The United States and World War I

1. The United States andWorld War I 1914-1919

2. The United States and World War IOverview • World War I began in Europe in 1914 and lasted until 1918. The United States did not enter the war until 1917. • The financial and human costs of the “Great War” were devastating

3. Causes of World War I

4. OBJECTIVE Why did the United States enter World War I?

5. United States Entry into World War I • War broke out in Europe in July 1914, after the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated. Because of the system of secret alliances, Europe soon plunged into a long and bloody conflict. • At the start of the war, the United States maintained its traditional policy of neutrality regarding European affairs. • By 1917, however, the United States was drawn into the war.

6. Reasons for American entry into World War I Cultural and Ethnic Links Economic Ties • Few Americans, in fact, were truly neutral • Some sympathized with the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary). These included Americans of German ancestry, as well as Irish-Americans because of strong anti-British sentiment • The majority of Americans, however, favor the Allied Powers. Americans had long-standing cultural ties with Great Britain. Many also felt loyalty to our first ally, France. • A British blockade of the North Sea effectively ended American exports to Germany, which decreased in value from $345 million in 1914 to $29 million in 1916 • Meanwhile, trade with the Allied Powers increased dramatically. American manufacturers and farmers benefitted greatly from this trade, much of it financed by United States government loans to the Allies, which by 1917 totaled more than $2 billion dollars.

7. Reasons for American entry into World War I Propaganda German Submarine Warfare • Aided by their control of the transatlantic cable, the Allies conducted an effective propaganda campaign. They pictured the war as one of civilized, democratic nations against the barbaric monarchy of Germany • In 1915, Germany adopted a wartime strategy to stop the trade between the United States and the Allied powers and break the British blockade. • Germany announced that German submarines, or U-Boats, would sink enemy ships in the “zone of war” around Great Britain • Because a submarine is vulnerable when surfaced, Germany ignored international law that required a warship to stop and identify itself, then board a merchant or passenger ship and remove its crew and passengers before sinking it.

8. German Submarine Warfare To avoid attack by error, Germany warned neutral nations and their citizens to avoid the “zone of war.”

10. Freedom of the Seas • Germany’s attempt to destroy the British blockade by attacking Allied ships was the single most important reason for America’s entry into World War I • President Woodrow Wilson insisted that Germany’s submarine warfare violated the principle of freedom of the seas and that America as a neutral nation had the right to trade with nations at war and send our ships and civilians on ships into war zones United States defense of the principle of Freedom of the Seas was a key factor in the • Quasi Naval War against France (1798) • Barbary Wars (1801-1805) • War of 1812 • World War I

11. Events of 1917 Lead to War

12. The Zimmerman Note Berlin, January 19, 1917 On the first of February we intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare. In spite of this, it is our intention to keep the United States of America neutral. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together [against the United States] and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left for your settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United States. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that submarine warfare now promises to force England to make peace in a few months. -Zimmerman (German Foreign Secretary)

13. Woodrow Wilson- speech to U.S. Senate on January 22,1917. "Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of the people. We have seen the last of neutrality in these circumstances…the world must be made safe for democracy: its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation of liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them."