SS.912.A.4.5 Examine causes, course, and
consequences of
United States involvement in World War I.

 SS.912.A.4.6 Examine how the United States
government prepared the nation for war with war
measures (Selective Service Act, War Industries
Board, war bonds, Espionage Act, Sedition Act,
Committee of Public Information).

 Selective Service Act
 Required registration of all men ages 18 through 45.
 Results:
 The draft proved effective
 Within months, army increased from about 200,000 to over
4 million.
 400,000 blacks drafted or enlisted (segregated units)
 For the first time, women admitted to the armed forces:
11,000 to the navy and 269 to the marines.
 Yet, 337,000 "slackers" escaped the draft and about 4,000
were excused 10,000 prosecuted before the war ended.
 War Industries Board

 Formed by President Wilson late in war after significant political
battles with Congress.
 President Wilson took firm control of major American businesses
under emergency war powers.
 Aimed to control raw materials, production, prices and labor
relations.
 War Bonds
 Sold to raise money for the war effort
 Espionage Act
 Provided for a $10,000 fine and up to 20 years in prison for
persons aiding the enemy, inciting rebellion in the military,
or obstructing draft recruitment.

 Sedition Act
 Provided for a $10,000 fine and up to 20 years in
prison forbidding any criticism of the government,
flag, or uniform (even if insignificant) in print or in
speech.
 Resulted in 1,900 prosecutions radical union Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies)
were targeted.

 Committee of Public Information 1. Headed by George
Creel, a young journalist.
 Established voluntary censorship of the press.
 Employed about 150,000 workers at home and overseas
 Sent out 75,000 "four-minute men" to deliver speeches
(including movie stars)
 Propaganda included posters, leaflets and pamphlets and
anti-German movies.
 Set-up volunteer Liberty Leagues in every community and
urged members to spy on neighbors especially with foreign
names and to report any suspicious words or actions to the
justice department.

 SS.912.A.4.7 Examine the impact of airplanes,
battleships, new weaponry, and chemical warfare in
creating new war strategies (trench warfare,
convoys).

 SS.912.A.4.8 Compare the experiences Americans
(African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, women,
conscientious objectors) had while serving in Europe.
War experience

 African Americans
 Placed in segregated units
 Given the more dangerous assignments
 Significant migration for war jobs
 Women
 encouraged to enter industry and agriculture
(farmerettes)

 Hispanic Americans
 Filled combat roles
 First real assimilation with mainstream society
 Asians
 Able to become citizens after serving in the military
 Several thousand Chinese, Japanese, korean,
Vietnamese, and Filipinos served
 Conscientious objectors

 Granted the right to serve in non-combat rolls
 About 2000 refused to cooperate
 Later given the option to work in farm service or relief
work in France

 SS.912.A.4.9 Compare how the war impacted
German Americans, Asian Americans, African
Americans, Hispanic Americans, Jewish Americans,
Native Americans, women, and dissenters in the
United States.
Effect on Citizens

 African American




Moved from the South to the North
Attempted to win the respect of white neighbors
Race riots in the North caused by racism experience
Figthting in WWI started the civil rights movement

 German Americans
 Became second class citizens due to fear of the German
forces
 Asian Americans
 Became citizens due to service in the Military
 Jewish Americans
 Favored the Treaty of Versailles because it gave
control of Palestine which was a step towards a Jewish
Homeland

 Women
 Entered the workforce and did not want to go back to
home life after
 Changed the family dynamic forever
 Dissenters
 Due to the Espionage act and Sedition act many
dissenters were charged with being a traitor

 SS.912.A.4.10 Examine the provisions of the Treaty of
Versailles and the failure of the United States to
support the League of Nations.
Treaty of Versailles

 Big Four: President Wilson of the U.S., Prime Minister
David Lloyd George of Great Britain; Premier Georges
Clemenceau of France, Premier Vittorio Orlando of Italy.
 President Wilson’s goal was to create a world parliament
to be known as the League of Nations.
 Article 231 of the Versailles Treaty ("war-guilt" clause)
 Placed sole blame for WWI on Germany. Germany obliged to
pay reparations to the Allies was $31 billion over 30 years.
American reaction to the
Treaty

 Isolationists opposed the League of nations
 Some believed the treaty wasn’t harsh enough on the
Germans
 Sauerkraut named “liberty cabbage” and German
sausages named “liberty sausage”
 Treaty Defeated by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge due
to lack of support from Republicans
