8. How is government & media propaganda ethical and unethical? (I'm using the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary of "propaganda", which states that it is "the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.") Government and media propaganda toes the line between being ethical and unethical, depending on whether the cause it supports helps people in general and the terms in which it supports it. Unethical propaganda seeks to fanaticize some people against others with suppression of facts, appeals to emotion, violent nationalism, and the creation of false dichotomies. Ethical propaganda makes use of factual information and can be used to help people by warning them of real dangers or giving them necessary information.
Propaganda can help bring out the worst in people. In 1917, the U.S. government passed a series of laws beginning with the Espionage Act that effectively turned all print media in the country into propaganda. The expression of sentiments against the war was banned, and the true horrors of the war were censored from the people. What remained was pure yellow journalism, painting the war as a heroic crusade for democracy and those who thought it was not such as treasonous. Combined with the posters released by the government that demonized Germans as barbaric Huns and even juxtaposed images of medival Crusaders with modern battalions, this helped build a fervent, yet hateful nationalism within the American people. Pacifists and Germans like Robert Prager were lynched, and their killers were acquitted by the courts. In one poster, (http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/images/pp_us_98.jpg), the government equated with failing to finanacially support the war with supporting the German army. Spreading pure hatred is unethical, in that it causes violence and discrimination against those who are hated.
This is not to say that all propaganda is inherently able to inspire destructive rifts to form or widen between people. Other propaganda from WWI, primarily aimed at soldiers, sought to keep them safe, at least before they were sent off to die in a trench. One film shown to most U.S. soldiers during the war was called Fit To Fight, and concerned the danger of contracting venereal disease from careless sexual encounters. Another example of ethical propaganda is health posters during the influenza epidemic that started in 1914. The government spread information about the flu and basic medical advice to advance awareness and prevention of the disease through posters to be placed in public locations. Honestly spreading information to help protect people from threats like the flu and venereal disease is wholly ethical and commendable.
I call #5 5. Validate the position that WW1 was a victory for democracy.
WWI was a victory for democracy because the monarchy of Germany was taken down by the democratic countries of Europe and the United States. As Wilson says soon after the Russian Revolution, the United States joined the war to help defend the democracy in Europe against the communism that threatened to overthrow it. With the war won by the democratic powers new opportunities to expand were seized by the winners and their democratic ideals spread. This spread opened up the world to democracy, making the war a catalyst that caused it to spread.
I call #5 5. Validate the position that WW1 was a victory for democracy.
WWI was a victory for democracy because the monarchy of Germany was taken down by the democratic countries of Europe and the United States. As Wilson says soon after the Russian Revolution, the United States joined the war to help defend the democracy in Europe against the communism that threatened to overthrow it. With the war won by the democratic powers new opportunities to expand were seized by the winners and their democratic ideals spread. This spread opened up the world to democracy, making the war a catalyst that caused it to spread.
-- Edited by piracine at 21:34, 2009-01-26
That's a lot of spreading. Did people once ruled as colonies gain independence, for example? Can you cite some? Can you think of those who were denied?
10. What psychological impact did the war have on Americans?
The psychological damage caused by the Great War was some of the worst war damage ever seen before, leaving many Americans very horribly scared, leaving America to lose almost an entire generation psychologically. One horrible aftereffect of the soldiers who fought in the War was shell shock. By 1914 British doctors who were working on the field noticed patients suffering from what they called "shell shock. Early symptoms included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Shell shock, or battle fatigue, are just others names for combat stress reaction. Shell shock was a military term used to classify a range of behaviors resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the soldiers fighting efficiency. This stress started on the battle field, and would lead to acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other long-term disorders that added to combat stress that would remain with the soldier for the rest of their life. There were many causes of psychological damage, but most of the soldiers grew to be afraid of what they personally experienced. This had been the first war to use weapons and artillery such as machine guns, tanks, airplanes, and large explosives. This would lead to some soldiers fear of loud noises or even the mentioning of some things. Some soldiers would run and hide at the mention of the word bomb. Many farmers who had grown up looking after horses would be horrified by the scene of thousands of horses either being shot, starving to death or sinking in the mud. If a soldier spent most of his war experience underground or in trenches, he might be afraid of digging a hole or going into basements or underground rooms. Trenches were perhaps the cause of the most psychological damage on soldiers. The ground between the trenches was usually flat, exposed, had little to no cover, and was filled with mud it if rained, was littered with bodies and body parts, remains of ordnance, shell holes and barbed wire. The enemy had machine guns, who with clear vision could mow down approaching troops with almost no risk to themselves. All of these effects of shell shock would deeply disturb the victim and many would never get over their shell shock. Many remained hospitalized, and even more still committed suicide. Even worse still, the few who successfully got over their shell shock, with a lot of doctors, medicine and psychological therapy, would be put back onto the front lines. America lost almost an entire generation of young men on the battlefront during the Great War. Instead of working in the factories, going to college, raising a family or at least finishing high school, thousands of teenagers and young men were dying in the most horrible ways. Those who came back were permanently damaged, both physically and psychologically from things such as nightmares of poisonous gas killing friends or developing physical ticks that would impair them for the rest of their life. Many of these men could have had much potential and could have done many wonderful things during their life, causing America to lose almost an entire generation to the war.
-- Edited by joel the not so brave at 22:11, 2009-01-26
2. How did technological innovations shape policy/tactics in WWI?
In WWI there were several technological innovations, such as the use of poison gas, tanks, and trench mortars, which clearly shaped the policy and tactics in WWI. Poison gas was not technically a new warfare technique, but it was used heavily during WWI, mainly (and first, as far as poison gas goes) by the Germans but also by the French. The Germans were the ones who further improved it, however the French were the first to use a type of gas (tear-gas) during WWI. Poison gas was often used during trench warfare, which often offered military gain for neither side. This tactic was also one of the most frightening aspects of trench warfare. Soldiers were forced to carry gas masks with them at all times, but the masks were not always completely reliable. Chlorine gas was a particularly nasty type of gas which basically disintegrated your respiratory system upon inhaling it. After the Germans had first used poison gas against the Allied powers, they retaliated as well with chlorine gas. By the year 1918, both the Allied and Central powers had intended to put poison gas into about 50% of their manufactured shells. Many new types of gas followed chlorine gas, such as Phosgene and Mustard Gas. Eventually, the use of poison gas decreased in defectiveness, because methods of protection against it improved, but that is not to say that it was not destructive. Tanks were another useful innovation used during WWI. Tanks had actually been around since 1770, but were improved enough for real use during this war. The British were the first to use them. It was during this war when tanks were first used for their basic purpose today - to clear paths for advancing soldiers. The use of tanks assisted in making trench warfare kind of old news and allowed for more use of the actual battlefield. A trench mortar was basically a long tube which fired a projectile directly down on an opponent, generally from a trench, hence its name trench mortar. Like tanks, they were not brand new inventions, but rather improved during this period. The advantage to this tactic was that it could safely be fired from said trenches. Mortars could be used to take out enemy machine gun posts, snipers, and to cut through the opponents barbed wire protection. There were technological innovations such as the German U-boat, which challenged international policy. The law was that the warship had to alert its prey that they were attacking. For the U-Boat, that would completely defeat the purpose of said boat, therefore, the Germans did not stick to this law.
6. How did WW1 shape the policy & direction of the 20th century?
World War I shaped the policy and direction of the twentieth century by changing international relations and promoting progressivism. Before World War I America had taken a position where they remained neutral and stayed out of the skirmishes between other countries. During World War I the policy of the United States began to change when they were given more reasons to become involved with the war such as when the Lusitania and Arabic sunk which lead to President Wilson enlarging the army. Before World War I there were attempts by progressivisms to pass reform laws like child labor laws. Throughout the war these laws were finally passed as an attempt to attract support for Wilson and help him secure the presidency. Also women were allowed to vote with the passage of the nineteenth amendment after proving themselves in the work they did during the war. World War I shaped the policy and direction of the twentieth century because it created larger enforcement of some policies and moved society in a different direction because of the psychological aspects of World War 1.
4. Did American demographics determine war policy in WW1?
Spoiler
Yes, American demographics determined war policy in WW1. America was mostly made of English speaking citizens, and while there were millions of German immigrants, they were still a minority. To go against the country most like the citizens of our country did not make sense on the global scale, as is shown in that war had been averted during the age of Imperialism between England and America, simply because America spoke English. American did cater to both sides at first however, and seeing as how they are German, and other Central Power based immigrants, that does make sense. In the end though, we went with majority rule, the democratic thing to do.
3. Was it inevitable? How should causality be analyzed in war?
Technological innovations shaping tactics during WWI were inevitable.Obviously, when half the world is at war and many countries are fighting for few reasons other than to show off for their belligerent cousins innovations will occur in order to further technologies.Any time an entire countrys people are focused on one goal or at least one event advancements naturally take place at a faster rate than during peace.
In war and in times of war casualties are expected and unavoidable, but they are not always justifiable and necessary.The military tactics of generals of both sides such as, Douglas Haig who ordered thousands upon thousands of soldiers to march to their death for a gain measurable with a ruler, are questionable to say the least.But, in wars in which humans fight, these incidents are bound to happen due to; lack of understanding of newer technologies, mistakes, or purely ignorance.
In more modern times and in todays conflicts across the world, casualties should never be as high and in many cases casualties are unacceptable. This is due to better technologies in medicine and safety as well as a lack of a need to fight.No matter where and when a war takes place, 40,000,000 casualties are never to be taken in vain or lightly.
American isolationism was justifiable, but just because it was justifiable, didnt mean it was effective. At this time, the progressive movement had its foot in American politics. The Progressives called for social reform, and the cleansing of Americas sins include making sure its hands dont become bloodied for as long as possible. One of these groups was the Womans Peace Party, headed by Jane Addams. Another justifiable reason that America stayed out of the war, was that the Allies, were allied with the Bolshevik Russians, who were communist. This totally went against Woodrow Wilsons Code of Ethics for spreading democracy, if he allied himself with the most socialist government there was.These were justifiable reasons to stay out of war, but it wasnt effective. America wasnt totally isolated from the war. The Americans still sold arms to both the Allied and the Central powers during the first three years of the war. It was impossible for Americans to not play off both sides of the war because of their capitalist ideas. The American economy boomed in the early years of the war. In the beginning (1914) the Americans raked up less than one billion, and by 1917, they made over three billion because of the worlds war. America didnt isolate itself economically, and it also didnt restrict itself in the social arena. Many people did in fact tie itself with other countries, by being with them on the same ships, like the Lusitania. Wilson didnt actually isolate the American people, but more likely put them in harms way from the destruction that was wrought from the war. These ocean liners were harassed with the merchant vessels, from both the Allied and the Central Powers (but being harassed more on the Central side).Just being in the waters where Germany declared open war, didnt isolate the U.S at all. The Progressives didnt help out the war effort at all. Wilson got re-elected due to his progressive reforms, ensuring the progressives vote. Even though some of their ideologies were about staying out of the war, Wilson eventually declared war. It would have taken a pretty tough president to not do what the people want, and to stick to his guns. This could have been done though, losing two hundred people due to these disastrous conditions dont even come close to the figure of over 300,000 dead or wounded.
7. Did WWI have a positive or negative effect on domestic policy?
World War I, which was called the Great War at the time, had a rather positive effect on domestic policy in the United States.
One positive effect was an increase in federal power. President Wilson expanded the authority of the federal government by creating federal agencies to handle domestic issues such as food and war supplies (National Research Council and War Industries Board). The government also gained control of the railroads when Wilson put them under the United Railroad Administration in 1917. After the government spent $500 million in improvements, the railroads ran more smoothly than they had when they were under private control.
Another positive effect was the new employment opportunities for women that had been created because of the war. Women worked in all types of jobs such as munitions factories, and even some that were dominated by men. After WWI, the job of telephone operator became an exclusively female job with 99% of all operators being women (most of them unmarried). Even though the number of women in the workforce decreased slightly when the men came home from Europe, the war helped bring about the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 that gave women the ability to vote.
In conclusion, WWI had an overall positive effect on the domestic policy of the United States.
I call #5 5. Validate the position that WW1 was a victory for democracy.
WWI was a victory for democracy because the monarchy of Germany was taken down by the democratic countries of Europe and the United States. As Wilson says soon after the Russian Revolution, the United States joined the war to help defend the democracy in Europe against the communism that threatened to overthrow it. With the war won by the democratic powers new opportunities to expand were seized by the winners and their democratic ideals spread. This spread opened up the world to democracy, making the war a catalyst that caused it to spread.
-- Edited by piracine at 21:34, 2009-01-26
That's a lot of spreading. Did people once ruled as colonies gain independence, for example? Can you cite some? Can you think of those who were denied?
As I understood it the people once ruled as colonies did not gain independence, because they were now ruled by a different people, in a democratic type way.
But I guess if you think of the new territories like Czechoslovakia as once being colonies than yes, some colonies gained independence.
On the other hand none of England and France's colonies gained their independence in this way.
2. How did technological innovations shape policy/tactics in WW1?
- in world war I machine guns, explosive shells, tanks, poisonous gas and planes came into play. during this time america and the european powers were used to the traditional fighting which was a long march with man to man combat. the machine gun made this an almost certain march to their death. the machine guns mowed down rows of men at a time and was very destructive during this time. they could not use the traditional style of combat anymore because it was too reckless, and unprogressive. trench warfare came into play in world war I also. men on both sides would dig miles of trenches at their front line for protection from the machine guns. poisonous gas became a very effective yet frightening weapon each army used against one another in trench warfare. there were many different types of gas they used. chlorine gas was known to blind its victims and consume their lungs causing respitory problems. poisonous gas caused both armies to invest into gas masks. at first they were somewhat deffective but as time progesed so did the masks and poisonous gas became almost ineffective. during world war I both armies also invested in planes. they were known to be used for observation but became a weapon as they dropped bombs on battlefields and spread terror throughout the war. another technological innovation during this time was the Tank. tanks were just as effective as the machine gun. it took down a huge amount of men while only risking a few lives of the people inside. all these technological innovations of the war changed the traditional style of combat into a more modern form of battle with more machines at play then men.
9. Was American isolationism justified and was it effective?
Since the United States declared their independence from Britain in 1776, leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson strongly pushed to maintain a policy of isolationism for the country. Isolationism refers to America's longstanding reluctance to become involved in European alliances and wars. In his farewell address, George Washington stated that The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is... to have with them as little political connection as possible. Later, in his inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson advocated "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." These leaders wanted to prevent the United States, a new and growing country, from becoming involved in European affairs. However, as the country expanded, it would prove quite difficult to stay isolated. The period of isolationism for the United States was justified while the country was growing, however became uneffective after the country looked outward. By the time the Great War seemed imminent in 1914, the United States had come a long way from the thirteen colonies it had started out with. It had begun to turn to imperialism, taking land as far away as the Philippines. By entering the world theater, the United States was making it very difficult to remain isolated. By this time they had developed favorable trading partners and alliances. If a conflict broke out in Europe, especially one that affected their interests, it would prove hard to stay out of. At first, when war broke out, Woodrow Wilson advocated a role of neutrality for the United States. He felt, along with others such as reformer Jane Addams, that this was Europes war and that America had no place in it. That was, until a series of events unfolded that caused neutrality to become impossible for America. First, America began trading with countries involved in the war, first on both sides, then almost exclusively to the Allied powers. This created tension between America and the enemies of the Allies, the Central Powers, especially since the items being traded included weapons and munitions. This economic unrest, combined with Germanys naval policy, resulted in the attacks on American merchant ships. Just being on the ocean was dangerous, as Germany attacked all enemy ships, even ocean liners such as the Lusitania, which, when torpedoed by a German U-Boat in 1915, killed 128 Americans. Eventually, Wilson could hold off no longer and was forced to declare war on the Central Powers in 1917. The period of isolationism America enjoyed had to come to an end to protect Americans from being attacked and to protect the American way of life.
6. How did WW1 shape the policy & direction of the 20th century?
WW1 shaped the policy and direction of the 20th century by introducing a new type of warfare. A war of attrition had never been fought on the battlefields of Europe before WW1. It also showed the world that new tactics were needed to fight war. A lesson both sides learned the hard way with 37 million people either killed or wounded during the 4 years of fighting. A war of attrition was a new concept of war. Rather than destroying your enemies army and then capturing its cities. The two armies sat in stalemate and tried to cause as many casualties as possible to the other side so their enemy would give up. This new type of warfare wrecked havock on the populus of Europe. Never before did such a massive amount of people get killed or wounded in a war. Never before did such a vast amount of countries get involved in one war. This helped shape policy and direction of the rest of the 20th century by installing new tactics. No longer would countries battle in trenches the way they did in WW1. No longer did armies sit in stalemate for years at a time never moving and still taking casualties. Never again were over 1 million soldiers killed in one battle.
