THE US IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY = GROWING MORE AND MORE
INTERVENTIONISM
I. World War
In 1912, Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat was elected President, he was a progressive who believed that the
US had to play a major role in world affairs; but at the time, most Americans wanted the US to be
isolationists. That’s why, when the war in Europe started in 1914, the US remained neutral. In 1916, Wilson
was re-elected President with the slogan “He kept us out of war” but on February 24th 1917, the US
discovered “the Zimmerman Telegram” in which Germany proposed a military alliance between Germany,
Mexico and Japan. Germany promised Mexico that it would be given back its lost territories in the US:
Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
On April 2nd 1917, the US declared war on Germany. Two million Americans soldiers were sent to France
between 1917 and 1918. Americans soldiers participated in the major battles that led to the defeat of
Germany. The Armistice was signed on November 11th 1918 and the “Versailles Peace Conference” started
in January 1919. Wilson participated in the Versailles Peace Conference because he wanted to create a New
World order based on democracy and understanding but other countries wanted to punish Germany.
“The Versailles Peace Treaty” was signed on June 28th 1919 and it said that Germany would lose all its
colonies, its army and Germany had to pay reparation for the war.
For Wilson, the Versailles Peace Conference was a disaster, especially, after the US Senate refused to enter
the “League of Nations” (precursor of United Nations Organization) in 1919 and 1920.
II. The 1920s’
After WWI, the 1920s’ was both an era of happiness and fear for Americans.
A) The Red Scare
During the war, many Americans were afraid of communists especially because of the “Bolshevik
Revolution” in Russia in March 1917. After the war, this fear led to “the Red Scare” of 1919 and 1920 during
which hundreds of suspects communists and aliens were arrested, leading to the deportation of 249
Russians born aliens in December 1919. On January 20th 1920, “the Palmer Raids” took place, they are also
known as “The Red Raids” during which federal marshals and police searched the homes of suspected
radicals and the headquarters of radical organization.
More than 4000 people were arrested during the Red Raids but the fear of communists’ invasion gradually
disappeared and American started enjoying “the Roaring Twenties”.
B) The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties were an era of economic growth and many American lived a carefree life listening to
jazz music, dancing and going to the movies. At the time, the US had fun. Hollywood became the film
capital of the world in the 1920’s and millions of Americans went to the movies every week. The radio was
also booming.
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