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American Government Mobilizes for War
Conscription
The American government mobilized for war by building an army, contracting a war economy, and by shaping public opinion. By doing this, it put America at total war. The government started by building an army. The US army was only a fraction of the size of the European armies. In order to get more people to volunteer, the president pushed for Congress to pass the Selective Service Act. This act authorized a draft of young men for military service in Europe. Men 18 years old to 50 had to register for a lottery that would serve as the draft. 3.8 million Americas served in the war. In the long run, this was significant because there is a draft still today.
Change in Economy
While the Selective Service was picking an anomy, the President pushed to change the economy from peacetime to wartime production. This meant that the factories would have to start producing things like weapons, vehicles, and goods for the troops. In other terms, the government controlled what farmers grew, what products were produced, and how supplies moved around the nation's trains. Eventually, this lead to the creation of the War Industries Board (WIB). The WIB was headed by Bernard Baruch, and it regulated all industries engaged in the war effort. He controlled what was made, how much they would cost, and where they were sent to. Herbert Hoover, head of the Food Administration, set high prices for wheat and other food to encourage farmers to produce more. He also encouraged Americans to conserve food as a patriotic gesture (rationing). The less Americans eat, the more can be sent to the troops. The government also sold war bonds to help pay for the war.
Propaganda
The only way these things would work was if the American people were on board with the idea. The Committee on Public Information (CPI) had to inform Americans of the causes and nature of the war. They had to convince the Americans that the war was a just cause. The director of CPI was named George Creel, and as the director he produced propaganda to convince the Americans of how terrible the enemy was. Propaganda was one sided info to gain civilian support for the war. It usually dramatized the enemy.
War Resistance
Although CPI helped Americans understand the war effort, some groups of people disagreed with one another when it came to the war. Some men ignored their calling to the war, some avoided it, and some just refused. Most of these men were court-martialed and imprisoned. Some men, called conscientious objectors, refused conscription due to moral and religious restrictions. The Selective Service was supposed to exempt people from conscription if it was due to religious groups, but that rule was widely ignored. Many conscientious objectors were treated harshly by their draft board. Eventually, the treatment of these people improved.
Social Changes Due to the War
Social changes were caused by the war. Because men were forced into battle, some one had to fill the spots in the factories when the men were gone. Women stepped to the plate and started working in place for the men. Because of the increase in women's involvement back home, Wilson decided that if women were vital to winning the war then they should be completely allowed to vote. In 1919, congress passed the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The significance was that the war allowed women to prove that they were able to succeed in any type of working position, regardless of difficulty or risk. The significance today is that women all over are working and have equal rights as men do.
Fourteen Points
To some the war was a furious land grab, but not to President Wilson. To him, the war was about gaining peace and freedom. In 1917, Wilson introduced the idea of peace without a treaty. In another address to Congress in 1918, Wilson answered the question about the nature of the war in what became known as the 14 points. At its core, the main meaning was peace without victory. He proposed a peace inspired by noble ideas, not by vengeance and greed. The fourteen points attempted change the world by promoting openness and supporting freedom. Wilson encouraged free trade, free seas, reduction of arms, and an end to colonialism. He wanted to push for self-determination, also known as the people choosing the government. Lastly, he urged for a league of nations. This would promote world peace and cooperation. Wilson scheduled a conference to discuss the league, and he didn't invite any leading republicans to join him in his peace delegation. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, republican foreign policy expert, was left behind. This angered the republicans immensely.
Wilson at the Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles
Because each country had goals for peace of their own, many were skeptical of Wilson's grand plan for peace. As the conference began, many representatives were cutting away at the fourteen points. Wilson hung in there and continued to advocate for his plan. Even though the group did not want a league of nations, Wilson insisted that they have one. They other delegates finally voted that the league of nations be apart of the the treaty. The US senate strongly opposed the treaty due to article 10. It dealt with selective security and the league of nations. Two groups in the senate opposed the treaty, Irreconcilables and the Reservationists. The irreconcilable completely denied the treaty, while the reservationists would accept if changes were made. The Treaty of Versailles failed, but the US signed the Treaty of Berlin. This treaty was the same as the Treaty of Versailles just without the league of nations.
Video on the Paris Peace Conference
Conscription
The American government mobilized for war by building an army, contracting a war economy, and by shaping public opinion. By doing this, it put America at total war. The government started by building an army. The US army was only a fraction of the size of the European armies. In order to get more people to volunteer, the president pushed for Congress to pass the Selective Service Act. This act authorized a draft of young men for military service in Europe. Men 18 years old to 50 had to register for a lottery that would serve as the draft. 3.8 million Americas served in the war. In the long run, this was significant because there is a draft still today.
Change in Economy
While the Selective Service was picking an anomy, the President pushed to change the economy from peacetime to wartime production. This meant that the factories would have to start producing things like weapons, vehicles, and goods for the troops. In other terms, the government controlled what farmers grew, what products were produced, and how supplies moved around the nation's trains. Eventually, this lead to the creation of the War Industries Board (WIB). The WIB was headed by Bernard Baruch, and it regulated all industries engaged in the war effort. He controlled what was made, how much they would cost, and where they were sent to. Herbert Hoover, head of the Food Administration, set high prices for wheat and other food to encourage farmers to produce more. He also encouraged Americans to conserve food as a patriotic gesture (rationing). The less Americans eat, the more can be sent to the troops. The government also sold war bonds to help pay for the war.
Propaganda
The only way these things would work was if the American people were on board with the idea. The Committee on Public Information (CPI) had to inform Americans of the causes and nature of the war. They had to convince the Americans that the war was a just cause. The director of CPI was named George Creel, and as the director he produced propaganda to convince the Americans of how terrible the enemy was. Propaganda was one sided info to gain civilian support for the war. It usually dramatized the enemy.
War Resistance
Although CPI helped Americans understand the war effort, some groups of people disagreed with one another when it came to the war. Some men ignored their calling to the war, some avoided it, and some just refused. Most of these men were court-martialed and imprisoned. Some men, called conscientious objectors, refused conscription due to moral and religious restrictions. The Selective Service was supposed to exempt people from conscription if it was due to religious groups, but that rule was widely ignored. Many conscientious objectors were treated harshly by their draft board. Eventually, the treatment of these people improved.
Social Changes Due to the War
Social changes were caused by the war. Because men were forced into battle, some one had to fill the spots in the factories when the men were gone. Women stepped to the plate and started working in place for the men. Because of the increase in women's involvement back home, Wilson decided that if women were vital to winning the war then they should be completely allowed to vote. In 1919, congress passed the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The significance was that the war allowed women to prove that they were able to succeed in any type of working position, regardless of difficulty or risk. The significance today is that women all over are working and have equal rights as men do.
Fourteen Points
To some the war was a furious land grab, but not to President Wilson. To him, the war was about gaining peace and freedom. In 1917, Wilson introduced the idea of peace without a treaty. In another address to Congress in 1918, Wilson answered the question about the nature of the war in what became known as the 14 points. At its core, the main meaning was peace without victory. He proposed a peace inspired by noble ideas, not by vengeance and greed. The fourteen points attempted change the world by promoting openness and supporting freedom. Wilson encouraged free trade, free seas, reduction of arms, and an end to colonialism. He wanted to push for self-determination, also known as the people choosing the government. Lastly, he urged for a league of nations. This would promote world peace and cooperation. Wilson scheduled a conference to discuss the league, and he didn't invite any leading republicans to join him in his peace delegation. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, republican foreign policy expert, was left behind. This angered the republicans immensely.
Wilson at the Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles
Because each country had goals for peace of their own, many were skeptical of Wilson's grand plan for peace. As the conference began, many representatives were cutting away at the fourteen points. Wilson hung in there and continued to advocate for his plan. Even though the group did not want a league of nations, Wilson insisted that they have one. They other delegates finally voted that the league of nations be apart of the the treaty. The US senate strongly opposed the treaty due to article 10. It dealt with selective security and the league of nations. Two groups in the senate opposed the treaty, Irreconcilables and the Reservationists. The irreconcilable completely denied the treaty, while the reservationists would accept if changes were made. The Treaty of Versailles failed, but the US signed the Treaty of Berlin. This treaty was the same as the Treaty of Versailles just without the league of nations.
Video on the Paris Peace Conference