Agenda for 2/25

1. Causes of War Reading and Questions – 25 mins

·      European Causes of War – MAIN (powder keg)

o   Spark – Franz Ferdinand assassination

·      At first Neutrality prevailed (why?)

o   Prior foreign policy was isolationist

·      Neutrality hard to maintain (why?)

o   Social ties to Allies

o   Political ties to Allies

o   Economic ties to Allies

·      German “aggression” give US cause to declare war

o   Unrestricted submarine warfare (Lusitania and others)

o   Zimmerman note – read

·      Wilson asks congress for declaration of war

o   Read last 2 paragraphs of Wilson speech

o   “Moral” Cause for war

·      US must be savior/beacon for the world

·      “Peace without Victory”

·      Democracy

·      Freedom

·      Collective security

·      Self determination for all nations

·      Many disagreed

o   Read last 3 paragraphs of Lafollete speech

 

2. The War Debate: Wilson v. LaFollete – primary doc speeches

o   Wilson speech

§  Read entire excerpt – focus on last 2 paragraphs

§  Would his justification for war have been convincing to people?

§  How does Wilson characterize the “American people” and American values? Considering the major events of the preceding decades, who might take exception with these characterizations?

o   Lafollette speech

§  What reason does he give for opposing war in the last three paragraphs?

3. War on the Home Front – 15 mins

·      The Draft and American Army

·      First ever nation-wide draft

·      3 million drafted, 2 million volunteer

·      Most diverse fighting force in American history

o   Blacks and women

·      The war’s effect on the American economy

o   Gov. appropriates $32 billion for war

§  Raise 23 billion in from Liberty Bonds

§  Raise 10 billion from income (16th Amend.) and inheritance taxes

o   “War Boards” – agencies overseeing the various sectors of the economy

§  railroads, fuel, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.

o   War Industries Board

§  great power to control economy for war, production of military good – government works with large businesses and mutually benefit.

§  Post-war, many see advantages of close relationship between gov. and private business.

o   War and Labor

§  National War Safety Board

·      Some significant improvements in working conditions

o   Though many gains were temporary

o   Significant Economic Growth

§  Increasing economic opportunity for Blacks, Asians, Mexicans and Women.

·      “Great Migration” of Southern blacks to Northern cities

 

4. Selling the War and Suppressing Dissent

• Committee on Public Information (see propaganda in PPT)

• Produced 75 million pieces of propaganda

• 1917 Espionage Act 

• 1918 – Sabotage Act and Sedition Act

• Schenk v. US - excerpt from Backstory - "A Clear Amendment Danger"
  
  
  

HW:

• To what extent were the limitations placed on civil liberties by the Espionage, Sabotage and Sedition Acts (1917) justifiable in a time of war?

o   Thesis/topic sentence (yes or no), mention other side with “Although” phrase

o   One paragraph response

• Answer 4 questions from “Why did the United States enter World War I?”

• QUIZ ON INFO FROM HW NEXT CLASS