World War I The United States Watches and Waits. Causes of World War I 4 No one event or person caused the Great War. There were many factors that contributed.

World War I

The United States Watches and Waits

Causes of World War I

No one event or person caused the Great War. There were many factors that contributed to mobilization of the belligerents

Five Major factors often identified as causes of World War I (but not causes of U.S. entry)

MMilitarism AAlliances IImperialism NNationalism EEvents or Economics

Possible causes of U.S. entry

British Propaganda and Pro-British sentiment

Submarine Warfare Munitions trade and

loans to Great Britain Zimmerman Note Sinking of the Lusitania

U.S. Neutrality and the Rights of Neutrals.

What was America’s neutrality?

Oskar II- Peace ship

U.S. Neutrality Aug. 4, 1914 Wilson proclaims the neutrality of the United States.

U.S. needs to be the model for world peace. U.S. more interested in competing for markets than killin.

1915 Henry Ford charters a Peace Ship to Stockholm, Sweden conference January 1916

– Ford, then one of the richest men in the world, actually thought he could talk the leaders of Europe into stopping World War.

– Ford believed if he could only get foreign leaders to sit down in a room, he could make them listen to reason and the war would end. Straight talk from a no-nonsense businessman would persuade where diplomatic doubletalk had failed.

– A boat of pacifists-“Every crackpot and nut in the country wanted to get on that boat,” from socialists, to prohibitionists, to anti-smoking crusaders, to pro-German partisans, and people from “every religious splinter-group” in the country.

– The Peace Expedition became a farce, The world press mocked them mercilessly. It failed.

Oskar II- Peace ship

Problem of Neutral Rights

International Law and use of the Seas– Neutral nations still allowed to trade with both sides.– Warring nations were allowed by International Law to stop

and inspect neutral vessels at sea.– Warring nations could seize certain war materials

(Contraband)- explosives, guns and ammunition. But not other goods.

– Before sinking a commercial ship, the attacker had to give warning.

– No court, or police force to make nations obey the law.– “Freedom of the Seas”

The Problem of Neutral Rights British Navy

– Blockade- Control the seas and starve Germany into submission

– Contraband included all sorts of goods including food.

– All neutral ships would be searched even those going to neutral countries. England would seize any ship bound for Germany.

– North Sea was a military are and put mines down.

– All in violation of international law.

– British would pay for all goods seized after America protested.

German Submarines– 1915- fleet of 27 subs disobeyed

international law.– War zone- Germany declares this

around the British Isles.– Unrestricted sub warfare.– Advised all neutrals not to travel there

or on British ships.– Wilson insists under International law

Americans had the right to sail on any ship. And Germany would be accountable for all American lives.

– 1915- Germany sinks Lusitania, then Arabic and Sussex passenger ships. After promising not to sink unarmed passenger ships without warning.

U.S. Neutrality and the Rights of Neutrals.

What did England do to the Central Powers?

What happened to U.S. shipping?

What is a “U-Boat” and how did the Germans use them?

Oskar II- Peace ship

U.S. Neutrality and the Rights of Neutrals.

What happened on May 7, 1915?

What was the American reaction?Oskar II- Peace ship

Sinking of the Lusitania- May 7, 1915Sinking of the Lusitania- May 7, 1915 departed New York for Liverpool on

May 1, 1915,

The famous liner's speed still seemed the

best guarantee of safety. On May 7, as the Lusitania entered the

most dangerous part of her passage, Captain William Turner actually slowed down, apparently worried by patchy fog.

Mistakes of the Captain-. steaming too close to shore, instead of in the relative safety of the open channel. sailing at less than top speed, and not zigzagging

The initial explosion set off a violent secondary blast. The ship sank in 18 minutes, with a lost of 1,195 of the 1,959 on board, including 123 Americans.

Sinking of the Lusitania- May 7, 1915Sinking of the Lusitania- May 7, 1915 The original thought was

the"illegal high explosives in the ships magazine had probably caused the tragedy".

Other theories as to the source of the second explosion have been a coal dust explosion, boiler explosion, steam line fracture, or

even a second torpedo.

U.S. Neutrality and the Rights of Neutrals.

How did American-German relations get worse?

Why did the U.S. join the Allies?Oskar II- Peace ship

American Reaction and Relations with Germany

Wilson was against embargo and going to war against Germany. Strong note of protest sent to Germany, America will stick up for

its rights of neutrality. 1915-1917- Germany sinks two more passenger liners- Sussex and

Arabic with some loss of American lives. To Germany submarine warfare was too important to give up.

Americans were sympathic to Belgians and very anti-German. American Bankers had lent billions to the Allies to fight the war. It seemed that the Germans did not care if they sunk passenger

ships.

Ties that bind

Allies– U.S. spoke English language.– U.S. Laws and customs based on

English foundations.– All news from Europe came

through British press. (England had cut the trans-Atlantic cable) British Propaganda-atrocity stories.

– Kaiser Wilhelm had made many warlike (militaristic) statements.

– Trade with England and Allies was enormous. $3 Billion

– $2 billion in loans to Allies.

Central Powers– Millions in US favored Central

powers due to ancestors who had been born in Austria, Germany or Hungary.

– Irish Americans were glad to see anyone fight the British.

– US had long been trading with the Germans. But that dropped by 1916 from $170 million to $1 million.

Wilson’s Peace Efforts

In the election of 1916 his slogan had been “He kept us out of war”.

After 1916 Wilson still tried to keep the US out of the war.

He asked the European powers to declare a “Peace without victory.” But Germany announces unrestricted sub warfare.

Germany felt the US would be too late even if they entered the war.

The United States goes to war

Zimmerman note- German ambassador asked Mexico to join Central powers with promise to return all lands taken by the US.

1917-Wilson arms Merchant ships for protection against submarines.

April 6, 1917 Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany.

“The world must be made safe for democracy. We must fight for the rights and liberties of small nations.”

Americans need to be soldiers of righteousness.

Wilson’s 14 Points- His Dream for the world 1.

2..

3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.

4..

5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial

6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to developher own political set-up.

7. Belgium should be independent like before the war.

8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine

9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy's borders are to "alongclearly recognisable lines of nationality."

10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.

11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed forthe Balkan states.

12. The Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. Non-Turks inthe old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.

13. An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the sea.

14.

Wilson’s 14 Points- His Dream for the world 1. No more secret agreements ("Open covenants openly arrived at").

2. Free navigation of all seas.

3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.

4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers.

5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial

6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to developher own political set-up.

7. Belgium should be independent like before the war.

8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine

9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy's borders are to "alongclearly recognisable lines of nationality."

10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.

11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed forthe Balkan states.

12. The Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. Non-Turks inthe old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.

13. An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the sea.

14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states.