Wilson's Foreign Policy and WWI Lecture Notes

Wilson's Foreign Policy
Wilson took a new direction in foreign policy- peacemaker and pacifist at heart, hated big stick policy and dollar diplomacy- took a moral approach, spawning moral diplomacy
Centers around idea that the US could support Latin America by supporting countries who were democratic
Wilson got American bankers to pull out of a loan make to China, got congress to repeal the Panama Canals Tolls Act, signed the Jones Act (1916), granted territorial statues to Philippines and promised independence when a stable government could be founded
However, Wilson was also forced to take action: he diffused a situation with Japan- California forbade Japanese Americans from holding property, sent William Jennings to speak, things calmed down
Forced to take military action in 1915 in Haiti to protect Americans; sent marines to the Dominican Republic to keep order; purchased Virgin Islands from Denmark
Diplomacy in Mexico:
For years, American oil, railroad, and mining companies have used Mexican resources, resulting in widespread Mexican poverty, who eventually rose up in revolt
During the revolt, Mexican president was assassinated and a Native American- Huerta- was appointed president
Revolutionaries under new president were violent, threatened American lives and property, Wilson refused to recognize Huerta's regime- allows american arms to go to Huerta rivals
US intervened in Mexico because of the Tampico incident- Mexico seizes American sailors, US took military action
ABC powers: Argentina, Brazil, Chile step in to mediate incident and Huerta steps down- Carranza becomes leader of Mexico, his chief rival Pancho Villa stirs up trouble
Pancho Villa is Mexican robin hood basically
Pancho makes a critical mistake when he raids a train and kills 16 americans, kills 19 more americans in New Mexico
the Pancho Villa raids: troops are taken into Mexico to find Pancho Villa, but he is elusive
During this fighting, WWI breaks out and general in charge gets called back to america
Pancho Villa is murdered by Mexican rival
Despite moral diplomacy ideals, wilson is forced to take action and results in hostile relationship between Mexico and the United States

World War I Begins
June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by Gavrilo Princep, a Serbian nationalist part of the terrorist group The Black Hand, adamantly against the Austria Hungary empire
This starts the July Crisis: the time period that causes WWI to begin not just between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, but brings in all major countries of EU into war with each other
Main causes:
Militarism, especially relevant looking at naval arms race between Germany and England
Alliances, becoming increasingly complex; formed due to politics/ethnicity. Central Powers Alliance- Germany, Austria, Ottoman Empire; the Allied Powers: Russia, France, Great Britain. Italy switches sides half way through to join allied powers, US joins with this group
AH lays out ultimatums for Serbia, encouraging Russia to mobilize there troops, which leads Germany to becoming increasingly more cautious as to Russia's actions.
August, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia, France declares war on Germany, Germany unfolds Schlieffen Plan to avoid problem of two-front war- focuses on western front first, then take care of Russia second
This involves marching through neutral Belgium brings in England, who enters on August 4. "The lights are going out all over Europe, and I doubt they will be on again in our lifetime."
What is the US doing?
Woodrow Wilson is facing problems in Latin America and Caribbean, as well as having his wife dying; this looms larger than European chaos.
Seemed unreal to most americans that Europe could descend into this "orgy of mutual destruction"
At the early 20th century, Europe had been peaceful and prosperous; this warfare assumes unprecedented proportions and ruthlessness

Characteristics of World War I
The real surprise in 1914 wasn't the war itself, but the nature of the war that unfolded in terms of scale, scope, and carnage
Machine guns, arial bombings, poison gas, long range artillery, etc. produced horrific causalities
Total war: everyone is considered a combatant, included civilians- intentional destruction continued far beyond the battlefield
First month of fighting: Germany ran over a Belgian city, burned down the ancient library, and murdered incredible numbers of civilians; this is used as prop to get US involved
Russia intended this war to be one of racial extermination- each nation is guilty of some sort of atrocity, each engaged in war talks that touched on themes of god, duty, patriotism, honor
All sides thought this would be a war of quick movement, but it was bogged down by 1915 into a stalemate and a war of senseless partition- massive battles that contributed little except slaughter
Battle of Verdun lasted months, saw unprecedented firing that shattered land into a "cratered wasteland", French lost 146k, Germans lost similar amount. Had become "War of Extermination".
Saw rise of trench warfare, won only by brute force. You won't gain ground, just destroy other forces
Trenches were "rat infested and corpse drenched". Lose of feet (trench-foot) and trench fever were common.
Either die in the trenches or in no man's land, where you advance on the enemy who is armed with machine guns, etc.
Once, the British lost 13 thousand men in three hours; this assault only gained them 100 yards of land.
Blood Money: US bankers engage in fruitful trade with the allies, but will lead the United States into eventual war.

What will the United States Do?
As WWI became a stalemate and casualties soared, tension to participate increased.
There was a sense of gratitude of the ocean between the US and Europe.
"Nuetral in thought as well as in action".
More than a third of US citizens were hyphenated Americans. German-Americans numbered around 8 million, Irish-Americans had about 4 million. Both groups had a deep animosity towards Britain; these groups sympathized with Central Powers.
Most American leaders were pro-British from the start of the war and saw German militarism as a threat to the United States.
Blood Money: when war broke out, there was a slump of American exports, but by 1915, there was an incredible boom for american businesses, bankers, and farmers.
US bankers would advance over two billion dollars in loans to the Allies before the US joined, only 27 million to the Germans.
Best way to ensure repayment of loans was if the Allies won the war; pressured administrations to support the British.
Increasing trade among US and Allies is the freedom of the seas. Overseas trade clings to official stance of neutrality- this echoes the US position during the Napoleonic Wars, leading up to the war of 1812.
August 6, William Jennings Bryan calls upon all waring nations to respect the neutrality. British refused this, and in November, they declared the whole North Sea a war zone, lacing the sea with mines, ordering neutral ships to be searched.
British might harm American commerce, but this doesn't cost American lives. However, the Germans respond to the British blockade by proclaiming a war-zone in the sea, subjecting boats to German submarine warfare, which violated the long established procedure of ensuring passengers and crew safety before sinking them.
America pronounces this submarine policy a violation of neutral rights. Then, it all starts to hit the fan.
May 7, 1915: German subs sink a huge ocean liner, the Lusitania- coming from NY, on its way to Great Britain. 128 Americans were killed. First step in unrestricted submarine warfare that caused US to go to war. Americans demand the US takes action.
Roosevelt said the sinking was an act of piracy, Wilson urged patience. Roosevelt threatened to skin Wilson alive if he didn't go to war over the Lusitania.
His previous demand for strict accountability forces him to take a stronger response- demand that the Germans repay America and stop all submarine warfare. Wilson contended that the US wanted nothing less than the sacred rights of humanity.
Starts to see the rise in intentions between Americans and Germans.
Sept, 1913: German sinks English ship, costing 2 American lives.
1914: French boat, the Sussex, sinks, injures 2.
Wilson threatens to break off all diplomatic relations with Germany, resulting in the much stronger Sussex Pledge not to sink merchant or passenger ships. This pledge is stronger than any other previously given and is kept by Germans for about a year.

1916 Election and the United States Entry into War
US demand for a stronger army and navy, pressure to do more for military expansion
December, 1914: National Security League is founded
Ingites debate between pacifists, isolationsists who claim defense buildup is a program for jingos
National Defense Act 1916: Expands regular defense army and National Guard
Although steps are being taken, we don't have anywhere near the numbers needed to fight this war efficiently
1916 election: Republicans were hoping to regain control of normal elected majority and combine again with the Bull Moose. However, they didn't have a good candidate that would deliver this message- ran Charles Evans Hughes. However, he was too similar to Wilson, where Wilson has one issue that he can use to gain him an edge to win: better campaigner and has two pledges: progressive social agenda, and "he kept us out of war".
This resonates enough to help him win by 23 electoral votes and half a million popular votes.
Last Efforts for Peace
Immediately after the election, Wilson offered to mediate things in EU:
"Peace without victory" speech: 1917. No side in this conflict is going to gain an upper hand or be utterly embarrassed. However, he was too late: two weeks before this speech, Germany waged again unrestricted submarine warfare because they hoped to get a quick knockout before the US could get into the war.
All vessels would be sunk without warning- Freedom of the seas is for icebergs and fish.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with the German government, starts to arm west merchant ships.
Feb 25, Britain intercepted the Zimmerman Note from Germany that urged the Mexicans to invade the United States. In exchange for this, Germany guaranteed Mexico would recover land lost to America- New Mexico, Arizona, etc.
This is the last straw- US is in all in.
1917: Fall of the czarist government gave the illusion that to fight for the allies is to make the world safe for democracy- however, a communist dictatorship is installed with the Bolsheviks.
April 2nd, Germany and the United States are at war in a "righteous conflict". This will be the "War to End All Wars".
Causes Overview: British propaganda infiltrating the American media. The United State's deep involvement in allied trade. Unrestricted submarine warfare on the Atlantic was the highest cause.
The resuming of this warfare leaves Wilson no choice but to go to war.
Wilson has a plans to make sure this is the war to end all war: Wilson's 14 Points.
This is Wilsonian idealism at it's finest, resting on principles of collective security in league of nations, as well as self-determination.
Have to make transition from peacetime economy to wartime economy.

The Home Front
Have to mobilize public opinion as well as army
Committee of Public Information headed by George Creel, who said it was best to inform through propaganda, rather than censorship.
Evident in film, music, etc. By arousing public opinion, this spawned american "witch hunts" towards German Americans in acts of violence and mobs.
Symphonies refused to perform Beethoven, towns changed names if it sounded German, dachshunds were renamed "liberty pups".
Wilson saw these consequences, but he leads to effort to suppress civil liberties in Espionage and Sedition Acts.
Espionage Act: Congress can suppress criticism of leaders and policies, imposed fines for those who tried to incite disloyalty, etc
Sedition Act: Suppresses the saying or writing anything "abusive" about the war effort.
More than 1,000 convictions  were set out, included on a Socialist congressman and Eugene Debs- received ten years in jail.
Woodrow Wilson, though progressive, refused to grant a pardon to Debs.
Shank v. US: reaffirmed conviction of  a man punished for anti-war sentiments, freedom of speech is limited it creates clear and eminent danger. Similar case in Abraham v. US.
Nation's factories go to war.
US was hardly prepared at all- not a large weaponry industry, smaller army and navy.
Plan for mobilization: growing an army- does this through the Selective Service Act (military draft)- all men 21-30, then later 21-45 could be drafted into service.
Black men serve in segregated units.
Complete economic mobilization is necessary to conduct war- Food administration, headed by Herbert Hoover, sought to raise agriculture production while reducing civilian consumption.
Advocated the planting of victory gardens- "food will win the war."
Creation of War Industries Board- government told the industries what they needed to produce, how much, and when they needed it by. Could allocate raw materials, create new plants, and with approval fix prices.
Labor shortage due to men leaving; minorities are encouraged to enter industries normally dominated by white men. Over 400k southern blacks began the Great Migration northward towards industry jobs, completely changing political and social dynamics. Followed by Mexican Americans.
This saw race riots break out over the large cities of the North.
Women supported war effort in mostly traditional ways- red cross, joined army nurse core, etc.
As scope widened, women recruited to work in industrial jobs normally for men- seen as a breakthrough, while this was really limited and brief.
Male dominated unions encouraged women to revert back to gender roles after war was over.
This allowed Wilson to make the decision to endorse women's suffrage- women's votes were vital to winning the war.

AEF in Europe
American troops didn't play a large role into 1918- all through 1917, the allied armies were on the defensive, and situations turned desperate.
November, 1917, Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Republic and communist leaders dropped out of the war- Russia now concentrates on Western front. Results in a race for the defense of France.
"Tell your Americans to come quickly"- predicts Germans will launch attack in the spring of 1918, and America is needed if the war is won. This ends up being true.
By May 1918, there were one million troops finally making a difference. Despite the modest victories of Americans, the effect on moral was highly positive.
Leads to a momentum shift from Central Powers to Allied.
July 1918, Second Battle of the Mare. British, French, Americans stop British advance into France and pushGermans into Belgians, where AEF starts taking offensive.
September 1918, peak of US fighting, Americans divisions join up with French divisions in breaking up a railroad that gives the entire German front supplies in France.
Neither side has stated openly what they hope to gain from this fight
Wilson: The Americans themselves had no selfish war gain. People everywhere are looking to the US for direction and leadership. This does not jive well with what other countries have been saying.
Wilson's 14 points: the only possible program for peace. first 5 call for open diplomatic conductions, most of the remaining points deal with territorial things, point 14 called for the creation of the League of Nations made to protect peace.
This will be where international community can air out grievances without going to war- embodies Wilson's sincerest ideals.
All accepted this as the basis of negotiations, but the French demanded reparations from Germany and Austria, Britain wants restriction of the sea.
Armistice Day is decided because Germany assumes that negotiations will be dealt with in accord with the 14 Points.
Official ceasefire: 11th day, 11th month, 11th hour. After 1,563 days of warfare, all guns fall silent.
Germans agree to evacuate all territories on assurance that 14 Points will be basis for peace conference.

Wilson and the Paris Peace Conference
 Three mistakes that Wilson makes:
Wilson decides to go to Paris himself, gone for six months- negative impact on progressive coalition. Wilson defied any advice given during midterm elections and urged people to vote for a democratic congress. Failed to appoint a prominent republican to the staff of peace commissioners.
Greeted as a hero in Paris, seeing him as a spokesman for humanity.
Others in Paris: Clemenceau from France, David Laurie George, Orlando from Italy
Wilson promises peace without victory, France and Italy want to weaken Germany, Italy wanted land- hammering out the treaty is complex and filled with tension.
Wilson insists that the League of Nations is the top priority of the treaty.
Article X- Heart of the league of nations.
Wilson gives into French demands for concessions and reparations from Germany, leaving Germany poor and weak and eager for revenge in the 1920s, paving way for Hitler to take power.
France gets to exploit Saar Coal Valley resources
British and the French wanted Germany to pay for everything, including veteran pensions
War Guilt Cause: Germany confesses responsibility of the war and therefore the cost of the war- this is what will lead to the rise of the Nazis.
Wilson himself admitted that if he was German, he would refuse to sign the treaty.
German's return this treaty with over 400 pages of criticism, French threaten to move their armies into Germany unless they sign it.
Signed at the Hall of Mirrors in June of 1919.
Once Hitler saw what the treaty has done to Germany, he literally demanded German revenge.
Wilson returns home in July amid great clamor of popular support.
Wilson called upon the Senate to ratify the treaty- "Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?"
Lodge and Wilson get into animosity- Lodge sees that he can gain support by rejecting it.
Three groups in the Senate:
1. Supporters of the treaty. 2. Irreconcilables: refuse to support American membership in the league of nations. 3. Reservationists, wanted limited participation.
Lodge proposes ammendments that would support the Reservationists- Wilson takes the argument to the people with a train tour to gain public approval for the treaty.
This gives him a stroke- he will now be a stubborn, bitter man who refuses to compromise.
Wilson never gets the senate to ratify the treaty due to the senate being afraid that article x would reduce the senate power to declare war, goes against the growing vibe of isolationism, etc.
Election of 1920: Republican candidate Warren G. Harding sees what American public wants
Ultimate irony: built to be the war to end all wars, but Wilson's refusal to compromise at home and over-willingness to compromise abroad directly starts World War II.