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America Responds!

Unit 10: World War I (1914 – 1918). America Responds!. President Wilson Urges Neutrality. Aug. 1914 – “Remain neutral in thought as well as in action.” Americans were shocked by European events & violence. 1/3 of 92 million Am. Were 1 st & 2 nd generation immigrants.

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America Responds!

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  1. Unit 10: World War I (1914 – 1918) America Responds!

  2. President Wilson Urges Neutrality • Aug. 1914 – “Remain neutral in thought as well as in action.” • Americans were shocked by European events & violence. • 1/3 of 92 million Am. Were 1st & 2nd generation immigrants. • ¼ & 1/8 were from Ger & Ire • Most supported the Allies b/c of Great Britain & their propaganda campaign vs. Germany & Central Powers were monarchies.

  3. The Myth of American Neutrality • 1897-1914 US trade with Allies increased 5 X from $750 million to $3.5 billion! • German U-Boats were putting these investments at risk. • A Preparedness Movement gained support as the Germans stepped up attacks to enforce the blockade.

  4. The Sinking of the Lusitania • May 7, 1915 – It was torpedoed in the Irish Sea killing 1200 (128 Americans) • Americans were outraged at German “barbarism.” Germany promised no more attacks without warning. • March 24, 1916 – the Sussex was hit and U.S. threatened to cut ties with Germany. • Sussex Pledge – Germany promised to halt the attacks without warning. It would be short-lived.

  5. The Election of 1916 • President Wilson is re-elected over Republican Charles Evans Hughes by a vote of 49.4% t0 46.2% on the slogan “he kept us out of war.” • Hughes was painted as a pro-war candidate, but ironically Wilson would lead us into war. • American banks were already loaning huge sums to the Allies because of the submarines.

  6. The Zimmermann Note • Jan. 1917 – Germany issues declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare • Telegram intercepted by British & forwarded to U.S. in Jan. 1917 – It was proposed that Germany promise Mexico land lost in 1848 to attack the Southern U.S. • Feb. 3, 1917 – Wilson breaks diplomatic ties with Germany & instructs Congress to arm merchant ships.

  7. The Effect of the Russian Revolution • March 1917 – Germany sinks three more ships: the Illinois, Memphis, and Vigilancia. • Bolsheviks in Russia, or communists, led by V.I. Lenin overthrow the Czar and a republican government is temporarily set up. Russia would soon be embroiled by civil war and drop out of the war against Germany and Austria. • Americans no longer had to be concerned about going to war to preserve a monarch. • April 6, 1917 – Congress declares war (82-6 in the Senate and 373-50 in the House).

  8. Analyzing WW I Documents • Doc. 2 – Belgian Neutrality • How was Germany shown? • Doc. 3 - Artist’s view of Alliances? • Doc. 4 – Lusitania Ad? • Doc. 6 - Zimmerman Note – What was Germany promised? • Doc. 6 – Did Germany really want war w/ U.S.? • Doc. 7 – When? Purpose? • Doc. 8 – When? Purpose? • Doc. 8 – Wilson’s purpose? • List events that led U.S. to war.

  9. America Gives the Allies an Edge • European leaders didn’t know what to expect from the “Yanks.” Could we get an army ready & in Europe in time? Would we fight? • How would we even get our army safely “Over There?” • Selective Service Act of 1917 - 24 million registered for the draft & 3 million were selected by a lottery. • 11,000 women & 300,000 African Americans also served.

  10. Convoys Protect Allied Shipping • Unrestricted Sub. Warfare was taking its toll as ships were being sunk faster than they were built. • U.S. Admiral William Simms devised the convoy system – merchant ships surrounded by war ships with trawlers, destroyers, & cruisers. • Between April and December 1917, losses were cut in half.

  11. The A.E.F. Turns the Tide • American Expeditionary Force – General John J. Pershing arrived in France in June 1917, but large numbers of “doughboys” didn’t arrive in until beginning of 1918. • After Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1917, Russia surrendered and Germany turned all might toward Western Front & launched an all out offensive. • By end of March 1918, U.S. soldiers had helped turn the tide with counter offensives. “Lafayette, we are here!”

  12. Ending the War! • With each passing week AEF became more involved. At battles like the 2nd Marne, Cantigny, Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, & St. Mihiel we helped to wear the Germans down at high cost. • At Chateau-Thierry in Sept. 1918, ½ of doughboys who fought were casualties of war. • Final offensive – the Meuse-Argonne Campaign (Sept. – Oct. 1918) saw 1 million Americans participate in the last offensive of the war & convince Germany it could not win.

  13. Armistice Day – November 11, 1918 • Germany surrenders in a railroad car at Compiegne, France. • 5 Million Allied troops & 8 Million Central Power troops dead! 10% of American troops were killed. • Maybe as many as 10 million civilians also died. • The Great War was the most destructive war in human history up to that time. • Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to Holland. • President Wilson begins to politic for “Peace without victory.”

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