Lesson 25: World War I in America
World War I brought a lot of change for Americans. Firstly, the power of the government shifted. Prior to WWI, the power of the government pretty much resided only with Congress. During the war, however, the American people saw President Wilson as having the power of the government. Nothing, as far as true power, changed, but the people's perception changed. Suddenly the President wasn't just president, but the Commander-in-Chief of the military. Then, when the war ended, President Wilson became a diplomat, being the first president to go abroad to negotiate a peace treaty. Congress was not very happy with this, but there wasn't a whole lot they could do about it at the time either, until President Wilson would come back with a treaty that the Senate would have to ratify.
When the United States declared war the whole country went to war, not just those who were called up for the draft. The war, for the United States, meant big money. The United States became a huge supplier of food, medicines, and armaments. Factories changed their industries to make supplies to support the war. Families were encouraged to grow their own gardens, called "Victory Gardens," so that more food could be sent to the warfront. Those men who were called up for the draft became part of a 4 million armed force to go to Europe from the United States.
Civil rights for African Americans was still an issue. Read about African Americans and the war here: http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html
When the United States declared war the whole country went to war, not just those who were called up for the draft. The war, for the United States, meant big money. The United States became a huge supplier of food, medicines, and armaments. Factories changed their industries to make supplies to support the war. Families were encouraged to grow their own gardens, called "Victory Gardens," so that more food could be sent to the warfront. Those men who were called up for the draft became part of a 4 million armed force to go to Europe from the United States.
Civil rights for African Americans was still an issue. Read about African Americans and the war here: http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html
Unit 4 Final
1. Jim Crow laws were worse in the North or the South?
2. What did African American women do to help the war effort?
3. Describe the situation for African Americans in the military during WWI.
4. What is nationalism?
5. What events led to the beginning of WWI?
6. What is another name for WWI?
7. While neutral during WWI, what did the United States do that upset Germany?
8. Were Americans united behind helping France and Great Britain during WWI from the beginning?
9. What was the purpose of the Selective Service Act?
10. What was President Wilson's goal with his 14 points?
11. Who were the main leaders at the Treaty of Versailles and what did each of them hope to get out of the treaty?
12. Fill in the blank: World War I was to be a "war to ____________________________."
13. During WWI, which branch of the United States government appeared to have the most power? Why?
2. What did African American women do to help the war effort?
3. Describe the situation for African Americans in the military during WWI.
4. What is nationalism?
5. What events led to the beginning of WWI?
6. What is another name for WWI?
7. While neutral during WWI, what did the United States do that upset Germany?
8. Were Americans united behind helping France and Great Britain during WWI from the beginning?
9. What was the purpose of the Selective Service Act?
10. What was President Wilson's goal with his 14 points?
11. Who were the main leaders at the Treaty of Versailles and what did each of them hope to get out of the treaty?
12. Fill in the blank: World War I was to be a "war to ____________________________."
13. During WWI, which branch of the United States government appeared to have the most power? Why?