C31 - The War to End War - 1917 - 1918 Flashcards
“normalcy”
During the election of 1920, voters were looking for “normalcy”. They were tired of the Wilson days that included his great idealism, do-goodism, and his calls for moral self sacrifice.
Eighteenth Amendment
- Prohibition. Prohibited all alcoholic drinks. Driven by the need to preserve ingredients for food (not for making beer) in order to feed soldiers overseas.
Also, many beer brewers were German. At the time, Germans were not trusted.
Also, many women had been fighting for years for prohibition - they felt it led to social ills (men drinking too much caused problems for society).
Fourteen Points
January, 1918: Wilson delivered his Fourteen Points Address to Congress. Shared his idealistic aims/goals of the US in entering the war.
Treaty of Versailles
June 1919, after much disagreement the treaty was finished. Wilson’s 14 points were not all there. The Germans were angry, as they had surrendered under the assumption that Wilson’s 14 points would be part of the final agreement.
Wilson was also disappointed with the agreement.
Many groups in America were critical of the agreement and the League of Nations that it created: Isolationists did not agree with the US becoming so entangled in world affairs. German Americans and Italian Americans thought it was too harsh toward their native countries. Many “Hun haters” in America (people who distrusted German immigrants) thought it wasn’t harsh enough on Germany.
The Treaty ultimately failed - Congress could not get enough votes. The World was disappointed with the US. Adolf Hitler of Germany, who was rising in power used this as a rallying cry.
Zimmermann note
1917: Note sent from Germany to Mexico, trying to get Mexico’s help in fighting the US.
Marshal Foch
French military leader who was a General of the Allied Army, fighting against the Germans in France.
collective security
Agreement where countries who are part of the agreement will help with security of another member country is attacked.
Wilson tried to make this part of his League of Nations.
conscription
The Draft. Congress passed in 1917, forcing all men between 18-45 to Register for the Draft or become soldiers who would fight overseas.
There were many critics of forced military service, but Wilson saw it as a necessity to get a large Army to Europe quickly before the Allies fell.
Food Administration
Led by Herbert Hoover. The goal was to make sure there was enough food to feed soldiers and allies who were fighting overseas, as well as US citizens at home.
James M. Cox
Democratic candidate in election of 1920. His VP running mate was Franklin D. Roosevelt.
War Industries Board
Formed in 1918, but only lasted a few months until the war ended.
Goal was to form a cooperative effort with industries to get needed supplies for the war.
irreconcilables
Group of Republican Senators who, in 1919 while Wilson was part of a group working out a peace treaty, were back at home stirring up opposition to Wilson’s League of Nation’s idea.
Bernard Baruch
Appointed by Wilson to head the War Industries Board.
Nineteenth Amendment
1920: Women suffrage. Women given the right to vote.
Industrial Workers of the World
Radical group whose speech frightened many US citizens during WWI. Their leader and some members were convicted and sentenced to prison.