It is 1917 and congress has just passed the selective service act. Which has forcing most American men into the war. With most men gone to fight, most jobs were left without workers, and families were left un-provided for. Women have the chance to gain better jobs, serve in the Red Cross, and help promote the war. Women can now working in transport, nursing, factories making ammunition, the women’s royal air force where they are working on air planes, the women’s land army on farms, and in shipyards. Women can even buying war bonds to fund the war. Women can help the U.S. win the war. But only if they stand up and take this opportunity for their dreams of becoming equal to men.
Passage of Espionage Act
It has been two months since the U.S. has entered the war. President Woodrow Wilson has violated three of our American privileges: the tariff, our banks, and our trust. Congress has passed the espionage act which has allowed the government to restrict our freedom of speech. The authorities have been authorized to ban treasonable or seditious newspapers, magazines, or printed material through the mail. It enabled severe punishment for those suspected of being disloyal or doing treasonable activities. People caught obstructing army recruiters, aiding the enemy, or interfering with the war effort will be deported, fined for $10,000, and/or imprisoned for 20 years.
Decision to enter the war
The U.S has finally decided that the German attacks could not go on any further. They sunk an American boat the Lusitania in 1915 killing everyone onboard during their unrestricted submarine warfare. During that time they sunk any ship they thought was being used for the allies’ war effort. Another thing the German did was the Zimmerman Telegram where a German foreign minister sent a telegram to Mexico. In the message Zimmerman revealed the German’s plan to restart unrestricted submarine warfare, and asks Mexico to declare war with America and then they can have all the territory we took from them. Two days after the senate has voted 82 to 6, the U.S declared war on Germany.
Neutrality, Progressives, Isolationists
World War one has just started and Woodrow Wilson and a majority of America favored the thought of being neutral during ww1. There are so many immigrants here in America from all the places involved in the great war, so many that it would be unfair for our government to side with only a portion of our nation, and theoretically insult the other parts. The isolationists of this nation are glad to be neutral, because they want to stay out of foreign affairs. You isolationist want to use your money for your country, for things you want, not for something overseas. The progressives of this nation want to move forward, you want a stronger central government; you want reform in multiple areas of this nation. You think the government should be used to better our society. There are so many things going on in our home right now to refocus our attention to a war on another continent.
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