Chapter 3:
World War I (End of the War)
Primary Author: Vaunya K. Nash
The primary author is the individual who drafted the first version of
this section; a section that could have been modified since it was
originally published.
Political Issues Effecting the End of WWI
In 1914, the year World War I began, the sentiment
amongst Americans was to stay isolated. Most
Americans felt staying neutral was in their best
interest. It was such an unanimous feeling that
President Woodrow Wilson, ran his second term in
1915, with the slogan "He Kept Us Out Of Wae."
However, public opinion began to change due to
two important events.
The first event was the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915.
Americans were infuriated with the sinking and Germany's policy on unrestricted submarine
warfare.
The second event influencing American public opinion was the Zimmerman note, which was a
telegram sent from the German State Secretary of Foreign Affairs minister Arthur Zimmermann
to Mexico inviting them to join the Central Powers. The telegram was intercepted by the British
and turned over to the U.S.
With growing support for America to join the war, President Woodrow Wilson, Petitioned
Congress on 2 April 1917 for a declaration of war against Germany. On 6 April 1917 the U. S.
officially entered WWI along side the Allies. By this time, support for the war was unanimous.
By late 1918, within Germany, morale was at an all-time low. Becoming progressively obvious
was the Defeat of the Central Powers due, in part, to the United States ensuing Hundred Day'
Offensive. On 29 October 1918, German sailors stationed at Kiel, possibly encountering another
tour at sea, mutinied. The entire city was taken over within days, and then revolution spread
throughout the country.
Reprinted from College History
http://collegehistory.info/contemporary/03%28endwwi%29.html
Last updated on 26 July 2014
Photo Caption: Wilson returning from the Versailles Peace Conference, 1919. From the Associated
Press.
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Abdicating on 9 November 1918, the Kaiser slipped across the border to exile into the
Netherlands. Peace feelers reached out to the Allies after a German republic was established.
The Ottoman Empire, already out of the war, signed the Armistice on 30 October 1918, and
Austria-Hungary following on 3 November 1918. Parked inside a railroad car in a French forest
near the front lines the Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany, (Armistice- the
end of WWI, 1918).
Financial Issues of WWI
Being in a recession, the U.S. economy began a 44-month economic boom at the beginning of
the war until the end. Funding the boom was the Europeans purchasing U.S. goods and,
increased federal spending on war goods as America entered the war. Unemployment was at
an all time low declining from 7.9% to 1.4% with some three million people added to the
military and half a million to the government. The reason for such low unemployment was
because of the military draft; young men left civilian labor force leaving more job opportunities
for minorities and women.
C. Lozada explains taht "the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the total cost of
WWI to the U.S. at approximately $32 billion. At that time, the cost would be 52 percent of the
gross national product." Further breaking down the financing Lozada says "the war effort as
follows: 22 percent in taxes, 58 percent though borrowings from the public, and 20 percent in
money creation. The War Revenue Act of 1917 taxed "excess profits." "Profits exceeding an
amount determined by the rate of return on capital in a base period, by some 20 to 60 percent
and a tax rate on income starting at $50,000 rose from 1.5 percent in 1913-1915 to more than
18 percent in 1918." Traveling the country selling war bonds was treasury Secretary William
Gibbs McAdoo. Enlisting the aid of Hollywood Actors and the boy scouts created social pressure
to purchase the Liberty Bonds and later, after the war, the Victory Bonds.
Enjoying significant levels of prosperity and resources Britain was the world's economic super
power before WWI, (H. Pym, Did WWI Nearly Bankrupt Britain). However not being ready for
the economic impact war would have, Allowed for the U.S. to emerge from the war as an
economic world power and allowed them to invest large amounts internationally, in countries
like Latin America.
Reprinted from College History
http://collegehistory.info/contemporary/03%28endwwi%29.html
Last updated on 26 July 2014
Photo Caption: Wilson returning from the Versailles Peace Conference, 1919. From the Associated
Press.
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Conclusion
President Woodrow Wilson's main agenda during the war was to remain neutral to both sides.
For he knew the price of war being a modern history student, and that it's causes were more
than just black and white in war. Being successful for the first three year trying everything in his
power the promote peace. After declaring war, President Wilson wrote a speech addressed to
Congress on 11 January 1918 on America's intentions of peace settlement and reason for U.S.
involvement in war called the 14 points.
The League of Nations was an idea President Wilson and British Leaders way of preventing
another horrendous war that claimed 10 million lives. The organization was established to
handle international affairs, and monitor peace treaties like the Treaty of Versailles, which
unfairly left all reparation owed to Britain and Frances on Germany alone. While a good idea
the League of Nations proved to be unsuccessful in negotiating international affairs due to the
impending WWII. It did lay the framework for the United Nations, an international organization
promoting peace and security and human rights.
Reprinted from College History
http://collegehistory.info/contemporary/03%28endwwi%29.html
Last updated on 26 July 2014
Photo Caption: Wilson returning from the Versailles Peace Conference, 1919. From the Associated
Press.
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