Yawp WWI three

Summary

The video script discusses the aftermath of World War I, focusing on President Wilson's peace negotiations and the Treaty of Versailles. It highlights Wilson's 14 Points for a new world order, the challenges of repatriating soldiers, and the economic struggles post-war. It also addresses the Red Summer of 1919, race riots, the Red Scare, and the overlooked Spanish flu pandemic, which had a higher death toll than the war itself.

Takeaways

• 🕍 The Treaty of Versailles was a complex agreement filled with compromises, reflecting the varying interests of the involved parties.
• 🌍 Post-WWI, there was a significant reorganization of territories, especially in the Middle East and Africa, with new nations emerging and old empires collapsing.
• 🏛️ President Wilson's 14 Points outlined a vision for a new world order, emphasizing self-determination, reduced armaments, and the creation of the League of Nations.
• 💵 Germany was burdened with heavy reparations after the war, which had profound economic implications and set the stage for future conflicts.
• 🛑 The United States Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, including the League of Nations, due to concerns over American sovereignty and international entanglements.
• 🏥 The 'Red Summer' of 1919 saw a surge in race riots across America, reflecting heightened tensions and social unrest following the return of black soldiers from WWI.
• 🚨 The 'Red Scare' post-WWI was marked by a widespread fear of communism and a crackdown on leftist and labor organizations by the U.S. government.
• 🤒 The 1918 flu pandemic, often referred to as the Spanish flu, resulted in a higher death toll than the war itself, highlighting the devastating impact of global health crises.
• 🛂 The flu pandemic underscored the importance of public health measures, as cities that enforced strict controls like mask-wearing fared better.
• 🏙️ Post-war economic challenges included high unemployment and inflation, as millions of soldiers returned home and the economy struggled to adjust.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in November 1918 that is mentioned in the script?

The significant event that occurred in November 1918 was the end of World War I.

Why was President Wilson's visit to Europe after WWI notable?

President Wilson's visit to Europe was notable because he was the first American President to go abroad in such a manner, reflecting a shift from the previous isolationist stance of the United States.

How was President Wilson received by the European public when he arrived in Europe after WWI?

President Wilson was given a hero's welcome by the European public, who saw him as an American savior that could remake the world order.

What was the Treaty of Versailles, and why was it significant?

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty that ended World War I, and it was significant because it established the terms for peace and included compromises that affected the world order post-war.

What were some of the key outcomes of the Treaty of Versailles?

Key outcomes included the demilitarization of Germany, reparations to be paid by Germany, the establishment of new nations in Europe, and the division of territories in the Middle East and Africa among European powers.

What were President Wilson's '14 Points' and how did they differ from the Treaty of Versailles?

Wilson's '14 Points' were a set of principles for peace that included ideas such as self-determination, disarmament, and the creation of the League of Nations. They differed from the Treaty of Versailles in that they were more idealistic and less punitive towards Germany.

Why did the United States Senate reject the Treaty of Versailles?

The Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles because they believed it gave away too much American power and sovereignty, and they were concerned about the implications for American autonomy in international affairs.

What was the economic impact of the end of WWI on the United States?

The end of WWI led to high unemployment and inflation in the United States as millions of soldiers returned home, creating a sudden influx of workers into a job market that could not absorb them all.

What was the 'Red Summer' of 1919, and how was it related to returning black soldiers?

The 'Red Summer' of 1919 was a period of racial violence and race riots across America. It was related to returning black soldiers because they had served their country but returned to find that little had changed in terms of racial equality, leading to increased tensions and militancy.

What was the 'Red Scare' after WWI, and how did it affect the United States?

The 'Red Scare' was a widespread fear of communism and radical leftist ideologies, spurred by the Russian Revolution and a series of anarchist bombings. It led to the arrest and jailing of people with leftist political beliefs, including labor organizers and immigrants.

How did the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 compare to the impact of WWI in terms of deaths?

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 resulted in more deaths than the battlefield, with estimates suggesting that over 116,000 Americans died from the flu compared to 53,000 who died in battle.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Post-WWI Negotiations and Wilson's Vision

The paragraph discusses the aftermath of World War I, focusing on President Wilson's role in negotiating peace. It highlights his controversial legacy, with contemporary views tending to criticize his racist ideas rather than his contributions to the war's end. Wilson's journey to Europe, where he received a hero's welcome, is contrasted with the cynicism of European statesmen who were more focused on their own interests post-war. The Treaty of Versailles is described as a compromise, with Wilson not getting everything he wanted, including the establishment of colonies and the division of territories in the Middle East and Africa. The paragraph also touches on the creation of new nations in Europe, Germany's reparations, and the demilitarization of the country. Wilson's 14 Points are mentioned as a blueprint for a new world order, emphasizing his optimism and the contrast with the angry and vengeful sentiments of the Allies.

05:00

🗽 Wilson's 14 Points and the Senate Rejection

This section delves into Wilson's 14 Points, a set of principles for a lasting peace after World War I. It contrasts the optimism of these points with the harsh realities of the Treaty of Versailles, which included reparations that Wilson did not endorse. Despite Wilson's efforts, the Treaty was not well-received by the U.S. Senate, which rejected it due to concerns over American sovereignty and the influence of the proposed League of Nations. Wilson's disappointment is palpable as he had hoped this would be his legacy. The paragraph also covers the economic challenges faced by the U.S. after the war, including high unemployment and inflation, as well as the social issues faced by returning black soldiers who did not find the changes they had hoped for upon their return.

10:02

🔥 The Red Summer of 1919 and the Red Scare

The third paragraph covers the social unrest and racial tensions in the U.S. following World War I, known as the Red Summer of 1919. It discusses the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North, increased competition for jobs and housing, and the rise in militancy among returning soldiers who felt disrespected. The Chicago Riot is highlighted as a significant event, sparked by the death of a black man at the hands of a white man, which led to widespread rioting and property destruction. The Red Scare is also mentioned, reflecting a broader fear of communism and radicalism, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of individuals based on their political beliefs. This period was marked by government actions against perceived threats, including a series of anarchist bombings.

15:04

😷 The Spanish Flu Pandemic

The final paragraph addresses the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, drawing parallels to more recent global health crises. It discusses the flu's impact, which was more deadly than the war itself, with a higher death toll particularly among young and healthy individuals. The pandemic is noted for its two waves, with the second wave being particularly lethal. The term 'Spanish flu' is explained as a result of Spain's openness about the outbreak during wartime censorship. The paragraph concludes with a historical photograph of soldiers wearing masks, emphasizing the cyclical nature of pandemics and societal responses.

Keywords

💡Armistice

The armistice refers to the agreement that ended the fighting in World War I, which occurred in November 1918. It was a ceasefire that marked the cessation of hostilities, setting the stage for peace negotiations. The script mentions that 'the war ends in November of 1918 now it's time to negotiate the peace', highlighting the significance of the armistice as a precursor to post-war diplomacy.

💡President Wilson

President Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, plays a central role in the video's narrative. He is noted for being the first American president to travel abroad for diplomatic purposes, which underscores his commitment to international relations during a time when the U.S. was被视为较为孤立的国家. His journey to Europe after the war to negotiate peace terms is a key part of the story, as he sought to implement his vision for a post-war world order.

💡Isolationism

Isolationism is the policy of staying clear of involvement in the affairs of other countries. The script mentions that President Wilson's trip to Europe was notable because it showed a departure from the U.S.'s traditionally isolationist stance. This shift is significant as it reflects a broader change in the country's approach to international relations, moving from a position of non-intervention to active participation in global diplomacy.

💡Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty that officially ended World War I. It is a central concept in the video as it represents the outcome of the peace negotiations and the beginning of a new world order. The script discusses the compromises within the treaty, such as the division of territories and the imposition of reparations on Germany, which had far-reaching consequences for the post-war world.

💡Colonies

The term 'colonies' in the script refers to the territories that were under the control of European powers before and after World War I. The video discusses how the collapse of the Ottoman Empire led to a reorganization of these colonies, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. This reorganization is significant as it set the stage for future geopolitical conflicts and shaped the modern map of the Middle East.

💡Reparations

Reparations are compensations paid by a defeated nation to the victors for damages incurred during war. In the context of the video, Germany was required to pay reparations to countries like France and Belgium, which had borne the brunt of the war's destruction. The script highlights the economic strain this placed on Germany and suggests that these reparations contributed to post-war economic instability and discontent.

💡Demilitarization

Demilitarization refers to the reduction or elimination of military forces in a particular area. The script mentions that Germany was forced to demilitarize after World War I, which meant it could no longer maintain a large standing army. This was a significant condition of the Treaty of Versailles and was intended to prevent Germany from becoming a military threat again, reflecting the desire to ensure a lasting peace.

💡League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization proposed by President Wilson as a part of his '14 Points' for lasting peace. It was designed to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars. The script describes how Wilson was proud of this idea and worked tirelessly to get the U.S. to join, but ultimately, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, which included the League of Nations, marking a significant setback for Wilson's vision.

💡Red Summer

The 'Red Summer' of 1919 refers to a period of racial violence and unrest in the United States, marked by race riots across the country. The script connects this period to the return of black soldiers from World War I, who faced continued discrimination and violence upon their return. The Chicago Riot, sparked by the killing of a black man by a white man, is cited as a significant event during this period, illustrating the deep racial tensions and violence that characterized the 'Red Summer'.

💡Red Scare

The 'Red Scare' refers to the widespread fear of communism that swept the United States after World War I, following the Russian Revolution. The script describes how this fear led to the arrest and imprisonment of individuals associated with leftist or labor organizations, reflecting a broader societal anxiety about the spread of communist ideologies. The term is used in the video to illustrate the political climate of the time and its impact on civil liberties.

💡Spanish Flu

The Spanish Flu was a deadly influenza pandemic that occurred during World War I, causing a significant number of deaths worldwide. The script notes that the flu killed more people than the war itself, highlighting its devastating impact. The video discusses the two waves of the flu, with the second wave being particularly deadly for young and healthy individuals. The term 'Spanish Flu' is used in the script to draw parallels with more recent pandemic experiences, emphasizing the historical significance and the global nature of such health crises.

Highlights

The war ended in November 1918, leading to negotiations for peace and a new world order.

President Wilson was the first American president to visit Europe, reflecting a shift from American isolationism.

Wilson is a controversial figure, criticized for his racist ideas and his actions during and after WWI.

In 1919, Wilson was welcomed as a hero in Europe, seen as a savior who could remake the world order.

European statesmen were more cynical about Wilson's idealistic views on a new world order.

The Treaty of Versailles was a compromise, with no country getting everything they wanted.

The Ottoman Empire's collapse led to new territories being claimed by European powers.

New nations were created in Europe, particularly for countries seeking autonomy from the Austrian-Hungarian empire.

Germany had to pay reparations for the war, affecting its post-war economy.

Germany was also forced to demilitarize, losing its powerful standing army.

Wilson's 14 Points outlined a vision for a new world order with less armament and the creation of the League of Nations.

The Treaty of Versailles was rejected by the US Senate, crushing Wilson's dream of a League of Nations.

The return of troops post-war led to economic challenges, including high unemployment and inflation.

Black soldiers returning from WWI faced continued discrimination and were not treated as heroes.

The 'Red Summer' of 1919 saw 25 race riots across America due to tensions over jobs and housing.

The Red Scare post-WWI was marked by a fear of communism and government crackdown on radical groups.

The flu epidemic of 1918, known as the Spanish flu, killed more people than the war itself.

The Spanish flu was named so because Spain was the only country to admit to the epidemic during WWI.

Cities that implemented strict measures like masks and social distancing fared better during the flu epidemic.

Transcripts

so the war ends of in November of

1918 now it's time to negotiate the

peace and to see what happens next what

will the world look like now that this

global conflict is is

over at the end of the war President

Wilson went to Europe he was the first

American President to go abroad in this

way I guess that shows how isolationist

we were that American president stayed

in America so he was the first one to go

to

Europe he's a controversial figure today

I may post some articles for you to

write essays on I think today he is not

much respected uh that he's viewed more

for his racist ideas than for what he

did during and after World War I uh I

I'll give you the opportunity to think

about what his legacy

is but back we'll put ourselves back in

the shoes of people in 1919

Wilson goes to Europe and he gets a

hero's welcome that those crowds that

weren't there for his first

inauguration they are there in Europe to

welcome him when he arrives young people

average people in Europe they see him as

an American savior that he's going to

remake the world order and he has ideas

for a lasting peace people are very

excited to see

him European

Statesmen are not as

excited they're more cynical and jaded

and they have a set of interests what

they want in this treaty now that the

war is over they're angry the war was

fought on their so on their soil the war

consumed their young men and they don't

have this

idealistic detached version of what a

new world order should look like so what

was in the Treaty of vers I'll just give

you a few highlights the first thing

I'll tell you is that it was full of

compromises that Wilson didn't get

everything he wanted no one country got

everything they wanted so we had to

figure out how to hammer hammer out a

compromise the second thing I'll tell

you is there were still colonies but the

colonies were different than they had

been that the Ottoman Empire collapsed

and so there was territory in the Middle

East and in Africa that now wasn't under

anyone's control that it was territory

and so it was free for the new European

Victorious European powers to claim and

they quick did claim territories

particularly in the Middle East and

divided it up in ways that made sense to

them the Europeans but didn't often

reflect what people look like who live

there that different ethnic groups and

cultural group groups were split up as

uh areas were divided between the French

and the British after the

war there were new nations after the war

you'll get a glimpse of that in a moment

when we show the slide about Wilson's 14

points particularly there were new

nations in Europe and countries that had

wanted autonomy and didn't want to be

part of the Austrian Hungarian empire

were were given their own Nations

sometimes borders were just adjusted but

sometimes new nations were created

partic particularly in

Europe Germany had to pay reparations

keep this in mind this is going to come

back to haunt us later Germany didn't

have to put just its own country back

together after the war and deal with the

economic dislocation of the war but it

had to pay damages for what happened

during the war particularly to France

and Belgium where the war was fought not

much of the war was fought on Germany in

fact the Germans were surprised to learn

they'd lost the war because the

reporting they were getting back in the

newspapers sounded good and the war

wasn't fought in Germany so there wasn't

a lot there weren't a lot of firsthand

accounts of what was happening so

Germany had to pay reparations

think of the effect that's going to have

on the German

economy and finally something that I

think makes sense is that Germany had to

demilitarize that they'd had this

powerful Army they'd had a huge standing

army Before the War part of what made

them so brave about invading other

countries they weren't going to have

that anymore they were

demilitarized I want to give you a

chance to look at Wilson's 14 Points

I'll post this in the module too so you

can read it more at your leisure but to

give you an idea of what he wanted the

optimism that he had after the war that

while the Allies who were writing the

Treaty of Versa were angry and they

wanted revenge on Germany they wanted

Germany to take responsibility for

starting the war and say that they were

guilty and at fault Wilson's ideas are

different some of them are very concrete

you can see that they they restore

territory that was conquered to its

original sovereign

uh you see that the new nations are

carved out in Europe so there are more

new independent

countries you don't see this anger and

this demand for reparations but you do

see a desire for a new world order that

he calls for fewer armaments from all

countries like arms control something

we're going to hear about again later in

the 20th century and he calls for this

create the creation of this new body

called the League of Nations and through

this League of Nations conflict is

supposed to be settled peacefully so

there's not another

War you look at the optimism in the 14

points Wilson returns to the US

physically exhausted from the effort of

fighting and trying to

negotiate probably from the trip itself

as well and he presents this Treaty of

Versa to the Senate it's it's not

exactly what he wanted those reparations

have been put in and the Europeans have

forced him to accept some compromises

but it's a treaty and the war is over

and he did manage to preserve this idea

of a League of Nations that he's very

proud of and he wants the United States

to adopt he takes it to the

Senate and the Senate rejects it you may

recall that the Senate has to approve

treaties that the president can't go

around the world willy-nilly signing

treaties and entering into agreements

with other countries he can propose them

he can write them but then he has to

bring them home for Senate approval so

he brings this one home and it's a

dud the

problem Senators think it gives away too

much American power too much American

sovereignty they argue what if we the

United States get in some sort of a

conflict and we can't just decide it

ourselves I mean we're a powerful Nation

now we're going to have to go to this

League of Nations and they're going to

figure out what's right what if

something happens in Latin America

America this zone of

Interest we can't just decide it

ourselves we're going to have to take

this to the Europeans and let them have

a word the Senate rejected

it Wilson was crushed he couldn't

believe that this dream that this idea

this plan that he thought would be his

great legacy wasn't approved he tried to

go directly to the American people and

sell it to us and got on a train and

traveled around the country and and

tried to drum up

support this was too much for him he was

not in great health and he suffered a

stroke um the treaty never passed the

United States never joined the League of

Nations the first priority of ordinary

people getting the troops home the

troops wanted to come home their

families wanted them to come home and

people wanted to get on with their lives

they came home all at once there wasn't

a lot of preparation for what would

happen on their return and uh the

economy suffered this huge influx of of

men who had been away or men whose job

had been the Army came home and remember

it was like four million men who served

in the Army another 800,000 in other

branches of the service they came home

they wanted jobs and there weren't

enough jobs unemployment

skyrocketed inflation also increased

again the economy had been revved up we

we're producing not just the consumer

goods we need but we were producing

battleships and uh Munitions and so it

had been artif artificially um

hyperactivated and so prices were high

during the war itself Wilson had managed

to get unions and manufacturers to agree

to hold prices down for example unions

not to go on strike during the war so

when the war was over those artificial

controls I guess you could can think of

is that self-control was over and so

unemployment went up and inflation went

up the economy was in terrible situation

immediately after the

war and those black soldiers who had

volunteered who' gone to serve their

country often ending up in menial jobs

some people able to go abroad and serve

in France they came home and nothing had

changed nothing had changed for them

they weren't treated like soldiers they

weren't treated as

Patriots they were treated just as they

had been

before another consequence of black

soldiers returning home was something

called the red summer of 1919 I

shouldn't say it's a consequence of that

these were tensions that had been

building but came to a head that summer

after the

war there were 25 race riots Across

America that

summer the reasons behind it well some

of it was as I've listed The Great

Migration there had been a steady move

from black people to the from the south

to the North in order to get jobs and in

order to be treated more civil to be

treated more like

equals after the war there there was

greater competition for jobs there was

greater competition for housing there

weren't enough jobs and there wasn't

enough housing for these incoming troops

uh which made tensions greater and

certainly The Men Who came home after

serving had a greater sense of militancy

that they felt like they had done their

Duty and now they weren't being treated

with respect so small small and large

events quickly turned into riots the

Paradigm I'll say was the Chicago Riot

that took place that summer a young

black man was swimming in Lake Michigan

and he drifted from what was considered

to be the white part of the lake in

which you could swim or from the black

part of the lake in which you could swim

he drifted over into the white part

when that happened a white man who was

watching stoned him to death and he

drowned black people who saw it happen

were angry and they went to the police

and said look what that man did he

killed this boy who was swimming and the

police did

nothing that's what sparked black anger

in this incident and there was rioting

in the end a thousand black people were

left homeless as Apartments were burned

down and 38 people were dead eventually

the city had to call in the state

militia in order to quiet the riot which

lasted for 13

days there was a Red Scare after the end

of World War I what do I mean by Red

Scare I mean a fear of communism a fear

that there were that there had been a

Revolution in Russia and now this

Revolution was going to spread across

the world including in the United States

part of what uh led to the scare was a

series of anarchist bombings that took

place including one bomb that was sent

by mail to who was then the Attorney

General of the United States Mitchell

Palmer uh Palmer escaped unscathed but

he was angry and he wanted to Target the

radical groups who had set these bombs

sent one to his house and set one in

other places I think primarily in New

York City uh so they began to arrest

people who were not just the bombers who

had taken some action that violated the

law but to arrest people who were in

leftist or labor organizations just for

the act of being in the

organization uh so it was a period when

America was afraid of Communism and the

government was actively arresting and U

jailing people who held political

beliefs with which we didn't

agree there were also some spontaneous

uh outbursts against immigrants and

against labor organizers not by the

government but by communities because

this fear this fear of a coming

Revolution was so

widespread there was another event that

took place during this time period one

that for a long time histories of World

War I overlooked and that was the flu

epidemic that took place it's often

called the Spanish flu or the the flu of

1918 I think this is something we're

particularly interested in since we've

just lived through a global pandemic so

it this story is being told again and we

as people who've experienced a pandemic

are more interested in

it this flu killed more people than the

battlefield did remember I gave you

numbers for how many Americans died in

battle and I think it was 53,000 but

then the total number of deaths I think

was something like

116,000 those other deaths which was a

higher number than during battle that

was from the flu it was an extremely

deadly wave of flu it came in two waves

the first wave one author has documented

started at an army training camp in

Kansas and behaved like a particularly

virulent version of regular flu that it

mostly struck the elderly and children

uh the death rate wasn't unusually high

and then it moved on but then there was

a second wave of that flu and this one

seemed to Target young people soldiers

people in the prime of life and in good

health and it killed them with extreme

rapidity and it spread extremely quickly

this second wave of flu had the much

higher death toll this this flu was

called the Spanish Flu not because it

originated in Spain everybody wants to

think that but because the only country

that would admit that there was a flu

epidemic was Spain

that this flu was spreading during World

War I there were controls over what the

media could report and no country wanted

to admit that there was flu killing

young people running rampant in the

country so it got named the Spanish flu

because Spain was the only country that

would admit that there was a flu

epidemic cities that cracked down

quickly that made people wear masks that

made them stay home that made them stop

spitting as you see in the poster they

did better

cities that didn't do anything or that

were caught unaware suffered massive

losses and I leave you with this picture

it looks like it's from Spring of 2020

but really it's from 1918 and you see

soldiers wearing masks trying to prevent

from getting the flu