Emergence on the World Stage 1912-1920 Flashcards
Workers during WW1
Government agencies, such as the War Labour Policies Board, were set up to facilitate industrial relations and effective working arrangements.
Wages doubled in the steel industry because it gave greater influence and acceptance to unions.
Women during WW1
Women were not mobilised into war production.
Their role was mainly seen as encouraging people to buy war bonds and sending comforts to the troops abroad.
Only 6,000 women were engaged in aircraft manufacture.
Agriculture during WW1
Food production increased from 12.3 million to 18.6 million tons per year and farmers’ income grew by 30% between 1915 and 1918.
Railroads during WW1
The railroads were run as a single centralised system to co-ordinate and simplify this vital transport system for the movement of goods and troops. For example, standardised accounting practices, raised wages for employees and increased passenger rates.
War Industries Board during WW1
Wilson created it in July 1917 to co-ordinate the tasks of finance and supplies.
Economy during WW1
Th economy was prepared for the conflict.
Two-thirds of the war cost was raised by loans such as Liberty and Victory Loans.
African Americans’ suppression during WW1
The government authorised the Bureau of Investigation of the Justice Department, and military intelligence, to track down pro-German feelings among AA.
Wilson’s intension in the League of Nations
An international organisation for peacekeeping and mutual co-operation in which all signatories of the treaties should join.
To maintain orderly relations between countries, based in part of what had gone wrong and led to war.
Congress’ refusal in joining the League of Nations
The Senate voted against this direct US involvement in the affairs of Europe, as the USA reverted to a policy of isolationism.
Wilson’s intension in the League of Nations
An international organisation for peacekeeping and mutual co-operation in which all signatories of the treaties should join.
Reason for US entry to WW1
•Unrestricted submarine warfare
Several US ships were sunk by German U-boats.
Wilson realised that only belligerents could possibly have any influence in negotiating the post-war settlement.
Reason for US entry to WW1
•Unrestricted submarine warfare
Several US ships were sunk by German U-boats.
Reason for US entry to WW1
•Unrestricted submarine warfare
Several US ships were sunk by German U-boats.
Wilson had little choice, the USA had been provoked until its credibility was threatened.
Reason for US entry to WW1
•Failure of peace initatives
No one seemed interested in Wilson’s efforts to broker peace
Reason for US entry to WW1
•Failure of peace initatives
No one seemed interested in Wilson’s efforts to broker peace.
For example, Wilson had sent his envoy twice to Europe in 1915 and 1916 to negotiate a truce but neither side responded very enthusiastically.
Reason for US entry to WW1
• Zimmerman Telegraph
It afforded Wilson a further pretext to war.
Reason for US entry to WW1
• Economic pressure
US exports doubled as a percentage of the GNP between 1914 and 1916, and 70% of them went to Europe.
- Powerful and wealthy interests could continue to enjoy huge profits
- Exports to the Allies brought the USA out of Depression in 1914
Reason for US entry to WW1
(Counter-point) for economic pressure
The US economy was so healthy by 1916 that none of the belligerents had the competency to compete. It would not have made a significant difference to US prosperity even if the Allied trade had been severed.
Peace Treaties after WW1
• Fourteen Points
1) Open diplomacy in order to maintain orderly relations between countries, based in part of what had gone wrong and led to war.
2) Self-determination, with borders being redrawn according to the wishes of local populations.
Peace Treaties after WW1
• Paris Peace Conference
Most decisions were made by the ‘Big Three’
Wilson’s idea of a lasting peace settlement based on fairness and moral principles did not receive a sympathetic audience.
Wilson’s priority was to gain acceptance of the League of Nations.
Economy by 1920
Strengths
1) Money poured into the USA for food, raw materials and munitions from the ‘Big Three’, which led to the growth of US industry and agriculture.
2) US manufacturers and farmers took over European overseas markets and further expanded. For example, the USA took over from Germany as the leading producer for fertilisers and chemicals.
3) The USA had not been directly affected by the ravages of war as had most of Europe.
Economy by 1920
Weaknesses
Small farmers struggled to compete with larger agricultural enterprises and competition from Canada.
Reason for US Neutrality 1914-1917
• Public Opinion & view of causes of war
1) The war in Europe had nothing to do with them
2) Wars were wrong and achieved little
In 1914, 1,500 women marched in New York protesting against the war.
Reason for US Neutrality 1914-1917
• Wilsonianism
Wilson was guided by a sense of Christian morality, which found war abhorrent.
Declaration of Neutrality in 1914 Wilson offered to mediate.
Tension concerning Neutrality 1914-1917
• Trade
By 1914, US was a major trading nations.
It exported $549 million worth of goods to Britain and had a trading surplus of over $300 million.
Continuation would bring prosperity to the US, as all sides needed to buy US goods due to the demands of war.
Loss of trade could see a $60 to $100 million deficit in government spending over income.
Tension concerning Neutrality 1914-1917
• Pro-British feeling
Wilson natural preferences for British culture and customs
Tension concerning Neutrality 1914-1917
• Anti- German feeling
The USA had had confrontations with Germany in Samoa in 1889 and Wilson worried about Germany’s growing interests in Latin American, especially Mexico.
Tension concerning Neutrality 1914-1917
• Lusitania
In 1915, with 128 Americans among the 1,200 dead.
Wilson issued a strong protest, demanding that Germany abandon the policy.
Tension concerning Neutrality 1914-1917
• Unrestricted submarine warfare
In 1915, Germany declared British waters a war zone and reserved the right to sink any ships en route to Britain.
Describe the US society by 1920
Diverse and multicultural due to immigrants joined in search of the ‘American dream’.
Immigration aggravated the racial tension that existed in America despite the end of slavery
African Americans by 1920
They were very much second-class citizens due to discrimination, segregation and intimidation.
Native Americans by 1920
The role of president remained limited because Congress championed a laissez faire society, upholding the principle of individual liberty, with minimal government control.
The mood in the USA by 1920 in foreign policy
Less involvement, especially in Europe, and for a return to isolation, albeit being involved in the First World War
How much did the Allies borrow by 1918?
The Allies had, by the end of hostilities in 1918, borrowed nearly $7 billion from the USA, which after the war they would need to pay
How much did the Allies need to pay by the time of the peace settlement?
By the time of the peace settlement, Allied war debts to the USA amounted to $10.5 billion
