Unit 4 Part 3 US in WWI / Homefront

Mr. Klein Fall 2012

U.S. Stays Out of War at First

Remember Monroe Doctrine

US has strong Isolationist sentiment

Isolationism: Reluctance to become involved in alliances, wars, or affairs of European nations.

Maintains policy of Neutrality trades with both sides Wilson wins re-election in 1916:
He kept us out of war

U.S. Stays Out of War at First

Split feelings about supporting Allies:

GB: Strong cultural ties FR: Helped us win Revolution

BUT
- RUS: Authoritarian regime (Czar) Incompatible with US belief in democracy and freedom

I. Steps Leading US to War

Problems on the Seas

1. UK Navy blockades Germany stops delivery of all supplies
Called Hunger Blockade by Germans no food coming ashore for citizens

2. GER uses u-boats to stop ships from bringing supplies to UK US had been supplying both sides now must choose:
$3 billion in trade with allies $2 million in trade with central powers

Problems on the Seas

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (USW) GER announces it will sink any Allied ships around GB

Warns hard to tell difference b/t Allied and neutral so neutral ships STAY OUT Violates international law by not giving warning before attacking civilian ships

Problems on the Seas (cont.)

US strongly objects to USW Warns GER that if US ships sunk or US citizens killed, harsh consequences will result

May 1, 1915 - Lusitania

128 Americans die GER promises to stop USW

March 24, 1916 Sussex

French passenger ship torpedoed w/ US on board US threatens to cut diplomatic relations with GER GER issues Sussex Pledge warn before attack

Sussex Pledge Violated

Feb 1, 1917 Germany Announces they will resume USW
Knows US will join war now Believes can defeat British and American Navies with U-boats Believes can win war before US will be ready to make an impact in FR

Feb 3, 1917 US severs diplomatic relations with GER

Zimmerman Note
February 1917: GB sends US a copy of an intercepted telegram from GER to Mexico Telegram asks Mexico to become GER ally and make war with US

Terms are that Mexico will reclaim TX, AZ and NM after war

ZIMMERMAN NOTE

Russia Leaves War

Revolution of February 1917 throws Czar Nicholas II out of power Provisional democratic govt set up
Removes US opposition to siding with Czar

Russia has taken HORRID casualties

Second (Communist) revolution will follow in October

Russia leaves war in Oct 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (very unfavorable terms)

Final Straw for US Neutrality

Germany U-boats sink 3 US ships between March 16-18, 1917
City of Memphis Illinois Vigilancia

Aztec also sunk April 2, 1917 US sets up convoy system for shipping:
Send groups of merchant ships escorted by Naval ships for protection

US declares war April 6, 1917

II. US Enters War

The Great War The War to End All Wars The War to Make the World Safe for Democracy

US Preparedness To Fight
US NOT prepared for war:
Total of 200,000 soldiers (many still in training) Very few guns! 3rd largest Navy in world but 60% of ships need repairs and only 10% have enough crew! No planes or tanks!

Congress Passes Selective Service Act:

Sets up mandatory draft registration for men 21-30 (later expanded to 18-41) 4.8 million men in service by end of war

While Getting Ready:

US sends 14,500 troops to France
American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Commanded by Gen. John J. Pershing (Blackjack)

General John J. Pershing

Blackjack

While Getting Ready:

US sends 14,500 troops to France
American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Commanded by Gen. John J. Pershing (Blackjack) American soldiers called Yanks or Doughboys Will swell to over 2 million by 1918

US also provides immediate help with:

Naval support Supplies $3 billion in loans

Mission of AEF:
Pershing does not want US troops under control of Allied (FR and UK) commanders Wants US forces used for OFFENSIVE actions Promises 1 million troops by 1918

FR and UK NOT happy want more men IMMEDIATELY but US cannot provide

2nd Battle of the Marne (Chateau-Theirry) 1st Major battle for US (July 18,1918)
GER launches large offensive on 7/15/1918
Trying to crush Allies before US fully mobilized 50 miles from Paris

US leads counter-offensive at Chateau-Thierry Surprise attack (no advance artillery barrage) Despite being outnumbered, US refuses to retreat and breaks German lines US loses of troops that fight First big gain of year by Allies on Western Front

67,000 American Casualties

Memorial at Chateau-Thierry

The Unlikely War Hero:

Cher Ami
Dear Friend

The Lost Battalion:

Cher Ami
Dear Friend

Meuse-Argonne Offensive September 1918

Lost Battalion 550 US soldiers make up center of assault force near Argonne Forest (France) Units on both sides stopped by Germans

Center of force surrounded by enemy troops

6 days with no resupply or reinforcement
Crawl through enemy fire to get stream water
Eat leaves, roots, etc.

Lost Battalion Begins being hit by friendly artillery fire

No Radios all runners captured or killed

Try to send messages by carrier pigeon but Germans were shooting them all down Down to ONE final pigeon (Cher Ami)
Send one last message: We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!

The Unlikely War Hero:

Shot down stunned but takes flight again:

Shot through breast Blinded in one eye Bleeding profusely Leg hanging by a tendon

Delivers message and artillery stops Doctors save his life but not his leg

Awarded Croix de Guerre

Lost Battalion Once bombardment stops Germans attack in force Despite 70% of soldiers being killed, trapped soldiers repel German assault 190 soldiers rescued Meuse-Argonne Assault successful and Germans sent into retreat

ARMISTICE On Nov 6, 1918 GER asks for cease fire to negotiate terms of peace
Kaiser Wilhelm has abdicated Wilson has publically outlined his Fourteen Points for peace Germans felt its terms fair More on Fourteen Points later

Armistice signed 11/11/1918 at 11:00 pm

KNOW THIS DATE!!

III. US Homefront

Three Main Issues

1. Mobilizing Industry 2. Financing the War
3. Controlling Public Opinion

A. Mobilizing Industry
US and Allies need TONS of supplies, equipment, ammunition, etc. Congress gives Wilson broad powers to control economy Creates:
War Industries Board Food Administration Fuel Administration

1. War Industries Board

Very broad powers:
How to distribute of raw materials Tells manufacturers what they must produce Sets prices

Succeeded in effectively supplying war What economic system does this resemble?

Bernard Baruch

a. Ensuring Factories Keep Running

4.8 million men out of workforce (military)

Women and African-Americans fill jobs normally reserved for white men

b. Organized Labor in the War Effort

Samuel Gompers assures govt that AF of L will not strike during war
Eugene Debs uses war as chance to advance anti-capitalist, anti-war opinions of Socialist Party:
IWW becomes prime target for Government investigations and arrests of political radicals
Citizens take to vigilante justice intimidating, whipping and lynching IWW members

2. Fuel Administration
Goals:
Increase fuel production (esp. coal) Reduce non-industrial consumption

Implements daylight savings time Encourages the public to observe gasless days

3. Food Administration
Goal:
Conserve meat, wheat sugar and fats for troops Increase production

Headed by Herbert Hoover Why Hoover?

Herbert Hoover

3. Food Administration
Hoover is international celebrity for aid to Belgium:
In 1914, Belgium is starving (imported of food) Now food cut off by German Army and GB naval blockade 7 million lives at risk

Hoover has international shipping experience (works in mining) Heads Commission for Relief in Belgium

Herbert Hoover

3. Food Administration
CRB:
Like a pseudo-govt of private charity:
Had own flag Negotiated treaties with warring nations Budget of nearly $1 billion (all privately donated) Responsible for feeding 9.5 million civilians in Belgium and occupied France

Herbert Hoover

3. Food Administration
CRB experience leads Hoover to believe in Voluntary measures Chooses NOT to ration or use price controls Voluntary Conservation:
Meatless Mondays Wheatless Wednesdays Victory Gardens
Herbert Hoover

3. Food Administration
Hoover would also head American Relief Association (ARA) after WWI
Spearhead food relief efforts in Russia

Herbert Hoover saved more lives than any person who has ever lived.
Historian Bertrand Patenaude

Herbert Hoover

B. Financing the War

War will be EXPENSIVE By end, calculated to cost $1 million per HOUR Govt Adopts two-pronged approach:

War Revenue Act of 1917

Raises individual and corporate taxes Top individual rate from 15% to 77%

Sell Liberty Bonds

Voluntary loans by citizens to govt for war costs Repaid after war with interest

B. Financing the War

In the end, Bond drive very successful

66% of war financing comes from Liberty Bond sales (about $20 billion)
33% comes from taxes (about $10 billion)

Approximately $30 billion spent on war

C. Controlling Public Opinion

Wilson creates Committee on Public Information to sell war to public via propaganda

Laws passed limiting anti-govt or anti-war speech

1. Committee on Public Information

Govt propaganda agency Headed by George Creel

Attempted to create patriotism and pro-war sentiment

Demonized enemy

1. Committee on Public Information

Tools used by CPI: Posters

1. Committee on Public Information

Tools used by CPI: Posters Films

1. Committee on Public Information

Tools used by CPI: Posters Films Four Minute Men

1. Committee on Public Information

Tools used by CPI: Posters Films Four Minute Men Voluntary censorship of press Removal of all things German (music, paintings, foods) from public life
Frankfurters = Hot Dogs Hamburgers = Liberty Sandwiches Sauerkraut = Liberty Cabbage

1. Committee on Public Information

Created flurry of anti-immigrant sentiment
Liberty Leagues in most communities:
Encouraged volunteers to spy on neighbors with foreign (esp. German) last names and report suspicious speech or activities to Justice Dept. Pressured all immigrants to outwardly demonstrate loyalty to avoid suspicion

2. Laws Limiting Speech

Espionage Act of 1917: Illegal to interfere with the war effort or with military recruitment Eugene Debs jailed for violation Sedition Act of 1918: Actually an expansion of Espionage Act Illegal to use disloyal, critical or abusive language about the govt, flag, or armed forces. What about First Amendment????

The Human Toll of WWI

Country

Total Mobilized Forces

Killed

Wounded

Prisoners and Missing

Total Casualties

Casualties as % of Forces

ALLIED AND ASSOCIATED POWERS Russia British Empire France Italy United States Japan Romania Serbia Belgium Greece Portugal Montenegro TOTAL 12,000,000 8,904,467 8,410,000 5,615,000 4,800,000 800,000 750,000 707,343 267,000 230,000 100,000 50,000 42,188,810 1,700,000 908,371 1,357,800 650,000 116,516 300 335,706 45,000 13,716 5,000 7,222 3,000 5,142,631 4,950,000 2,090,212 4,266,000 947,000 204,002 907 120,000 133,148 44,686 21,000 13,751 10,000 12,800,706 2,500,000 191,652 537,000 600,000 4,500 3 80,000 152,958 34,659 1,000 12,318 7,000 4,121,090 9,150,000 3,190,235 6,160,800 2,197,000 323,018 1,210 535,706 331,106 93,061 27,000 33,291 20,000 22,062,427 76.3 35.8 73.3 39.1 7.1 0.2 71.4 46.8 34.9 11.7 33.3 40.0 52.3

Country

Total Mobilized Forces

Killed

Wounded

Prisoners and Missing

Total Casualties

Casualties as % of Forces

Central Powers

Germany

11,000,000

1,773,700

4,216,058

1,152,800

7,142,558

64.9

AustriaHungary Turkey Bulgaria

7,800,000

1,200,000

3,620,000

2,200,000

7,020,000

90.0

2,850,000 1,200,000

325,000 87,500

400,000 152,390

250,000 27,029

975,000 266,919

34.2 22.2

TOTAL

22,850,000

3,386,200

8,388,448

3,629,829

15,404,477

67.4

GRAND TOTAL

65,038,810

8,528,831

21,189,154

7,750,919

37,466,904

57.5