Ch. 23, Section 2: America’s Road to War Main Idea: The U.S. entered the conflict on the side of the Allies. Key Terms: Propaganda Autocracy.

Ch. 23, Section 2: America’s Road to War

• Main Idea: The U.S. entered the conflict on the side of the Allies.

• Key Terms:• Propaganda• Autocracy

American Neutrality• Beginning of the war, President

Woodrow Wilson declared the U.S. would be neutral.

• People soon chose sides, most siding with the Allies.

• Many Americans were foreign-born or children of immigrants, and they sided with their countries of origin.

• Ties of language, customs, and tradition linked the U.S. and Britain.

Propaganda• President Wilson

sympathized with the Allies.

• Both sides used propaganda to influence American opinion.

• Allied propaganda was more effective than propaganda for the Central Powers.

American Neutrality

• America’s early involvement included trade with both Germany and Britain.

• Because of Britain’s blockade, the U.S. was barred from trading with Germany but continued to trade with Britain.

• Involvement also included lending Britain and France billions of dollars to help pay for their war efforts.

American Neutrality• The U.S. experienced an economic boom as a

result.

• Germany was angry because the U.S., a supposedly neutral nation, was helping the Allies.

U-Boats• Germany used its U-boats to stop American aid Britain,

ignoring President Wilson’s warning that it would hold Germany responsible for any American lives lost.

Lusitania• In May 1915, a German U-

boat torpedoed the British passenger liner Lusitania.

• The ship sank and more than 1,000 people died, including 128 American citizens.

Sussex

• Another attack occurred several months later when a German U-boat torpedoed an unarmed French passenger ship, Sussex.

Sussex Pledge

• The resulting Sussex Pledge was a German offering to compensate injured Americans.

• The Pledge was also a promise to warn neutral ships and passenger vessels before attacking.

• It temporarily resolved the issued and kept America out of the war.

The End of Neutrality• In 1916, before the U.S. entered

the war, it strengthened its military.

• Legislation doubled the size of the army

• Provided money to build new warships

• Even though President Wilson hoped to stay out of the war and antiwar sentiment was strong.

Neutrality Ends

• American neutrality ended when Germany reversed its submarine-warfare policy.

• It said it would sink all merchant vessels, armed or unarmed, sailing to allied ports.

• President Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany.

The End of Neutrality

• A new wave of anti-German feeling grew when a secret telegram, the Zimmerman note, was published.

• In February 1917, German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico with an offer of financial support if Mexico would conquer lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The End of Neutrality

• Other events occurred that convinced President Wilson that the United States could no longer stay neutral. The U.S. joined the war on the side of the Allies.

– 1. In 1917 a revolution in Russia toppled the monarchy and replaced it with a temporary gov’t that promised free elections. Americans believed that this new democratic gov’t would help the Allies to defeat Germany.

– 2. In March 1917, Germans attacked and sank four American ships.

The End of Neutrality• In April 1917, Wilson asked

Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.

• Congress did not agree immediately

• Later most members agreed that, if the U.S. was to remain a great world power and defend its rights, war was necessary.

• On April 6th, President Wilson signed the declaration of war.

• In order to raise an army, Congress passed the Selective Service Act on May 18th, establishing a military draft.

• Men ages 21 to 30 registered.

• The draft age was later extended from 18 to 45.

• By the end of the war, about 24 million men had registered and about 3 million had been called to serve.

• About 2 million joined voluntarily.

Women in the War

• Women enlisted in the armed forces, serving as noncombat workers operating radios, and as clerks and nurses.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8COmmBiUBY&list=PL71F8FAC220A2FD64&index=3

African Americans in War• Many African Americans were

accepted into the army and navy but not the marines.

• They faced discrimination and racism.

• Many help low-level jobs, Of the 140,000 sent to Europe, only 40,000 fought.

• Some received medal for bravery from the French gov’t, and one African American soldier received the French Cross of War, the highest medal of honor in France