Factors leading to US involvement
*German Violations
*Unrestricted submarine warfare
*Germany declared British waters a war zone
1915 May – Sinking of the Lusitania
1916 Sussex Pledge: Germans agreed to stop U-boat attacks, however Germany then in 1917 decided to resume unrestricted U-boat warfare
Armed Neutrality: Before the US declared war, all merchant ships were armed
Zimmerman Note: German Ambassador sent a letter to Mexico to try and form an alliance to take down the US
Russian Revolution
*Democratic forces take power from Czar Nicholas in 1917
*Wilson viewed the struggle against Germany as one to make the world safe for democracy
*Bolsheviks assumed power in 1917 which resulted in Russia’s withdrawal from the war
Espionage Act 1917: Fines and imprisonment for anyone found “aiding” the enemy or obstructing recruitment
Sedition Act 1918: Made it a crime to attempt to persuade the sale of war bonds or to print, write, speak or publish anything disloyal about the government, constitution, or uniform of the Army or Navy, Eugene Debs was imprisoned because of this
Schneck v. US: Supreme court: upheld the constitutionality of the Espionage Act in this case because Justice Holmes said that there are limits to freedom of speech when a clear and present danger exists, Schneck mailed circulars to draftees persuading them not to report for induction into the army
1917 War Industries Board: Headed by Bernard Baruch Coordinate all aspects of industrial production and distribution
1917 Lever Act : Wilson named Hoover as the food administrator. He mobilized agriculture and set prices to encourage production
1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: russia, now under VI Lenin, leaves the war and secedes some land to germany
1918 War Labor Board: Taft and Walsh, designed to settle labor disputes, prevent strikes and regulate wages and hours
1918 War Labor Policies Board : Formulated uniform policies for war labor administration. Promoted better housing conditions for war workers.
Food and Fuel Act: Rationed items and set prices "wheat wednesdays" "meat mondays"
Inquiry Committee: Fact gathering organization that helped Wilson in drawing up plans for the post war world
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points: He wanted a negotiated peace, not dictated one "peace of right, not of might"
Features of the 14 points
-Open diplomacy
-No secret treaties or peace talks
-Free access to the seas in time of war and peace
-Reduction of armaments
-Impartial adjustments of colonial claims
-8 points had to do with the problem of self determination for people in Europe, not for those under colonial control
-14th point. A League Of Nations: general assembly of nations to afford mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity, perserve peace for all time
Wilson’s blunders: invited all democrats to Paris conference, angered republicans. he personally went to paris showing he was deferring to europe.
The Big 4: Clemenceua of France, Lloyd George of Britain, Orlando of Italy, Wilson of US
1919 Treaty of Versailles
-Creation of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Poland
“War Guilt Clause”: Put all blame on Germany and wanted Germany to pay reparations (33 billion dollars)
Mandate System:
-Response to the fate of the colonial possessions of the Central powers. They were given to the victors
-Response to the fate of the colonial possessions of the Central powers. They were given to the victors
-Each member of the League promised to protect Territorial integrity and political independence of all members
-All nations were obligated to carry out league decisions, but no nation could go to war against its will
League of Nations: The league would arbitrate international disputes, act as a central body, employ economic and military sanctions against aggressor nations
1921 Emergency Quota Act: reduced immigration to the US
Round Robin Petition: Separated the question of the League from the peace treaty
Irreconcilables: Henry Cabot Lodge Senators opposed to the Treaty and would not accept it
Reservationists
Senators that split into two camps
*Milds: Approved of the League in principle but wanted it altered
*Strongs: Willing to go along only if American Sovereignty was protected Fate of the Treaty
Wilson collapsed after suffering a stroke
-Became more and more cut off from affairs of the state and reality
-Popular attitude toward the League shifted
-Senate votes against it March of 1920
1924 Dawes Plan : reduced Germany's war debts, The money goes to Germany, then to europe, then back to us.
