Iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. There were many lives lost, the likes of which I
hope I never see again. I lost my parents. My wife was on one of the first few lifeboats.
Mot mother was offered a seat on that boat, which she refused to be with father.
December 20, 1912
Well the Republicans are finally out of office. Last month Woodrow Wilson was
elected President by an extremely wide margin in both the electoral college and the
popular vote. Also the Democrats are already controlling the Senate and House of
Representitives. I am looking forward in great anticipation to the inauguration of
President Elect Wilson.
January 16, 1914
I have just recently purchased one of Henry Fords new Model T automobiles.
They are incredible. He found a way to mass produce these automobiles which will make
them cheap and affordable. It is a new way to spend my leisure. Life seems to have much
more freedom now. The automobile is no longer a luxery but an necessity.
August 13, 1914
After a time of peace, there is once again war in Europe. After the death of Franz
Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, Austria, along with Germany, declared war on
Serbia. Russia pledged to help Serbia and France pledged to help Russia. Most of the
other countries in Europe sided with the Allies, France and Russia, and The Ottoman
Empire and Bulgaria sided withe The Central Powers, Germany and Austria. Great
Britain was brought into the war with the German invasion of Belgium. The Britains
claim that the war will be over before the end of the year. For now, President Wilson has
pledged to stay out of the war.
April 10, 1917
Because the Germans violated the Sussex Pledge and the Zimmerman note was
made public, The US declared war on Germany. The Germans sunk a British ship, the
Lusitania, which had American aboard. They signed the Sussex pledge promising to not
sink merchant ships without warning and saving human lives. After violation of the
pledge, President Wilson broke off diplomatic ties with Germany. In March, the
Zimmerman note was made public, causing a wave of anti-German feeling. Several more
American merchant ships were sunk before President Wilson went to Congress asking for
a declaration of war on April 2. Four days later Congress voted to go to war. It is the
feeling of President Wilson and this country that this will be the war to end all wars.
May 15, 1917
The Selective Service Act is reqiuring all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register
for military service. They are going to have a draft to choose those who go to war. It is
not necessary. Along with a group of friends, I have volunteered for the army. We are to
report to training camp in September.
June 15, 1918
Dear Betty-Jean
I have now been in France for three months. I arrived in March and received word
that after the Bolshevik Revolution in November, Russia will no longer be fighting. With
the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between Russia and Germany, the Germans
could now concentrate on the Western front. With the help of 120,000 in April, we
helped stop the German advance at Chateau-Thierry, some 50 mile outside of Paris.
October 19, 1918
Dear Betty-Jean
The German lines have begun to crumble. We are pushing toward the German rail
lines near Sedan to cut off the supply of German troops. Unfortunately to do this we must
go into the Argnne Forest which is full of dense woods, deep ravines, and uncut barbed
wire. We have not gotten any rest in the last month. We do nothing but march all night
and fight all day. The American infantrymen are responsible for the turnaround. We are
unstopable.
November 11, 1918
Dear Betty-Jean
You are no doubt hearing right now that the war is over. The peace treaty has
been signed. On November 7, we finally captured Sedan. The next day the Germans
asked for armistice. I am extatic. I don?t know if it has sunk in yet. No longer willl we
have to march through the rain and cold and listen to the sonds of exploding artillary and
wonder if it is us next. I am looking forward to seeing you again. It has been way too
long. I will be home soon.
July 29, 1919
I have been home for a while now. Life is begining to return to normal.
Yesterday, the war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty
will cripple Germany. They are being stripped of their provinces and colonies. Their army
and navy are being vastly reduced. They are also being forced to pay reparations(they
would eventually total 33 billion). President Wilsons Fourteen Points were not agreed to
unfortunately. He did, however, get his League of Nations established. The League of
Nations proposal is part on the Treaty of Versailles, which has yet to pass the Senate.
January 19, 1920
I am in deep fear of a communist revolt. After the Bolshevik Revolution there
have been uprisings in Germany and Hungary. Two days ago, Attorney General Mitchell
Palmer ordered the arrest of 5,000 suspected communists. The American Cival Liberties
Union was formed to provide a defense to those who were jailed. Despite this the ?Red
Scare? continues. Over 200,000 Americans signed up to look for the ?Red Mennace? in
their neighborhoods. Although the communists are a threat, this is this the real problem in
this nation.
Novembver 13, 1920
The Republicans have regained the White House with the victory of Warren G.
Harding and Calvin Coolidge. It was by an unprecedneted majority. Harding is promising
a return to normalcy. He is also going back to the policy of isolationism. It?s 100%
Americanism, as they put it.
Bibliography
Decades Project Bibliography
Nevins, Allan, and Commager, Henry Steele. A Pocket History of the United States:
Ninth Edition. New York: First Pocket Books, 1992.
DiBacco, Thomas V., Mason, Lorna C., and Appy, Christian G. History of the United
States. Boston: Houghton Miffin, 1995.
Microsoft Encarta ?97 Encycloppedia. CD-ROM. Microsoft, 1997
Wallbank, Walter T., et al. Civilazation Past & Present: Eith Edition. New York:
HarperCollins College Publishers, 1996.
David Perdue?s Cherles Dickens Homepage. Online. Internet. Available HTTP:
http//www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/