HIST 1025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: War Industries Board, George Creel, Zimmermann Telegram
February 24
Song: How ya gonna Keep em Down on the Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree?)
The Great War
I. From Progressivism to War
II. The War at home: an extension of progressivism
III. Consequences of the peace: the fate of progressivism
Wilson: “A righteous war; a war to end all wars”
Hemingway wrote on the war- detested Wilson’s idealistic language
I. From Progressivism to War
War is seen as a method of expanding progressivism
Wilsonianism- “Open door world,”- US wanted free trade in China, concept moved to the world,
US wanted free trade worldwide, Fourteen Points-list of things he wants to come out of the war:
League of Nations, ETC.
US remains neutral for the first couple of years, “We have to be neutral so as to help resolve
conflict” Calls for “Peace without victory”. Both Germans and English attacked US ships, but US
favored England.
Wilson lifted ban on loans to any of the countries involved in the war. J. P. Morgan loaned
money, Britain had the best navy, Germany had submarines, Wilson insisted that we had to
stick to the tradition of “freedom of the seas”.
Lusitania (1915)- German submarine sank this passenger ship that was also carrying
ammunition and arms. Submarine had the element of surprise. Germany declared unrestricted
submarine warfare in 1917
Zimmerman telegram (1917)- Germany tries to get Mexico to be an ally in case the US
becomes involved with the war.
II. The War at Home
Wilson Administration’s 2 goals:
Organize industrial production to fight the war-government worked with business to maximize
production, no antitrust policies, government urged companies to keep wages high to avoid
strikes
Win general support of the population-controversial war on home front
War Industries Board (WIB)-Government agency staffed by businessmen to set price
standards, first tie between military and business (beginning of Military industrial complex),
War Labor Board (WLB)- Samuel Gompers, goal of keeping production moving
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Document Summary
Song: how ya gonna keep em down on the farm (after they"ve seen paree?) The war at home: an extension of progressivism. Consequences of the peace: the fate of progressivism. Wilson: a righteous war; a war to end all wars . Hemingway wrote on the war- detested wilson"s idealistic language. War is seen as a method of expanding progressivism. Wilsonianism- open door world, - us wanted free trade in china, concept moved to the world, Us wanted free trade worldwide, fourteen points-list of things he wants to come out of the war: Us remains neutral for the first couple of years, we have to be neutral so as to help resolve conflict calls for peace without victory . Both germans and english attacked us ships, but us favored england. Wilson lifted ban on loans to any of the countries involved in the war.
