...World War I Hanse Bidon HIS/125 November 16, 2014 Tabitha Oteino World War I After announcing that the United States would remain neutrality at the beginning of WWI, however it would be the actions of Germany that would cause President Wilson to ask congress for a declaration of war and on April 2, 1917, asking congress to send in troops to battle Germany. President Wilson, while addressing congress, stated that” lamented it is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful person into war." Four days later congress would honor President Wilson’s request. In February and March of 1917, Germany was at war with Britain, France and Russia. Germany would increase submarine attacks on freight and merchant ships entering the Atlantic Ocean Killing innocent men and women, which included Americans. The German U-boats set upon around England preventing any supplies from entering in. Also, they would allow ships to disembark and then fire on them. Which was the case in the Lusitania the Germans fired on and sunk the ship, which contained over one hundred Americans on board. In addition, January 1917, Great Britain intercepted a telegram and decided it. The telegram was from Germany’s foreign Minster Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minster to Mexico Von Eckhardt and released it to the U.S. newspaper instead of giving it to the U.S. government. In this telegram, Germany is offering to help Mexico regain Texas and Arizona territory if they would become allies in WWI...
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...the industrial revolution urge for raw material became of crucial importance for the European states. This was followed by the aggressive colonization projects that eventually led to a harsh competition between different parties around Europe, who want to hold control over the economic resources. The United States was not a super-power, as it is now, at the time of the War. Being aware of this Wilson opted to remain as a neutral observer during the initial phase of the war. It was the third year of the war, when the British intelligence intercepted the coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on 16 January 1917. While the two blocs, The Entente Powers (France, The British Empire and Russia) vs. The Central Powers, (Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire), were fairly evenly balanced between 1914 and 1917, with the year 1917 the Central Powers started to be weakened due to several reasons. The Americans were convinced that the Central Powers were doomed to lose the war, when the Zimmermann telegram was revealed. Therefore, Wilson aspired to take advantage of these circumstances and use the telegram as a pretext for convincing the American public opinion to join to the War and side with the Entente Powers. Given that all the parties involved in the war was motivated with the aim to gain competitive advantage over others, Wilson’s decision can be understood as an attempt on the side of the U.S. to pursue its own interest...
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...Submarines should not attack passenger ships in the Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. In February 1917, the Germany violated this agreement which annoyed the US government. Second, the Germany government had written a letter advising Mexico to attack the US. This letter was intercepted by the British, and when the United States received it, the Congress declared war against the Germany forces. The First World War was debatable war in America because there were conflicting pubic opinions. On one hand was German Americans, who were with the German government. Most of the Americans with British and France, on the other hand, origin supported the Entente forces and wanted the US to fight against the Germany. Therefore, President Wilson feared that the war would divide the country....
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...Austria. The Wilson Administration complained bitterly that the blockade violated international law (2010). It was not the conventional surface vessels used by Britain and France to enforce its blockade that enraged Americans, but the German submarines used. When American ships were intercepted by the British, the crew treated well. German submarines attacked without warning, and passengers had little to no chance of surviving (2010). While Wilson weighed his options regarding the submarine issue, he had to also evaluate Germany’s attempt at a secret alliance with Mexico. On January 19, 1917, British naval intelligence intercepted a telegram sent by Arthur Zimmerman, a German Foreign Minister, to the German Ambassador in Mexico City (2010). The “Zimmerman Telegram” promised the Mexican Government that Germany would help Mexico recover the territory it had lost to the United States following the Mexican-American War. In return for this assistance, the Germans asked for Mexican support in the war (2010). Initially, the British had not shared the news of the “Zimmerman Telegram” with U.S. officials. However, on February 24th, the British shared the note in hopes of persuading American officials to join the war. The British finally forwarded the intercept to Wilson. Even with this news, Wilson still hesitated to ask for a declaration of war. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. Wilson cited Germany’s...
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...World War I was one of the bloodiest and most important events of the 20th century. It showed the world the true horrors of modern technology, trench warfare and the risks of entangling alliances. Nevertheless, the aftermath of World War I gave way to a brief window of opportunity that had the chance to alter the scope of international relations: the League of Nations. The League of Nations offered the world a stark alternative to achieve security, however the debate over the true reason behind U.S. Senate’s failure to join it still continues to this day. Some historians like Arthur Link posit that the divide between advocates of collective security and limited internationalism led to the failure to confirm while Walter McDougall believed that...
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...relations with Germany, several other events actually facilitated the road to war for the U.S. Prior to American entry to World War I, the overwhelming sentiment was one of neutrality. With immigration on the rise, one out of every eleven Americans was German, or approximately 27% of the population, making German the largest ethnic group in America. The American economy grew early on in the war. War materials sold to the Allies, particularly Britain and France, provided a huge boon to the economy as Britain alone spent approximately $10 million per day in the states. Relations and popular opinion quickly changed however, as Germany initiated unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping vessels around Britain, triggering President Woodrow Wilson to cease bi-lateral relations with Germany in February 1917. This was not the first time relations degraded between the U.S. and Germany. The sinking of the Lusitania is commonly viewed as the primary cause for U.S. entry into World War I, though this is likely false. One hundred twenty eight Americans died in May 1915 when the Lusitania sank. While it fueled some propaganda in support of the Allies, and temporarily sullied relations with Germany, ultimately Winston Churchill viewed the Lusitania as a...
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...Assignment 1 How was the south changed? The chief accomplishment of the new south was the expansion of textile production, as the number of cotton mills grew from 161 to 400. There was also an increase in the lumber industry, coal production, and tobacco growth. Although, the majority of southern farmers were not flourishing, which caused sharecropping and tendancy to increase between blacks and whites. The bourbons perfected a political alliance with northern conservatives and economic alliance with northern capitalists. They also reduced state expenditures and public debt. Attitudes about race became more strongly felt and the prospect of an electoral alliance between poor whites and blacks that could threaten the power structure became a possibility, so the southern states came up with various ways to disenfranchise blacks. Also, “Jim Crow” laws were enacted to mandate public separation of the races. Legalized segregation reinforced the notions of white racial superiority and African-American inferiority, creating an atmosphere that encouraged violence, and during the 1890s lynching’s of blacks rose significantly. Define the New West. After 1865, the federal government encouraged western settlement and economic exploitation. The transcontinental railroads opened the western half of the nation to economic development and created an interconnected national market. Needing rapid communication, companies built telegraph lines along the railroad as the track was laid...
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...Bennett, Edward M. Recognition of Russia. Blaisdell Publishing Company, 1970. Pp 226 Edward Bennett was a professor at Washington State University. It appears that he had other works published, which followed the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Bennett used many sources for this book from a mix of primary and secondary sources, but appeared to use more secondary sources to support his thesis. Edward Bennett examines the U.S. policy of recognition and non-recognition during the time from President Woodrow Wilson administration through Roosevelt’s and the recognition of Russia and its effects on the American society. Bennett shows that a student must realize a states right to deny recognition to another state. He shows during Wilson’s administration the move away from the de facto policy. Bennett then try’s to show how effective Wilson’s non-recognition doctrine had been since its adoption to its abridgement in 1933. During this period he illustrated the differing view from Wilson’s non-recognition to Roosevelt finally extending diplomatic recognition to Russia and the effects that ensued. Prior to 1913 the United States practiced a de facto recognition towards governments of other countries. The U.S. practiced this form of recognition mainly on the basis it was the way that they had gained diplomatic recognition from France. During the time before the non-recognition the US had used the de facto (functional control) form and then the diplomatic recognition...
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...Progressive Era through the Great Depression Latisha Blacknall Dr. James Allen HIS105 Contemporary US History November 5, 2012 In American History there were many turning points that occurred from the Progressive Era through the Great Depression. It was during this period that many historical events shaped Americans current society, politics, economy and culture. The progressive era was a time period that American people needed. When society was going through urbanization, this movement was needed to survive the harsh conditions they were forced to live and work in. If it had not been for the muckrakers, the progressive era might not have received the attention that was needed to become a success. They wrote newspaper columns about the unsatisfactory conditions people were forced to live and work in while the government did nothing. The progressive era also brought awareness to the importance of education and started the reformation of the system. It was during this time that more schools were built and teachers’ salaries were raised. There was two major turning points in the in progressive era, the first is the Women Suffrage Movement. The National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA), which was founded in 1890, the second is The National Women’s Party (NWP) which was founded in 1913 and was led by Alice Paul. NAWSA worked many states to try and convince opponents that women were a valuable asset to society and deserved the right to vote. Alice Paul was more...
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...Climax in The Piano Lesson The climax in The Piano Lesson comes when Berniece is driven to play the piano that she has not touched in years. This action causes a cascade of changes in the main characters. The protagonist in the play is Berniece. From August Wilson's stage direction, "Thirty five years old, with an eleven year old daughter, she is still in mourning for her husband after three years" (1.1.62-63) In describing the Charles house, the stage direction adds, "although there is evidence of a woman's touch, there is a lack of warmth and vigor" (1.1.4) This last statement could just as well be describing Berniece. Having lived through the tragic loss of her father and more recently the loss of her husband, she does not want to deal in the past. We get a feel for her detached and cold existence when her brother shows up. Boy Willie, primarily the antagonist, is the polar opposite of Berniece. [He] is thirty years old. He has an infectious grin and a boyishness that is apt for his name. He is brash and impulsive, talkative, and somewhat crude in speech and manners. (1.1.16-18) Having driven two days from Mississippi, he shows up at the Doaker house before dawn, waking the house with an abnoxious childlike exuberance. Unaffected by her brother's happiness to see her, Berniece sees no joy in this reunion. The news that Boy Willie delivers—that Sutter, a descendent of the slavers that owned their family, has been pushed down a well by ghosts of the past—is...
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...According to my research President Wilson went to Capitol Hill to address the senate With his speech about “peace without victory” although his speech brought about the Fourteen Points Treaty on January 8,1918. The republican senate was against him immediately. He did not care . I believe that the President was trying to make peace with the American people as well as around the world.Wilson was convinced of his cause that he decided to that he himself would go to the peace conference. Although the Fourteen Point Treaty reassured that the America and it’s Allied that they Where fighting for more than imperialist. America wanted peace and the Allies did as well. On January 18, 1919 the peace conference began at the Palace of Versailles. Although the Fourteen Points as known as the Versailles Treaty became one-sided. President Wilson still insisted that liberal terms against the French and the British. The conference went on for months. The allies insisted on getting compensation and security for all of the damages and the loss of land during the Great War with Germany. Even though their were many rules for Germany, They signed the treaty on June 28,1919. According to our text book many of the Americans favored the treaty. President Wilson personally handed the treaty to the senate. Even though the senate house was divided into two different groups with many different ideas on how President Wilson handle the situation. The...
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...Fifth of July Character Arc Fifth of July is a play written by Lanford Wilson about a non-conventional, and quite dysfunctional, family of friends living in mid-Western America in the 1970s, with themes of family, friends, war, loss, and the future. Each of the characters is coping with their own individual circumstances, and when these struggles are all brought together under one roof, tensions rise. June is dealing (and has been dealing) with the pressures and hardships of being a single mother. Aunt Sally is coping with the loss of her beloved husband, Uncle Matt, and struggling to find the perfect place to scatter his ashes. Ken is having a battle within himself about selling the family home: on one hand, he is struggling financially and wants to ensure a secure future for him and his partner, Jed; on the other, he is feeling guilty for the thought even crossing his mind, considering his family grew up in that home and it holds sentimental value. This, coupled with the adjustment to his post-war state of being, takes a toll on Ken and puts him under incredible stress. Ken is attempting to sell his house, “The Talley Place,” to his friends John and Gwen Landis in order to have financial security and opt out of a teaching position at a school. As the story develops, Ken gets more and more anxious to sell the home, despite his sister June intervening and explaining that John and Gwen wouldn’t appreciate the home and maintain it properly. It is in the final scene...
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...S. response? 5.Describe the next 2 sinkings and the U.S. response. 6. Describe the Sussex Pledge. 7. Eventhough we were neutral, how was the U.S. really favoring the Allies? 8. Which ethnic groups in the U.S. favored the Central Powers and WHY? 9. How did the British make sure that America had a negative view of the Germans? 10. Discuss the U.S. lack of preparedness. Which groups and persons thought we should prepare just in case we were drawn into war? 11. What was President Wilson's stance on preparedness? 12. What groups and areas of the country were vehemently against preparedness and why? 13. Describe the election of 1916 and tell why Wilson won. 14. What were Wilson's last peace efforts to keep us out of war? 15. What are 3 major reasons why, eventhough he wanted peace, Wilson had to ask Congress for a declaration of war in April, 1817? 16. What was Wilson's slogan in his war declaration request? 17. Describe the War Industries Board and its leader Bernard Baruch. 18. What was Herbert Hoover's role in preparing for war? 19. What actions did the Fuel Administration under Harry GArfield take? 20. How did labor fair during the war? Who arbitrated disputes between labor and employers? 21. Who was George Creel and what was the job of the CPI? 22. What actions were promoted by the Hate the Huns campaign of the American Protective League? 23. Describe the Espionage Act of 1917. 24. Describe the Sedition Act. 25. Describe...
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...Three Little Pigs: Four Interpretations In these interpretations of the Three Little Pigs, there seems to be some serious thinking outside of the box. My childhood self has been terrorized. The interpretations yield a different outcome for the first two pigs than I remember from years long gone by. I, as a youngster, remember the first two pigs run to their brother’s brick home. The wolf is not killed but runs away with his tail on fire. The three interpretations of the story have the wolf devouring the first two pigs and the third pig kills the wolf. The interpretations have that similarity. The interpretations include the “rife” (DDBA-8005) of the story of the Three Little Pigs. The interpretations also have their views on “tyrants” (DDBA-8005) which the wolf symbolizes. Amdur speaks of the wolf is being the bully that seems to be satisfied by with the kill of the pigs (DDBA-8005). It seems the first two pigs are deemed weak enough to fit the lack of challenge the wolf is accustomed to. Fazio and Ek views the third pig as a “God-fearing” conqueror of the evil wolf (DDBA-8005). The difference is the symbolism of the wolf and the pigs. Gomez symbolizes the story to represent the working class and society. He also deems the third pig could be “the next despot” (DDBA-8005). Amdur’s symbolism seems to be viewed from a criminal drama television show perspective. Fazio and Ek relates to the story from a religious perspective. The research study justifies the action...
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...Do you agree with the view that the ‘industrial chaos of the winter of 1978-9 primarily accounts for Mrs Thatcher’s election victory in 1979? The Winter of Discontent was the the winter of 1978–79 in the United Kingdom, during which there werestrikes by public sector trade unions demanding larger pay rises, following the on-going pay limits of the Labour Party government led by Callaghan against TUC opposition to control inflation, during the coldest winter for 16 years. In source 3, Pugh states that, 'the industrial chaos of the winter of 1978-79 gave Mrs Thatcher her opportunity'. This suggests that industrial chaos of winter of discontent was the reason for Thatcher's victory in the 1979 election. Source 3 therefore strongly agrees with the statement. Pugh also says that if 'Callaghan held an election in the autumn of 1978, he might well have won.' This shows that Callaghan was personally more popular than Margaret Thatcher. Even though this was the case, the Conservatives had a parliamentary majority. This therefore suggest that it was the more short term reasons like the winter of discontent that gave Margaret Thatcher her victory. Additionally, the winter of discontent lead to a number of strikes by public workers who felt that they were being mistreated by the government following the cuts in public expenditure. These strikes lead to industrial chaos which in turn made Callaghan's government lose support which gave Thatcher an advantage. Another result from the industrial...
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