World War I & Its Affect on America

Prior to the war, America was primarily preoccupied with its own affairs; but the world war I dragged the country into the global stage; and when the war ended, America ended up as a Super Power.
Fear of Germany
  • Fear of Germany among its neighbors including France and Russia
  • Germany had the 2nd largest economy in world & strong national pride

    • Causes of War

    Description
    Germany's Aggression
  • Germany had a strong military
  • They had expansionist tendency; declared war on France and Russia; invaded Belgium

    • Reasons for America's Involvement

    Description
    Roosevelt's Corollary
  • America would help neighbors and friends in case they are unable to maintain their sovereignty and order by themselves
  • Roosevelt thought civilized nations (that produce industrial goods) have an obligation to police the world & protect uncivilized nations (which supply the raw materials for civilized nations)
    • Panama Canal
    What is it's significance to the war?
    Wilson's Neutrality
  • Wilson was less likely than the opponent Charles Evans Hughes to go to war. He advocated "Peace without Victory"

    • Effects of War

    Description
    Military Draft
  • Restarted in 1917 and largely successful
  • Earlier draft attempts during independence war & civil war?

    • The War

    Description
    Trench Warfare
  • Difficult conditions because of the new technology of machine guns & poisonous mustard gas
    • Women in Industry
  • Because men were at war, women had to work in the factories
    • African American Migration
  • Accelerated African American migration to North because of better jobs in industry compared to working in the fields
    • Race in the War
  • African American troops fought under the leadership of White generals
    • Universal Negro Improvement Association
  • Even though blacks fought along with white soldiers in the war, when they came home there was no equality among them
  • So, UNIA formed to improve the conditions for the blacks; it encouraged black businesses
    • Democracy
  • Wilson sold the ware using the idea of "making the world safe for democracy"
    • America's Sea Power
  • America developed a formidable sea power matching or exceeding that of the Great Britain
    • The Actors
  • Germany and Japan on one side
  • France, Britain, Russia, and the US on the other side
    • Protecting Asian Trade
  • Japan attacked Russian fleet
  • US sent the "Great White Fleet" to Japan around the world as a show of strength
    • America's Investments Abroad
  • Taft worked to increase America's investment into less developed regions such as the Caribbean.
  • When insurgency broke out in Nicaragua, America sent troops
    • New Allies
  • The war essential forged alliance among France, Britain, and Russia who were themselves not in the best of terms prior to Germany's aggression
    • Britain's Propaganda
  • Britain sent out reports to the US about the atrocities committed by Germans; and often they over exaggerated
    • Attacks on Ocean Vessels
  • Germans broke Sussex pledge and returned to unrestricted Submarine warfare; and started sinking ocean vessels belonging to other countries
  • Germany failed to heed to Wilson's requests to stop
    • Loss of American Lives
  • Germany attacked a British vessel LUSITANIA in which 128 Americans perished
    • Airplanes
  • First conflict in which Airplanes were used for military purpose
    • War Industry & Economy
  • Liberty bonds
  • New taxes & levies on excess profits of corporations
  • War Industry Board placed under Wall Street financier, Bernard Baruch (1918); it decided which factories will produce what and at what prices; and who would get raw materials
    • National War Labor Board
  • Maintenance of minimum living standards and eight hour days
  • No strikes and lock outs
  • Recognition of the rights of the unions
  • Equal pay for women for equal work
    • American Society under Strain
  • Public had to work together united
  • Forced propaganda (e.g., for draft)
  • Censored information
  • Arrested radicals
    • Fourteen Points
  • 9 Principles for creating new nations; Czech Republic, Turkey, etc.
  • 5 General Principles that govern the conduct of international conduct (freedom of seas, open covenants instead of secret treaties, reduction in armaments, free trade, and impartial mediation of colonial claims)
  • Proposal for League of Nations that would help implement these new principles
    • Treaty of Paris
  • Britain and France wanted to punish Germany; Italy wanted money, US wanted League of Nations
  • Germany was forced to pay $33 billion
    • Veteran's Day
  • Germany laid down arms to get peace based on the Fourteen Points
  • This day was called "Armistice Day" which later became Veteran's Day
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