Ch. 29

In what manner was Germany made to pay for World War I with the Treaty of Versailles?

Both England and France were committed to a policy of vengeance, enacting unreasonable reparations and placing the blame for the war squarely on the German shoulders. Additional punishments included forced demilitarization and a loss of historically German territory to prevent future aggression.

laws severely limited free speech,

Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918.

moral diplomacy

Rejecting both imperialism and dollar diplomacy, Wilson believed in "moral diplomacy", his attempt to treat nations fairly and allow for self-determination.

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court case that ruled free speech could be limited if it presented a "clear and present danger".

Zimmerman note

Tensions boiled over with the publication of the Zimmerman note, which was intercepted by the British. In the document, the Germans proposed a Mexican-German invasion of the U.S. to return the former's lost territory.

How did the Clayton Antitrust Act strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act and also provide protection for labor unions?

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act, which finally gave strength to the Sherman Antitrust Act by clearly defining what an illegal trade was. Additionally, the courts finally protected labor unions by ruling that they did not fall under "illegal combinations" and were thus no longer subject to violate of the Sherman law.

Great Migration

The economic opportunities afforded by WWI led to the Great Migration, in which thousands of African Americans went to the Northern cities in search of work.

How did the federal government convince people to work during World War I? What instances of revolt against business and government by workers existed during the war?

The federal government was able to persuade the American workforce to contribute with the slogan, "work or fight". Generally speaking, the relationship between business, labor, and government was positive during the war. Unfortunately, the right to join a labor union was never recognized by the federal government. The multitude of strikes that were a constant threat to the U.S. Some 6,000 strikes dominated the nation. The most notable was the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who were antiwar and demanded better conditions.

What was the purpose of the creation of the Committee on Public Information? Why were they almost too good at their job?

The organization used propaganda on billboards, pamphlets, and to illustrate Wilson's aims and to also demonize the Central Powers. This patriotic fervor, as was to be expected, had negative consequences. Unfounded rumors and long-standing nativism led to harassment and violence against German Americans, as anything related to Central Powers raised suspicions.

What were the components of Wilson's "triple wall of privilege"?

The tariff The bank The trusts

Breaking tradition and speaking directly to Congress, President Wilson assisted in the passage of the

Underwood Tariff

16th amendment

instituted an income tax for the first time in the United States.

Underwood Tariff

lowering rates to its lowest level in a generation

"Irreconcilables"

senators completely opposed the Treaty of Versailles

What two major mistakes did Wilson at the start of the peace process in Paris?

1. He personally appealed to voters to give Democrats Congress in the 1918 midterm elections; the Republican victory left Wilson without a legislative advantage 2. Wilson decided to go to Paris himself, instead of sending a representative and did not include a Republican senator in the traveling party. To many, it looked like Wilson was grandstanding,

What two goals preoccupied most of Wilson's mission in his Fourteen Points?

1. Self-determination for minority groups 2. The establishment of an international organization

What happened to Wilson on his trip across the nation to secure passage of the Treaty of Versailles? How did this lead to changes in the treaty? What did Wilson instruct Democrats to do with the vote on the Treaty of Versailles with its amendments?

Exhausted from war and peace, he suffered a debilitating stroke. Wilson did not meet with his cabinet for seven months. Meanwhile, Henry Cabot Lodge was guiding the treaty through the Senate, adding revisions that protected American sovereignty. Wilson was so upset with the revisions that he ordered all Democrats to vote against the treaty in its form. His hopes were that the rejected would lead to the passage of the treaty in its original form.

Explain Wilson's actions towards Mexico. How did they support and refute his beliefs of moral diplomacy?

Mexico was a nation under constant turmoil, with the American economic presence in the region only making things worse. In short, Mexican businessmen were fabulously wealthy because of American dollars, but most Mexican people were poor. This would lead to a rebellion, in which General Victoriano Huerta would take power. His violent actions would lead to an exodus of Mexican citizens to the Southern border of the U.S. American businessmen were alarmed at Huerta's actions, as it threatened their bottom line. They asked Wilson for military intervention, much in the way he had done in Haiti.

How did Wilson convince unenthusiastic Americans to support the war effort with his rhetoric?

Wilson used his rhetoric to explain America's ambitions in the world. Wilson argued that the U.S. was not in the war for the same reasons as the Europeans, which was about greed and selfishness. Instead, he argued the U.S. was fighting in WWI to make the world "safe for democracy".