p.
613 #5, 7, 8
5.
a. One example of government repression of civil liberties in America, stemming from
American involvement in World War I, was the Espionage Act of 1917. This law made it
a federal crime to interfere with military operations or obstruct military recruitment. It was
used to suppress certain groups that were against the war and socialists. Eugene V.
Debs, a leader of the Socialist Party, was convicted under the Espionage Act for giving
an anti-war speech in 1918 and sentenced to ten years in prison. This shows that there
was a clear restriction on freedom of speech and that individuals who opposed U.S.
involvement in the war would be prosecuted.
b. One example of private citizen efforts to repress civil liberties in America, stemming from
American involvement in World War I, was the actions of vigilante groups like the APL.
The APL took it upon themselves to look out for and report suspected disloyalty or
anti-war sentiment. They targeted German-Americans, socialists, and other people
perceived as opposing the war effort, often intimidating and harassing them. These
members would spy on neighbors, raid homes, and report people for many different
types of crimes. This form of private repression contributed to a raise in fear and
suspicion, where civil liberties like freedom of speech were severely reduced.
c. One example of targets of repression in American society, as stated earlier, were the
German-Americans. Following the entry into the war, they were often viewed with
hostility and suspicion due to their heritage. Many faced discrimination, violence, and
public shaming for being associated with Germany. In some areas, many German based
things like language schools and music were banned. The Espionage Act and Sedition
Act were also used to target individuals with German roots by accusing them of having
anti-war sentiments, and sympathizing with the enemy.
7.
a. One area in which America’s participation in World War I had the most dramatic effect
was the economy. This war greatly impacted and transformed the U.S. economy,
speeding up the shift from a nation that owed money to the world’s leading creditor. This
was due to European powers focusing on the war, which allowed the U.S. to become a
key supplier of arms, goods, and loans. This fueled industrial growth and increased
production, leaving the U.S. as the dominant global economic power after the war.
b. One piece of historical evidence that supports my choice in part a was the sharp
increase in government loans and exports to the Allied nations. The U.S. had become a
major lender to the Allied powers by 1917, and through the War Industries Board, helped
finance the war by lending billions of dollars to Britain and France. By the end of the war,
the U.S. had provided more than $10 billion in loans to the Allies.
c. One of the other choices that was not as profound as the effect my choice had was the
political effects. While the war led to the creation of the League of Nations, the Senate
rejected joining, showing no gain politically. However, the U.S. emerged from the war as
the world’s leading creditor nation, with significant growth economically. The economic
effect was long lasting, while the political effect was short-lived.
8.
a. One important similarity in the reasons why this racism emerged in these time periods
was the perception of African Americans as a threat to the social and economic order. In
the 1910’s the Great Migration saw many African Americans move from the South to the
north, leading to competition for jobs and housing, which angered non African Americans
and led to racial tensions. Similarly, in the 1920’s the Harlem Renaissance represented a
cultural awakening that challenged stereotypes. This led to backlash from white
supremacist groups and many white people in society.
b. One piece of historical evidence to support my explanation in part a was the race riots of
the 1910’s and 1920’s. The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 was triggered by racial tensions
between African American migrants and white residents over many things including jobs
and housing. SImilarly in the 1920’s, the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 occurred when a
white mob attacked the African American community that lived in Greenwood, Tulsa,
Oklahoma. This happened due to the economic success and rising social status of the
African Americans in this area.
c. One critical response by the African Americans to this racism in either time period was
the rise of the NAACP. This association, founded in 1909, was active in both time
periods and advocated for civil rights, organized protests, and fought legal battles
against racial discrimination. In the 1920’s, it focused on legal challenges to many
situations, highlighting the fight for racial justice. These included challenges to
segregations, voting rights, and lynching.
