WWI Letter Home

My Dear Yvonne,

I have arrived in Chalons-en-Champagne. Everyone around here seems to be in a hurry for some reason or another. We are expected to stay here for another three days, then we will be sent to the trenches. Morale is high, with rumor that we will reach Paris by the end of the month. I must say that, although I joined the army for the adventure, the gruesome wounded flowing in from the front-lines have struck a deep terror in me. The general will send a division of 75 to the front lines, and 60 will return on stretchers or in body bags. I expect this war will change me, even if I avoid injury. I will keep you in my thoughts, and write to you as soon as I can.

Hanz


Now in German because Google translate exists...


Meine liebe Yvonne,

Ich habe in Chalons-en-Champagne angekommen. Jeder hier in der Gegend scheint in Eile aus irgendeinem Grund oder einem anderen. Wir werden erwartet, hier zu bleiben für weitere drei Tage, dann werden wir in die Schützengräben geschickt werden. Moral ist hoch, mit Gerücht, dass wir Paris bis Ende des Monats zu erreichen. Ich muss sagen, dass, obwohl ich in die Armee für das Abenteuer, das grauenhafte verwundet von der Front-Linien fließen in eine tiefe Schrecken in mir aufgefallen. Die allgemeinen wird eine Aufteilung von 75 an die Front zu schicken, und 60 werden auf Tragen oder in Leichensäcken zurück. Ich erwarte, dass dieser Krieg mich zu ändern, auch wenn ich Verletzungen zu vermeiden. Ich werde dich in meinen Gedanken zu halten und zu schreiben, um Ihnen so schnell wie ich kann.

Hanz

MAIN Causes of WWI

The causes of World War I can be summarized in MAIN. The MAIN causes all led to the start of WWI.

Militarism: The belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. Militarism would cause the creation of more effective weapons of war, which would greatly increase the death toll during the war.

Alliances: The nations of Europe were determined to maintain themselves as world powers, so they would create alliances with other countries to help them during war and vice versa. This would ensure that every country in Europe would be involved in the War.

Imperialism: European powers competed fiercely for power over land all over the world. Disagreements and rivalries increased the risks of war.

Nationalism: Pride in one's country. This would create feelings of superiority, leading to recklessness with other countries that are equally powerful.

These causes, as well as the spark of the war, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, which Austria-Hungary used to go to war, would lead to World War I in Europe and Western Asia.

The Sedition Act of 1918

Although the legislation passed in 1918 is commonly referred to as the "Sedition Act", the laws
passed were actually amendments to the Espionage Act passed the year before. The Espionage Act
made interfering in the United States' war effort in any way illegal. The Sedition Act increased the
power of the Espionage Act in limiting the First Amendment of the Constitution. The Sedition Act
was passed during World War I to help gain the support of the populace for the war effort. The Act
allowed authorities to arrest anyone who spoke out publicly against the war. Most arrests were made
for speeches and protests by anti-war extremists and pacifists, as well as socialists, though they were
more collateral. President Wilson was reluctant at first to sign the Sedition Act, but was under pressure from his entire cabinet, as well as the other branches of the federal government. As the war ended and the government relaxed its grip on people's everyday lives, more and more support for the Espionage Act's repeal grew. The Act was finally repealed in 1921 and everyone convicted of violating the Act was released from prison.

"The Jungle" Questions

1) What qualities did Sinclair believe a person must have to succeed in Packingtown?
-A person must be willing to lie and spy on his fellow workers to succeed.

2)According to the passage, what is the plant owner's main goal?
-The owner's main goal was to have as productive workers as possible to make the most profit.

3) What does Sinclair mean when he says, "...there was no place in it where a man counted for anything against a dollar....?"
-Men were believed to be less valuable than a dollar in the work place.

The publishing of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" spurred the federal government to investigate the meatpacking industry, which had no government regulation during that time, and caused the government to become more involved in today's industry.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now in charge of setting standards in the workplace for the workers in 25 states. OSHA enforces safety regulations such as handrails on walkways and signs indicating any hazards in the workplace. Aside from safety, worker health falls into OSHA's legislation and rules regarding disease, noise, and environmental controls (Heating, Air conditioning) are enforced.

ADHD Version: OSHA is now in charge of industrial regulations.

The Sinking of the Maine

During Cuba's revolt against Spain, the American people supported the Cuban rebels' cause. Their support was solidified with yellow journalism detailing the hardship the Cubans were experiencing at the hands of the Spanish. As fighting escalated, the battleship Maine was sent to protect American business. On February 15th, 1898, the Maine exploded in the middle of the night. Nobody was sure why the Maine exploded, but many Americans were quick to blame the Spanish. Under pressure, President McKinley was forced to declare war on Spain and fight with the Cuban rebels for their independence.

Modern evidence suggests that the explosion on the Maine was from an internal source, such as ammunition exploding. This evidence back then could have changed the course of history. If the United States hadn't declared war on Spain, Cuba could have remained under Spanish control for years without the aid of the US. Theodore Roosevelt, a decorated war hero from the Spanish-American War, wouldn't have become president and wouldn't have overseen the building of the Panama Canal.

Overall, history probably benefited from the Spanish-American War in the long run; whether the Spanish started it or not.

Source: "The American Vision" Textbook, P. 308

The Invention of the Airplane

The invention of the airplane is accredited to the Wright brothers and their group of assistants working out of a bicycle shop, when really the first airplane was invented over 50 years earlier by an English inventor, Sir George Cayley. Cayley was the first to design and build a fixed wing aircraft, which took flight in 1849. Cayley's success inspired the next in line, Felix duTemple invented the first powered aircraft in1874, which couldn't take off without a ramp. In 1894, two separate inventors applied the elements of an airplane, just without the other. Sir Hiram Maxim built and flew the first propelled airplane, but had no control over direction. Meanwhile, Otto Lilienthal made the first controlled flight on a glider using his body weight to steer. These two creations inspired the Wright Brothers to combine the two ideas into one powered, controlled aircraft. This airplane took flight in 1903. From that, the most public of the successful flying attempts, freight and commercial airlines along with military aircraft shaped the way aircraft were used to what it is today.


ADHD Version: A bunch of other people built airplanes before the Wright brothers.

Cayley's design for the first airplane

                  

The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad

The impact of the Transcontinental Railroad, connecting the East to the West, was mainly it's part in opening up the west to settlement and faster transport of goods to the eastern states. With the building of the railroad, people who wanted to settle, or even visit the western territories could go easily and quickly. Towns and cities sprouted along the line, such as Salt Lake City, Reno, and Dodge City.

Trade across the nation increased massively with the building of the Railroad. Before its construction, perishable products, such as food, couldn't be moved from the great plains to the Eastern or Western states, making the Great Plains an unprofitable and inhospitable place to settle. After the railroad was constructed, however, trade became faster and it was easier to make a living in the Plains. Farming communities sprang up all along the railroad and, as it expanded, deeper into the wilderness.

The railroad also helped Americans learn more about their country, and spread ideas from east to west more quickly. This led to a more educated and in-touch population, allowing for more innovation and invention in the US.

While the United States benefited from the construction of the railroad, Indian tribes across the Great Plains suffered. The hunting of buffalo by railroad builders destroyed their main food supply, and many tribes were forced to assimilate to survive. A lot of the time, tribes would clash with the US, resulting in heavy casualties.


ADHD Version: America built a railroad. Good for the economy, bad for natives.