World War I and its Aftermath

In the period after WWI, the U.S. pursued a policy of isolation. Identify examples of steps the U.S. took to achieve this.

- U.S. refused membership in the League of Nations; - U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles; - U.S. restricted immigration

War Industries Board

Created in July, 1917, in order to coordinate the production of war materials. Run by Bernard Baruch. Told manufacturers what they could produce, distributed raw materials, ordered construction of new factories, and in some cases, set prices.

National War Labor Board

Created to mediate disputes that could lead to strikes. Pressured industries to improve wages, adopt 8-hour work day, allow unions the right to organize and bargain collectively. In return, unions agreed not to strike, which could stop production of goods and hurt the war effort.

Liberty and Victory Bonds

Purchased by citizens in order to loan money to the government to be repaid with interest after a certain number of years.

Food Administration

Responsible for increasing food production while reducing civilian consumption. Encouraged families to conserve food and plant victory gardens. Most successful war-time agency, run by Herbert Hoover.

espionage

Spying to acquire government information.

Schenck v. the United States

Supreme Court upheld the Espionage Act. Raised the question: Are there some circumstances in which the First Amendment's protection of free speech no longer applies? Answer: Yes, in some cases, such as during war, government can limit free speech.

Reservationists

Senators who pledged to vote in favor of the Treaty of Versailles if certain changes were made - led by Henry Cabot Lodge

Irreconcilables

Senators who refused to support the Treaty of Versailles under any circumstances.

League of Nations

The 14th point of Wilson's peace plan; a "general association of nations" that would preserve peace by pledging to respect and protect each other's territory and political independence. It was weakened when the U.S., wanting to return to isolation, chose not to join.

Zimmerman Note/Telegram

1917 - Germany sent this to Mexico instructing an ambassador to convince Mexico to go to war with the U.S. It was intercepted and caused the U.S. to mobilize against Germany, which had proven it was hostile.

Sussex Pledge

A promise Germany made to America, after Wilson threatened to sever ties, to not to sink merchant ships without warning; didn't last very long

Eugene Debs

American Socialist Party Leader. Union members, socialists, and communists organized a parade in Cleveland to protest his jailing. Turned into riots, leaving two dead and 40 injured.

Bernard Baruch

Appointed by President Wilson to run the War Industries Board.

Anti-Immigrant Hysteria

Discrimination and violence against Germans and Austria- Hungarians. People limited speaking in German, changed German names, town names, hamburgers to liberty sandwiches, etc.

Four-Minute Men

Gave short, patriotic speeches urging people to support the war in various way. Organized by the Committee of Public Information.

contraband

Goods that have been imported or exported illegally. In WWI, the British set up a blockade prohibiting goods from being shipped to Germany or its allies.

Treaty of Versailles

Harsh peace terms of WWI designed to punish and weaken Germany. Germany's army was reduced, territory taken away, had to pay heavy reparations (payments for war damages), and had to take the blame for the war. Signed on June 28, 1919. Long term effect: Led to WWII.

national self-determination

Idea that the borders for countries should be based on ethnicity and national identity. A group of people who feel that they are a nation should be allowed to have their own country.

propaganda

Information designed to influence opinion. British controlled news that entered the U.S. which helped persuade the U.S. to support the British.

Espionage Act of 1917

Made it illegal to aid the enemy, give false reports, or interfere with the war effort. Limited opposition to the war, and combined with another law led to the conviction of over 1,000 people.

Sedition Act of 1918

Made it illegal to speak against the war publicly. Allowed government to prosecute anyone who criticized the government. Limited opposition to the war, and combined with another law led to the conviction of over 1,000 people.

Fuel Administration

Managed the nation's use of coal and oil. To conserve energy, introduced daylight savings time and shortened workweeks for factories not producing war materials. Encouraged Heatless Mondays. Led by Harry Garfield. Perhaps most important new agency.

Great Migration

Mass movement of African-Americans from the South to Northern cities, seeking better jobs and greater political opportunity. Continued over the next decades and greatly altered racial makeup up cities like Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Detroit.

reparations

Monetary payment for war damages that have been caused. In Treaty of Versailles, Germany was demanded to pay $33 billion - impossible to pay all at once; intended to keep Germany weak. Led to German bitterness.

Big Four

Most important Allied participants of the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. President Wilson of the U.S.; British Prime Minister David Lloyd George; French Premier Georges Clemenceau; Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando.

Selective Service Act

New conscription service (draft). Required all men age 21-30 to register for the draft. Lottery randomly determined order in which they were called before a local draft board in charge of selecting or exempting men from military service.

Fourteen Points

President Wilson's plan for lasting peace after WWI. Included plans for national self-determination and a League of Nations. Used as a basis for peace negotiations. Was not as harsh as the Treaty of Versailles.

Spanish Influenza

This epidemic of 1918 was the most serious epidemic in U.S. history; it infected 20 million Americans, causing more than half a million deaths in the United States and an estimated 30-50 million fatalities around the world. World War I ended on November 11, 1918; returning troops brought home a resurgence of virus, and the many public victory celebrations helped the disease spread once more. More American civilians were killed by the disease than all the U.S. combat deaths during the 20th century combined. Ultimately, the death rate shortened the average life span in the United States by 10 years before the illness disappeared. *Measuring purely by numbers and not percentage, more Americans died in the 2020 Covid pandemic.

U.S. Senate rejects the Versailles Treaty - reason?

To keep the U.S. free from foreign entanglements. The Senate felt joining the League of Nations - a measure included in the Treaty - would take away its power to declare our own wars and might drag the U.S. into unwanted wars.

armistice

Truce, agreement to stop fighting (NOT a treaty). WWI fighting stopped on 11:00 am, November 11, 1918.

enlistment of women, early 1917

WWI first war in which women officially served in the armed forces, but only in noncombat positions. Navy first to authorize enlistment of women, and by end of war over 11,000 women had served in the Navy. Army did not enlist women, only hired them as temporary employees.