American History II Honors - Imperialism and the Great War |
The Home Front, the War, and the Peace
Overview
Public Support for the War
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KEY PEOPLE, EVENTS, AND OBJECTIVES
- Bernard Baruch was the leader of the War Industries Board. He was a well known Wall Street investment broker who was cognizant that there had to be an abeyance in free enterprise in order for industries to produce the war materials needed by the soldiers. Therefore, he and the War Industries Board regulated industries, ensuring that the soldiers had the war materials that they needed.
- George Creel was the leader of the Committee on Public Information. He sought to "sell America" through propaganda in order to gain support of the war effort. Propaganda played a pivotal role in the war effort -- encouraging young men to enlist in the army, women to work in factories producing war materials, and families to conserve food for the soldiers.
- In June 1918, Eugene V. Debs -- a prominent Socialist -- was arrested for denouncing the war. While in prison, Debs was nominated as the Socialist Party's presidential candidate; he won many votes in the 1920 presidential election, but did not win the presidency. His arrest was a precursor to the Red Scare that would occur after the war.
- Between 1910 and 1920, thousands of African Americans journeyed on an exodus to the North in search of economic prosperity, job openings, and racial equality. Although life was significantly improved in the North, it was not perfect: Many of the same social problems still affected African Americans.
Legislation
- In order to build an army, Congress passed the Selective Service Act -- sanctioning a military draft. Many young men registered for the draft, and through a "great national lottery", the government selected draftees who would join the Allies against the Central Powers.
- In response to sedition in the media, Congress passed the Espionage Act, an act tantamount to those passed in previous wars. The act gave postal authorities the power to ban seditious documents from the mail. In addition, it allowed them to fine or imprison individuals engaging in treasonable activities. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
- The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty that ended World War I. It severely castigated Germany, blaming it as the instigator of the war. The world leaders agreed to return the Alsace Lorraine to France, split Austria-Hungary to create Yugoslavia, and Germany was forced to pay war reparations. The harsh conditions of the treaty would lead to World War II.
The Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles
- The Fourteen Points was Wilson's address to Congress outlining the United States' war goals -- the paradigm of which was "peace without victory". Wilson proposed a noble peace, as opposed to a greedy and vengeful victory. While he sought world peace with his Fourteen Points, promoting openness, independence, and freedom, and called for open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, free trade, a gradual end to colonialism, a diminution in armaments, self-determination, and a League of Nations, the European nations disagreed, keeping only one of Wilson's ideas -- the League of Nations.
- In the United States, irreconcilables and reservationists debated about the ratification of the peace treaty. Irreconcilables were isolationists who advocated significant changes in the treaty, while reservationists were republican senators who advocated only slight ones. The conflict between the two groups prevented the ratification of the treaty.
Impact/Significance
Then - World War I was indeed a great war; prior to the war, the world had not experienced such a conflict. The war, although it took the lives of many young men in all nations and created the tension that would lead to World War II, also boosted the economy of the United States, provided opportunities for African Americans, women, and Mexican Americans, and granted the United States a title as a world superpower.
Now - The League of Nations -- although a failure during its time -- laid the groundwork for the United Nations, which was established after World War II. Wilson's goal of creating a world organization where countries could gather and peacefully resolve their quarrels was fulfilled, although long after he had passed away. Today, the United Nations includes many different nations, from Afghanistan to Japan. The organization has been effective in mitigating global tensions and maintaining world peace.
Now - The League of Nations -- although a failure during its time -- laid the groundwork for the United Nations, which was established after World War II. Wilson's goal of creating a world organization where countries could gather and peacefully resolve their quarrels was fulfilled, although long after he had passed away. Today, the United Nations includes many different nations, from Afghanistan to Japan. The organization has been effective in mitigating global tensions and maintaining world peace.