US And The First World War Flashcards
What were the US reason for remaining neutral in WW1? (7)
• avoid “foreign entanglement” except from trade
• was deep rooted resistance against concept of national army
• aid to Europe on war was disapproved
•pacifist & morale beliefs
• resentment by businessmen against British naval blockade intercepting ships (not help British)
• hostility towards German immigrants
[ overall Wilson wanted to be a peace maker ]
What were the reason for the US entering the war in (1917)? (5)
-US trade with Britain & France increased by 400% (1914-1916)
- (1914) increased anti-German feeling from Belgium incidents
- (1915) sinking of RMS Louisiana from unrestrained submarine warfare
- (1916) reports that Britain was bankrupt so they need US support
-Zimmerman telegram sent by Germans for Mexico to ally with Germany & go to war against the US
What was fighting in WW1 like for the US?
Socially;?(1917) equipping a new army was slow & time consuming
(1918) American troops arrive at rate of 250,000 a month
Politicaly; (1918) Wilson issued 14 points to establish peace
This had lead to the Ottoman Empire collapsing, Austria-Hungary disintegrating and Bulgaria surrendering
{Increase US power and prestige }
How was the economy impacted at the start of US intervention into WW1?
Economy struggled
Lots of infrastructure need to supply army for housing & training
-liberty loans introduced to raise finances for the war
-war industries board introduced to maintain production
-food and fuel act set up administration to regulate resources
-railroads nationalised
-war revenue act= increased government spending
How had WW1 impacted americas economy by the end of the war?
-economic growth
-rise in exports
-industry’s boomed
-halt in productions at end of war= social/ ethnic divisions (1919/1920)
=(1921) brief reccesion
Statistics which show Americas economy grew from WW1?
Money supply rose:
-(1916) $20 billion
-(1920) $35 billion
Average annual earnings
-(1916) $751
-(1920) $828
Reduction in armed forces saved costs
Over 900,000 armed forces left from (1919-1929)
How did WW1 impact USA world affairs before 1920?
-Woodrow Wilson in peace ciference in Paris (1919)
-popular ideas of Wilson idealism included the peace settlement ‘fourteen points”
=leading to 5 treaties signed with Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and turkey = establishing League of Nations
How did WW1 impact social and ethnic divisions in the US?
-“American” social consolidation
-socialism rose
-prohibition rose
-African American developments
What “ american” social consolidation occurred after WW1 in the US?
• espionage act passed: (1917) to guard against dangers of spies
• sedition act: (1918) extension of espionage act, (1500 persecution carried & 2/3 convicted)
• immigration act: (1918) strengthen control measures to limit immigration
Caused eugene debs to be arrested, rise in kkk and Emma Goldman regarded with suspicion
What was the red scare?
-(1917) bolsheviks seized power in Russia & started Russian revolution
= communist revolution in Germany / Hungary
-so poeple wanted to remove communists
Made poeple fear German Americans, Russians, Eastern Europeans and trade unions for links to communism
(Palmer raids)
What was socialism like in America after WW1?
(1919) Seattle had 60,000 workers on strike led by international workers of the world
(1919) Boston police strike had 75% police officers (Irish) went on strike
US steel disbanded great steel strike, almost disassembling the AFL
What were the palmer raids?
Mitchel palmer fighting against red (communist) threats
So he and his agents in justice department raided offices of radical organizations accros 12 cities in America
(Died down by 1920)
Why was there a rise in prohibition in the US after WW1? (& impact)
-anti German propaganda fit nicely with anti-saloon leagues campaign
-18th amendment ratified (1919) enforcing prohibition
-Volstead act passed (1920) to enforce prohibition
-progressives cause achieved
What African American developments were there in the US after WW1?
-heightened and sense of black identity and pride
=brought by war and a new black consciousness
-increased social mobility in armed forces
-rise in Membership of NAACP
Northwest African American migration rose
Acisstion towards black soldiers in war that they were cowards and fought badly
(1919) race war in St Louis
(1919) more than 20 race riots
What was the ‘promise to normalcy’?
Was to provide to poeple that America will become stabilised again and to reassure the public that it will be achieved
-Used by Republican candidate . Warren G Harding and running mate Calvin Coolidge
-caused by anti-immigrant feeling, industrial unrest & repressive measures to deal with red scare
