America in World War I: Crash Course US History #30

In which John Green teaches you about American involvement in World War I, which at the time was called the Great War. They didn't know there was going to be a second one, though they probably should have guessed, 'cause this one didn't wrap up very neatly. So, the United States stayed out of World War I at first, because Americans were in an isolationist mood in the early 20th century. That didn't last though, as the affronts piled up and drew the US into the war. Spoiler alert: the Lusitania was sunk two years before we joined the war, so that wasn't the sole cause for our jumping in. It was part of it though, as was the Zimmerman telegram, unrestricted submarine warfare, and our affinity for the Brits. You'll learn the war's effects on the home front, some of Woodrow Wilson's XIV Points, and just how the war ended up expanding the power of the government in Americans' lives.

Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
American Involvement in WWI 0:41
The Sinking of the Lusitania 1:53
Why did the U.S. join WWI? 2:42
Mystery Document 3:22
America's Contributions to WWI 5:06
Pro-War Progressives 5:48
How WWI Expanded the U.S. Government's Power 6:08
Propaganda, Public Opinion, and the CPI 7:10
The Espionage Act of 1917 7:57
The Sedition Act 8:34
"Americanization" 9:55
Suppression of Free Speech 10:40
Positive Outcomes of WWI 11:18
The End of WWI 12:17
Credits 13:06

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[philip_browne]

The AP Test is growing closer and these Crash Course videos are beginning to takeover my YouTube home screen

[softyrockstar]

the test is literally tomorrow. It’s 11 pm. I have to get up at 6 am. Idk how I’m gonna do this.

[alexlikespizza]

I played Battlefield 1, I'm something of a historian myself.

[angrydrawings]

I've always thought of America, Britain, and France as "the three musketeers."

[flyingThunderGod]

"stupid truth always resisting simplicity"

[crashcourse]

I noticed a Union Jack in the window of the building on the far side of the street, too. The parade is definitely in NYC. My guess is that the Union Flag is to show solidarity with the Brits. -stan

[TheEarRape]

who's here because of their teacher

[lisisinkoe]

Anyone else having to watch this because of Coronavirus?

[agnieszkatwardosz]

For the first time I got the mystery document right, yaaay! Cheers from Poland ;)

[willhopkins]

i feel like i learned more in this 13 minute vid than i have in my entire unit on ww1 in history class

[chaosXPRT]

its funny how Wilsons 14 points didn't even matter  because the League of Nations failed

[drowninglifeguards]

I have to admit, all of these videos are legitimately funny. Of course they are simultaneously informative and insightful, but the sprinkled in humor is what sets this series apart. You have a fan in me. Like the Toy Story song. Wait, what? Stan is informing me that it's "You've Got a FRIEND in Me." Thanks for watching, I'm Brock Hummel and this has been CrashComment.

[sharknvasky]

I remember my high school history teacher just putting this on the whole class and going on Twitter

[stuffystuffclub]

“The Lusitania had been carrying arms, and also guns”

[benderbendingrofriguez]

"war is the best anti-depressive"...that's pretty dark.

[oceandirt]

Take a shot everytime he says "war"

[owllover]

"Stupid truth, always resisting simplicity"
- John Green 2013

[taylordiaz]

1st term: We're not getting into that

2nd term: Declares war on Central Powers

[TheStevehuff]

What if there is a fire in a crowded theater?

[JamesTullos]

You mention that many Americans supported the British in the early stages of the war. This is true, however you forgot to mention that many Americans supported the central powers too. There were quite a few German immigrants in the U.S. that supported their home country, and the Jewish community generally supported Austria-Hungary because it was a fairly tolerant country (especially compared to Russia and Serbia).