Chapter 9 – World War One & Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson served as the 28^th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921, belonging to the Democrat party. During the initial years of his presidency, he enacted several regulatory and administrative reforms as categorized under the progressive era to further the social and political stability of the United States.

The emergence of the world war in 1914 did not immediately affect the United States due to its policy of non-intervention. After the entry of the US into the war, the economy was remodeled to sustain the war effort and help allies.

Causes of World War One

Assassination of Arch Franz Ferdinand

• The archduke of Austria Hungary Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a member of a Serbian nationalist group called Black Hand by the name of Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914
• This was done to protest the control of Austria Hungary over Serbia
• In response, Austria Hungary laid five demands which included the placement of its troops in Serbia
• After rejecting the demands, Serbia asked Russia for support
• Austria Hungary got the support of Germany due to a mutual defense agreement called the Carte Blanche Agreement and requested Russia to remove its troops from the border of Serbia within 12 hours
• Due to refusal by Russia, Germany declared war on august 1, 1914
• France, Belgium, and England soon entered the war due to mutual defense agreements by august 3, 1914.

Mutual defense alliances

• Entente Cordiale – the United Kingdom and France (1904)
• Dual Alliance – Germany and Austria Hungary (1879)
• Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (1882)
• Triple Entente – France, United Kingdom, and Russia (1914)

Militarism

Expansion of military size by all countries due to advancements in technology and nationalism

Imperialism

Continued fighting between involved countries in Africa and Asia due to colonization

Nationalism

Growing divisions in Europe after the Congress of Vienna and increased focus on national interest.

Causes of American Entry

Sympathy with Allies

The American government and public supported the right to freedom of their European allies and wished to preserve it in the face of German aggression.

Public Opinion and Ethnic Loyalty of Immigrants

Around 1914, close to 30% of the American population consisted of European immigrants who sympathized with their ancestral countries.

Economic / Trade relations

American munition was provided to Allied countries through a loan facility, and extended credit was awarded to fund the war effort.

Lusitania Crisis

The bombing of the British Cruise ship Lusitania in May 1915 resulted in the death of 128 Americans, which signaled German hostility towards the US.

Zimmerman Telegram

In January 1917, the British intercepted a telegram from the German foreign minister Zimmerman addressed to the President of Mexico proposing an alliance to defeat America in exchange for granting lost Mexican territories back to the country. The enraged the public and administration and exposed the German plans against the US.

Violation of Sussex Pledge

The Sussex Pledge was an agreement between Germany and the United States which states that the former would not harm unarmed civilian vessels. This pledge was violated in March 1917 when Germans sank four unarmed vessels resulting in the loss of American lives, signaling all-out hostility towards the US.

End of Neutrality (Apr 6, 1917)

President Wilson remained in favor of peaceful negotiation for most of the war. President Wilson approached Congress for approval to declare war only after the Germans displayed open hostilities against American vessels through their submarine warfare.

The Congress voted in favor on April 6, 1917, marking the official end of American neutrality.

Course of War

• National Defense Act 1916: increased the national army in size to 175,000 and approved the construction of 50 warships in preparation for the war.
• Selective Service Act 1917: initiated enlisting of all capable men between the age of 21-30 (later changed to 18-48), resulting in the enlisting of 2.8 M civilians, which constituted 72% of the army. Similarly, 13 thousand women joined the war effort without rank and pay, out of which 5000 served overseas. Around 400 thousand African American men were enlisted, out of which 200,000 were posted overseas in active battle.
• Commission on Public Information: the President set up this commission to keep the public informed regarding the war effort and progress.
• Meatless Tuesday / Wheat-Less Wednesday: to initiate a food rationing program, Herbert Hoover enacted selective days for curbing meat and wheat consumption domestically. Victory Gardens were encouraged. This program resulted in a 25% increase in food reserves.
• War industries Board/War Labor Board: set up to regulate purchasing and pricing of military and civilian assets necessary to the war effort and minimize labor disputes.
• Espionage Act 1917 / Sedition Act 1918: these laws were enacted to curb anti-war sentiments and punish acts of espionage through fines up to $10 thousand and imprisonment from 10 to 20 years.

Aftermath of War

Wilsons Fourteen Points

Wilson made his most famous speech on January 8, 1918. The Fourteen Points Speech was presented to establish moral aims for America’s engagement in World War I. It was also intended to persuade the Central powers to cease the war. Instead of signaling peace talks, the German Army increased its operations on the European Western Front. It took the German Army ten months to accept the Fourteen Points and ask Wilson to start peace talks. November 1918 saw an armistice.

1. No more secret agreements (“Open covenants openly arrived at, and public diplomacy”).
2. Free navigation of all seas outside territorial waters, both in peace and war.
3. Removal of all economic barriers between countries.
4. Reduction of national armaments to the lowest point.
5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial.
6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to develop its political setup.
7. Evacuation and restoration of Belgium.
8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine.
9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy’s borders are to be “along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.”
10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.
11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed for the Balkan states.
12. The Turkish government should govern the Turkish people. Non-Turks in the old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.
13. An independent Poland should be created, which should have access to the sea.
14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee all states’ political and territorial independence.