Triple Alliance and Triple Entente
The Triple Alliance was formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The Triple Entente was formed in 1907 between Great Britain, France, and Russia. France and Russia had already been allied in 1894.
U.S. Loans to the Allies
In October 1914, President Wilson allowed a $500 million dollar U.S. loan to the Triple Entente. As a neutral nation, the U.S. eventually loaned the Triple Entente $2.3 billion. U.S. loans to the Triple Alliance were only $27 million.
The Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, a British passenger ship carrying 128 Americans and 4200 cases of ammunition was sunk by a German U-boat. American lives were lost. This incident infuriated many Americans who now called for war. President Wilson sent a pair of notes to Germany, asking for reparitions and a promise that passenger ships would not be sunk. In February 1916, Germany apologized.
Bryan's Resignation
Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned in protest because he believed that Wilson's second set of notes to Germany showed an abandonment of neutrality. This came after Wilson approved loans to the allies tahtt Bryan objected to.
The Sussex Pledge
On March 24, 1916, a German U-boat sunk the Sussex, an unarmed French liner. President Wilson was angered. The Germans issued the Sussex Pledge in response; the Germans promised to spare lives during future U-boat attacks on merchant ships. However, the Germans wanted the U.S. to end the Triple Entente's blockade of Germany.
National Defense Act, 1916
Provisions were made for 175,000 men for an army and 450,000 men for a National Guard. $500 million was to be used to give the U.S. the most powerful navy in the world.
Revenue Act, 1916
This act levied heavy taxes on the rich to finance the National Defense Act of 1916. This was the first time that the wealthy were heavily taxed.
Election of 1916
Incumbent President Wilson won over the Teddy Roosevelt supported Charles Evans Hughes by using the slogan, "He kept us out of war." Wilson won 277 to 254 in electoral votes over Hughes who had seemed confused and had a subpar campaign.
Unrestricted U-Boat Warfare
On January 31, 1917, the Germans declared that their U-boats would attack merchant ships heading towards Allied ports. Only one American ship would be allowed to go to Portsmouth each week as long as it did not carry contraband.
Zimmerman Note
The British intercepted a German letter to Mexico in February of 1917. German foreign secretary Zimmerman wrote that when the U.S. joined the Allies, Mexico could attack the U.S. and recover the land that had been given up in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and Texas. This lead to the U.S. declaration of war.
Wilson's "War Message" (April 2)
President Wilson declared that war was already going on because of the German government's aggression. Wilson did express that the war was not the fault of the German people. Congress then voted for war.
Wilsonianism
Wilson believed in a free market, non-exploitative capitalism, and political democracy. Wilson did not believe that military intervention was right, but he believed that if was occasionally necessary. Because of his beliefs, Wilson had tried to keep the U.S. out of World War I.
Gore-McLemore Resolution
This resolution would have made it illegal for Americans to travel on ships with contraband. However, Wilson did not support this resolution and it was defeated in Congress. This showed that the U.S. may have been looking for a confrontation with Germany.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
In November of 1917, the Bolsheviks lead by Lenin, overthrew the Russian government. In March of 1918, the Bolsheviks signed this treaty with Germany. Russia would give up Finland, Poland, the Ukraine, and the Baltic states in order to stop fighting with the Germans. This allowed the Germans to concentrate their troops on the Western front.
Food Administration; Herbert Hoover
The Food Administration was created by the Lever Act of 1917 and had the authority to control prices, license distributors, negotiate prices, oversee exports, and tell farmers to grow more crops. This Hoover headed administration allowed the U.S. to feed itself and its Allies.
War Industries Board; Bernard Baruch
In 1917, the War Industries Board was created by the Council of National Defense. When Baruch was appointed as the head of the Board in March of 1918, the Board allocated and set prices on 30,000 items. The unnecessary use of vital items was also ended. This program was useful and was continued after the war.
Financing World War I
Taxes on income and luxury were passed. Bonds were sold. Liberty and Victory bonds netted $21 billion. Bonds and taxes were able to pay for the $30 billion the United States used during the war. However, the bonds also pushed the U.S. government into a larger debt.
Espionage Act, 1917
People who helped the enemy, interferred with the draft, or encouraged mutiny in the military would face 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The postmaster general could also refuse to carry mail that might help the enemy.
Sedition Act, 1918
Discouraging the sale of war bonds and criticism of the U.S. government or military became illegal and could be punished by imprisonment or fine. More than 1,500 people were arrested under the act for criticizing the government.
Schenck v. U.S.
In this 1919 case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Sedition Acts were constitutional because the right of free speech was not always absolute. Schenck, who had been arrested for anti-draft leaflets, had challenged the law with the 1st Amendment. It was ruled that criticism that threatened the war effort should be suppresed.
Abrams v. U.S.
In this 1919 case, the conviction of a man for pamphlets that had attacked the government's sending of troops to Russia and called for a strike was overturned. Justices Holmes and Brandeis disagreed with the conviction because they saw no immediate threat to the war effort.
Selective Service Act, 1917
Men between the ages of 18 and 45 were required to register for the 1st draft since the Civil War. 2.8 million of the 24 million that registered for the draft were choosen
AEF; General Pershing
In 1917, The American Expeditionary Force led by General John J. Pershing was the 1st set of American troops to arrive in Europe. The Allies only used the group as reinforcements; therefore, they had little impact during the battles.
Wilson's XIV Points
Wilson's points stated support for open peace covenants, no secret agreements, freedom of the seas, free trade, disarmament, adjustment, of colonial claims, a League of Nations, and the rights of minorities.
Women and the War Effort
Because 16% of the male workforce went to fight in WWI, many women took up their jobs. However, most women lost their jobs as the war ended. Many women also volunteered at the Red Cross and sold bonds.
Black Migration it the Cities
Blacks left the agricultural South for the industrialized Northern cities for better economic opportunity and more rights. However, many Northerners resented the migration. Society was still not ready to end racial prejudice.
Chicago Race Riot
In the "Red Summer" of 1919 in Chicago, a black youth drowned when he was hit by a rock while swimming at a white beach. Riots ensued and 38 people were killed
Webb-Pomerene Act
In 1918, this act gave immunity to antitrust laws for companies that combined to operate the export trade that was essential to the war effort. Minimum prices were also placed on products.
I.W.W.
The International Workers of the World believed that workers should seize and control industries. During WWI, many proponents of "Americanization" attacked IWW members. Many IWW members were jailed.
Treaty of Versailles
France was given the Alsace-Lorraine territory and the right to occupy the Saar territory for 15 years. The German Rhineland area would be demilitarized. England and the U.S. would protect France. Importantly, Germany was give full responsibility for the war and was forced to pay $37 billion for the war.
League of Nations
The League of Nations was suggested by Wilson and could investigate and advise. Only the Central Powers and Russia could not join. A council could decide whether or not to use military force.
Article X
This part of the League of Nations stated that members would repress aggression and protect political independence. To Wilson, this was the most important part of the League of Nations.
The "Big Four"
These were the four men that were responsible for creating the peace after WWI. They were President Woodrow Wilson of the United States (right), Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain, Premier Vittorio Orlando of Italy, and Premier Georges Clemenceau of France (left).
"Irreconcilables"
This was a group of 16 Republicans that refused to support any type of League of Nations
Impact of World War I on the United States
The United States was now richer and more powerful. The U.S. was now a creditor nation instead of a debtor nation
Senator Lodge, "reservationists"
Reservationists would only support the League of Nations if it benefited the United States. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was their leader. Lodge only opposed the League for political reasons. Lodge and many of the reservationists did not oppose the principle of a League. The League never passed in the United States.
"Collective Security"
This was the idea of all of the nations of the world working together to keep the peace.