Questions from Reading: Securing the Peace, pgs. 12 - 21
1. Why did Woodrow Wilson not take any Republicans with him to Europe for the Peace Conference?
Wilson had a strong dislike for Lodge, a republican, he was also bitter about midterm elections.
2. Why was Wilson welcomed in Paris?
Wilson was an American and the citizens of Paris saw Americans as heroes because they had helped defeat the Germans.
3. The idea of self-rule, which Wilson advocated, was not included in the Treaty to the extent Wilson had hoped. Why not?
The other countries did not like they idea because it was not harsh on Germany and did not want "a peace without victory".
4. The Allied Big Four - Wilson, Lloyd George, Orlando, and Clemenceau - discussed the question of whether to invite the conquered Germans and the new Russian Bolsehvik government to the Versailles Conference and its negotiations but decided against it. Was the decision justified? Explain your reasoning.
I do not think it was justified because the decision was made only for the sake of revenge. It was not a very diplomatic move and could only give Germans more reason to dislike those countries. Creating a treaty that would have such a drastic impact on both countries and not allowing them to be a part of it can not be logically justified.
5. Which Big Four leader showed up at the Paris Conference with the most strenght to influence the proceedings? Which was the weakest? Why?
Clemenceau, Wilson and George were all very powerful, with Wilson probably in the highest position. Italy was the weakest. Wilson was the only head of state. Italy was smaller than the other countries and had originally been a central power.
6. Why did Wilson have such difficulty seeing his Fourteen Points written into the Peace Plan?
The other countries were set on revenge on Germany.
7. Explain Article X of the League of Nations Covenant. What problems with the covenant did some Americans have?
Article X essentially said that the boundaries decided upon at the conference would need to be maintained. Many Americans disapproved because they felt it would threaten U.S. isolationism and cause the U.S. to get tangled in European affairs,
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Woodrow Wilson Fights for Peace
1. What was Wilson's 14th Point?
The 14th point was to create the League of Nations.
2. What terms of the treaty specifically affected Germany?
The Treaty barred Germany from creating an army and made them pay for war damages.
3. What were the weaknesses of the treaty?
It humiliated Germany with a war-guilt clause, making them claim responsibility for starting the war. Also, because Russia was excluded from the peace treaty it lost more land than Germany did.
4. Why did Henry Cabot Lodge object to the treaty?
He believed that a league of nations would threaten the U.S. foreign policy of isolation.
5. How did Wilson help bring about the Senate's rejection of the treaty?
He ignored the republican majority and when he chose members of the American delegation and refused to compromise.
6. What circumstances at this time would eventually lead many Germans to support Adolf Hitler?
Nothing had been settled by the treaty of versailles and there was massive destruction and damaged social and political systems.
7. Who is George Clemenceau?
The French premier.
8. Who is David Lloyd George?
The British prime minister.
9. Describe the participation of Russia at the peace conference.
Russia was not involved in the peace conference at all and as a result suffered badly. The country had recently been taken over by communists and was in disarray and was not able to participate in the conference.
The 14th point was to create the League of Nations.
2. What terms of the treaty specifically affected Germany?
The Treaty barred Germany from creating an army and made them pay for war damages.
3. What were the weaknesses of the treaty?
It humiliated Germany with a war-guilt clause, making them claim responsibility for starting the war. Also, because Russia was excluded from the peace treaty it lost more land than Germany did.
4. Why did Henry Cabot Lodge object to the treaty?
He believed that a league of nations would threaten the U.S. foreign policy of isolation.
5. How did Wilson help bring about the Senate's rejection of the treaty?
He ignored the republican majority and when he chose members of the American delegation and refused to compromise.
6. What circumstances at this time would eventually lead many Germans to support Adolf Hitler?
Nothing had been settled by the treaty of versailles and there was massive destruction and damaged social and political systems.
7. Who is George Clemenceau?
The French premier.
8. Who is David Lloyd George?
The British prime minister.
9. Describe the participation of Russia at the peace conference.
Russia was not involved in the peace conference at all and as a result suffered badly. The country had recently been taken over by communists and was in disarray and was not able to participate in the conference.
Friday, December 11, 2009
WWI-The War at Home
What were some things accomplished by the following wartime agencies and laws?
1. War Industries Board-Under the WIB, industrial production in the United States increases by about 20%
2. Railroad Administration- The railroad administration controlled the railroads.
3. Fuel Administration-the fuel administration helped promote the conservation of fuel.
4. National War Labor Board-Improved factory conditions but also told workers they had to "work or fight".
5. Food Administration-Helped to conserve food during the war, instead of rationing some days were "meatless" or "sweetless" ect.
6. Committee on Public Information-was in charge of creating propaganda that promoted the war.
7. Espionage and Sedition Acts-Targeted socialists and labor leaders, they prevented these people from discouraging others protest the war.
Briefly explain why Bernard M. Baruch and George Creel are significant historical figures.
George Creel was the head of CPI and was responsible for distributing lots of war propaganda that encouraged people to support the war. Bernard M. Baruch was head of the WIB and helped make the production of war supplies more efficient.
1. War Industries Board-Under the WIB, industrial production in the United States increases by about 20%
2. Railroad Administration- The railroad administration controlled the railroads.
3. Fuel Administration-the fuel administration helped promote the conservation of fuel.
4. National War Labor Board-Improved factory conditions but also told workers they had to "work or fight".
5. Food Administration-Helped to conserve food during the war, instead of rationing some days were "meatless" or "sweetless" ect.
6. Committee on Public Information-was in charge of creating propaganda that promoted the war.
7. Espionage and Sedition Acts-Targeted socialists and labor leaders, they prevented these people from discouraging others protest the war.
Briefly explain why Bernard M. Baruch and George Creel are significant historical figures.
George Creel was the head of CPI and was responsible for distributing lots of war propaganda that encouraged people to support the war. Bernard M. Baruch was head of the WIB and helped make the production of war supplies more efficient.
Friday, December 4, 2009
The U.S Enters World War I
Read Chapter 19-2 and post your answers to the following questions. These are due on Friday by 3:10 p.m.
Title: The U.S. enters World War I Labels: Wilson, WWI
1. How did the United States raise an army?
The U.S. raised an army with the Selective Service act, which required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service.
2. How did U.S. soldiers help win the war?
U.S. soldiers helped win the second battle of Marne, which caused the tide to turn against the Central Powers.
3. What were the estimated economic costs of the war?
The estimated economic cost of the war was $338 billion.
4. What did the war cost in terms of the number of civilian deaths; military deaths?; injuries?; and refugees?
The total death toll of WWI was around 22 million, more than half of those deaths were civillian (the rest military,)20 million people were wounded or injured and 10 million people became refugees.
5. Define armistice.
Armistice is the truce that ended the war.
Title: The U.S. enters World War I Labels: Wilson, WWI
1. How did the United States raise an army?
The U.S. raised an army with the Selective Service act, which required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service.
2. How did U.S. soldiers help win the war?
U.S. soldiers helped win the second battle of Marne, which caused the tide to turn against the Central Powers.
3. What were the estimated economic costs of the war?
The estimated economic cost of the war was $338 billion.
4. What did the war cost in terms of the number of civilian deaths; military deaths?; injuries?; and refugees?
The total death toll of WWI was around 22 million, more than half of those deaths were civillian (the rest military,)20 million people were wounded or injured and 10 million people became refugees.
5. Define armistice.
Armistice is the truce that ended the war.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
World War I Begins
1. What are the four main causes of World War I? Give an example for each as to why it was a cause.
The four main causes of WWI were nationalism, imperialism, militarism, the formation of the Alliance System. Nationalism was a cause because it often led to intense competition between countries and rivalries, for example, other European countries were afraid of Germany's growing power. Imperialism was a cause because as Germany industrialized it competed with France and Britain for control over colonies. Militarism was the development of armed forces as a mean of diplomacy, with all the countries building bigger armies, more weapons, greater navies ect. Britain was originally not intimidated by Germany but as Germany expanded its naval force they became more fearful.
2. How did the June 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand become the spark for WWI?
Austria-Hungary was so furious at Serbia that they wanted to go to war with them, so they asked for Germany's permission because Germany was also one of the central powers. Germany said yes because Austria-Hungary thought it would be a quick and easy war. However, Russia felt the need to come to Serbia's aid, turning the war into much more of a power struggle. Germany came to assist Austria-Hungary. Britain and France, also allies with Russia joined in the fight to help Russia.
3. What happened within the first few months of fighting?
During the first few months of fighting, Germany attempted to launch the Schleiffen Plan and invaded Belgium. The French were unable to save Belgium, so instead they halted the Germans at the Marne river. Neither side was able to outflank the other side and as a result trench systems were developed.
4. Generally, why did the United States want to stay out of the war?
The war did not directly affect American lives or property, some believed that war was evil, others did not want their sons exposed to the horrors of modern warfare.
5. Specifically, Why did the following groups of Americans tend to oppose U.S. participation in the war? Naturalized citizens; socialists; pacifists; parents.
Naturalized citizens often still felt connected with the countries from which they emigrated, socialists saw it as a capitalist struggle between Britain and Germany, pacifists believed that was was evil and morally wrong, parents did not want their sons to have to be exposed to the brutality of war.
6. How did Germany respond to the British naval blockade of Germany’s ports? What was the U.S. response?
Germany responded with a counter-blockade using uboats (submarines) which attacked all ships even unarmed merchant ships. The U.S. was angered by the british blockade because it hindered their trade with great britain and france. However, when Germans began sinking ships with U.S. citizens on board and Americans became outraged and determined to destroy the Central Powers.
7. What forced the United States into the war?
When Germany ignored Wilson's peaceful efforts and announced that it would sink all ships in the water, neutral or not.
The four main causes of WWI were nationalism, imperialism, militarism, the formation of the Alliance System. Nationalism was a cause because it often led to intense competition between countries and rivalries, for example, other European countries were afraid of Germany's growing power. Imperialism was a cause because as Germany industrialized it competed with France and Britain for control over colonies. Militarism was the development of armed forces as a mean of diplomacy, with all the countries building bigger armies, more weapons, greater navies ect. Britain was originally not intimidated by Germany but as Germany expanded its naval force they became more fearful.
2. How did the June 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand become the spark for WWI?
Austria-Hungary was so furious at Serbia that they wanted to go to war with them, so they asked for Germany's permission because Germany was also one of the central powers. Germany said yes because Austria-Hungary thought it would be a quick and easy war. However, Russia felt the need to come to Serbia's aid, turning the war into much more of a power struggle. Germany came to assist Austria-Hungary. Britain and France, also allies with Russia joined in the fight to help Russia.
3. What happened within the first few months of fighting?
During the first few months of fighting, Germany attempted to launch the Schleiffen Plan and invaded Belgium. The French were unable to save Belgium, so instead they halted the Germans at the Marne river. Neither side was able to outflank the other side and as a result trench systems were developed.
4. Generally, why did the United States want to stay out of the war?
The war did not directly affect American lives or property, some believed that war was evil, others did not want their sons exposed to the horrors of modern warfare.
5. Specifically, Why did the following groups of Americans tend to oppose U.S. participation in the war? Naturalized citizens; socialists; pacifists; parents.
Naturalized citizens often still felt connected with the countries from which they emigrated, socialists saw it as a capitalist struggle between Britain and Germany, pacifists believed that was was evil and morally wrong, parents did not want their sons to have to be exposed to the brutality of war.
6. How did Germany respond to the British naval blockade of Germany’s ports? What was the U.S. response?
Germany responded with a counter-blockade using uboats (submarines) which attacked all ships even unarmed merchant ships. The U.S. was angered by the british blockade because it hindered their trade with great britain and france. However, when Germans began sinking ships with U.S. citizens on board and Americans became outraged and determined to destroy the Central Powers.
7. What forced the United States into the war?
When Germany ignored Wilson's peaceful efforts and announced that it would sink all ships in the water, neutral or not.
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