World War I
War broke out in late summer of 1914, but tensions had been building in Europe since 1900. Inititally the US stayed away from the war, but after the
Sinking of the Lusitanian, Zimmerman telegram, and Russian Revolution the US decides to join the allied powers. We had close ties with the other nations in the allied powers (Russia, France, Great Britian, Italy, Japan) and big buisness loaned a lot of money to the allies, which was the determining factor in joining.
Sinking of the Lusitanian, Zimmerman telegram, and Russian Revolution the US decides to join the allied powers. We had close ties with the other nations in the allied powers (Russia, France, Great Britian, Italy, Japan) and big buisness loaned a lot of money to the allies, which was the determining factor in joining.
This photo is an advirtisement showing women's desire to get out and go into the workforce. "victory girls" was a catchy name that attracted women to join the campaign to get work.
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This is also another advirtisement, or propaganda poster trying to sway people to grow victory gardens. I thought it was a good representation of how people would be more apt to do it if they saw a catchy poster such as this.
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A somewhat clear picture of what the Treaty of Versailles actually looked like.
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Social
The Espionage Act The Espionage Act of 1917 became law while we were fighting WWI. The act outlined measures to be taken and fines to be charged if someone was suspected of or proved to be "spying". This limited the peoples first amendment rights, it stopped any citizen from distributing information on or speaking of communism. Women in the Workforce With a large number of men going off into the war, as well as african americans, women were now able to join the work force and take over jobs that men typically would persue. Womens opportunities and status was not equal during this time but it paved the way for women to get into the working world. |
Economic
Liberty Bonds Taxes became insufficient for war funding so the government had to come up with another way to pool funds. They proposed this idea of "bonds" where you could purchase it for say $25, but over x amount of years you could turn it in and get double it's worth. This allowed you to "loan" the goverment money and in turn they agree to repay it in interest. War Industry Board One of the first industries established, it coordinated the production of War matrials. In July 1917 the industry came about and at first were powerless, but by March 1918 they gained much more power. Bernard Baruch was appointed to run the WIB and under him, manufacturers were told what they could and could not produce, and controlled the flow of raw materials. The WIB was a way to stay economical about the war, and helped control and better manage regulation of materials to help the war. |
Political
Wilsons 14 Points Wilson proposed a plan of 14 thigns which would prohibit the US from ever having to go to war again. The 14 points touched on Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism (all of which were reasons why we entered WWI). He says in this document that his goal is "The world be made fit and safe to live in and like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression." His overall goal is for each nation to keep to it's self and keep the peace. Although he saw this as the only possible way, his 14 points was never approved by the governement. Palmer Raids The Palmer Raids were a series of invasive raids by the United States Department of Justice and Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1919 to 1921 on "suspected communitsts." Our fears of communists in the US led to drastic measures trying to ensure that there were no communists within the US. The raids are named after Alexander Mitchell Palmer, United States Attorney General under Woodrow Wilson. |
Additional Terms
Victory gardens: Vegetable gardens which citizens grew to create extra rations either for themselves, or to send away to troops in the war. This idea was introduced by Hoover and was a way to get soldiers foods without adding expenses to the government, and the people cooperated.
Treaty of Versailles: In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson met to discuss how Germany would be punished for the war, which was decided with the treaty. It forced Germany to take full responsibility, limited their armed forces, and left all reparations in their favor. For Europe, this meant other countries could invade Germany, they could continue imperialising and they would be payed back all war spending.
Treaty of Versailles: In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson met to discuss how Germany would be punished for the war, which was decided with the treaty. It forced Germany to take full responsibility, limited their armed forces, and left all reparations in their favor. For Europe, this meant other countries could invade Germany, they could continue imperialising and they would be payed back all war spending.