Unit 2: Moving to the World Stage - America from 1900 to 1940

 

Topics Covered in the Class for Reading Quiz D on World War I, the Peace, and the Shifts in the 1920s

We will cover these topics in class in this order:

  1. World War I backgrounds – nations at war, their traits, role of fronts, Pan-slavism, goals of pre-war plans
  2. Reminders about race: still lynchings plus segregation in national government during Wilson’s term, plus revival of KKK (continues powerful through 1920s) following Birth of a Nation film
  3. Events that lead to disillusion about this “War to End War,” this war to make the world—in Wilson’s words—“safe for democracy” (Disillusion has ripples for 2 decades.)

1909

Treaties trade during war and issues for new Secretary of State for Wilson, William Jennings Bryan—and later

1914

Meaning of neutrality (as in Neutrality Proclamation), blockade (mines), Colonel House

1915+

Loans, reality of; body count

 

Submarine, traditions and this technology (plus trench, convoy, P.R., war bonds)

 

The Lusitania – word manifest

 

World organization movement

1916

Germany’s promise to warn passenger vessels 1st plus demands for rules of international law

 

Wilson’s action - analogy

 

Campaign shift

 

Wilson’s actions re the war and re the Senate  (food quotation)

1917

Zimmerman note, role of fronts

 

Russian Revolution

  1. The Plan: 14 Points – key: League of Nations, self-determination, freedom of the seas
  2. The Reality: Selective Service and centralization of government (examples) and 2 amendments
  3. The Peace: Henry Cabot Lodge, the official closing of the war and U.S. response to the League of Nations, and the future
  4. The 20s Politics and Foreign Policy to 1928

§         Warren G. Harding and “normalcy”
- Foreign: Washington Conference and disarmament
- Politics: Teapot Dome

§         Calvin Coolidge
- Foreign: Reparations debt cycle (The loans from U.S. bankers to the Allies haunts us.)

- Politics: tax reduction for the rich; veto of aid to farmers, veto (but overridden) of Bonus (paid insurance) for vets
NOTE: chooses not to run again in 1928

  1. The 1920s shifts made visible in the Snapshot especially for issues in the quizzes and the essays. Example: Look at the first  pages on the economy and search the snapshot for terms (such as leisure, high school, Harlem Renaissance, KKK).

 

 

 

 

Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2013

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

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Last Updated:

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