The Road to War, 1917
-Wilson believed that this war should be the war that ends all wars.
-Their should be “peace among equals” as well as “peace without victory”
-Americans were definitely not at war however they probably weren’t neutral
-The Germans thought that if they wanted to win the war, they would have to start sinking ships with their submarines regardless of whose ship it was.
-Early in 1917 Germans declared any ship entering Great Britain territory they would be subject to sinkage.
American Involvement
-April 6, 1917 America has officially declared war.
-Wilson: “the world must be made safe for democracy.”
The Military Situation
-By the end of 1917 both sides had lost a multitude of men.
-In terms of manpower the British and French are desolate
-Whether America could disrupt the Germans plan of having one more offensive outburst
Financing the War
-Complete cost for the 1 and a half years between 1917-18 it costed the Americans $32 Billion
-Few ways to raise money, was the liberty bond as well as taxing the people.
-War Boards: a corporation to manage the production of war materials
American Propaganda
-The Committee that was in charge of these war posters was cold The Committee on Public Information
-People were encouraged to report slackers in their community who weren’t helping the cause to win the war
-If you were associated with Germany you were somehow disloyal.
Legal Repression
-Espionage Act of 1917
-Sabotage Act of 1918
-Sedition Act of 1918
-These acts allowed the government to arrest anyone who opposed the ideas of wars.
-The groups that were most highly targeted from these laws were the anti capitalist groups
The End of the War
-Germans launched massive offensive in spring of 1918 advancing over 40 miles
-Germans ultimately wear themselves out so they're tired
-November 11th Germans sign armistice with allies
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