World War I

World War IOutcome: Events Prior to U.S. Entry

Events Prior to U.s. entry1.U.S. Position: Neutrality

a. President Wilson encouraged neutrality in “thought & action”

b. Neutrality Problemsi. U.S. traded w/both sides, but ties

w/Great Britain were strongest1.Common language, customs, and

government2.By 1917, U.S. loans to the Allies

reached $2.3 billion

Events Prior to U.s. entryii. Great Britain spread anti-German

propaganda to the U.S.iii.G. Britain blockaded Europe, stopping

our trade w/Germany (famine)iv. Germany began submarine warfare

(violated “freedom of seas”)1. Attacked ships in Allied ports2. Declared a “war zone” around the

British Isles

German u-boat (Submarine)

Anti German Propaganda

The Lusitania

Events Prior to U.s. entryv. Sinking of the Lusitania (May 7,

1915)1.U.S.-German relations worsen2.Germany questioned U.S. neutrality

& the ship’s cargo3.Ship was loaded with contraband

purchased from the U.S.4.Wilson demanded in a letter of

protest that Germany end sub warfare, & apologize and pay reparations to the families

Events Prior to U.s. entryvi.March 1916: The French ship Sussex

was sunk w/Americans on board. Germany agreed to the “Sussex Pledge,” a promise to warn ships before sinking them.

Events Prior to U.s. entry2. Election of 1916

a. (D) Wilson: “Dove” and (R) Charles E. Hughes: “Hawk”

i. Both hand campaigned for peace & neutralityii. TR may have hurt (R) chances for victory with pro-war

speechesiii. Cliff-hanger: Wilson won by 20 electoral votes (CA decided the

outcome)iv. Message: Did the citizens of the US want to go to war

despite Wilson??

Events Prior to U.s. entry3.Events to US Entry

a. By 1916, the War in Europe became stalemated on both fronts

i. Western Front = 500 miles of trenches extending from the English Channel to the Adriatic Sea (Defended by France and Great Britain)

ii. Eastern Front = line defended by Russia

iii.Little progress & high casualties led to frustration on both sides

Events Prior to U.s. entryb. Germany resumed unrestricted

submarine warfare to break the deadlock

i. Stopped issuing warnings; 3 U.S. ships were sunk in one day

ii. The Kaiser felt confident the U.S. would not enter the war

iii.U.S. responded by ending diplomatic relations w/Germany

Events Prior to U.s. entry

c. Zimmerman Note (“Last Straw”) published on March 1, 1917)

i. Letter from Germany to Mexico asking for an alliance against the U.S.

ii. Intercepted and decoded by Great Britain

iii. Pro-war fever intensified in the U.S.; TR demanded we enter in the name of self-defense. Soon after, 4 more unarmed U.S. ships were sunk.

d. March 1917, Russia surrendered to Germany

Events Prior to U.s. entrye. Wilson asked Congress for a Declaration

of War on April 2, 1917i. Enemy: German government, not the

German peopleii. Wilson: “America must go to war to

make the world safe for democracy”iii.Congress declared war on April 6,

1917

Events Prior to U.s. entry

4. The War in Europea. The Allies were

weakened in 1917i. In March, 1917 a Russian

peoples’ revolt overthrew Czar Nicholas II and a provisional government was set up

ii. In November 1917, this weak gov’t was overthrown by the Bolsheviks led by Nikolai Lenin, eventually resulting in a communist government

iii. In December, 1917 Russia agreed to an armistice on the Eastern Front and withdrew, leaving Germany to fight a 1 front war (All German forces could now be sent to the Western Front in concentration)

Events Prior to U.s. entryb. June, 1917: 1st U.S. troops arrive in Europe

i. A.E.F. = American Expeditionary Forces were led by General John Pershing

ii. By 1918, 2 million U.S. “Doughboys” were in France

iii. Wilson began plans for permanent peace based on his 14 Points

America and World War I

Reasons for American Neutrality

Reasons America Enters the War on the side of the Allies