America and the Great War

1. America and the Great War Chapter 23: Pages 604-625

2. Origins of Conflict • European powers were also acting in imperialistic ways • Became a rivalry • They also were competing for economic growth and military expansion

3. Alliances Form • Europe basically is divided between two sides • Germany forms an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire • Great Britain and France formed an alliance with Tsarist Russia

4. Archduke Franz Ferdinand • Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne

5. June 28, 1914 • Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated by a Serbian terrorist • This causes a chain reaction of events • Austria declares war on Serbia; Russia declares war on Austria

6. More Declarations • Germany declares war on Russia and France • Germany moved quickly and attacked France through Belgium, which was neutral • In response, Britain declares war on Germany

8. Allies vs. Central Powers • Allies Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia • Central Powers Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria • The war was a global conflict, fought not just in Europe, but also in Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia

9. American Attitudes • Most felt the U.S. had no interests or reasons to get involved • Adopted policy of Neutrality

10. Wilson’s Proclamation • “Americans are to be neutral in thought as well as in action” • Neither the American people or the President were able to remain completely neutral

11. American Ties • Ethnic, cultural, and economic ties bound most Americans to favor the British and French • Most Americans also felt more of a connection to the democratic Western Allies • Relationship with Britain was now strong, Germany was viewed as a rival

12. Wilson’s Leanings • Admired British culture and government • Did not trust Germany, feared a victory would threaten our economic, political, and strategic interests • “England is fighting our fight”

13. View of Germany • British writers and artists went out of their way to depict Germany as barbarians • Talked of them mutilating nuns and babies

15. The Economy of War • According to international law, neutral countries could sell war supplies to other nations • Americans were hoping this conflict would kick start the American economy

16. Quote • “War, for Europe, means devastation and death; for America a bumper crop of new millionaires” • British Navy prevented trade with the Central Powers so only the Allies could buy American goods

17. Effects on Neutrality • Strengthened USA’s ties with the Allies and made Germans angry • Allied countries also borrowed money from the USA, over 2 billion • All of these things linked us to the Allies and convinced Germany that American neutrality was only a formality

18. Fake Neutrality • We allowed Britain to break certain international neutrality laws, but would not do the same for Germany • Boston globe said, “the British are a gang of thieves, and the Germans are a gang of murderers. On the whole, we prefer the thieves, but only as the lesser of two evils.”

20. Declaration of London • clarified international law and specified the rights of neutral nations • Germany agreed to follow new laws • Britain tried to get around the rules

21. British Tricks • British set up a blockade of Germany and forced neutral ships into British ports to search their cargoes for material deemed useful to the German war effort • British ships were intentionally flying the flag of neutral countries in order to get past the Germans

22. WDWK? • What did Wilson (ole’ Woodrow) know? • He knew what was going on and chose to ignore it • Saw any advantage to the Allies as a positive for American interests

23. Germany’s Threat • In response to Britain's rule breaking and Wilson’s lack of response, the Germans authorized the sinking of neutral ships

24. Wilson’s Response • Wilson said he would hold Germany responsible for any loss of American lives or property

25. The Lusitania

26. May 1915 • German submarine sank the Lusitania • Killed 1198 people; 128 were Americans

27. Why did Germany sink it? • German embassy had warned Americans against travelling on the ship • Germany suspected that it had been carrying weapons for Britain • Was it?

28. Does U.S.A enter war now? • Wilson said he must “carry out the double wish of our people, to maintain a firm front in respect of what we demand of Germany and yet do nothing that might by any possibility involve us in the war”

29. Wilson’s Demands of Germany • Wilson demanded that Germany abandon its submarine campaign • William Jennings Bryan resigned because of this, he thought requiring more of Germany than Britain violated neutrality and threatened to draw the nation into war

30. Germany Keeps it Up • The Germans would sink another ship, The Sussex, and Wilson threatened to end diplomatic relations with Germany • Sussex Pledge Germany promised not to sink merchant ships without warning but only if the United States required Britain to adhere to international law

31. Preparedness • Program to expand the armed forces and establish universal military training

32. Preparedness • Many Americans opposed expensive military preparations because they were certain the United States would not get involved • Wilson opposed it initially but reversed his position when the German submarine crisis intensified

33. “Peace Without Victory” • Wilson’s ultimate plan • Strictly an American vision, neither the Allies or Central powers were interested • What did it call for?

34. Details of Plan • The new world order should be based on national equality and self-determination • arms reductions and freedom of the seas • and an international organization to ensure peace

35. Germany’s Plan to Win • Resumed submarine warfare • Germany thought it could end the war by cutting the Allies off from US supplies before the US could send an army to Europe • Wilson was now committed to a war that the people didn’t want

36. “Armed Neutrality” • Wilson ordered armed merchant ships and ordered naval gun crews to shoot submarines on sight • Called his policy “armed neutrality”

37. The Zimmermann Note

38. Zimmermann Note • Wilson released an intercepted message from the German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, to the German minister in Mexico

39. Wanted to Make a Deal • It proposed that in the event of war between the United States and Germany, Mexico should ally itself with Germany • In exchange, Mexico would recover its “lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.”

40. Note Was Intercepted • This produced a wave of hostility toward Germany and increased support for invention in the war

41. One other Event • Another separate even made entry to war more realistic • There was a revolution in Russia that overthrew the tsarist regime and established a provisional government. Russia was now a “fit partner” for the United States

42. April 2, 1917 • Wilson declared that neutrality was no longer possible given Germany’s submarine warfare against mankind

43. Declaration Passes • Senate passed the war resolution 82 to 6 and the House 373 to 50 and on April 6, 1917, the US officially entered the Great War

44. Organizations, Financing, and Oversight • See Handout

45. The War to End all Wars