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American Neutrality and American Neutrality and Entry into World War IEntry into World War I

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Early Statement of NeutralityEarly Statement of Neutrality The U.S. was determined to adopt a stance of The U.S. was determined to adopt a stance of

rigid neutrality at the start of the war, and rigid neutrality at the start of the war, and President Wilson announced the American President Wilson announced the American stance to this effect shortly after war broke stance to this effect shortly after war broke out, on 19 August 1914, reflecting U.S. out, on 19 August 1914, reflecting U.S. popular opinion. popular opinion.

During his address, he warned U.S. citizens During his address, he warned U.S. citizens against taking sides in the war for fear of against taking sides in the war for fear of endangering the wider U.S. policy. endangering the wider U.S. policy.

"The effect of the war upon the United States "The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say will depend upon what American citizens say and do.  Every man who really loves America and do.  Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned."fairness and friendliness to all concerned."

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America as a Mediator of PeaceAmerica as a Mediator of Peace Many American leaders felt that the proper role for the United States Many American leaders felt that the proper role for the United States

was a mediator of peace, though this avenue was exhausted shortly was a mediator of peace, though this avenue was exhausted shortly after the war began. after the war began.

The excerpt references a discussion between Colonel Edward The excerpt references a discussion between Colonel Edward House, who was one of President Wilson’s closest confidants, and a House, who was one of President Wilson’s closest confidants, and a British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey. British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey.

The tone is obviously one of optimism on the side of the Americans, The tone is obviously one of optimism on the side of the Americans, and reluctance from the Allied camp. and reluctance from the Allied camp.

"My suggestion is to ask the Allies unofficially, to let me know "My suggestion is to ask the Allies unofficially, to let me know whether or not it would be agreeable to them to have us demand whether or not it would be agreeable to them to have us demand that hostilities cease. We would put it upon the high ground that the that hostilities cease. We would put it upon the high ground that the neutral world was suffering along with the belligerents and that we neutral world was suffering along with the belligerents and that we had rights as well as theyhad rights as well as they" "

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Increasing American Involvement Increasing American Involvement with the Belligerentswith the Belligerents

Despite official neutrality, a huge leap in loans and Despite official neutrality, a huge leap in loans and exports to the Allies led to a vested interest in an Allied exports to the Allies led to a vested interest in an Allied victory. victory.

Exports to Germany and its allies rapidly diminished in Exports to Germany and its allies rapidly diminished in parallel to a significant rise in shipping to Britain and parallel to a significant rise in shipping to Britain and France. France.

Such disparities in trade between the belligerents led to Such disparities in trade between the belligerents led to increasing conflict both domestically and internationally increasing conflict both domestically and internationally as many leaders at home and abroad bristled at the U.S. as many leaders at home and abroad bristled at the U.S. seemingly favoring the Allies. seemingly favoring the Allies.

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The excerpt is of a letter from then The excerpt is of a letter from then Secretary of State Bryan to the Secretary of State Bryan to the president revealing Bryan's president revealing Bryan's reluctance to project even a reluctance to project even a semblance of taking sides in the semblance of taking sides in the mainly European conflict by mainly European conflict by allowing belligerents to borrow allowing belligerents to borrow American money and a response American money and a response to Bryan's position by his to Bryan's position by his successor, Robert Lansing.successor, Robert Lansing.

"Popular sympathy has become "Popular sympathy has become crystallized in favor of one or crystallized in favor of one or another of the belligerents to such another of the belligerents to such an extent that the purchase of an extent that the purchase of bonds would in no way increase bonds would in no way increase the bitterness of partisanship or the bitterness of partisanship or cause a possibly serious situation."cause a possibly serious situation."

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Conflict with Britain on Conflict with Britain on Disruption of American TradeDisruption of American Trade

Although German submarine warfare exacted a heavy toll on Although German submarine warfare exacted a heavy toll on American trade, the British were also responsible for American trade, the British were also responsible for negatively impacting the ability of American goods to enter negatively impacting the ability of American goods to enter neutral ports. neutral ports.

The excerpt below is from a letter from a British diplomat The excerpt below is from a letter from a British diplomat explaining the practice of prohibiting the U.S. from trading explaining the practice of prohibiting the U.S. from trading certain items with fellow neutrals. certain items with fellow neutrals.

"We think that much misconception exists as to the extent to which "We think that much misconception exists as to the extent to which we have, in practice, interfered with trade..... the products of the we have, in practice, interfered with trade..... the products of the great industries of the United States have been denied long-great industries of the United States have been denied long-established markets in European countries which, though neutral, established markets in European countries which, though neutral, are contiguous to the seat of war. Such a result is far from being the are contiguous to the seat of war. Such a result is far from being the intention of His Majesty's Government, and they would exceedingly intention of His Majesty's Government, and they would exceedingly regret that it should be due to their action." regret that it should be due to their action."

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American Conflict with GermanyAmerican Conflict with Germany

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American Response to American Response to Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

On 4 February, the German Admiralty issued a formal declaration, On 4 February, the German Admiralty issued a formal declaration, which warned neutral shipping to stay away from the waters which warned neutral shipping to stay away from the waters surrounding Britain and Ireland from 18 February 1915 onwards. surrounding Britain and Ireland from 18 February 1915 onwards.

Six days later U.S. President Woodrow Wilson - at that time Six days later U.S. President Woodrow Wilson - at that time maintaining a neutral stance - issued a thinly veiled warning to the maintaining a neutral stance - issued a thinly veiled warning to the German government. German government.

This excerpt is his 'Strict Accountability' message, which made it clear This excerpt is his 'Strict Accountability' message, which made it clear that the U.S. government would not tolerate any strategy by the that the U.S. government would not tolerate any strategy by the German navy to sink neutral U.S. shipping at any time. German navy to sink neutral U.S. shipping at any time.

"If such a deplorable situation should arise, the Imperial German "If such a deplorable situation should arise, the Imperial German Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the United States would....take any steps it might be necessary to take to United States would....take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American lives and property and to secure to American safeguard American lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high citizens the full enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas"seas"

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American Response to the American Response to the Sinking of the LusitaniaSinking of the Lusitania

The German sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, with its The German sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, with its consequent loss of American life provoked great public and diplomatic consequent loss of American life provoked great public and diplomatic anger within the U.S. anger within the U.S.

Already concerned at Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine Already concerned at Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, many in the U.S. believed the sinking of the Lusitania to be a warfare, many in the U.S. believed the sinking of the Lusitania to be a calculated provocation of the U.S. on Germany's part. calculated provocation of the U.S. on Germany's part.

Below is the official American response to the tragedy issued by Below is the official American response to the tragedy issued by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.

"The government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention "The government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of the Imperial German government, with the utmost earnestness, to the fact of the Imperial German government, with the utmost earnestness, to the fact that the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their that the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the enemies lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity which all modern opinion regards as imperative."justice, and humanity which all modern opinion regards as imperative."

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Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram The Zimmerman Telegram helped to solidly move public The Zimmerman Telegram helped to solidly move public

opinion away from any possible reconciliation with opinion away from any possible reconciliation with Germany. Germany.

"On the first of February we intend to begin submarine "On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.

If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement...." settlement...."

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Declaration of WarDeclaration of War A resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 convinced A resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 convinced

American leaders that war with Germany was the only option. American leaders that war with Germany was the only option. Other factors, such as suspicions of German involvement with Other factors, such as suspicions of German involvement with

Mexico (via the Zimmermann Telegram), solidified popular opinion Mexico (via the Zimmermann Telegram), solidified popular opinion against Germany. against Germany.

This excerpt is from Wilson's war message to Congress. This excerpt is from Wilson's war message to Congress. "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because

there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making. . . .permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making. . . .

The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind."warfare against mankind."