I b e t y o u ’ r e a l l a l i t t l e s a d t o s e e i t g o …

• Bell Work
• Debate over Versailles and the League of Nations
• Review for the quiz
• Projects and Quiz on Tuesday
• Catch-up on incomplete and missing assignments, work on notecards, etc.

As we wrap up WWI it is time to consider how WWI changed America.
Think about changes in the economy, workforce, foreign policy, and groups of Americans like women,
African Americans, etc.

P R E S I D E N T W I L S O N R E T U R N S T O T H E U S T O G E T T H E
T R E A T Y R A T I F I E D

The focus of the fight? The League of Nations!

CAN THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS SEND
US TO WAR?
Article X of the League of
Nations Charter:
Article VI of the US
Constitution:
“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 the 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.”
“Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United
States which shall be made in
Pursuance thereof; and all
Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any
Thing in the Constitution or
Laws of any State to the
Contrary notwithstanding.”

1. The Reservationists: A group of Republican senators, lead by Henry
Cabot Lodge who would only vote to ratify the treaty with reservations, or changes that would prevent the US from being sucked in to war.
2. The Irreconcilables: A group of 16 Republican senators who vowed never to vote for the treaty.
3. The Internationalists: Most Senate Democrats supported the treaty
Wilson takes his case on the road…

• Wilson’s whistle stop tour seemed to be working…
• Until disaster struck-Wilson was in poor health and was forced to return to Washington where he suffered a massive stroke that left him temporarily paralyzed
• Ultimately, the US would reject the treaty and the League of Nations was doomed for failure.
• It would be another 2 decades before the US would consider collective security again
• The 1920 presidential election would be a referendum on the Treaty that Republican Warren G. Harding would win in a landslide.

L e t ’ s r e m e m ber w h a t w e l e a r n e d

1. Nationalism
2. Imperialism
3. Militarism
4. Alliances

June 28, 1914 and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Following a tradition of neutrality and noninvolvement in European affairs.
There may have been some economic reasons too…

• Selective Service Act of 1917-from
200,000 to over 3 million!
• Committee on Public Information
• Scrap drives and Victory Gardens

• The War Industries Board (WIB)
• The Food Administration
• The Fuel Administration
• The Committee on Public
Information (CPI)
*The number of federal employees doubles between 1916 and 1918

AMERICA CRACKS DOWN ON
AMERICANS:
THE ESPIONAGE ACT OF 1917
• Passed in 1917, the Espionage Act made it a crime to interfere with the draft or obstruct the war effort.
• The Act gave the Postmaster General the power to refuse mail delivery of materials that discouraged loyalty.
• Socialist newspapers and magazines were banned and popular magazines called on Americans to spy on their neighbors!

• Made it illegal to say anything “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive” about the government.
• Hundreds of Americans were arrested for criticizing the draft, or new and increased wartime taxes.
• No longer can you criticize your government!

• The Second Battle of the Marne was a clear indication that Germany was on the brink of defeat.
• In Sept. 1918 the Allies launched the
Meuse-Argonne Offensive with the goal of severing German supply lines on the Sedan Railroad.
• More than 1 million US troop took part in the final assault of WWI.
• After six weeks of fighting in the
Argonne Forest the AEF achieved their objective.
• On 11/11/1918 at 11 in the morning
Germany agreed to an armistice and the long war was officially over.

• When combat officially ended more than 8 million soldiers had died.
• Another 21 million were injured, or suffered from combat afflictions like Shell Shock
• The economies of Europe were devastated, as was the environment and infrastructure.
• Millions of civilians died throughout
Europe from starvation, disease, or other war related causes.
• The war had ended, but what next?

EUROPE BEFORE AND AFTER THE
TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Now it’s time to get things done!
Things you should be doing with my generous donation of class time:
1. Finish up any incomplete or missing assignments
2. Finish your propaganda poster
3. Write your War Journal entries (3 of them)
4. Make your note cards for the quiz
5. Study for the quiz
6. Work on one of the extra credit assignments