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Chapter 36. Over There: The United States and the First World War 1914–1918. Wilson, the World, and Mexico. Wilson’s moral diplomacy Criticizes Roosevelt gunboat diplomacy Criticizes Taft’s dollar diplomacy Influenced by Christian pacifism Believes in negotiation, not war
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Chapter 36 Over There: The United States and the First World War 1914–1918
Wilson, the World, and Mexico • Wilson’s moral diplomacy • Criticizes Roosevelt gunboat diplomacy • Criticizes Taft’s dollar diplomacy • Influenced by Christian pacifism • Believes in negotiation, not war • Wilson: the missionary • Had Southern prejudices • Wanted to prescribe good behavior • Ordered Marines into Haiti
Wilson, the World, and Mexico (cont.’d) • Mexican civil war erupts • U.S. sent troops at Vera Cruz to avenge insulted American honor • Even U.S.-supported Carranza condemns U.S. • U.S. and Mexico barely avoid war • Pancho Villa attacks Americans • Raids into U.S. • Carranza offers to capture Villa • Wilson sends troops into Mexico instead • John J. Pershing • Villa outwits American military
The Great War • Towards war • Assassination of Franz Ferdinand • Arms race, nationalism, alliances escalate war • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey • Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia (later Italy) • American reaction • Respond with disbelief and disgust • Believe U.S. above such savagery • Wilson declares U.S. neutral • Most agree with neutral stance
The Great War(cont.’d) • Sympathy with the Allies • Many see Britain as motherland • U.S. business interest with Allies • France helped U.S. in revolution • Sympathy for the Central Powers • Many descendants of Germany, Austria • Many Irish hate Great Britain • Jews remember Russian cruelty
The Great War(cont.’d) • Stalemate • Germany’s Schlieffen Plan • Plan fails due to Belgian resistance • Germans stop Russia at Tannenberg • Stalemate at Western Front • New technology of killing • Airplane, mustard gas, tanks new weapons • Machine guns make biggest difference • Attack into machine fire leads to high casualties • Tanks introduced
The Great War(cont.’d) • War at Sea • Main purpose economic • Britain blockades Germany • Americans rely little on German trade • Germany gets new weapon: U-boat • British Isle waters become war zoned • Do not guarantee neutral ships’ safety • Submarines must strike without warning • American lives lost aboard Lusitania • 1,198 killed • Carried 4,200 cases of small arms • Germans did not stop unrestricted submarine warfare • Germans wanted to keep U.S. out of war • Germans sank Sussex, made Sussex Pledge
America Goes to War • War potentially inevitable • Wilson begins military buildup • Some Congressional critics hold back • Wilson settles for compromise • Election of 1916 • Wilson: “He kept us out of the war” • Republicans run Charles Evans Hughes • Roosevelt labels Republicans as pro-war • Wilson wins with narrow margin
America Goes to War(cont.’d) • Wilson attempts “peace without victory” • Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare • Germans: defeat Britain before U.S. mobilizes • U.S. Congress declares war • Economics part of reasoning
American Goes to War(cont.’d) • Hun and his Kultur • Americans perceive Germans as barbaric • “Rape of Belgium” creates evil image • British propaganda • German saboteurs create suspicion • Zimmerman telegram in 1917 • American contribution • Germans winning in early 1917 • Allies provide navy escort for merchant ships • Allies set up convoy for crossing Atlantic • Submarine warfare loses effectiveness
American Goes to War(cont.’d) • Over there • John Pershing keeps U.S. troops separate • Russia pulls out of war; hurts Allies • By Spring 1918 Allies winning • Chateau-Thierry • Germans surrender November 11, 1918 • Armistice • Americans celebrate • American sacrifice minor compared to other Allies
Discussion Questions • Examine Wilson’s dealings with Mexico. Why did the United states end up sending forces into Mexico? How was the situation finally resolved • What were the causes of the Great War? Was this war inevitable? • Was the United States truly a neutral power during the start of the Great War? What influence did our position have on the war? • What factors brought America into the Great War? Why did we join the side of the Allies? Did we ultimately save Europe, or make things worse?