Chapter 21
America and the Great War
The Road to War
“Over There”
Why is World War I important in the scope
of U.S. history?
It shows how war sometimes accelerates
previous changes and sometimes stalls them
(economy, race, civil rights, gender)
It helps reveal patterns in U.S. foreign policy
over decades (even continuing to this day)
It shows how the U.S. had become entwined with
other countries
It created debates over freedom vs. security in
U.S. society
It created a major change for Black Americans in
the U.S.
Why could US not ignore the
“Great War” (aka: “World War
I”)?
Huge economic interest:
armaments production
Both England and Germany acted
against US shipping: the 1790s over
again!
1/3 of US population was foreign
born, and England and Germany
were important sources
US had growing imperial, overseas
interests (Spanish-American War
Why did the US side with Allies
in April 1917?
Economic interest was more with
Allies, especially as English blockade
strengthened
More Ideological affinity with Allies
than Central Powers
Direct German attacks on US
shipping
◦ 1915: Unrestricted submarine warfare
Lusitania
◦ 1916: Sussex pledge restricted sub
Reasonable messages –
why? (1915)
Secretary of State William
Jennings Bryan to President
Wilson after the sinking of the
Lusitania:
“A ship carrying contraband
should not rely upon
passengers to protect her from
attack – it would be like
putting women and children in
front of an army.”
More powerful appeals – why? (1915, 1917)
Question for Discussion
Woodrow Wilson originally ran for president in
1912 as a progressive (think back to what that
term meant). Overall, how well did the actions of
the Wilson administration, US government, and/or
the US overall during World War I (after U.S. entry
into the war) on the domestic scene fit the term
“progressivism”?
Review information on the following and be ready
to share ideas
p. 523 “Mobilizing the Military”:
Selective Service Act, African American
soldiers
p. 528-529 “Organizing the Economy for War”:
Financing the war, War Industries Board
Women’s role in WWI
A. Some employed in war industry
B. Military service (but clerical and nursing roles)
C. U.S. government encouraged civilian women
to support the war by
preparing bandages.
knitting warm clothing for the soldiers.
participating in food conservation programs.
encouraging women to buy war bonds.
D. Protest suffragists
What is depicted here?
(1917)
Analyze this document
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.,
Schenck v. United States, 1919
“The most stringent protection of free
speech would not protect a man in
falsely shouting fire in a theatre and
causing a panic. [...] The question in
every case is whether the words used
are used in such circumstances and are
of such a nature as to create a clear and
present danger that they will bring
about the substantive evils that
Congress has a right to prevent.”
What is depicted here?
(1917)
Analyze this document
Woodrow Wilson, statement to British envoy
William Tyrrell (November 1913), explaining his
policy on Mexico
“I am going to teach the South American republics
to elect good men.”
Compare to past: Open Door Policy, Gentleman’s
Agreement
Compare to future: 14 Points
‘Bold Terms’
Mexican Revolution: 1911
Central Powers
Allied Powers
U-boats
Lusitania
Sussex pledge
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Zimmerman Telegram
War Industries Board
◦ Compare to New Freedom
Espionage Act (1917)
◦ Schenck v. United States (1919)
◦ “No right to cry ‘fire’”; “clear and present danger”
Sedition Act (1918)
Other general notes
Wilson rejected the idea of Dollar Diplomacy as immoral
US split on WWI initially: Economic interests all around,
immigrant ties to both sides, seems distant troubles, also
against the progressive spirit
War on the seas: shades of 1790 – 1812
Election of 1916:
◦ Wilson in trouble; only in office b/c Rep split in 1912
◦ Wilson changes positions on Progressivism
Brandeis for Sup Ct, Farm Loan Act, Child Labor Act, workers’
compensation, 8-hr work day, tariff commission
◦ It worked; Wilson got progressive support (Crass? Just grubbing for
votes? Or is this the way democracy works?)
◦ “He Kept Us Out of War”
Other general notes (cont’d)
Wilson: speech on 1/22/17, aimed at population of both
sides; hints at Fourteen Points; ‘peace without victory’;
idealistic, doesn’t recognize ‘sunk costs’ mentality
Wilson has to create moral purpose: “War to end all
wars” ; “War to save democracy”
WIB: Shades of things to come in the 20th century, good
and bad (“military-industrial complex”)
Black migration to the North
Amazing stat in footnote p. 530: US goes from debtor
nation to creditor nation; important characteristic rising
power of US
Questions from Schenck: where is the line drawn? By
whom? What is the definition of wartime?
Oddly, American restrictions on speech went far beyond
what Britain or France did, even though they were much
closer to the threat
