First World War

Question 1

Why America joined the war

Answer 1

US economic ties with GB and France 
German U-Boats attack of Lusitania
Germany then continuing U-Boat campaign 
Protection of liberal democracy 
Zimmermann Telegram

Question 2

Reason for war 1

US economic ties

Answer 2

By April 1917 US had loaned GB and France 2.3 billion.

Huge investment to be protected

Question 3

Reason for war 2

German u boats

Answer 3

May 1915 boat Lusitania was attached and 128 Americans died
Led to American support for entering the war
Wilson got a guarantee from the Germans that they would top unrestricted submarine warfare

Question 4

Reason for war 3

German continuing u boat campaign

Answer 4

Jan 1917 G decided the US was supporting the allies (loans trade etc) and so resumed the campaign
Wilson cut all diplomatic ties after this (Feb 1917)

Question 5

Reason for war 4

Protection of Liberal Democracy

Answer 5

German victory would undermine liberal democracy

And US wanted to be able to determine peace and felt it could only do this if it got involved

Question 6

Reason for war 5

Zimmermann Telegram

Answer 6

Sent from German foreign secretary to German ambassador in Washington 1917
Intercepted by Britain
Detailed how unrestricted submarine warfare was to begin and that they expected war with US

Question 7

Effect the war had on the Economy

Answer 7

Trade
Loans
Army
Govt spending

Question 8

Effect on economy 1

Trade

Answer 8

1913 American income from trade was about $2 bill by 1916 it was almost $6 billion
By late 1916 GB was spending about 10 mill a day in US trade

Question 9

Effect on economy 2

Loans

Answer 9

GB relied on US loans raised in NY and were being raised by 4 mill a day
US replaced GB as the most important creditor in the world
NY became financial capital

Question 10

Effect on economy 3

Army

Answer 10

Selective service act 1917- all men had to register and those to be dragged were chosen by lottery. By the end of the war nearly 3 mill had been drafted
The army had to be supplied and equipped which boosted the economy
War industries board set up 1917- organised supplies and was the first time the Govt had taken a role in directing economic development

Question 11

Effect on economy 4

Govt spending

Answer 11

Growth in spending-in 1816 it was 1.5% of GNP; by 1918 it was 24.1% of GNP

Question 12

How they paid for the war

Answer 12

Used 2 main methods
Taxation
Liberty bonds

Question 13

Taxation

Answer 13

Raised a third of revenue needed
Introduced at a rate of 1%-7% of income and paid only be the wealthiest 1%
1916 Revenue Act-rates of taxation were doubled 2%-15% of income. Also introduced taxes on estates and business profits

Question 14

Liberty Bonds

Answer 14

Issued from May 1917
Bonds sold to public to support war effort
Could be redeemed later with interest
5 campaigns raised more than $21 billion

Question 15

Positive consequences of the war

Part 1

Answer 15

Exports rose
Industrial production rose by 39% between 1916-1918
Number of employed grew by 1.3 million and unemployment virtually disappeared
Levels of real wages were higher

Question 16

Positive consequences of the war

Part 2

Answer 16

US farms increased export of food to Europe by 300% and a doubling of prices from 1913 to 1918
America became a creditor nation

Question 17

Negative Consequences of the War

Answer 17

112,500 Americans died
National Debt increased by 658% between 1916-1919 (over 27 billion)
Tax levels remained high (not as high as wartime)
Demobilisation led to post-war slow down of economy and a brief recession in 1920-1921

Question 18

Political and social consequences of the war

Answer 18

Strengthened power of Federal Govt 
Limits on personal freedom 
Prohibition 
Intolerance of foreigners 
Enfranchisement of women

Question 19

P+S consequences of war

Strengthened power of Fed Govt

Answer 19

Involved in economy to unprecedented level
Railroad Administration created standardised national system
Fuel Administration set limits on prices of oil and coal
National War Labour Board-worked with unions which strengthened their power (collective bargaining)

Question 20

P+S consequences of war

Limits of personal freedom

Answer 20

Espionage Act of 1917-became illegal to attempt to obstruct military recruitment and to encourage disloyalty
Sedition Act of 1918-made it illegal to discourage people from buying war bonds or verbally attacking the constitution band the war effort

Question 21

P+S consequences of war

Prohibition

Answer 21

Lever Act of 1917-curtailed use of grain+reduced the alcohol content of beer
Prohibition Act of 1918-stopped the sale+manufacture of alcoholic drinks during the war
18th Amendment-made it permanent
Volstead Act of 1919-making illegal the sale, transportation and manufacturing of any beverage containing over 0.5% alcohol

Question 22

P+S consequences of war

Intolerance of Foreigners

Answer 22

And any dissenters of prevailing mood
Patriotism quickly became prejudice
Sauerkraut renamed Liberty cabbage

Question 23

P+S consequences of war

Enfranchisement of women

Answer 23

New York gave women the vote in 1917
19th Amendment 1918-passed providing votes for women nationwide
Passed through senate in 1920s

Question 24

Impact:

Preparedness programme

Answer 24

Acknowledgement that US had to prepare for the possibility of war (Wilson had declared US neutral)
Established regular army of 250,000 with enough officers to command an army of 1,500,000
Authorised immediate action to make US navy 2nd only to GB + the building of permanent munitions being built
Congress created Council of National Defence in 1916