Transcript Americans Prepare for War - Waverly

Exploring American
History
Unit VII- The Beginning of
Modern America
Chapter 23 Section 2
America Prepares for War
Americans Prepare for War
The Big Idea
After entering World War I in 1917, Americans began the
massive effort of preparing for war.
Main Ideas
• The United States entered the war after repeated crises
with Germany.
• The United States mobilized for war by training troops and
stepping up production of supplies.
• Labor shortages created new wartime opportunities for
women and other Americans.
Wilson’s Peace Efforts
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In the election of 1916
his slogan had been “He
kept us out of war”.
After 1916 Wilson still
tried to keep the US out
of the war.
He asked the European
powers to declare a
“Peace without victory.”
But Germany announces
unrestricted sub
warfare.
Germany felt the US
would be too late even
if they entered the war.
Main Idea 1:
The United States entered the war after
repeated crises with Germany.
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The United States was initially a neutral
country.
• Americans viewed World War I as a European
conflict.
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America continued to trade with European
nations during the war.
• Carried supplies and war materials to the Allies.
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Germany used U-boats to try and stop
supply lines.
• Often attacked ships without warning
• Sometimes shot civilian targets, such as the
British passenger liner, Lusitania
Lusitania
U.S. Neutrality
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Oskar II- Peace ship
Aug. 4, 1914 Wilson proclaims the neutrality of
the United States. U.S. needs to be the model
for world peace. U.S. more interested in
competing for markets than killing.
1915 Henry Ford charters a Peace Ship to
Stockholm, Sweden conference January 1916
• Ford, then one of the richest men in the world,
actually thought he could talk the leaders of
Europe into stopping World War.
• Ford believed if he could only get foreign
leaders to sit down in a room, he could make
them listen to reason and the war would end.
Straight talk from a no-nonsense businessman
would persuade where diplomatic doubletalk
had failed.
• A boat of pacifists-“Every crackpot and nut in
the country wanted to get on that boat,” from
socialists, to prohibitionists, to anti-smoking
crusaders, to pro-German partisans, and people
from “every religious splinter-group” in the
country.
• The Peace Expedition became a farce, The
world press mocked them mercilessly. It failed.
Ties that bind
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Allies
• U.S. spoke English language.
• U.S. Laws and customs
based on English
foundations.
• All news from Europe came
through British press.
(England had cut the transAtlantic cable) British
Propaganda-atrocity stories.
• Kaiser Wilhelm had made
many warlike (militaristic)
statements.
• Trade with England and Allies
was enormous. $3 Billion
• $2 billion in loans to Allies.
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Central Powers
• Millions in US favored
Central powers due to
ancestors who had been
born in Austria, Germany
or Hungary.
• Irish Americans were glad
to see anyone fight the
British.
• US had long been trading
with the Germans. But
that dropped by 1916
from $170 million to $1
million.
Problem of Neutral Rights
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International Law and use of the
Seas
• Neutral nations still allowed to trade with both
sides.
• Warring nations were allowed by International
Law to stop and inspect neutral vessels at sea.
• Warring nations could seize certain war
materials (Contraband)- explosives, guns and
ammunition. But not other goods.
• Before sinking a commercial ship, the attacker
had to give warning.
• No court, or police force to make nations obey
the law.
• “Freedom of the Seas”
The Problem of Neutral Rights
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British Navy
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• Blockade- Control the seas
and starve Germany into
submission
• Contraband included all
sorts of goods including
food.
• All neutral ships would be
searched even those going
to neutral countries.
England would seize any
ship bound for Germany.
• North Sea was a military are
and put mines down.
• All in violation of
international law.
• British would pay for all
goods seized after America
protested.
German Submarines
• 1915- fleet of 27 subs
disobeyed international law.
• War zone- Germany declares
this around the British Isles.
• Unrestricted sub warfare.
• Advised all neutrals not to
travel there or on British
ships.
• Wilson insists under
International law Americans
had the right to sail on any
ship. And Germany would be
accountable for all American
lives.
• 1915- Germany sinks
Lusitania, then Arabic and
Sussex passenger ships. After
promising not to sink unarmed
passenger ships without
warning.
Congress Declares War
March 1916– a U-boat attacks a French passenger ship, the
Sussex, with several American passengers on board. German
leaders agree not to attack merchant ships without warning.
February 1917– President Wilson breaks diplomatic relations
with Germany after they again begin attacks on non-military
ships.
March 1917– Zimmermann Note is decoded revealing German
and Mexican plot to ally against the United States.
April 1917– Congress declared war on Germany.
Possible causes of U.S. entry
British Propaganda and ProBritish sentiment
 Submarine Warfare
 Munitions trade and loans to
Great Britain
 Zimmerman Note
 Sinking of the Lusitania
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The United States Enters World
War I
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Recall- What did most Americans
think about involvement in the war?
Identify- State two ways the United
States supported the war before
sending troops?
Summarize- What two incidents
caused Americans to turn against the
Germans? Why?
Main Idea 2:
The United States mobilized for war by training
troops and stepping up production of supplies.
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Committee on Public Information formed by
President Wilson to help persuade the public to
support the war effort.
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Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918
limited freedoms in the United States.
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Selective Service Act was enacted in 1917 to prepare
the U.S. military for war.
• Required men between ages 21-30 to register for
draft.
• Almost 3 million Americans were drafted into service in
World War I.
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Liberty bonds were issued by the government to help
finance Allied war efforts.
War Industries Board and Food Administration
worked to supply the troops with materials and food
supplies.
Government takes control- War Industries Board
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The Overman Act of 1918 helped
create the War Industries BoardBernard M. Baruch in charge.
• Job- decide what goods should
be produced and set prices for
government purchases or
supplies.
• During the war production
went up, waste went down and
criticism lessened.
Mobilization of Money
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Military Expenses
• Expenses for army, navy, credit
and materials for allies ran into
billions.
• $23 billion for the U.S. war effort
and $10 billion for war loans to
Allies.
• Taxes and Loans to pay the
expenses.
 Increased taxes brought in
$10.5 billion
 The rest came from loans from
the people through sale of
Liberty Loans and a Victory
Loan.
Raising Money, Conservation and
Government Controls- 2:21 min.
Daylight Savings, Taxes, and
Liberty Bonds – 1:04
The American Army
Raising an Army
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On May 18, 1917, Congress
passed the Selective Service
Act, requiring men between 21
and 30 to register for a draft.
Some asked to be classified as
conscientious objectors, or
religious people against fighting,
but were rejected.
In the summer of 1917, new
recruits reported for training but
found almost nothing ready.
Soldiers slept in tents until
barracks were built, and supplies
hadn’t yet arrived.
New recruits learned military
rules with sticks and barrels
instead of rifles and horses.
Discrimination
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African American soldiers were
segregated and trained in
separate camps.
Many white officers and
southern politicians feared
African Americans would pose a
threat after the war so only
trained a few black regiments.
Latino soldiers faced scorn from
other troops and were often
assigned menial tasks.
The federal government,
however, did accept nonEnglish-speaking soldiers.
The military had programs in
New Mexico and Georgia to help
Hispanic soldiers learn English.
Mobilization of Men and Women
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Nation needs an army
• May 28, 1917- Selective Service Act (Draft)
 All men between 21 and 31 had to register
 No buying ones way out- 10 million were
listed.
 Lottery was the fairest way to choose.
Everyone got a number between 1 and
10,500. Numbers placed in a fishbowl and
withdrawn enough for 687,000 men into the
army.
 24 million men between 18-45 entered
selective service. 3 million called into
service.
 1918- 4.8 million- enlistee, draftees, and
America Joins the Ranks- 4:17
Regulations to Supply U.S. and Allied Troops
Regulating Food
Regulating Fuel
• Congress passed the Lever Food
and Fuel Control Act, letting the
government set prices and
establish production controls.
• The Fuel Administration was
established to set production
goals and prices for fuel.
• Herbert Hoover’s Food
Administration promised farmers
higher prices for crops.
• He also asked Americans to eat
less and to plant food gardens.
• Prohibition also helped the war,
as alcohol is made using food
crops like grapes and wheat.
• The 1919 Volstead Act passed
Prohibition as the temperance
movement gained strength.
• Harry Garfield, son of former
president James A. Garfield,
headed the administration.
• Garfield introduced daylight
savings time to extend
daylight hours for factory
workers with long shifts.
• He promoted fuel
conservation by encouraging
Americans to go without gas
and heat on certain days.
Mobilizing for War
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Recall- How did the American
government assist the war effort?
Identify- What foods did some
Americans give up one day a week?
Make Inferences- In what ways was
discrimination present in the military?
Main Idea 3:
Labor shortages created new wartime
opportunities for women and other
Americans.
Factors that led to a labor shortage in the United States
during the war:
1. American factories needed new workers to meet huge
production demands.
2. The war almost completely closed immigration, thus
cutting-off the main source of labor to American industry.
3. Many of the young men who would normally take factory
jobs were serving in the military.
Women’s War Efforts
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Many American women took on new
roles to help the war effort.
• 1 million women joined the
workforce.
• About 25,000 women volunteered
to serve in non-combat positions in
Europe.
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Other women protested America’s
participation in the war.
Labor and the War
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New job opportunities encouraged Mexican
Americans and African Americans to move
to northern industrial cities.
Union membership increased.
• Workers in a better position to demand higher
wages
• More than 4 million unionized workers went on
strike during the war.
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National War Labor Board was established
to help management and workers reach
agreements.
• Settled more than 1,000 labor disputes
• Worked to prevent strikes
New Wartime Opportunities
Recall- What types of jobs did
women perform in Europe
during the war?
 Identify Cause and EffectName three factors that caused
a labor shortage in the United
States?
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New Wartime Opportunities
Identify- Name two groups of
people that moved from the West
and the South to meet the
increased demand for labor in
American industrial cities?
 Evaluate- Do you think setting up
the National War Labor Board was
a good idea??
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