World War I and the 1920s

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to analyze American entry into WWI and its domestic consequences, explain the failure of Wilsonian idealism at Versailles, and evaluate the political, cultural, and economic conflicts of the 1920s.

American Entry into World War I

Neutrality (1914–1917)

When war broke out in Europe (August 1914), Woodrow Wilson declared neutrality. American public opinion was divided:

• Many German-Americans and Irish-Americans opposed aiding Britain
• Business interests were tied to trade with Britain and France
• Wilson sought to mediate peace

But neutrality was tilting:

• The British naval blockade prevented trade with Germany; American trade with Allies grew enormously
• Germany's submarine warfare (unrestricted warfare against all ships in the war zone) threatened American lives and shipping

Lusitania (May 1915): German U-boat sank British ocean liner; 1,198 killed including 128 Americans. Wilson demanded Germany stop attacking neutral ships. Germany temporarily backed down (Sussex Pledge, 1916).

Path to War

1916 election: Wilson re-elected on "He Kept Us Out of War."

January 1917: Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare — calculated that it could win before the U.S. mobilized.

Zimmermann Telegram (February 1917): British intelligence intercepted a German telegram to Mexico proposing an alliance — Germany would help Mexico recover Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Published in American newspapers; outrage.

April 6, 1917: Congress declared war. Wilson's war aims: "make the world safe for democracy."

The War on the Home Front

Mobilization

War Industries Board (WIB): centralized industrial production for the war effort — the most extensive government management of the economy in U.S. history to that point.

Railroad Administration, Food Administration (Herbert Hoover), Fuel Administration: government took control of key industries.

Liberty Bonds: government bonds sold to finance the war; massive propaganda campaign; $21 billion raised.

Civil Liberties Under Pressure

Espionage Act (1917) + Sedition Act (1918): criminalized antiwar speech, criticism of the government, and interference with the draft.

• Eugene V. Debs (Socialist Party leader): gave an antiwar speech, convicted under Espionage Act, sentenced to 10 years. (Wilson refused to pardon him; Harding did in 1921.)