American Pacifism: Inter-wars Era (1920s-30s)

American pacifism
Figure 1.-- Here Vassar College students and faculty express their anti-War sentimnts. Notice the one sign, "1 man killed in war for $25,000 profit for rmament makers." Seven years later merica would be thrust into a new world War. The armaments makrs being villfified hrre would essentually save Western civiliztion. The caption to this wire service photograph read, "Vassar College girls hold anti-war meeting: Accompanied by members of the faculty, hyndred of Vassar College students marched thru the streets of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., April 13. In a unique demonstration in behalf of the nation-wide appeal for peace and disarmament. Photo shows undergraduates carrying signs asking for peace in one of Poughkeepsie's strength." The photograph was dated April 13, 1934.

The modern American pacifut movement was born out of World War I. American peace groups attempted to promote a negotiared end to World War I, but the Europeans were uninterested. The German were especially dismissive of the American efforts, in part because many officials did not look the United States with its mixed ethnic and racial population as a real nation. The British were more willing to at last humor the Americans as they understood the imprtnce of the United States. With the end of the War, peace groups were optimistic, believing that war could be oulawed. American pacifists helped draft the constitution (Covenant) of the new League of Nations. Many peace groups were shocked that the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Versailles Paece Treaty which included the provision for the League. In fact the American pacifist movement was split on the League. The pacifist movement developed into a pro-League or conservative faction and an anti-League or radical faction. Conservative peace groups included the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the World Peace Foundation, the League of Nations Association, and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. These were groups that emerged out of the Northeastern estabishment and were well funded. The Carnegie Endowment was founded with a bequest of $10 million in United States Steel Corporation bonds (1910). U.S. Steel was one of the major American corporation and had benefitted from war contracts which in the eyes of more radical pacifists brought their credibility in question. The World Peace Foundation was founded with a $1 million endowment (1910). The Woodrow Wilson Foundation ammaseed conrtributions of almost $1 million for its foundtion (1924) . The radical peace organizations were less fixated on the League, some even opposed Amerucan menbership. And they were much less apt to work in quiet ways for peace. They were less well funded, but had more grassroot suport. Many emerged out of the Midwest where isolationist views were also strong. They were newer groups, organized after the War. There were something like 40 national groups. Local groups wre much more numerous. Some had small, less stable memberships. Some did not last long as finabces were shaky. There were changes of names. Objective varied, but all were commited to a peaceful world. The groups included: the American Committee for the Cause and Cure of War, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the National Council for the Prevention of War, the Committee on Militarism in Education, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Parliament of Peace and Universal Brotherhood, the Peace Heroes Memorial Society, the War Resisters' League, the Women's Peace Society, the World Peace Association. Women played a major role in most of these groups anf this of coure was the same time that that women got the vote with the rtification of the 19th anendment and emerged as a major force in American politics (1919). Women were especially important in the more radical peace groups. American attitudes during the inter-War era were in part pacifism, but and even stroinger sentiment was a desire to disassociate from Europe which was seen as the source of endless political strife. Pacifism was an elemement in isolationist sentiment in America. Isolationism and pacifim were different movements, but there was substantial over lap. The Congress launched a major investigation designed to prove that American arms manufacturers had help involve the United States in the War. It is ironic that the industry that would save Western civilization was during the inter-war years being being investigated for disloyalty by Congress. The Committee became known as the Dyes Committee led by Congressman Martin Dyes. After a huge investigation, no evidence was found to justify the charges. Public opinion in America remained staunchly against involvement in World War II until Pearl Harbor. During the War, some 43,000 Americans refused to fight for reasons of conscience, Some were recognized as conscintious objectors. Others were not. About 12,000 men served in Civilian Public Service, 6,000 were sentenced to prison terms, and 25,000 served in the military as noncombatants, often in dangerous roles like corpsmen.

World War I Origins

The modern American pacifist movement was born out of World War I. American peace groups attempted to promote a negotiared end to World War I, but the Europeans were uninterested. The German were especially dismissive of the American efforts, in part because many officials did not look the United States with its mixed ethnic and racial population as a real nation. The British were more willing to at last humor the Americans as they understood the importnce of the United States. The first American pacifust group grew out of Jane Adam's Hull House in Chicago. With the outbreak of World War I in Europe, American women who had been engaged in suffrage and social reform movements became involved in the peace movement. Aactivists Jane Addams, Carrie Chapman Catt, and others formed the Woman’s Peace Party (WPP) (1915). Later that same year, the WPP sent a delegation to the International Congress of Women for a Permanent Peace, held at The Hague in the Netherlands, across the border from Germn occupied Belgium.

League of Nations

With the end of the War, peace groups were optimistic, believing that war could be oulawed. American pacifists helped draft the constitution (Covenant) of the new League of Nations. Many peace groups were shocked that the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Versailles Paece Treaty which included the provision for the League. In fact the American pacifist movement was split on the League. The pacifist movement developed into a pro-League or conservative faction and an anti-League or radical faction. Conservative peace groups included the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the World Peace Foundation, the League of Nations Association, and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. These were groups that emerged out of the Northeastern estabishment and were well funded. The Carnegie Endowment was founded with a bequest of $10 million in United States Steel Corporation bonds (1910). U.S. Steel was one of the major American corporation and had benefitted from war contracts which in the eyes of nore radical pacifist brought their credibility in question. The World Peace Foundation was founded with a $1 million endowment (1910). The Woodrow Wilson Foundation amassed conrtributions of almost $1 million for its foundtion (1924) .

Grassroot Groups

The radical peace organizations were less fixated on the League, some even opposed American menbership. And they were much less apt to work in quiet ways for peace. They were less well funded, but had more grassroot suport. Many emerged out of the Midwest where isolationist views were also strong. They were newer groups, organized after the War. There were something like 40 national groups. Local groups wre much more numerous. Some had small, less stable memberships. Some did not last long as finabces were shaky. There were changes of names. Objective varied, but all were commited to a peaceful world. The groups included: the American Committee for the Cause and Cure of War, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the National Council for the Prevention of War, the Committee on Militarism in Education, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Parliament of Peace and Universal Brotherhood, the Peace Heroes Memorial Society, the War Resisters' League, the Women's Peace Society, the World Peace Association.

Women

Women played a major role in most of these groups and this of coure was the same time that that women got the vote with the rtification of the 19th anendment and emerged as a major force in American politics (1919). Women were especially important in the more radical peace groups.

Isolationist Orientation

American attitudes during the inter-War era were in part pacifism, but and even stroinger sentiment was a desire to disassociate from Europe which was seen as the source of endless political strife. Pacifism was an elemement in isolationist sentiment in America. Isolationism and pacifim were different movements, but there was substantial overlap.

Congressionl Investigations

The Congress launched a major investigation designed to prove that American arms manufacturers had help involve the United States in the War. It is ironic that the industry that would save Western civilization was during the inter-war years being being investigated for disloyalty by Congress. The Committee became known as the Dyes Committee led by Congressman Martin Dyes. After a huge investigation, no evidence was found to justify the charges. Public opinion in America remained staunchly against involvement in World War II, although willing to aid the llies, until Pearl Harbor.

Neutrality Acts

The United States Congress withwide-spread popular support enacted a series of laws designed to prevent the United States from being embroiled in another foreign war, espcially another European war. They were a result of horror of the losses and desenchantmnt with the outcome of World War I. Pacifism and oher anti-war sentiment was part of the support for these laws/ Lwas were passed in 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1939. The laws were designed to clearly state the terms of U.S. neutrality. Americans had rallied to join President Woodrow Wilson’s crusade to make the world 'safe for democracy' soon after the War, disillusionment sey in. Critics argued that U.S. involvement had been a terrible mistake and driven by financeers and industrialists which benefitted from the war in Europe. While Congressional investigations found no evidence that they had brought meica into the War, public opinion largely bought the argument and helped fuel an isolationist movement that inisisted that the United States should never again get involved in another European war. The NurealityLaws sought to prevnt financial and commercial relations with countries at war. The goal was to make it impossible for any futire president to lead America into another foreign war by restricting loans and trade with the Allies that hd occued uring World War I. The result was ht when Hitler and Stlin lunched orld War II, there wre strong legal prohibitions limiting the President's ability to aid the Allies.

Refusal to Serve

During the War, some 43,000 Americans refused to fight for reasons of conscience, Some were recognized as conscintious objectors. Others were not. About 12,000 men served in Civilian Public Service, 6,000 were sentenced to prison terms, and 25,000 served in the military as noncombatants, often in dangerous roles like corpsmen.








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Created: 5:58 AM 5/28/2014
Last updated: 5:59 AM 5/28/2014