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America's Entry into WWI: Neutrality, Reasons, and Catalysts

This section covers the United States' entrance into World War I, including the complexities of neutrality, the Zimmerman Note, and the Lusitania as the catalyst for America's formal entry. It also explores the major economic factors that led to America's involvement in the war.

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America's Entry into WWI: Neutrality, Reasons, and Catalysts

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  1. The United States Enters WWISection 9.1 (Appleby 320-327) Chapter 9 World War I and Its Aftermath PF 3:28

  2. Today Agenda • Return and go over test • Class Average= 83% • # of As= 9 • # of Bs= 17 • # of Cs=11 • 9.1 Slide Show • Homework • -Finish reading 9.1

  3. Today’s ObjectivesAt the end of this lesson, you should be able to: • Define Triple Entente/ Central Powers and list its member • Define neutrality and describe its complexity &/or hypocrisy in American policy • Identify the Zimmerman Note • Identify Lusitania as the catalyst of America’s formal entry into WWI • Identify major economic reasons for America’s entry into WWI

  4. Background to WWI Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia -Serbia humiliated Franco-Prussian War -German Empire begins -France humiliated Archduke Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo Growing nationalism 1871 1888 1904 1914 Wilhelm II crowned Kaiser -Demands “A place in the sun” Russo-Japanese War -Russia humiliated

  5. Europe on the Eve of War, June 1914 Austro-Hungary annexes Bosnia Growing German naval power alarms Great Britain German militarism alarms France and Russia Russia, Aus-Hun, Ottoman Emp. compete for control of Balkans Russian, Germany, GB, France compete for empire Malignant Serbian Nationalism grows

  6. Friedrich Nietzsche • Philosopher of late 1800s • “God is dead” • Believed that the greatest good is power, strength • Greatest evil is weakness • His beliefs greatly influenced leaders of Europe in WWI

  7. What were the MAIN causes of WWI? • Militarism • Aggressive buildup of armed forces meant to intimidate other nations • German insecurity led to massive buildup • Alliance System • Insecurity caused nations form security guarantees • An attack on one was an attack on all • Imperialism • Intense competition among powers for territory/ status • Nationalism • Intense love of one’s nation mixed with social Darwinism • Viewed other nations as inferior • Fredrick Nietzsche’s Will to Power

  8. The Match: Gavrilo Princeps

  9. Today’s Agenda • Review • Finish 9.1 Slide Show • Homework • Read 9.1 in Textbook and answer “Primary Source: Causes of WWI” questions 1-2 on a separate sheet of paper on page 323

  10. What events triggered the outbreak of the Great War? 1914 JuneJulyAugust Central Powers at war with Triple Entente in 8/4/14 Archduke of Austria Assassinated in Sarajevo on 6/14/14 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia 7/28/14 Wilson declares American neutrality 8/4/14

  11. Alliance System

  12. Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Triple Entente (Allies) France Great Britain Russia Who were the members of the Central & Triple Entente Alliances?

  13. Enthusiasm for War

  14. Why did Germany’s war plan for an early victory fail? • Schlieffen Plan • Plan to deal with 2 front war • 1st -Quickly sweep through Belgium & defeat France • 2nd -Defeat slow moving Russia & WIN • Failed because • Russia mobilized quickly • French halted advance in west • Led to bloody stalemate of trench warfare

  15. The Fronts

  16. Describe the nature of the fighting. • Trench Warfare • frontal assaults over “no man’s land” • Massive destruction & casualties • Battle of the Somme (Jul-Nov. 1916) • GB lost 60 thousand in one day • 1.5 million casualties • Gained 6 miles in 5 months • Senseless death of millions

  17. Battle of the Somme

  18. Let’s Review • Term for when one nation dominates another politically, economically • TR’s foreign policy • Insecure leader of Germany • Causes of WWI • What was the Schielfen Plan • Characteristics of the fighting

  19. Why were the casualties so high? • Used Traditional Infantry ‘charges’ • “Over the top!” • BUT possessed advanced weaponry • Machine gun • Artillery • Mustard gas • Barbed wire • Tanks 18:00-20:24

  20. Harry Houdini Presentation

  21. 1915-1916

  22. What was America’s official policy toward the war? • Neutral • “We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.” • Despite diverse population of immigrants, most Americans supported this view 7:30-

  23. American Neutrality

  24. Was America really neutral? • Strong economic ties to Entente • Triple Entente owed $2.25 billion to US companies • British controlled flow of information • Cut Transatlantic cable in 1914 • Portrayed Germans as “Huns” I.E. Mindless barbarians 9:42-11:27

  25. Propaganda and Economic Impact

  26. What happened to the Lusitania? • British passenger ship • Secretly carried American arms to the allies • Passengers warned by German gov. before ship embarked • Sunk by German U-Boats (submarine) in 1915 • Outraged American public 0:53-3:48

  27. Describe the election of 1916. • Wilson campaigns & wins on anti-war platform • “He kept us out of war!” • In reality America had sided with the Allies (Entente) • $2.25 billion in loans • Attracted to post war investment • Wanted an American voice at peace settlement • Natural cultural connection to Britain

  28. What was the Zimmerman Note? • Zimmerman Note • German cable to Mexico promised pre-1848 territory if Mexico side with Germany • Discovered by British and released to American press • Further outraged American public

  29. Why did Wilson ask Congress to declare war? • Germany returned to Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Jan. 1917 • ‘To make the world safe for democracy’ • Believed the “American System” would save the world • Hoped to spread American Style democracy, capitalism • Believed WWI would be War to end all wars

  30. Conclusion • Is spreading democracy a valid reason for going to war? • Is protecting economic interests a valid reason?

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