The Impact of World War I on Progressive America: Social Changes and Political Decisions (1917-1920)

1. Chapter 37 Over Here: World War I at Home 1917–1920

2. The Progressive War • World War I • Make “world safe for democracy” • “War to end all wars” • Progressives turn ideas into policy • War kills progressive movement • Progressive split over intervention • Democratic progressives support war • See war as opportunity to pass more reform • Government takes control of economy

3. Progressive War (cont.’d) • Planned economy • Size of government mushrooms • The Shipping Board • United Railway Administration • William McAdoo • War Industries Board • Herbert Hoover • Heads Food Administration • Very successful; engineer’s approach • Uses voluntary cooperation and rationing • Provides incentives for farmers • Managing people • Selective Service Act • Some deferment by occupation • Use local draft boards • Some conscientious objectors

4. Social Changes • Labor • AFL cooperates with government • Gompers serves on War Industries Board • AFL agrees to no strikes during war • AFL grow with government support • Blacks in Wartime • Many serve loyally in military • Hope to gain more rights • Armed forces still segregated • Some are commissioned as officers

5. Social Changes (cont.’d) • Race riots at home • Blacks migrate to the north • Seek jobs in war industries • Young most likely to migrate • Race riots erupt in cities • Women in war • Women serve in armed forces • Serve in non-combatant positions • More women in factory jobs • Women organize support groups

6. Social Changes (cont.’d) • Voting at last • Aggressive Women’s Party demonstrates • Moderates promise cooperation in return for vote • Wilson supports woman suffrage • Nineteenth Amendment passes 1919 • The Moral War • Prior to war prohibition making few gains • Need to conserve grain gains support for prohibition • Eighteenth Amendment passes • Progressives use war to improve morality • Troops receive lectures on dangers of prostitution • Some red-light districts closed • Prostitution continues

7. Conformity and Repression • Socialists • Oppose war • Government acts against Socialists • Congress refuses seat to Berger • Debs imprisoned for anti-draft speech • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Did not strongly oppose war • Union too successful for government • Vigilante terrorism used against IWW • Government action taken against IWW

8. Conformity and Repression (cont.’d) • Civil Liberties • Espionage Act of 1917 • Sedition Act of 1918 • Schenck v. the United States • Free speech impaired by war • Propaganda • Committee on Public Information • German culture, people depicted as evil • Massive propaganda campaign • Persecution of German-Americans • Some German persecution harmless • Names of dog breeds, foods, towns • Many German Americans lose jobs • Vigilante groups terrorized German Americans • Little protection from law enforcement

9. Wilson and the League of Nations • Fourteen Points • Treat Germany fairly • National self-determination • Freedom of the seas, disarmament • League of Nations • Wilson’s obsession • Wilson attends peace conference • Refuses to take leading Republicans • Believes Europe agrees with Fourteen Points • Clemenceau of France wants revenge • Lloyd George of Britain wants revenge • Orlando of Italy wants territory • Only Wilson committed to Fourteen Points

10. Wilson and the League of Nations (cont.’d) • Wilson must compromise • Treaty harsh against Germany • Little national self-determination • League of Nations is in treaty • Article 10 (League of Nations) • Republicans oppose treaty • Fear League of Nations • Afraid U.S. will lose sovereignty • Republicans led by Henry Cabot Lodge

11. Wilson and the League of Nations (cont.’d) • Fight for the League • Lodge buys time in committee • Wilson takes case to people • Wilson falls ill on tour • Wilson suffers a stroke • Wilson out of public eye for six weeks • Wife manages who sees president • Wilson refuses to compromise • Congress does not ratify treaty

12. Wilson and the League of Nations (cont.’d) • Election of 1920 • Wilson’s last hope for ratification of treaty • Democrats run James M. Cox • Republicans run Warren G. Harding • The Great Bloviator • Harding waffles on treaty • Promises America normalcy • Americans lose interest in treaty • Harding wins easily

13. Discussion Questions • Did the Great War end the progressive movement? Is there any trace of true progressivism today? • What role did Black Americans play in the Great War? Did conditions changes for them upon their return to the United States? • How were American civil liberties curtailed during the Great War? Were particular groups targeted? • For what reasons did the United States not ratify the Treaty of Versailles?