The United States in the World War

New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, 1918. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. Good. [8], 485, [2] pages. Index. Chapters include The Opening of the European War; Pro-German Propaganda--Belgian Relief; Neutral Trade; Submarine Frightfulness; The "Lusitania" Notes; An Embargo Demanded; Treacherous Acts of German Officials; Sinking without Warning; Preparedness and Pacifists; Plots and Crimes in Sea and on Land; The Peace Notes; Diplomatic Relations Broken; We Enter the War; The Call to the Colors; German Intrigue; Rationing and Fighting; and International Peace Debate. John Bach McMaster (June 29, 1852 - May 24, 1932) was an American historian. McMaster was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1872, worked as a civil engineer in 1873-1877, was instructor in civil engineering at Princeton University in 1877-1883, and in 1883 became professor of American history in the University of Pennsylvania. McMaster was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1884. McMaster is best known for his History of the People of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War (1883 seq. He began working on it in 1873, having collected material since 1870. His A School History of the United States (1897) was an extremely popular textbook for many years. Besides these books and numerous magazine articles, he published Benjamin Franklin as a Man of Letters in the "Men of Letters" series (Boston, 1887). His historical work differed from standard practice in that it departed from an exclusively political focus to delve into social history and the lives of ordinary people and also in its use of newspapers as sources. This work is in defense or justification of America entering World War I, despite President Wilson's original stance of neutrality. The call to arms found our country ill prepared for the great work which lay before it. Vast sums of money must be raised. A Great Army must be gathered and trained. Industries must be mobilized. A peace-loving people must be aroused to a due sense of the meaning of their entrance into the World War. The long debate between the leaders of the warring nations came to an end with a speech from President Wilson at Baltimore, on April 6, 1918. On that day, the anniversary of our acceptance of Germany's challenge to fight for our right to live and be free, the drive for the third Liberty Loan was to begin over all the country and it was to give a formal opening to this effort that the President spoke at Baltimore.