World War I: Neutrality to Red Scare

Chapter 22 Honors Study Guide: Topics

• American Neutrality
• Start of the war in Europe
• Supporting the War (Propaganda)
• Ending the War (Treaty of Versailles, 14 Points)
• Rise of Communism & The Red Scare

Vocabulary

• John J. Pershing was an officer in the U.S. Army.
• Arthur Zimmerman was the German Foreign Secretary in 1917.
  • Zimmerman sent the Zimmerman Telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico.
  • Germany offered Mexico help to reclaim land lost to the U.S. if Mexico joined them against the U.S.
• The War Industries Board managed military buying and ensured quick production during the war.
  • Bernard Baruch led the War Industries Board.
  • The War Industries Board wanted factories to prioritize war materials over non-essentials, like toys.
• A conscientious objector is someone who refuses to serve in the military due to moral or religious beliefs.
• The League of Nations was created in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles to prevent future wars.
  • It was part of Wilson's plan for international cooperation through discussion.
• The Red Scare was a period of intense fear of communism and radical political ideas after World War I.
  • The Russian Revolution in 1917 heightened these fears.
  • Many people's rights were violated, leading to arrests and deportations.
• The Treaty of Versailles aimed to punish Germany and exact revenge.
• Wilson's goals for the U.S. were called the 14 points.

Anti-German Sentiment

• During this time, the U.S. saw a rise in anti-German sentiment.
• "Liberty burgers" replaced hamburgers, and "liberty cabbage" replaced sauerkraut.

Primary Source Analysis

American Neutrality

• Senator La Follette questioned public support for declaring war on Germany, suggesting a vote would reveal opposition.
• He claimed that the German population supported their government's actions, implying a contrast with American sentiments about entering the war.
• La Follette believed that acts, like the Espionage Act, indicated the government's fear of lacking popular support for the war.
• He asserted that America had the right to ship food to Germany as a neutral nation.
• La Follette criticized Britain's war zone and ship blockade as violations of American neutral rights.
• He argued that America was partly responsible for Germany's situation due to supporting Britain's actions and driving Germany into a corner.
• The U.S. wasn't trading with Germany, while providing supplies to Britain.
• Despite claiming neutrality, the U.S. favored trade with Great Britain over Germany.

Red Scare

• There was fear of communists, socialists, and Bolsheviks.
• Fear of political radicalism led to restrictions on people's freedoms, due to fears of communist takeover.
• The National Security League wrote a petition in 1923 to protect the U.S. government.
  • The National Security League Goal: protection from those supporting socialism/communism (like the Bolsheviks).
• According to the petition, certain groups aimed to destroy the government and establish a socialist/communist regime.
• Petition signees vowed to defend the country against attempts to change the government through violence or illegal means.
• The petition urged citizens of all backgrounds who believed in American principles to join the pledge to protect the country.
• It highlights the need to assimilate immigrants into American society, teaching them citizenship values, and protecting the country from harmful propaganda.
• An action was undertaken to combat propaganda from those seeking to undermine the U.S. government and national values.

Supporting the War (Propaganda)

• War bonds involved citizens lending money to the U.S. government to finance the war effort, with the promise of repayment with interest.
• Buying war bonds was framed as an investment in the U.S. government and its success in the war.
• The poster promotes the sale of war bonds, specifically through the Boy Scouts.
• Boy Scouts of America participated in a Liberty Loan campaign.

The Zimmerman Telegram

• The Zimmerman Telegram prompted the U.S. to enter World War I, as it was the last straw.

A little bit of Red Scare

• Speech causing physical harm is not protected by free speech rights, and may have legal repercussions.
• People expressed opposition to the war.

Multiple Choice Questions

• Republicans opposed the Treaty of Versailles as it limited American sovereignty and freedom.
  • Republicans were excluded from the Treaty of Versailles negotiations.
• Woodrow Wilson's plan was called the 14 points.
• The 14 points were intended to promote:
  • Peaceful negotiations through the League of Nations.
  • An end to secret treaties.
  • Free trade.
  • Self-determination.
• The League of Nations was the most important point to Wilson.
• The U.S. did not sign the Treaty of Versailles because Wilson refused to compromise on the League of Nations.

Open Ended Response About WWI

• U.S. participation in World War I (1917-1918) was a turning point in the nation’s role in world affairs
• US involvement in World War I was a change in how the country interacted with the world, moving from a focus on staying out of foreign issues to being more involved internationally.
• Before the war, the U.S. mostly tried to avoid getting mixed up in other countries' problems, following ideas like the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary, which aimed to keep control in the Americas while avoiding European wars.
• The U.S. joined the war because of Germany's unrestricted submarine attacks and the Zimmermann Telegram.
• After the war, the U.S. became a significant world power, playing a key role in the Treaty of Versailles and supporting the idea of the League of Nations.
• Many Americans still preferred to stay isolated.
• The refusal to join the League of Nations showed the struggle between wanting to be involved in the world and the wish to avoid long-term ties with Europe.
• In the years after the war, the country went back to a more isolated stance.
• While the U.S. became a more important player on the world stage, the desire to remain separate from other nations was still very strong.
• The change in U.S. foreign policy after World War I can be seen as similar to what happened during the Cold War.
• After World War I, the U.S. started to focus more on working with other countries.
• During the Cold War from 1947 to 1991, the U.S. had to be involved in world issues.