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.
Hey teachers and students - Check out CommonLit's free collection of reading passages and curriculum resources to learn more about the events of this episode. The complex secret alliances of Europe led to World War I: www.commonlit.org/texts/a-mad...
It took several years before Americans joined the war: www.commonlit.org/texts/to-th...
After the war, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to prevent a future World War, and promoted creating a League of Nations, established following the Treaty of Versailles: www.commonlit.org/texts/the-t...
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
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids

[@philip_browne]

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

[@elizabeth6134]

Philip Browne wow same!

[@davidmaggiacomo409]

There coming again

[@lust174]

Philip Browne I felt that 9th grade year also?

[@anticlimacticorangejuice6118]

How’d you do?

[@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.

[@melvinhan1242]

I felt this.

[@issaangel7447]

Shaylee Amber how was the test ?

[@therealnoofle5330]

@Shaylee Amber We need answers! How did you do?? The suspense is killing me!!

[@lonestard9692]

@@therealnoofle5330 lol

[@alexlikespizza]

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

[@hotscuba8804]

Alex likes pizza I love this

[@ametista5165]

xDDD

[@1064TheEarRape]

who's here because of their teacher

[@flyingThunderGod]

"stupid truth always resisting simplicity"

[@willhopkins8539]

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

[@angrydrawings3910]

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

[@sirrobertwalpole1754]

NI! Woah

[@hollykm]

I dig it

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

lol

[@NeedASammich]

America and Brittan are Riggs and Murtah. France is Leo Getz

[@georgiab5102]

Angry Englishman I’ve thought about France as the one that surrenders. Cough,cough,cough

[@sharknvasky5202]

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

[@averydrago]

YES but for me that was 8th grade LMAO

[@agnieszkatwardosz5106]

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

[@autumnbriggs1035]

Agnieszka Twardosz Good job

[@strawverymilktae1280]

me too

[@katarzynawadyszewska3149]

Agnieszka Twardosz ja nie 😂

[@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.

[@lisisinkoe5281]

Anyone else having to watch this because of Coronavirus?

[@seniorjuan8029]

yes XD

[@lindaflores8224]

They are so boring 😴😴😴

[@kirby4089]

Yes

[@sierra.s]

Where is the part that talks about when the u.s got involved in the Great War?😭

[@kingk1rby484]

Not me apparently I’m just curious

[@chaosXP3RT]

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

[@louisiananlord17]

Yes, but the Wilsonian model of foreign relations inspired us for decades after the fact even though the League of Nations and also the UN was and still is a joke. :p

[@benjaminballin2889]

***** However, we seemed not to learn our lesson from denying the Leauge of Nations because when the EXACT same thing happened in WW2 and--I think--the U.N was formed, another League of Nations, we joined and were sucked into world politics like the Ukraine/Russia/Crimea Crisis and MH-370

[@benjaminballin2889]

And top it all off, we didn't even sign our own treaty that we created! The Treaty of Versailles (sorry if I misspelled that) was put forth by Wilson contained some or all of his 14 points, then Wilson got a stroke, and Congress rejected it and signed a separate treaty with Germany. The Treaty of Versailles also plunged Germany into colossal debt which allowed Hitler to rise to power and start WW2 30 years later. Good job, America! (slow clap)

[@richardhobson197]

Benjamin Ballin I don't think there's anything wrong with assisting in the search for MH-370. It was an awful disaster and I think for a country of such power and wealth as the USA it's only right to assist. (at least I think that was the point you were making) along with the search for the Nigerian girls

[@benjaminballin2889]

Richard Hobson As for the search for the Nigerian girls, we should probably help out with that. Besides, we'd actually have a reason to help out because we'd be fighting the so-called "war on terrorism" and the group responsible, Bokko Haram (Literally meaning "Education is a sin"), is a terrorist group. As for the MH-370 thing, we should have gone in to help, but we shouldn't be spending billions of dollars looking for a plane instead of finding a way to pay off all of our debt. To answer your question about my point, it seemed like when I was taught U.S history, things worked out so much better for the U.S when it remained isolationist. I mean, by staying isolationist (By that I mean politically because if we were isolationist economically, that would suck. [That's why the Embargo Act of the early 1800s was such a flop]) we didn't get involved in anything going on in the world and we built up America really well. In fact, some people don't want us to be in world politics and solving every single little issue. If the U.N really is supposed to be the "peacekeeper for the world" then what are they doing about the Nigerian girls, or the Crimean Crisis, or the Syrian Civil War, or human trafficking, or the mass genocides still continuing today. Our involvement in the U.N wouldn't be so bad if we actually did stuff.

[@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

[@stuffystuffclub]

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

[@benderbendingrofriguez3300]

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

[@owllover2319]

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

[@oceandirt5798]

Take a shot everytime he says "war"

[@taylordiaz6328]

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?

[@TheStevehuff]

***** thanks for that clarification.

[@elexiafloyd5946]

+Steve Huff I would yell FIRE if their was one my life for more then I can count lives.

[@therealmenace1867]

+Steve Huff Then John Wilkes Booth does exactly that.

[@TheStevehuff]

TheRealMenace That was funny.

[@gyankou]

+Steve Huff Could you yell "Fire" if you were at a Jimi Hendrix concert in a crowded theater and he asked "What song do you want to hear?"

[@nikprestonkujavec7077]

4:02 The grunt from Halo made me laugh as he is the reference to the Covenant xD

[@SebastianEspinozaPuma]

+Nik Preston Kujavec the 2 game boys hooked up made me laugh at the reference of trade. The pokemon days

[@mdstarfaith706]

+Sebastian Espinoza I'm 16 and the Pokemon days still continue.

[@SebastianEspinozaPuma]

yup

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

Nik Preston Kujavec that's me

[@melanieburciaga8682]

I'm going to prove my social studies teacher wrong about the sink of the Lusitania. i'm going to look so smart.

[@eliasbermudez2088]

I just discovered this and loving every episode. Thanks! Hoping 1 day courses like these will be taught in middle schools.

[@edwardmercer2163]

Who's here because they find history fascinating

[@princesslfinesse8356]

I find America History very useful and interesting.

[@gen1synth68]

Edward Mercer me to

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Ma dude.

[@alexaliona]

this series is literally my entire history curriculum.

[@Bonesiethecat]

I'm a tour guide in Savannah's Downtown Historic District. I would LOVE to have this guy's job. Fantastic series!

[@jameshua140]

4:00 Covenant Halo reference

[@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).

[@williamwsentamu4876]

Don't forget the 'ROARING' 20's

[@yoAce3030]

I noticed that the image at 9:57 of the school children doing the pledge of allegiance, their hands are turned palms down over their heart instead of flat on their chest. I've never seen something like that before and did not know that there was an "original" way of doing the pledge. Very interesting!

[@softyrockstar]

I give up I’m just gonna end my binging here and hope I don’t fail. Thank you John Green for everything u taught me and hope that it was enough.

[@madviolentchicken]

This was particularly interesting as I have studied WW1 through GCSEs and A levels in the UK's education system and it was interesting to see John addressing this towards those who learn it from the point of view of the American education system.

[@suesullivan8464]

As a homeschooling family, we are delighted to find your channel. My daughter and I are working our way through this series (and I am learning or re-learning as much or more than she is -- gawd, did my North Carolina high school history class suck.) Love the humor, the clever graphics and the insightful perspective that knits the facts and personalities together. I get how American history flows now, in a way I never did in high school or college courses. Bravo!

[@Ahmed-xl9gx]

Good for you =)

[@yusmilkasevilla2970]

You guys are great. My AP US History teacher shows your videos in class occasionally. I'm highly relying on these videos for my test tomorrow, aha. They're pretty great.

[@avatheecapricorn]

Proud of myself for getting the mystery document wow

[@jimkirk9890]

This helps me a lot with my presentation, thanks alot!!

[@DrSkrungle]

Thanks for making all this so compact and easy to learn

[@annastasiafrancum8972]

I find these videos superb helpful but there is so much info I can retain all of it. I feel if there were subtitles I could pause the videos and write down the main points that he is teaching.

[@marcilenerose7488]

Currently have a us history test today about wwi! Thanks for helping me out, homie!!!

[@veronicatoothpaste8576]

I feel good I got a mystery document correct

[@CollinShumaker]

Same here

[@Justanotherconsumer]

johnny hacksaw the giveaway part is XIV. Not many other notable 14-element statements in that period.

[@swaggerflamingo5875]

Noice

[@susanjoyce4244]

S A M E

[@Jimmiejohn48]

He FINALLY mentioned Orwell

[@evannesbitt7852]

James J Rozee being a character out of his books you must be a fan

[@Ignensis]

"The Path to Hegemony is Paved With Good Intentions" So much this.

[@isabelperez-correa9046]

John Green you're a great writer and you just helped me so much in AP US history like I cannot thank you enough. Bless you're majestic and beautiful soul; stay golden.

[@kyleshreve9913]

Nice Halo reference. And I also finally guessed a mystery document correctly, no matter how much of a softball it was.

[@ChandlerTV100]

-Doesn't talk about World War I battles and tactics, claiming they're "not important" -Talks about Ernest Hemingway as if he is important in history

[@sarahtaylor1505]

Im lovin this stuff! binge watchin all ur history playlists while recoverin from an operation. Thanks u crash course :-) im in the UK,any chance u cud do a british history playlist, i know there's a lot but it wud b great 2 hear your take n the evolution + developments of MY favourite nation ;-) Thanks! SarahT x

[@prouddadof2dogs828]

Im just want to revise but this guy just does my head in

[@michelles.543]

A headspace ad came on and I let it run by I knew it would be needed before listening to John Green talk at a hundred miles an hour

[@TheNightmareRider]

One thing I remember clearly from GCSE (High School) history here in the UK was that the Treaty of Versails (please pardon the spelling) was largely one big factor in what lead to WWII. The American president at the time actually wanted Germany to be treated fairly, as did England's Prime Minister, but he was under pressure from France to punish the germans severely. So this is one moment in US history where the leaders of America were actually the most reasonable! P.S; Forgive me if these names are vague. It's been at least a decade since I first read what I learned in High School.

[@rcnrbn]

You're not far off. The Treaty of Versailles made provisions for reparations which caused every cent the Germans made between WW I and WW II to be exported to other countries to pay them back for the damage the Germans caused. The only way to keep up with these reparation payments was to print more money, which caused massive inflation and reduced the German people to such desperation that they would end up putting Hitler in power purely for his charisma.

[@TheNightmareRider]

Canon Whitecandle I remember seeing illustrations of germans pushing wheelbarrows full of cash, barely enough to buy a loaf of bread! It was pretty damn ridiculous.

[@rcnrbn]

Pretty much. The Treaty of Versaille was definitely a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Revenge never works.

[@Lukos0036]

France taught the US a lesson about reprisal we never forgot. Perhaps a lesson best left unlearned.

[@ShamanMcLamie]

France was pretty bent on those reparations and taking back Alsace-Lorraine from Germany because of the Franco-Prussian war. The German State of Prussia defeated France pretty quickly and badly during the war which was also the third and final war of German unification and forced them to pay five billion franks and to give up the German speaking Alsace-Lorraine to the new German Empire. Prussia's quick victory played a part in shaping the alliances in Europe with Britain becoming considerably more wary of German power.

[@Wgmx00]

Loved the delorean easter egg in the middle, big fan of both crash course and BTTF, keep up the fantastic work!

[@asmABC123]

u make history fascinating...coulda used u in high school.. thanks 4 being awesome ! 😇

[@horsestalesandtails]

Thumbs up if you're here for APUSH

[@christopherstone1732]

can i get a push?

[@alyschang6286]

literally taking apush notes rn

[@itsriggs]

ya. Do you have to read "Give Me Liberty!" too?

[@thegoblinking.]

wish me luck

[@a96415]

LOL I just did it but I think I did well.

[@mckohtz]

Even I knew it was Wilson Woodrow's Fourteen Points! I'm studying American history to pass my Civic test for US Citizenship.

[@kendrahill7713]

Megan Kohtz good luck!!!

[@mckohtz]

@@kendrahill7713 Thanks! I passed! But the swearing-in ceremony is delayed b/c of the Coronavirus 'Stay Home' order in NC

[@patrickbarragan382]

Megan Kohtz Congrats!!!!

[@mckohtz]

@@patrickbarragan382 Thank you!

[@shynew.2432]

Thank you Pres. Wilson for getting us involved!

[@athinacordero3170]

Hello Crash Course! I just wanted to say thank you. I'm taking AP US history and I use this to review everything the morning after I study for my tests, it helps so much!

[@joshuajohnson527]

II “Eye Eye” *I’m starting to think these are Roman Numerals*

[@slushii5492]

*breathes* HETALIA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME. WHY HETALIA. WHY. *fangirls intensely*

[@studspud4271]

Banana "Kawaii Len" Club rigjt XD

[@slushii5492]

Breidyn Neilson OML A FAN HUG ME AND NEVER LET GO

[@studspud4271]

Banana "Kawaii Len" Club samw

[@slushii5492]

Breidyn Neilson AML GAHHHHH THE SHIPSSS THE YAOCDNVFDNBVJNHJ -sry i spam a lot with fans ;u;-

[@JG-pf9hb]

A well crafted and useful tool. Thank you.

[@asiapouchie3828]

Thanks Crash Course for teaching me about US history better than my college professor is currently doing and reviving my love for history.

[@spencer1898]

We not gonna talk about how the govt gave itself way more power than it should?????

[@lucasm4299]

4:10 And associating themselves for its maintenance It's = it is Its = posession

[@gogosushi9169]

Fantastic Jhon! I love it!

[@jedcohen4697]

Interesting. It is probably the awesomest and most educational channel ever.

[@fartzinwind]

At least Freedom Fry has a nice ring to it. Liberty Sandwiches???? equally silly and ignorant, but doesn't even sound as good.

[@JonathanBondu]

Everything about Mc donalds is about liberty and freedom

[@connormcgreggor2617]

the dachshund was called a liberty dog. and sour kraut was called liberty letece

[@Lord_Drakostar]

Happiness Hamburger.

[@sk8085-b]

Sth like Happy Hams would have been nicer :/

[@insertcolorfulmetaphor8520]

If it isn't alliterative, it isn't memorable.

[@genesisloutin6640]

i am watching this in class with my teacher rn!!! 2019 anyone??

[@swimchick778]

Anyone else get a kick out of the whole America's isolationism led by Woodrow Wilson...and the pop up of Cast Away's Wilson? 1:17 This whole series is too awesome!

[@graysonchip]

This was excellent. Thank you.

[@autumns9766]

who's here studying for the AP test?

[@madisonchilders1164]

+Funtastic Autumn im here studying for the staar

[@GlitteryCassie]

Im watching the US History playlist two times through to study

[@MikenterLP]

Na I'm just watching this at work waiting until I have something to do.

[@emconitegamez5566]

It really isn't that hard

[@DiegoFigueroa11]

Is it bad I'm just here for fun?

[@Shmerpy]

Love these. I also love at the beginning where you have the eagle swoop across the screen sounding just like a hawk, because as we all know, eagles really can only make little chirping sounds...

[@bryannguyen658]

LOL at 3:46 II "I'm starting to think these are Roman Numerals"

[@sierradc9711]

Oh my goodness, he just made the most amazing connection to isolationism and Wilson.

[@edgiuslordius7754]

I like how you had a grunt when you said covenants. Jäeger approves

[@giannisantetokounmpo8510]

Hey umm mr.green , we just wanted to let you know that we (nsa) already watch your videos....

[@3011remaerdyad]

I love these videos:)

[@MehaikAdison]

Sir.John, you are the best youtuber/teacher i have seen.. and heard...

[@ShnoogleMan]

Haven't checked who wrote the mystery document yet, but I'm guessing it's Wilson's 14 Points.

[@ShnoogleMan]

Well that was an easy one.

[@silvereaglexi3888]

Oh awesome a Halo reference.

[@inception1695]

what time was it?

[@silvereaglexi3888]

4:00

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

SilverEagle XI that's me. Flipyap the lovely fierce unggoy

[@Masterchuh5]

SilverEagle Xl it’s a grunt!!!!

[@tripdsg]

Thank you for all of the awesome.

[@aertan]

it would be cool if you added subtitles like you did in the crash course world history. PS i thought it would be fascinating to live in the early stages of the US until i started watching this series :P

[@anknees2352]

When your apush teacher refuses to teach in class, so u have to watch these videos in class and try to learn off of john greens fast speaking to pass a video quiz.....

[@dianaomar842]

Annie Claire I recommend you watch Jocz productions' APUSH Crash Course Review videos He's really good at teaching specific things that are taught in AP

[@anknees2352]

Diana Omar i do, but thank you

[@jenniferhildman2282]

Watch APUSH review videos with Adam Norris. Watch both the Key Concept videos and the Unit Review videos. That should help you quite a bit. Adam Norris also suggests other helpful videos.

[@counterthis8283]

I want some information before battlefield 1, thanks :D

[@PHVNT0ML0RD81]

Dude same lmao.

[@archstanton5113]

check out the channel 'The Great War'. It's great

[@beowolf_kurama6063]

I did also. Lol.

[@Leon14000]

Well, good luck because Battlefield One fails hysterically at even coming close to being historically accurate.

[@oscarmccormack1611]

Leon14000 Except for the first two chapters.

[@tsukanov98]

I love it when you talk to yourself from "the past" and it really livens up the show. Please continue doing so and more often

[@mitchellnunez2012]

you should do episodes fully about war/battle details there's too many that do but get the facts wrong or twist them. you're one of the few people (on youtube) i could take seriously.

[@Harborx]

YAY!! Rhode Island is in this video!! :D

[@usf3983]

I think I caught a Final Fantasy reference in there.

[@TateWasHere]

great video!!

[@shaungomez9898]

I cannot recall the last time I watched a crash course history video, but I assume it was when I was a junior in high school in 2015-2016. I think I was watching something about Jay-Z and other people on the video, but I don’t remember what the video was about. Now returning to this channel today and being 24 now, it’s a very nostalgic feeling to look back at this channel.

[@masonbarnes6949]

anyone else pregaming the apush exam tomorrow with these videos

[@sayumiranasinghe8408]

Mason Barnes yep

[@kowalityjesus]

"This machine kills fascists" is a reference to Woodie Guthrie's guitar

[@Soverane]

Thank God you didn't say it's a reference to Fallout New Vegas :D This channel seems to have more intelligent subscribers than average...

[@Bostonpancacke]

Gottlieb Elend Usually that's the case

[@stantheman3138]

"This Machine Makes Its Owner Feel Better About Himself Without Him Actually Having To Do Anything But Put A Sticker On A Laptop". Pretentious twit.

[@kowalityjesus]

open your eyes Mr Magoo, vlogbrothers are da bomm.

[@tomripsin730]

10:19 That burger looks really good.

[@undecidedaboutme]

My school has actually started using these, and Sci Show's episodes in classrooms to help both single gender and co-ed classes understand what went on during these time periods. I have the greatest respect for the Green parents for having children that are actually smart enough to not only learn about the world, but share the information in an easy and fun way. Thanks you. You two helped me pass my mid-terms

[@TathD]

"War is the health of the state" - Yeah, when its happening an ocean away from your home.

[@zrksyd]

At the end of III in the mystery document, the wrong it's/its was used.

[@Theagentpickles]

Was so happy when my teacher put this on for my grade ten history class!!!

[@dianathecat3youtube191]

awesome! thanks!

[@WeekzGod]

Economic/Business history >>> Military history though the two are often linked

[@acezigzag6977]

Thought bubble be lookin better than BF1

[@sarajohnson9014]

these videos are great

[@SepiaWoodstock69]

these videos are life savers

[@DoctorBocwurst]

Hey John, I love your videos, and I am also really impressed of your understanding of history. And I wonder: What do you think about the battles at Blair Mountain? What are your "deep thoughts"? Don't forget to be awesome, Doktor Bokwurst

[@MartinBenek198]

Loved the NSA joke :D

[@lumpy0100]

Thanks, CrashCourse.:)

[@science3819]

Good job