AMSBE - přednášky-dodatečné poznámky

He fought against corruption, he supported the media, the press

The progressive age ended with the first world war

WW I. started in Europe in 1914 – America wasn’t part of it in those times

• This war started with the assassination of the Ferdinand – in Sarajevo

• Two camps, two sides – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey X France, England, Russia – Czarist empire

• USA did business – they sold weapons to both sides, very strong trend against the war in USA, general public considered that this is European problem

• This went on for 2 years up to an incident – the sinking of the civil ship L? – by the German military fleet

  • The president Woodrow Wilson was in favour of Americans entering the war

  • One of the best educated, professor of history in Princeton, then he became the president of this university

• In 1917 America entered the war but also something happened in November 1917 – Bolsevik revolution of Russia (practically Civil war in Russia) – Russia made peace in Germany so they got out of the war

• American soldiers fought on the west – in Belgium, France – there was success – it led to the victory of France, England and USA (USA had economic power)

• England and France created Entente = Agreement

• USA participated only in 2 last years of the war

• The peace treaties signed in Paris changed the map of the world – America had very strong word – especially Wilson – he presented a plan about how Europe should look – his idea was that Germany although it lost the war should be treated with respect, shouldn’t be humiliated/ France and Britain had opinion that Germany should be punished, should pay money for damages, military power should be limited

  • Wilson’s another point in this plan referred to people living in Europe – self-determination – if a certain people lived within the boundaries of an empire, they should?? – Austria and Hungary were separated, new borders were planned – Czechoslovakia, Romania…

  • International organisation was formed – The League of Nations – Geneva – Switzerland → meant to protect peace, to prevent another world war

  • One point why they weren’t successful was the fact that they didn’t have their own military force to implement the peace

• USA became more visible as a world power after this Entente

Between 1918 – 1939 – this period is called the roaring twenties

Very important element in USA is prohibition – trend developed in USA that alcohol is responsible for a lot of social evils – consumption of alcohol should be prohibited (even nowadays there are states in USA in which you can’t buy alcohol on Sunday)

People didn’t stop drinking alcohol, they drank more

Consequence was appearance of organized crime organisation

Roaring twenties = after a war, people were happy that they are alive, wanted to forget about war, wanted to have fun, a new music appears – jazz – typically American cultural phenomena – mix of African and European music

Also called the Jazz age – jazz was associated with illegal consumption of alcohol