America's Great War: World War I and the American Experience

by Robert H. Zieger

Much has been written on World War I, but few books focus solely on America's involvement in the war as successfully as Robert H. Zieger. In America's Great War, Zieger concentrates his attention on five broad themes that affected Woodrow Wilson's role in shaping world order; America's familial connection to Europe; the complicated relationship between the wartime experience and the Progressive Era; race; and the emergence of the National Security State.

Genres: History, World War I, College, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Robert H. "Bob" Zieger was a renowned labor historian whose research focused on the labor history of the United States.

Reviews

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) (Audiobook) Decided to read another World War I book close to Veterans Day. The audiobook was a newer release, but the book itself is nearly 20 years old. Overall, it offered some good insight into the war experience from the American side. In particular, the actual conflict was only a small part of America's involvement in World War I. The war came at a momentous time for America, as it was evolving into a world power, but was also dealing with significant social and economic upheavals. The war saw America advance in the world, but it also saw some darker examples of American nature. Racism, sexism, authoritarian actions and a president that became all too enamored with his own thoughts and actions came to define the American experience. Perhaps it is just as well that America was only directly involved in the war for a short as it was. A longer war with greater casualties and involvement might have brought about a less than ideal 1920s for America.

In reading this book in 2020, the author clearly does not describe the impact that the influenza pandemic had on the nation and the course of the war. While there was a revival of World War I scholarship in recent years with the century anniversary of the conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic should offer a new chance to re-examine the last year of the war and how the disease truly impacted the fighting. Perhaps some other books in the near future will get there, but this book, even 20 years ago, gave the pandemic short shrift. Also, the conclusion is a little annoying as the author postulates all these questions, which begs the reader to ask "Why are you just pointing these questions out now? Shouldn't you have been trying to answer those in the first place in these pages?"

Not a bad volume for someone to learn about America's role in the war, and a sense that there was far more to the conflict than a bunch of doughboys going "Over There" to save the French from the Germans. It could be better and some aspects might appear dated, but not a first read for one who wants a basic insight into the fighting. The reader is solid but not spectacular.

[Susan Costantini]

I didn't know a lot of World War I when I first began this book. It was assigned to me as a required reading for my course this term. I found it very interesting and, in my viewpoint, it shows what the Germans felt about how the war ended and how they were treated. The information about how the United States, and in particular President Wilson, viewed the war was well established. Zieger gives a great account as to how the people and the government of the United States viewed and dealt with the war in their own ways. Very good content.

[Sarah Lehn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Will Sync]

American greed...same as it ever was. The power structure is still the same. It was during this time period that Federal income tax was approved by the Supreme Court. It had been ruled unconstitutional twice before...The Privatization of the creation of currency was passed as well (3rd time for that too.) The Federal Reserve bank and Federal income tax both happened in 1913. 100 years now. Its all most people know now.


We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

Albert Einstein. I'm with ya Albert. We can do so much better.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Shortly before 11 o’clock, across from the British lines, a German machine gunner fired off a belt of ammunition, stood up, doffed his helmet, and bowing to his erstwhile enemies, walked slowly away from the battle line. As the guns fell silent, reported a veteran British infantryman, there came a curious rippling sound …. It was the sound of men cheering from the Vosges [mountains of Eastern France] to the sea.”

[Gregory Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was both concise and comprehensive pertaining to the subject of American history during the World War I era. Ziegler covers a variety of social, cultural, and military challenges and events that each contributed to the nature of the American experience during the war. It paints a vivid portrait of the America then and explains how that has helped to shape the America we know today.

[Geoff]

Striking how wilson's southern, religious beliefs could at the same time drive his' vision of America leading the old world power brokers into a new world order and ignore equal rights for the African Americans, post emancipation.