Woodrow Wilson Fights for Peace

Read Chapter 19-4 about Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points and the Treaty of Versailles. As you read about President Wilson’s idealistic plan for world peace, make notes to answer the following questions. Please post your answer to your blog by 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.

1. What was Wilson's 14th Point? The creation of the League of Nations, which would provide a forum for nations to discuss and settle their grievences without having to resort to war.

2. What terms of the treaty specifically affected Germany? The treaty of Versailles barred Germany from maintaining an army. It also required Germany to return to the region of Alsace-Lorraine to France and to pay reparations, war damages, which were $33 billion, to the allies.

3. What were the weaknesses of the treaty? With Germany being treated this way, this weakened the ablility of the Treaty of Versailles to provide a lasting peace in Europe. The treaty contained a war-guilt clause, which forced Germany to admit sole responsibilty for starting World War I. In reality, other nations were also responsible. Also, Germany couldn't pay the reparations. Germany was stripped of its colonial posessions in the Pacific, which may have helped them repay the reparations. Also, since Russia (now called the Soviet Union) was excluded from the peace conference, they lost more territory than Germany did. They were determined to get back their lost land. The treaty ignored claims of colonized people for self-determination.

4. Why did Henry Cabot Lodge object to the treaty? He was suspicious of the provision for joint economic and military action against aggression, even thought it was voluntary. They wanted the constitutional right of Congress to declare war included in the treaty.

5. How did Wilson help bring about the Senate's rejection of the treaty? Wilson ignored the Republican majority in the Senate when he chose the members of the American delegation. If he had been more willing to accept a compromise on the League, it would have been more likely that the Senate would have approved the treaty.

6. What circumstances at this time would eventually lead many Germans to support Adolf Hitler? Hitler was an angry veteran of WWI and he demanded vengeance. People who felt the same way supported him.

7. Who is George Clemenceau? He was the french premier who was determined to prevent future invasions.

8. Who is David Lloyd George? He was the British prime minister. He wanted to "make Germany pay."

9. Describe the participation of Russia at the peace conference. Russia was excluded from the peace conference and because of this, they lost more territory than Germany did. They became determined to regain their former territory.

WWI - The War at Home

Please read Chapter 19-3 - The War at Home and post your answer to the following questions.

What were some things accomplished by the following wartime agencies and laws?

1. War Industries Board-encouraged companies to use mass production techniques to increase efficiency, urged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products like making only 5 colors of typewriter ribbons. They set production quotas and allocated raw materials.
2. Railroad Administration-controlled railroads
3. Fuel Administration-monitored coal supplies and rationed gasoline and heating oil. "Gasless Sundays" and "lightless nights" were practiced to save fuel. They created daylight savings time in order to take advantage of the longer days of summer.
4. National War Labor Board-to handle disputes between management and labor. Workers who refused to obey board decisions could lose their draft exemptions. The board also worked to improve factory conditions and pushed for an eight hour workday, promoted safety inspections, and enforced the child labor ban.
5. Food Administration-to help produce and conserve food, families practiced "the gospel of the clean plate" and one day a week meatless, another sweetless, two days wheatless and two days porkless. Homeowners planted "victory gardens" in their yards to grow some of their own food in stead of buying it all.
6. Committee on Public Information-the nation's first propaganda agency. This was created to popularize the war and influence people's thoughts and actions.
7. Espionage and Sedition Acts-a person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort of for saying anything disloyal, profane or abusive about the government or war effort. Clearly violated the sprit of the First Amendment.

Briefly explain why Bernard M. Baruch and George Creel are significant historical figures.

Bernard M. Baruch- leader of the War Industries Board (WIB), a prosperous businessman.

George Creel-the head of the Committee on Public Information (CPI). He persuaded the nation's advertising agencies to create thousands of painting, posters, cartoons, and sculptures promoting the war. He recruited men to serve as "Four Minute Men" who spoke about everything relating to the war. Also he distributed pamphlets, booklets and leaflets about the war. His propaganda was highly effective.

The U.S. enters World War I

19-2
1. How did the United States raise an army?
Men were required to register with the government under the Selective Service Act in May 1917 and they were randomly selected for the army. There was an eight month training period where the men were put in 17-hour days on target practice, bayonet drill, kitchen duty, and cleaning. Soldiers often drilled with fake weapons since there was a shortage. Also the U.S. had to find a way to transport men, food, and equipment over the ocean. This led to a great demand of U.S. warships.

2. How did U.S. soldiers help win the war?

The U.S. soldiers were enthusiastic about fighting in the war. They helped the allied war effort because the allied forces were exhausted and demoralized after years of fighting. The U.S. soldiers brought a freshness to the fighting.

3. What were the estimated economic costs of the war?

$338 Billion

4. What did the war cost in terms of the number of civilian deaths; military deaths?; injuries?; and refugees?
There were 22 million deaths, more thank half of them civilians. Also 20 million people were wounded. 10 million more became refugees.

5. Define armistice.

Armistice is a truce.