ww1

US & WWI: 1916-1917

Emergence of groups/individuals on both sides of war question

pro-intervention: TR& Republicans, easterners

anti-intervention: IWW, socialists (war as imperialist fight), German-Americans

Germany-early 1917: sinks itself with un-restricted U-boat warfare declaration & Zimmerman telegram

war declared on Germany, central powers: 4/6/17

US & WWI: Military aspects, 1917-1918

1917 - draft mobilization - 200,000 soldiers to 4 million in a few months

AEF: led by John J. Pershing: Americans used as fill-ins on front, some action

major breakthrough: St.. Mihiel, Sept., 1918

curtains for Germany after St. Mihiel

war ends 11/11/18 after long Meuse-Argonne offensive

WWI: Homefront

Economic mobilization: WIB-War Industries Board created to coordinate economic production (partial success)

to raise $$$: "victory bonds" & "liberty bonds"

American manufacturers benefit tremendously through war via armaments, material production-wages, prices rice

labor mobilization: millions of women join workforce-increased pressure for suffrage

major African-American migration north

WWI: Homefront- Propaganda campaign

creation of Committee for Public Instruction to develop, coordinate campaign

played on patriotism, over-heated nationalism

German as "Hun" - barbarian - 75-million pamphlets distributed in 30 languages

"loyalty leagues" set-up - "100 percenters" - drive to eliminate hyphenated Americans

German-Americans persecuted, even lynched, not allowed to enlist

WWI - Homefront (ct.)

5/1918 - Sedition Act - Illegal to voice disapproval of government’s war effort

1919- Supreme Court will uphold arrest of Schenck for distributing pamphlets voicing anti-war sentiment ("clear & present danger")

WWI - Ending

Wilson’s 14 points: idealism, ethnic self-determination, colonial dismantling, freedom of the seas, League of Nations - "peace without victory"

Versailles Treaty (1919): Allies reject Wilson ideals, but establish League of Nations

League does not pass Senate: Henry Cabot League objects to League of Nations: mood of isolationism defeats Wilson