WWI

• Traditional approach to foreign policy "avoid entangling alliances"
• Many people were still anti-imperialist
• The Army was incredibly weak
• Pre-occupied with Mexican war
• Who to support? - America full of immigrants!
• Strong peace movement
• Resentment of the British blockade

1915 - "Preparedeness Programme" led to the establishment of a regular army of 250,000 men with enough officers to command an army of 1.5 million. A massive naval building was also being prepared

1916 - Council of National Defence was set up which was a body to advise the president on how to prepare for a potential war.

• 2nd of April 1917 - Wilson adressed Congress on why they could no longer stay neutral
• He did not wish to declare war on the German people but rather the wrongs of their Government
• 6th of April 1917 - Congress voted in favour of going to war
• Entered the war as an "Associate Power" rather than an Ally
• Unleashed propaganda to gain the support of the Public

1917 Situation

• Allied forces were exhausted, 340,000 British soliders had been killed/wounded
• Allied economies were in collapse
• The Bolsheviks were in peace-talks with Germany

AMERICAS ENTRY

• 2million were posted to France but only 84,000 arrived
• Had to wear British helmets as they did not produce any
• Relied on British/French weapons
• 1,200,000 recruits were sent in August/Septemeber 1918 and breathed fresh life
• Expeditionary Forced helped resist a strong offensive at the Maine in 1918
• Produced a 2/3 reduction in shipping losses.

• Approved budgets for the rapid mobilisation and equipping of over 3 million men
• Contribution by women was recognised, by 1920 they were given the vote
• Industry was in tight control of the Government - War Industries Board 1917 established priorities for war production and allocated raw materials
• Experienced no damage
• 1917 Espionage Act - illegal to obstruct military recruitment/encourage disloyalty
• Railways under Federal control
• Demand for war production boosted the economy (unemplyment disappeared & increase in wages)
• Loaned huge amounts, NYC became financial capital of the world
• Liberty Bonds 1917 - people could support the war effort and then redeem them later with interest

• Sedition Act 1918 - illegal to discourage people from buying war bonds/verbally attacking the Constitution & war effort. e.g Eugene Debs given 10 years - LOSS OF FREE SPEECH??
• Income tax rates doubled to raise funds
• Racism and tension towards German immigrants
• Spent $31.2 billion on the cause
• Prohibition Act 1918 - stopped the sale/manufacture of alcoholic drinks during the war - loss of industry?
• Rapid demobilisation & cancellation of wartime contracts led to a slowdown in the economy
• 112,432 died in the war
• Selective Service Act - required 30 million young Americans to register
• National debt increased by 658%
• More people were expected to contribute in some way

• September 1918 - 5,000 US Troops landed as part of the Allied intervention
• Remained in Russia untill July 1919
• "Polar Bear Expedition"
• Sent in to reclaim supplies sent to an Ally that had now pulled out
• Wilson wanted to show support and also prevent the Japanse gaining territory
• Hundreds of American casualities
• Gained almsot nothing