APUSH Unit 6, Lecture 5 (covers Ch. 23) Ms. Kray (some slides taken from Susan Pojer) Analyze the Treaty of Versailles in terms of its relative weakness and the reasons behind its failed ratification. Are the lecture you should be able to: • List problems with the Treaty of Versailles • Explain why the treaty was never ratified in the U.S. Headed by George Creel – America’s Propaganda Minister? Anti-Germanism Films, posters, pamphlets Espionage Act, 1917 – provided for imprisonment for up to 20 yrs. for either trying to incite rebellion in the armed forces or obstructing the operation of the draft Sedition Act, 1918 – prohibited anyone from making “disloyal” or “abusive” remarks about the gov’t • Eugene V. Debs sentenced to 10 years • 2,000 convicted and jailed Supreme Court upheld constitutionality of Espionage Act Free speech could be limited when it represented a “clear and present danger” to the public safety Enlisted people to serve as “agents” • Check out activities of neighbors (open mail, tap phones, etc.) “Hate the Hun” Campaign • Attacked all things German • German measles = Liberty measles • Sauerkraut = Liberty cabbage John J. Pershing & AEF Battle of Chateau-Thierry, June 1918 Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Sept. 1918 Modern warfare led to high casualty rates • Trench warfare, mustard gas, u-boats, tanks, machine guns • DEATHS: British 1 mil, French 1.7 mil, Germany 2 mil, Russia 1.7 mil, Austria 1.5 mil, USA 112,000 “Peace without victory” Detailed list of war aims presented to Congress in January 1918 Recognition of freedom of the seas No secret treaties An “impartial adjustment of all colonial claims” Self-determination for the various nationalities within the Austro-Hungarian Empire • League of Nations to keep the peace* • • • • Answer to the new Bolshevik gov’t • Lenin = a competitor in leadership in USSR Woodrow Wilson, USA David Lloyd George, Britain George Clemenceau, France Vittorio Orlando, Italy Idealism competed w/spirit of national aggrandizement • USSR and Germany not invited • Britain won’t even discuss free trade Treaty of Versailles, 1919 • Germany punished: “war guilt” clause, reparations, • • • • territorial losses USSR punished: lost more territory than Germany Self-determination largely ignored Italy and Japan did not gain all territory desired League of Nations established Problems with the Treaty Many want a return to isolationism Violation of Monroe Doctrine? Increased partisanship • Wilson & Midterm Election of 1818 • Republicans not consulted on peace negotiations Popular sentiment favored ratification Lodge tried to slow the process Amendments to the League Covenant Began 8,000 mile speaking tour to rally support for the treaty • followed and harassed by the “Irreconcilables” Sept 25, 1919 Wilson collapsed Wilson urged Democrats to vote against treaty w/Lodge Reservations Nov 19, 1919 Treaty of Versailles defeated in the Senate 5 Isolationists like Senator Lodge, refused to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty. 5 Security treaty with France also rejected by the Senate. 5 July, 1921 Congress passed a resolution declaring WWI officially over! Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA] Postwar Recession, 1919 Coal Miner’s Strike of 1919 Boston Police Strike of 1919 Steelworkers’ Strike of 1919 • Largest strike in American history • Demanded 8-hr day & union recognition “If Capital & Labor Don’t Pull Together” – Chicago Tribune “Coming Out of the Smoke” – New York World “Put Them Out & Keep Them Out” – Philadelphia Inquirer Series of raids on alleged radical centers throughout the country 6,000 arrested Sacco and Vanzetti New black attitudes • Increased determination to fight for rights • Economic expectations raised In the South, lynchings increased in 1919 In the North, race riots • East St. Louis, 1917 • Chicago, 1919 40 people killed, 500 injured