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When the major powers of Europe went to war in 1914, few people expected the United States to be drawn into the conflict. American soldiers had never fought on European soil nor did the United States seem to be in danger. The United States shared a common language with the British, but Germans supplied more immigrants to Iowa than any other group. As the war progressed, however, President Woodrow Wilson insisted on America’s right to trade. The British Royal Navy cut off most of U.S. trade with Germany, and German submarines began sinking any American ships bound for Britain or France. In April 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and Austria and became an ally of Britain, France and Russia.
Iowans and World War I: Participation and Discrimination
Most Iowans enthusiastically supported the war effort. Over 500,000 Iowans between the ages of 18 and 45 registered for the draft, and Iowa sent 114,242 men and women to serve during this war. Many new inductees reported to Camp Dodge just north of Des Moines for basic training. To finance war efforts, the U.S. government sold war bonds. Local committees across the state conducted five drives. The American Red Cross was a private organization established to provide extra services to American soldiers. Women knitted scarves and socks, rolled bandages and assisted with other support services. Like war bonds, Iowans contributed to Red Cross efforts. Feeding the Allied armies and their civilian populations placed pressure on farmers to boost production. “Food Will Win the War” posters promoted patriotism while guaranteed price support provided a financial incentive. The result was a huge boost in corn and livestock production. To make even more food available, rationing restricted the amounts of sugar, flour and meat that Iowans could buy.
Many German families had migrated to Iowa in the 19th century. In river towns like Davenport, Clinton and Dubuque, there were strong communities of Germans who continued to practice German customs. When the war broke out, Germans came under suspicion of not supporting the U.S. war effort but secretly supporting the Germans. Sometimes local committees harassed German families and others with strong ties to their native lands in Europe and insisted that they become “full Americans.” The Iowa governor, William Harding, even issued a proclamation, known as the Babel Proclamation, forbidding the use of any language other than English. It was probably an unconstitutional use of the governor’s authority, and it caused problems for many ethnic Iowans, including Dutch, Danish and Norwegians, particularly in church services.
Casualties of War
The war effort demanded an intense military, economic and financial commitment - and also came with a personal cost to many Americans. Iowa claimed two unfortunate “firsts." Merle Hay from Glidden was among the first three U.S. soldiers killed on the battlefield. Marion Crandell, once a French teacher at St. Katharine’s School in Davenport, became the first U.S. woman to die of injuries sustained in a combat zone. She was serving in a canteen when she was injured from the explosion of an artillery shell.
Armistice Day marking German surrender on November 11, 1918, brought wild celebrations across the state. However, problems created by the war did not immediately disappear. The national was in the grip of a deadly flu epidemic that killed more Americans than the battlefield. When the demand for farm products began to decline as European farmers began production again and with the removal of government price supports, farm surplus sent prices plunging.
Supporting Questions
During times of war, is the government justified in taking actions that may potentially restrict the rights of its citizens?
"This Must Not Be!," May 2, 1917 (Image)
Espionage Act of 1917, June 15, 1917 (Document)
What is the right balance between protecting the rights of citizens while also expecting they fulfill their responsibilities in a time of conflict?
Anti-German, Pro-American Soldier Broadside, May 2, 1918 (Document)
"Liberty Under the Law" - Sen. Warren G. Harding's Speech, July 22, 1920 (Audio, Document)
How will singling out groups during a time of conflict impact American values? Is this type of action an inevitable necessity to protect the public interests or does it show an imbalance of security over freedom?
"Don't Bite the Hand that's Feeding You," 1915 (Audio, Document)
Language Proclamation Correspondence #1, June 1, 1918 (Document)
Language Proclamation Correspondence #2, June 3, 1918 (Document)
Language Proclamation Correspondence #3, June 6, 1918 (Document)
During a time of conflict, what type of speech is responsible for citizens and government officials?
"Loyalty" - A Speech by the American Ambassador to German Americans, 1918 (Audio, Document)
Letter from President Woodrow Wilson to the Nation, July 26, 1918 (Document)
World War I: America's Involvement Source Set Teaching GuidePrintable Image and Document Guide
"This Must Not Be!," May 2, 1917
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Description
This political cartoon shows a woman labeled "Liberty" being chased down the steps of the U.S. Capitol by a man labeled "Congress" with a whip labeled "Espionage Bill." The image was published before the passage of the Espionage Act of 1917, which essentially made it a crime...
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Espionage Act of 1917, June 15, 1917
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The Espionage Act of 1917 was passed two months after America’s entrance into World War I. It was, “An act to punish acts of interference with the foreign relations, the neutrality and the foreign commerce of the United States, to punish espionage, and better to enforce the...
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Anti-German, Pro-American Soldier Broadside, May 2, 1918
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The May 1918 broadside, or one-sided poster, encouraged Americans to support the war effort during World War I. The large sheet of paper calls for the support of American soldiers “Over There” by opposing anything pro-German on the home front.
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"Liberty Under the Law" - Sen. Warren G. Harding's Speech, July 22, 1920
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Senator Warren G. Harding, Republican candidate for president, spoke about the rights of American citizens in this 1920 speech. Warren said the responsibility of government is to protect and sustain those same liberties and said it is the "committal of the Republican party...
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"Don't Bite the Hand that's Feeding You," 1915
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The war song, "Don’t Bite the Hand That’s Feeding You," was aimed at convincing immigrants of the importance of staying loyal to the United States during World War I. The song was composed by Jimmie Morgan and the lyrics were written by Thomas Hoier. The piece was published...
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Language Proclamation Correspondence #1, June 1, 1918
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This 1918 letter from the Sioux City Missouri Synod Lutheran Church to Iowa Governor William Harding is requesting permission to conduct services in Swedish. The letter was sent in response to the...
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Language Proclamation Correspondence #2, June 3, 1918
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This is a 1918 letter from Maurice W. Colbert, mayor of Danbury, Iowa, which is located on the western border of the state. Colbert is asking Iowa Governor William Harding for advice in implementing the...
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Language Proclamation Correspondence #3, June 6, 1918
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This letter from Pastor C.A. Gavert to Iowa Governor William Harding on June 6, 1918, is asking for permission to conduct church services in Swedish. At the time, this action was illegal in Iowa because of the...
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"Loyalty" - A Speech by the American Ambassador to German Americans, 1918
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The speech by Ambassador James W. Gerard is a warning to German Americans that "Every citizen must declare himself American -- or traitor!" Gerard, who was the U.S. ambassador to Germany, wrote this in 1918 during World War I to encourage German-American loyalty.
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Letter from President Woodrow Wilson to the Nation, July 26, 1918
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This letter from President Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, was calling for the enforcement of law and order to put an end to the “mob spirit” beginning to appear across the country. The letter, published July 26, 1918, asks Americans to rise above...
What steps led to the U.S. involvement in World War I?
Germany's resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships in 1917 became the primary motivation behind Wilson's decision to lead the United States into World War I.
What was the American involvement in World War 1?
U.S. Neutrality
The United States remained neutral at the beginning of the war. Individual Americans supported one side or the other, although the majority were sympathetic to the Allies. Many contributed to relief efforts; others volunteered as ambulance drivers or nurses, or even as pilots and soldiers.
What were the steps to ww1?
The steps to war.
Background to the First World War. ... .
Social reform and nationalism. ... .
Tension across Europe. ... .
Archduke assassinated. ... .
Germany declares war. ... .
Invasion of Belgium. ... .
First World War begins. ... .
Sequence of events in 1914..
What were the steps the U.S. took to move into involvement in World War II?
On December 7, 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Three days later, after Germany and Italy declared war on it, the United States became fully engaged in the Second World War.
