America and the Great War and
“The New Era”
Ryan Lafler
Chapter 23
America and the Great War
Ryan Lafler
Entering the Great War
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Triple Entente formed by Great Britain, France, and Russia; Triple Alliance formed by
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Ottomans later join and Italians switch to Allies)
WWI was a powder keg ready to blow with assassination of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand…European imperialism and rivalry between Germany and Britain are factors
that lead up to Great War…America wants to remain “neutral” but money and
resources are put on side of Allies (France and Britain)
U.S. had 2 main factions within Congress: Pacifists and Interventionists, Wilson wins
Election of 1916 wit slogan “He kept us out of War!”
Germany was angered that U.S. was not following their neutrality policy (by supplying
Allies with money and supplies while Britain blockaded German ports) so Germans
resort to:
– U-Boat submarine warfare (Sinking of Lusitania and French Steamer Sussex)
– Zimmerman’s Telegram (Germany would form alliance with Mexico and allow
them to reconquer all lands lost to America)
Russian February Revolution of 1917 and all of the above factors forced America’s hand
to War and pushed Wilson to request a Declaration of War, Wilson had instead hoped
for a “Peace without victory” (Progressive ideals based upon new world order)
The Great War and Technology
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America sends destroyers to take out German U-Boats and halt unrestricted
submarine warfare
Americans troops DRAFTED by the Selective Service Act were commanded under a
separate American Expeditionary Force- American troops able to break stalemate on
Western front… also, women and African Americans able to participate in military
– Women served roles in hospitals as nurses (like Civil War)
– African American soldiers served in regiments with fellow blacks under white
commander, had to face segregation and racism
– “IQ” Tests were given, not accurate as they reflected amount of education rather
than intelligence (white middle class soldiers did best, blacks and low class whites
did worst)
Americans under General John G. Pershing lead the Argonne Offensive and push
Germans back to their borders, breaking stalemate and forcing Germany to surrender
in April 1918
Airplanes, tanks , and chemical weapons were newly created to help break the
stalemate, machine guns established defensive line and forced creation of trenches–
diesel engines powered German U-Boats and Dreadnoughts were precursor Battleships
Stalemate FORCES the advancement of technology, all in an attempt to BREAK
stalemate
Economy during the Great War
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Congress appropriates $32 Billion for War, “Liberty Bonds” (loans from Americans to
government) and raising of corporate tax paid for the War
War Industries Board was a centralized agency led by Wall Street broker Bernard
Baruch, Baruch had more power than any federal agency and viewed himself as a
“partner” in govt. to businessmen in private sector
– Baruch could set prices for products produced by factories and chose corporations
based on best deal in competing contracts to work for government
Many leaders in government and industry wanted continuation of cooperative alliance
between govt. and business after Great War
National War Labor Board established to resolve labor disputes (prevent inefficiency of
striking during War) and advocate equal pay for men and women, in return, unions
were to forgo all strikes and employers could not engage in lockouts
Ludlow Massacre occurred when workers in Western Federation Miners Union went on
strike against Rockefeller’s mining operations…militia called in, and battle ensued
between strikers and strikebreakers (39 died, 11 of them children)
War created an economic BOOM in industry because of cooperation between
government and industry, and because of massive production during Great War
Society during and after the Great War
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“Great Migration” was the movement of African Americans from rural South up to
Northern and Eastern cities (New York, Chicago, and St. Louis) in search of more
tolerant atmosphere than Jim Crow South, and new opportunities as industrial
laborers
– African Americans lived in cities, and eventually butted up against white
neighborhoods… resulted in Race Riots occurred in 1917 and 1919
– Some black leaders attempt to nationalize (Marcus Garvey and Black Nationalism)
or unionize blacks (A. Philip Randolph)
Women also made large gains during the Great War…many women partook in factory
work, including manufacturing of munitions
– Women made long-term gains after the War including the passing of the Nineteenth
Amendment (women’s suffrage) and the Cable Act (women were granted U.S.
citizenship independent of their husbands)
– Congress also tried to focus on women’s issues- passed the Sheppard-Towner Maternity
and Infancy Act which provided federal welfare for maternity and child care- women do
NOT want it because they believe it relegates them to the household (what they do NOT
want)
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After Great War, women and African Americans both pushed out from their jobs as
white men returning from Western Front were given their former jobs back
The Search for Unity and Wilson’s
Progressive Wants for Earth
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Peace Movement led by many groups (including German Americans, Socialist Party) but
was spearheaded by women who defended their Pacifist point of views with their
innate “motherly half of humanity”
Many believed War could only be one if social unity was achieved, propaganda comes
into play with the Committee on Public Information (CPI) which distributed pro-war
literature and posters in churches, schools, offices, shops, and homes
– Led by George Creel- advocated for “self-censorship” for journalists (promote proAmerican victories in Great War and NOT defeats…or else)
– CPI personified Germans as being savages, and advocated for people to report AntiWar rhetoric to Justice Department
Espionage Act of 1917 allowed Postmaster General to ban “seditious” materials from
mails (any Anti-War or radical letters)
– Espionage Act expanded by Sabotage Act and Sedition Act which made it illegal to
express opposition to War, and allowed prosecution of anyone who criticized
President or government (John Adams would be proud)
Some Americans created “vigilante” mobs to repress dissent/silence opposition to the
War (by lynching or whipping)- American Protection League enlisted local Americans to
spy on neighbors, Boy Spies of America used children to watch for Anti-War rhetoric
100 Percent Americanism was used to promote American ideals, and attack (particular
German-Americans) foreigners who did NOT assimiliate to American customs
The Fourteen Points “Battle” in Europe
and America
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After Great War, Wilson writes his Fourteen Points which emphasizes:
– Readjustment of Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire’s boundaries, self-determination
(people in their own country decide their own government)
– Freedom of the seas, freedom of trade, reductions in armaments, and open treaties
– Creation of the League of Nations to allow communication between countries and prevent
another War- remember the hope after WWI, it was “The War to end all Wars”
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British and French want economically-broken Germany to pay Reparations for
damages sustained in War ($56 Billion total for civilian damages and military pensions)
At Paris Peace Conference, many of Wilson’s proposals are shot down, but Wilson was
successful at creation of 2 new states Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia…biggest success
was League of Nations (countries meet regularly and resolve disputes)
Wilson has trouble trying to pass League of Nations through Congress, Senator Henry
Cabot (R) uses any method to stall vote on League of Nations after Wilson REFUSED to
compromise on any part of the proposed organization (could have been due to stroke
he suffered)
Wilson embarks on speaking tour to garner public support for League of Nations, but
he suffers another stroke leaving him extremely stubborn and unwilling to compromise
Wilson tells Democrats to NOT vote on any bill that has ANY changes to it, Democrats
do as he says which results in Bill being rejected in the Senate
By 1920, public lost interest in peace process presented by League of Nations because
of the long, drawn out ratification fight and other crises
National Women’s Party Member Picketing
Outside the White House, 1917
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Women’s Peace Party did not support the
Great War
Split in National American Woman
Suffrage Association (NAWSA) over those
who wanted peace and others who
advocated for War
Many peace activists during the Great
War were women (along with the Socialist
Party, German and Irish Americans, and
Religious Pacifists including Quakers and
some Protestants)
Women Peace Activists embraced the
concept of maternal opposition towards
the War arguing that the “Motherly half
of humanity” had a reason to oppose the
War and advocate for Peace
Map of African-American Population Shift,
1910-1920
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During the Great War, huge movement
of African American population from
rural South to Northern cities
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Pull: Factory jobs (earn wage-based income)
and more accepting tolerant communities in
North for blacks
Push: Racism, segregation, poverty,
indebtedness (due to Crop-Lien System and
Tenant System)
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Northern cities (including Chicago,
Detroit, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and Washington D.C.)
exhibited dramatic growth in the black
population and communities-black
communities often featured their own
church houses (which also served as
storefronts)
Black communities butted up against
white neighborhoods causing increased
tensions and even Race Riots in city of
St. Louis in 1917
Chicago Defender, August 2nd, 1919
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Published during the deadly and destructive Chicago Race Riots of 1919
Chicago Race Riots began when young black teen floated into a “white only” zone of a beach and
was stoned to unconsciousness and left to drown and die (broke the unofficial “rule” of segregation
in Chicago)
African Americans responded to incident by marching in white neighborhoods, whites responded
with extreme violence- both sides erupt in violence and place Chicago in a “Race War”
Chicago NOT the only city to be devastated by Race Riots- the Red Summer of 1919 intensified when
blacks returning from WWI and those who came to North during the “Great Migration”
Other cities that had riots included: Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York City
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, The Case
Against the Reds (First Red Scare), 1920
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Published after Russian Revolution and during the
Russian Civil War (where the Bolsheviks-“Reds”were battling the counterrevolutionaries-“Whites”)
February Revolution of 1917 saw the Tsardom of
Russian disestablished, and a Provisional Republic
took its place
October Revolution saw the downfall of the
Republic, with Russia renamed the Soviet Union
bearing the standard of Communism under
Vladimir Lenin
Extremism scared many Americans (any type of
radicalism that challenged Progressive ideals was
associated with “anarchy”) which forced
government to halt the spread of Communism
Soviet Union established the Communist
International (Comintern) to further the spread of
Communism throughout the world
Communist Party and Socialist Party in U.S.A.
would be persecuted by government- members of
the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) would
also be subjected to violence by Middle-Class
Americans
Primary Source: “Behind, and underneath, my
own determination to drive from our midst the agents
of Bolshevism. I have discovered the hysterical
methods of these revolutionary humans. I have been
asked to what extent deportation will check
radicalism in this country. Why not ask what will
become of the United States Government if these
alien radicals carry out the principles of the
Communist Party?
In place of the United States Government we would
have the horror and terrorism of Bolshevik tyranny
such as is destroying Russia now. The whole purpose
of communism appears to be the mass formation of
the criminals of the world to overthrow the decencies
of private life, to usurp property, to disrupt the
present order of life regardless of health, sex or
religious rights.
These are the revolutionary tenets of the Communist
Internationale. These include the IWW's, the most
radical socialists, the misguided anarchists, the
agitators who oppose the limitations of unionism, the
moral perverts and the hysterical neurasthenic
women who abound in communism.”
Chapter 24
The “New Era”
Ryan Lafler
The “New Era” Economy and
Technology
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1920s was a time for huge economic growth, inflation was no longer a threat, and
income per person rose by 33%- industries in America not impeded by Great War
allowing U.S. to become temporarily supreme in industrial output
Automobile Industry- Spearheaded by Henry Ford and his Ford Motor Company
which stimulated growth in oil industry and road construction industry
Conventional Radio: Broadcast over longer ranges, families in the consumeroriented society go out to buy them in large amounts
Commercial Aviation: Developed in 1920s as mail carriers, pressurized cabins and
radial engine allowed for increase in commercial travel
Trains: Faster with electric-diesel engine
Telephones: Spread throughout America at rapid pace
Early Computers: Calculate basic math problems, have memory in them
Large business firms like General Motors (GM) came up with the efficient
divisional organization system (easier to manage companies subsidiaries)
Some smaller businesses able to resist consolidation by forming trade associations
Industrialists remembered that rapid-expansion cause of Recession, try to find
other ways to circumvent economic downturn
The “New Era” Labor
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Corporations attempt to silence and decrease laborer’s dependence on unions by
initiating “Welfare Capitalism”- pioneered by Henry Ford where he shortened work
hours and raise wages for workers
– Way to prevent the rise of independent unions, “company unions” were set up by company
to give workers a way to voice themselves
– Workers did experience wage increases, but they were minimal compared to the amount of
production America experienced (workers still relied on other family members to bring in
more money)
– “New Era” was a bad time for organized labor unions (like the AFL)
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Women transitioned after Great War to “Pink Collar” jobs (telephone operators,
secretaries) and were never enfranchised by AFL because they were NOT industrial jobs
AFL also did NOT enfranchise African Americans- did not want women or minorities in
the same union and white industrial laborers
Japanese and Filipinos were targets of Anglo-Americans, Japanese immigration was
halted in National Origins Act of 1924 and Anti-Filipino Riots saw whites target
Filipinos after they were threatening jobs of whites
Mexican immigrants kept at bottom of work force (not severely targeted, needed labor
in the developing West)
Employers launch the “Open Shop” Campaign which was all about Union busting and
preventing workers from membership in unions (also known as the “American Plan”)
Farmers mechanize their industry, but too much product and NOT enough demand
leaves farmers economically hurt- many become Tenants on other people’s
fields…farmers want “Parity” in McNary-Haugen Bill
The New Culture in Consumer Society
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Advertising and marketing becomes central to consumer society of the
“Roaring Twenties”, many advertisements promote cigarettes, wrist-watches,
cosmetics, and fashions
– Publicists wanted to identify products with a particular lifestyle
– Mass-circulation of magazines allowed for people to be informed in short-reads
on issues (Reader’s Digest and Time)
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Automobile is central to the impact of American society:
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Allowed rural farmers to escape isolation and quickly visit cities
Allowed city dwellers to escape bustle of cities and take vacations
Middle Class families able to live in Suburbs and drive to city downtowns
Teens and young-adults able to escape parents which allowed them to create
their own distinct culture
Movies and Hollywood grow in the 1920s: first movie with sound was The Jazz Singer
which caused massive increase in Americans who watched films
– Hollywood Motion Picture Association of America created to internally regulate
movies rather than have Government regulate the newly emerging cinema industry
(led by Will Hayes, former Postmaster General)
Most important communications vehicle was RADIO with the National Broadcasting
Company (NBC) formed to regulate the industry
The New Culture
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Protestant Religion features split between Modernists (believe religion should be
adapted to fit laws of science) against the Fundamentalist Protestants (believe the
Bible should be interpreted literally and evolution should be banned)
– Scopes-Monkey Trial featured biology teacher who taught theory of evolution in
Tennessee (where Fundamentalists made it illegal), teacher was arrested but case
was dismissed by higher courts- victory for Modernist Protestants
Most educated women descended from other educated women, professional
opportunities were limited to them
Ideas of motherhood were changing, “Behaviorists” believed that mother should seek
experts’ help on motherhoods (i.e. doctors, nurses, educators)
“Compassionate Marriages” emerge as women devote more time to cosmetics, fashion,
and pleasing husbands with more intimate relations (led to rise of American birth
control movement led by Margaret Sanger)
“Flapper” Image revolved around women defying social norms and liberating
themselves from tradition (women want change from Victorian Era style of
“respectability”)
More young people went to High School than ever before, and studies including
economics, engineering, and management became more important
– Importance of education led to rise of many side hobbies and activities, resulting in
new distinctive lifestyles for young adults
The New Culture (cont.)
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Many men believed that the virtue/myth of the “self-made man” was in decline,
since it seemed that you had to have a proper education to be successful (experts
were dominating the professions)
– Men looked to inspiring figure such as Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt,
and Charles Lindbergh since they did NOT receive a formal education, they
were genuinely “self made”
Those returning from WWI were disenchanted with the New Era and way society
was headed, chose to isolate themselves away from the consumer and
materialistic society they lived in (“Lost Generation”)
– Writers like Ernest Hemingway expressed discontent at consumer society, F.
Scott Fitzgerald ridiculed the American obsession of material success
Harlem Renaissance occurred as a result of the “Great Migration” and
prominently featured African-American culture to whites (such as jazz, literature,
and the arts)
– It was an attempt to prove to whites that black culture in America was equally
beautiful to theirs
A Conflict of Cultures
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Many Middle-Class Protestant Americans turned away from Prohibition and were
declared as “Wets” by Fundamentalist Protestants
– Prohibition had led to the rise in organized crime in major cities (i.e. Chicago
and Al Capone) and prevented legitimate businesses from making money
– Enforcement of Eighteenth Amendment was not well-maintained by local
authorities, who usually turned a blind eye (causing the rise in organized
crime)
Nativist sentiment rapidly escalated after Great War (especially with immigrants
leaving war-torn Europe)- Nativists attempt to slow immigration by employing the
Quota Act (limiting immigration to 3% of each nationality) and in 1924, halted
immigration from all of East Asia with the National Origins Act
Ku Klux Klan was revived during 1920s and spread to North as well as Southprimary targets were Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and also blacks…Klan opens up
many chapters in many states and “Klaverns” establish many women and children
auxiliaries to demonstrate commitment to the family
– Klan went into decline in the 1930s after scandals including rape brought it
down once more
Corn Production and Prices, from 18701900
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American farmers were subjected to hard financial times during the time of late-industrialization
into the Great Depression
Mechanization of farming equipment in early 20th century allowed for farmers to harvest crops
faster and more efficiently resulting in overproduction and a surplus of crops that remained a
financial burden to farmers
From 1900-1930, farmers lost much of their own land and were forced to either abandon the
profession, or work on someone’s land in tenancy
During 1920s, farmers wanted “Parity” which would allow farmers to not lose money based upon
fluctuations in the national or world markets…later introduced as McNary-Haugen Bill (but was
vetoed by President Coolidge on a couple occasions)
Emergency Quota Act Political Cartoon,
1921
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America during the 1920s was changing into the
modern-country we know of toady…with any
change, many impulses spring up
America was fearful of immigrants because of the
fear that they took Anglo-Americans jobs away
from them…Chinese Exclusion Act was an example
of white fear over foreigners
Emergency Quota Act was another attempt to limit
immigration from regions including Southern and
Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Latin America
– America would not except immigrants from any
country that reached the nationality point of
3%
– Law became more severe as time went on…
National Origins Act of 1924 was a law passed by
Congress to halt ALL immigration from East Asia
(Japanese saw this as a strike against them by AngloAmericans because they were primary source of
Asian immigration after Chinese barred from
immigrating to America)
Life Magazine: The Flapper, 1922
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Symbolizes the “Flapper Movement”
which was an act of liberation
undertaken by young women during
the “Roaring Twenties”
Women began purchasing cosmetics,
wearing specific hairstyles, and
following fashion trends
Flapper Movement originated with
lower class working women who lived
a lifestyle where they traveled to
dance halls and clubs at night often
alone
Upper Class and Middle Class women
imitated the lifestyle started by lower
class women and expanded upon it
Magazine cover shows women
defying traditional social norms in
favor of more scandalous, liberating,
and promiscuous behavior
“I Too, Sing America”, Langston Hughes
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After the “Great Migration”-where African
Americans migrated from Southern rural areas
to Northern cities (i.e. Chicago, St. Louis, and
New York) they established their own
neighborhoods and communities
In Harlem, New York, the Harlem Renaissance
was a way for white people to view the culture
and accomplishments of the black community
Harlem Renaissance consisted of Jazz music,
theater, and literature
Langston Hughes was a prominent African
American poet who captured the essence of the
Movement in the line, “I am a Negro- and
beautiful.”
Alaine Locke published an anthology of collected
black writings called The New Negro (1925)
Primary Source:
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
Ford Advertisement, 1926
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Henry Ford was an entrepreneur who
engineered the assembly line and brought to
the American public the first, affordable car
for Middle-Class America
Ford Motor Company follows philosophy of
“Welfare Capitalism”- the company
shortened workers’ hours and allowed for a
raise in pay during the Post-War Years of
WWI
Automobile industry (spurred by Henry
Ford) allowed for expansion of oil industry
and road construction industry
Many Americans began to take vacations
(which used to be reserved for the wealthy)
and travelled to destinations by the
automobile
Suburbs were being built outside of major
cities and industrial centers…automobile
allows for easy transportation from suburbs
and rural areas into downtown cities
America and the Great War and
“The New Era”
Ryan Lafler