America in World War I: Crash Course US History #30

2013-09-19

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In which John Green teaches you about American involvement in World War I, which at the time was called the Great War. They didn't know there was going to be a second one, though they probably should have guessed, 'cause this one didn't wrap up very neatly. So, the United States stayed out of World War I at first, because Americans were in an isolationist mood in the early 20th century. That didn't last though, as the affronts piled up and drew the US into the war. Spoiler alert: the Lusitania was sunk two years before we joined the war, so that wasn't the sole cause for our jumping in. It was part of it though, as was the Zimmerman telegram, unrestricted submarine warfare, and our affinity for the Brits. You'll learn the war's effects on the home front, some of Woodrow Wilson's XIV Points, and just how the war ended up expanding the power of the government in Americans' lives.

Hey teachers and students - Check out CommonLit's free collection of reading passages and curriculum resources to learn more about the events of this episode. The complex secret alliances of Europe led to World War I: https://www.commonlit.org/texts/a-mad-dash-to-disaster-the-first-world-war

It took several years before Americans joined the war: https://www.commonlit.org/texts/to-the-front-lines-america-in-world-war-i

After the war, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to prevent a future World War, and promoted creating a League of Nations, established following the Treaty of Versailles: https://www.commonlit.org/texts/the-treaty-of-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations

Chapters:

Introduction 00:00

American Involvement in WWI 0:41

The Sinking of the Lusitania 1:53

Why did the U.S. join WWI? 2:42

Mystery Document 3:22

America's Contributions to WWI 5:06

Pro-War Progressives 5:48

How WWI Expanded the U.S. Government's Power 6:08

Propaganda, Public Opinion, and the CPI 7:10

The Espionage Act of 1917 7:57

The Sedition Act 8:34