Lecture Notes: U.S. Involvement in WWI and Aftermath

Introduction to U.S. Involvement

Late Entry: U.S. joined WWI in Spring 1918, experiencing only about six months of direct action.
Conditions: Soldiers faced harsh conditions in muddy trenches.

Structure of Trenches: Complex system including:
- No man's land (area between opposing trenches)
- Barbed wire defenses
- Front line, support, and reserve trenches
- Dugout rooms and long-range artillery
- Machine guns and concrete blockhouses
Health Hazards:
- Trench foot from constant wet conditions
- Shell shock due to sustained bombardment
Technology: Introduction of tanks, machine guns, gas masks, and biological weapons like mustard and chlorine gas.

Employment:
- Rise in employment due to Selective Service Act
- Women entered the workforce, prompting support for the 19th Amendment (women's voting rights)
Government Growth: Increased public-private sector cooperation; precursor to New Deal programs during the Depression.
Migration and Demographics:
- Encouraged Mexican migration for war labor
- Great Migration of Black Americans to northern states
Propaganda & Civil Liberties:
- Nationalistic propaganda
- Espionage and Sedition Acts limiting freedom of speech

Armistice: Signed on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.
Casualties: U.S. suffered relatively fewer casualties compared to European nations.

Wilson's 14 Points: Aimed for peace without victory, including the League of Nations.
Big Four: U.S., Great Britain, France, Italy dominated peace talks.
German Blame & Reparations: Germany disarmed, lost colonies, signed War Guilt Clause, paid reparations.
New Nations: Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Economic and Social Issues in 1919-1921:
- Recession and inflation
- Rising unemployment and strikes
- Racial tensions and riots

Lost Generation: Disillusionment among American intellectuals; expatriates like Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
Pandemics and Social Change: Influenza pandemic influenced end of the war; led to social distancing similar to modern-day responses.
Red Scare: Rising fear of foreigners and radicalism; led to restrictive immigration policies.
Long-term Effects: Set the stage for WWII due to unresolved tensions and punitive measures in the Treaty of Versailles.

World Impact: 20 million deaths, psychological trauma, and geopolitical shifts.
Upcoming Topics: The 1920s and the Roaring Twenties as the next lecture focus.

Note: Videos were referenced during the lecture for additional context on topics such as women's roles, propaganda, and the Red Scare.