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
- 1918 – Sabotage Act and Sedition Act
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
