered
III.
Wilson decided to tour the US to gain support for
the treaty, but trailing him like bloodhounds were
Senators William Borah and Hiram Johnson, two of the
“irreconcilables,”
IV.
Wilson reaches Pueblo, Colorado Sept 1919
i. he collapsed from physical and nervous exhaustion,
and several days later, a stroke paralyzed half of his
body.
a. It is believed that his wife basically ran the
country for the time he was incapacitated,
about 2 months
b. He never fully recovers
XI. Wilson Rejects the Lodge Reservations
I. Lodge now came up with fourteen “ Lodge reservations”
to the Treaty of Versailles
i. Congress was especially concerned with Article X
(10), which morally bound the U.S. to aid any
member of the League of Nations that was
victimized by aggression,
ii. Congress wanted to preserve its war-declaring
power.
II. Wilson hated Lodge, and though he was willing to accept
similar Democratic reservations and changes, he would
not do so from Lodge, and thus, he ordered his
Democratic supporters to vote against the treaty with the
Lodge reservations attached.
i. On November 19, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was
defeated by a vote of 55 to 39.
XII. Reasons for defeat of treaty
I. Wilson’s feud with Lodge, U.S. desire to return to
isolationism, and disillusionment with war all contributed
to the failure of the treaty,
II. but Wilson must share the brunt of the blame as well,
since he stubbornly went for “all or nothing,” and
received nothing.
III.
Treaty never technically ratified but Congress did
pass a resolution officially declaring peace between the
US and Germany July 1921.
XIII. Election of 1920
I. Republicans have an advantage because people are upset
with the stubbornness of the Democratic party and
unhappiness with Wilson
a. They avoided the issue of League all together
b. President= Warren G. Harding and Calvin
Coolidge as the vice presidential candidate.
II. The Democrats
i. President= James M. Cox and Franklin D. Roosevelt
as VP,
ii. Supported a League of Nations, but not necessarily
the League of Nations.
III.
Warren G. Harding was swept into power – mostly
because of disappointment with Wilson
XIV.
Failures of WWI
I. France Militarizes out of fear of Germany
II. Germany begins to illegally build up military in early
1930s and international community does nothingworried about another WW
III.
Germany’s economy suffers greatly due to
reparations, Hitler uses this to gain power
IV.
Italy is unhappy that they did not get territory as a
result of the war (Mussolini)
V. The US retreats into isolationism hoping not to be drawn
into another war, unfortunately this allows for conditions
to arise that will engulf the world in war within 20 years.