Final Project, History 2100, Spring 2017, William Paterson University

1. American Military Involvement in
World War I

2. Introduction
 U.S. Military involvement inWorldWar I was a turning
point for the United States both domestically and
globally. Becoming involved in a conflict of this scale
meant choosing a side and had major impacts on
America economically, socially and politically. At the
beginning of the 20th century there were stark divides
amongst the countries populace in terms of socio-
economic status and enteringWWI as a military power
meant different things for each class of people. This
presentation will examine what military involvement
meant for each group and how civil engagement played
a role in the eventual decision to go to war.

3. Thesis Statement
 The United States decision to side militarily with the allied
powers inWorldWar I was essentially a global and political
“power-play” executed under the guise of worldwide
democracy. The needs and desires of the socially and
economically elite oligarchy in the United States outweighed
the needs of the poor and middle class. Through the effective
use of civil engagement via propaganda and patriotism the
ruling class was able to further it’s primary purpose in
shaping the United States into the world’s foremost
economic power.

4. Key Issues in Debate over
American Involvement in WWI
 While the U.S. faced no
immediate threat of military
action early in the conflict,
PresidentWoodrowWilson and
the ruling class sided
ideologically with the Allies and
saw an opportunity to make
money.
 U.S. leaders were worried that a
German victory would lead to a
potential economic and social
threat to American power.
 Without getting involved the
rulers feared that the U.S. would
have no say in post war decisions
and less global economic
influence.
 The general populace was
hesitant for the U.S. to dive into a
war on a global scale.
 Communities and social classes
feared that American
involvement would stifle
domestic growth and progress.
 Big business had the most to gain
from American intervention
while already marginalized
groups had the most to lose.
 Social programs which benefitted
the poor and middle class would
be cut and funds diverted to the
military.

5. Propaganda was used both for and
against U.S. involvement in WWI.

6. Propaganda such as this was used by influential members of the pro-war
cause to evoke feelings of patriotism and national pride in an effort to sway
the opinions of the general populace and inspire those of a lower social class
to pledge their money and support or even enlist in the Armed Forces.

7. Examples of propaganda on the anti-war side aimed to show that the only ones who
would benefit from American military action would be those already in positions of
influence both politically and economically. Imagery was used to illustrate the fact that
“the little man” – power and middle class people would be trampled by the ruling class
in order to gain more wealth and influence.

8. Inciting civic engagement as a means
to an end.
 WorldWar I was a unique conflict for the time. It was truly the first global
war and was viewed as many as the “war to end all wars”. Seeing the
importance of such a conflict those in economic and political power sought
to useWorldWar I as a means to become even stronger. However, simply
stating their desire for power was no way to gain the support of a hesitant
populace.
 Those in power needed to find a way to engage the socio-economic groups that would be
fighting the war on the front lines and at home. The way to accomplish this was by
galvanizing these less powerful groups through rallies, propaganda and a common enemy
that opposed democracy and theAmerican way of life
 The government was extremely effective in using propaganda that demonized the enemy
and painted theAmericans in an altruistic light. This swayed enough support in favor of
American involvement in the war to make military action feasible and allow those who
stood to benefit from wartime to justify the sacrifices and loss of life that would take
place.

9. Civic engagement through propaganda
The majority of Americans were not highly educated in
the early 1900s and were more likely to believe
information given to them by the government.
Despite the fact that the American way of life was not
immediately threatened by WWI, the government
pushed the notion that the very ideal of democracy
itself was at stake and it was each American’s duty to
protect it.

10. U.S. enters World War I
 Despite the fact that there were manyAmericans who opposedAmerican intervention in
WWI, the pro-war faction won out.
 In 1917 the United States officially joinedWorldWar I – the main reason given by
government officials was German attacks onAmerican merchant ships carrying U.S.
citizens as well as the Zimmerman telegram – a message from Germany urging Mexico
to side with the Central Powers and attack the U.S.
 However, at the same time the United States had been making huge loans toAllied
powers, specifically Britain and France. With the outcome ofWorldWar I up in the air
prior to U.S. intervention,America stood to lose out on billions of dollars if these allied
nations were unable to repay loans after the war.
 The United States federal government and the banking industry was unwilling to risk
their economic well being on a conflict in which the Central Powers seemingly had an
advantage and were able to use the sinking ofAmerican ships and the potential of a
Germany-Mexico alliance as sufficient reason to enterWWI militarily.

11. Images of civic engagement
Pro-war rallies and propaganda was organized
and created by the elite and those who stood
to profit in war time.
Images such as the rally below and the war
poster on the right used stark images and
iconic symbols of America (such as the nations
flag) to illicit an emotional response and to
gain support among the general populace.
American pride and the need for democracy to
spread worldwide were used as rallying cries to
gain support for American intervention in the
war.

12. Images of civic engagement
There was also many vocal anti war
activists who protested the United
States joining the conflict.
These anti-war protests predicted that
American involvement in the war would benefit
few and hurt many especially the working
class.

13. Major corporations and economic powers within the United States had much to gain
from military conflict in Europe. Trade with the Allied powers increased exponentially
during and immediately after World War I and many of those in big business who
supported American involvement in the war profited tremendously.
United States exports and
loans to Allied countries
United States exports and
loans to Central countries
 1914 – 828.8 Million
dollars.
 1916 – 3.2 Billion dollars.
 In addition, in1917 the
total value of U.S. loans
to allied powers was 2.5
Billion dollars.
*Allied powers are Britain, France, Italy
and Russia
 1914 – 169.3 Million
dollars.
 1916 – 1.2 Million
dollars.
 In addition, in1917 the
total value of U.S. loans
to central powers was 27
Million dollars.
* Central powers are Germany,Austria-
Hungray, Bulgaria and the Ottoman
Empire.

14. Economic impact of U.S. Military
involvement in World War I.
 The previous slide shows the incredible impact
WorldWar I had on the U.S. economy. By siding
with the Allied Powers the U.S. was able to increase
it’s trade with it’s four other major member nations
by an incredible 2.37 Billion dollars, nearly
quadrupling exports to Britain, France, Italy and
Russia in the two years between 1914 and 1916. This
massive increase in export revenue for the U.S. did
not necessarily improve the lives of “every day
citizens”, instead it served to make the rich richer
and establish some of the major domestic economic
powers that are still very influential today.

15. American casualties and the impact of WWI
on the American citizen
 According to U.S. Department ofVeteransAffairs (VA) the United
States suffered over 320,000 causalities as a direct result of WWI
including 116,000+ deaths and 204,000+ non mortal injuries.
 Furthermore theAmerican populace had to deal with many issues
after the end of armed conflict including: increased debt, PTSD
among service members, the spread on infectious disease,
prohibition and severe inflation.
 There was a sense of disillusionment among manyAmericans
concerning U.S. involvement in European andWorld affairs. The
U.S. did not join the newly formed League of Nations and there
was pervasive feeling thatAmerican military involvement and the
causalities suffered by the armed forces was in vain.

16. Impact of the war on farmers
 Many different industries were hit hard by the war effort and the
aftermath of global conflict. Jobs were lost across all types of economic
sectors but perhaps no industry was more affected than agriculture.
 Due to the front line fighting and the destruction that spread across the European
continent demand for U.S. grown crops and supplies skyrocketed duringWorldWar
I. However, this increase in demand and profit was extremely temporary.
 After the treaty that ceased fighting in Europe demand for U.S. crops tumbled and
theAmerican agricultural industry was nearly crippled.
 At the time much ofAmerica made money through farming or other means of
agricultural income.
 Many farmers took out loans and stretched themselves thin during the war and
were unable to pay back their debts after the crash leading to bankruptcy.
 Due to the sharp decline in demand thousands of farmers saw their livelihood taken
away and it took many years for the U.S. agricultural industry to recover.

17. Agriculture and other industries
 The steep decline in the U.S.
agricultural industry affected
workers in other industries as well.
 With many farms stopping
production of crops prices
increased for other products that
relied on agriculture as well – For
example, less cotton meant more
expensive textiles.
 This lead to inflation which
impacted poor and middle class
Americans most – they simply were
unable to afford all the goods and
services they needed to thrive.

18. U.S. entry into WWI
Below is a copy of the “decrypted and
translated Zimmerman telegram which offered
the potential of a German alliance with Mexico
to unravel U.S. dominance in North America.
Below is an image of the ship Lusitiania,
a British ship sank by German U-boats. It
was not a military vessel and it’s sinking
as well as the later sinking of American
vessels did a great deal to sway public
opinion towards war amongst Americans.

19. Inflation
Inflation during and
after WWI
Impact on poor and middle
class families
 Inflation in the United States reached
nearly 30% during the second half of
the 1910’s which had the greatest
impact on the lower and middle class
making in much harder for most
families to afford every day necessities.
These families who were also more
likely to have a family member serving
abroad had to make severe cutbacks and
sacrifices during and immediately after
the war. This instability made it
difficult to bounce back post war and
was a major contributing factor in the
Great Depression.

20. America in the post-war world
 Very little was gained for mostAmericans afterWorldWar I – the world was not made
entirely safe for democracy.
 WWI was thought to be “the war to end all wars” – this was not the case – armed
conflicts were happening throughout the world and the ramifications ofWWI set the
stage forWorldWar II.
 Citizens struggled after the war and it took many years for the economy to stabilize for
the averageAmerican citizen. Taxes were increased and the middle class felt the brunt of
this.
 The federal government increased in size as a result ofWWI and this perhaps more than
anything had the biggest negative impact on the well being of theAmerican citizen. Ideas
about the role of the national government in the economy is arguably most important
economic impact ofAmerican involvement inWorldWar I.
 In modern America the inflated national government cots theAmerican citizen and
taxpayer exorbanant amounts of money while offering questionable benefit.

21. Americans post World War I
Many Americans struggled to
accommodate their family’s needs in
post-war American society.
The immediate elation that came with the end
of a war of a grand scale was soon followed by
economic hardship which paved the way for the
great depression

22. Conclusions
 The United States military involvement in World War I
served to benefit a very small and specific group of
Americans. It is an unfortunate reality that war is a business
and a very profitable one at that. A small and elite group of
American businessman and government leaders profited on
the backs of the American nation and set the stage for the
entirety of 20th century. The economic turmoil of the great
depression, the catastrophic destruction of World War II, the
social and political tension of the Cold War and the
frightening political climate of the world we live in today can
all trace their roots back to the decisions made by the
American oligarchy before, during and after American
intervention in World War I. Thousands upon thousands of
Americans were killed or injured on the front lines of Europe
and millions of Americans back home were directly impacted

23. Sources
 “America’sWars Fact Sheet”, US Department ofVeterans Affairs, accessedApril 27, 2017,
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf.
 Martin Horn, Britain,France and the financing of the FirstWorldWar, Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press,
2001
 PhilipWarner, WorldWar One:a chronological narrative,London:Arms andArmour, 1995.
 Pierre Purseigle, Warfare and Belligerence:Perspectives in FirstWorldWar Studies, Netherlands: Brill Academic
Publishers, 2005.
 Roger Parkinson, The origins ofWorldWar One,NewYork: Putnams, 1970.