Choosing Sides

1. Choosing Sides The U.S. Enters the War

2. WWI • After 1 year, over 1 000 000 men were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner • 500 miles of trenches had been dug from English Channel to Switzerland – no closer to an end • Germany fighting Russia • Japan had captured German Islands in the Pacific Ocean • Britain attacked Turkey and Germany’s land in Africa

3. Remaining Neutral • As soon as the fighting erupted in Europe, President Woodrow Wilson declared that the US would remain neutral (wouldn’t enter the fighting and would remain “friends” with both sides). • Why?

4. Remaining Neutral • Of 100 million people in the US, over half traced their roots back to Great Britain • They supported France because of the Revolutionary War • Almost 12 million Americans supported the Central forces because of family immigration from Germany, A-H, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

5. Help for the Economy • The US refused to fight, but would help both sides • Why? • Before the war, Americans were out of work. Food, weapons and war supplies were needed in Europe • America began to supply these goods; billions of dollars was spent on weapons, food, vehicles, and clothing for soldiers fighting on both sides.

6. German U-Boats • At the start of the war, Britain used warships to block supplies from reaching Germany (merchant ships from the US were stopped and searched and if they were there to deliver to Germany, they were sent away) • Germany responded by building U-boats, which traveled underwater. These sunk more than 11 million tons of Allied supplies and killed thousands of sailors • Germans said they would try to avoid sinking neutral ships, but warned America against helping the Allies

7. The Lusitania • In May, 1915, a U-boat sank an American oil tanker • Germany apologized and offered to pay for it • Six days later, a U-boat torpedoed a British passenger ship, the Lusitania • 1000+ people died, including 128 Americans • In August, a British ship was torpedoed; 2 more Americans died

8. “The more, the better” A German woman was told of the sinking and laughed. A person told her that children were on that ship. Her reply was, “The more Americans on the bottom of the ocean the better.”

9. The Sussex • Americans were outraged and many demanded that Wilson declare war on Germany • Germany apologized and promised not to sink ships with passengers • In March, 1916, a U-boat sunk the Sussex, a British ship • 80 civilians died

10. Black Tom Island • On June 30, 1916, more than 2 million pounds of ammo and explosives were destroyed in the New York harbor, tearing holes in the Statue of Liberty • Black Tom Island (a huge loading dock) was destroyed • It took several years to figure out that Germany was behind this attack • Germany was warned again, but Germans were starving. • January 1917: U-boats would sink all merchant ships delivering supplies to the Allies, including those from the US.

11. The Zimmerman Telegram • March 1, 1917 • German minister, Zimmerman, sent a telegram to the president of Mexico: if the US declared war on Germany, Zimmerman wanted Mexico to join forces with Germany. In return for Mexico’s help, he promised to return the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Mexico (lands that were lost during the Mexican War) • Later in March, Germans sunk 4 American ships, killing 36 Americans • President Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany • On April 6, 1917, America entered war on the side of the Allied Powers

12. Your Opinion Counts • Activity/Handout

13. America Declares War • April 6, 1917: America enters WWI • The US was unprepared: their Navy was strong, but their Army only had about 100 000 soldiers • Enough artillery to last 2 days • During training camps, soldiers practiced with brooms because there weren’t enough rifles • The US sent most of their resources to the Allied forces and didn’t have enough for themselves

14. The Selective Service Act • War was declared  thousands of men joined • Women volunteered as nurses • Women replaced men in offices, factories and farms • May, 1917: Selective Service Act was passed • Wilson could increase military’s size through a draft • Every man aged 21-30 was required to register and each was given a number; lottery was held and over one million men were chosen for war (after 6 month training camp) • Before long, the draft was extended to include men aged 18-45.

15. Sims’ Convoy System • William Sims, Canadian, Vice Admiral of US Navy during WWI • Suggested a convoy system to protect merchant ships and safely bring American soldiers to warfront • Ships travel in groups, scare factor, large-scale attacks • Worked! Convoys cleared a path for new soldiers

16. Pershing and Battle • General Pershing was in charge of the US Army • He saw the trenches and didn’t want his men being replacements for dead soldiers, nor did he want his men living in the awful trench conditions • He wanted to force the Germans out of the trenches and fight in No Man’s Land • Oct. 23, 1917: Americans fired machine guns into crowded German trenches, Germans returned fire, and crossed No Man’s Land (expecting Americans to run for safety). Pershing’s men stood firm and within minutes, Germans retreated, taking 11 American prisoners with them.