The United States Enters
The Great War
Many Americans wanted
to remain isolated from European conflicts War not in best interests
of America Panama Canal
completed in 1914 – one week before war breaks out in Europe
The war is in… Europe Atlantic a barrier of
protection from Eur. probs.
U.S. Neutrality
Woodrow Wilson – a neutral U.S. could arrange
a fair peace agreement in Europe (Washington & Jefferson Tradition) Campaigned for 1916 election on slogan: “He
kept us out of war” (wins, but a close election)
U.S. Neutrality
President Wilson’s
beliefs: U.S. will lead nations
toward peaceful world:free trade, capitalism, democracy, open diplomacy, fewer arms, no empires
U.S. “destiny” to save the world
U.S. Neutrality
Shock – why are “civilized” nations going to
war? Glad Atlantic offered “barrier” of protection (no
danger of being drawn in) Sympathetic – ethnic groups
1/3 of America = “hyphenated Americans” (recent immigrants still had ties to home)
“Old-Line” Americans supported Allied Power/Triple Entente (British Heritage) Government leadership definitely supported Allied
Powers
U.S. Reactions to War
Pre-War Policy
U.S. had right to trade with the warring nations Warring nations should respect U.S. neutrality
“Freedom of the Seas”
Threats to Neutrality
U.S. continued to trade w/ Europe
Wilson allowed banks (JP Morgan, etc.) to extend credit (loans) to Triple Entente to maintain trade *WWI transforms US from debtor to creditor
nation* U.S. traded more w/ Britain & France (so not
strictly neutral…) $2 bil in credit to Allied before armistice, only $27
mil to Germany
Threats to Neutrality
Between 1914-1917,
trade w/ Allied Powers quadrupled Trade w/ Allies
grows from $825 mil in 1914 to $3.2 bil in 1916
Trade w/ Central Powers goes from $70 mil in 1914 to $1.3 mil in 1916
Threats to Neutrality
Britain was blockading Ger. No supplies, no sunken ships
Britain violates U.S. neutrality by seizing U.S. cargo bound for Germany (takes property)
Germany tries to stop U.S. trade w/ Britain via submarines (takes lives)
Wilson demands Germany comply w/ international law
Threats to Neutrality
Jan 1917 – Germany attempts full sub war(wants to defeat Triple Entente before US entry)
Wilson breaks off U.S. diplomatic relations w/ Germany
1st weeks of March, German U-Boats sink 5 unarmed U.S. merchant ships
Threats to Neutrality
May 7, 1915 – Br. passenger ship Lusitania sinks
(128 Americans die) Aug 1915 – U-boats sink passenger ship Arabic
(2 Americans die) March 1916 – French merchant ship Sussex sunk,
several Americans injured Wilson threatens to break off diplomatic relations
Sussex Pledge – Germany promises not to attack merchant or passenger ships (w/o warning) Until 1917
Sidebar: Sunken Ships
The Zimmerman
Telegram March 1 1917:
Newspapers print telegram
German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman proposed Mexico ally w/ Germany against U.S. Would get German help
reclaiming TX, NM, & AZ
Threats to Neutrality
1917 – Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian Tsar Wilson believed revolution would end
monarchy, bring democracy to Russia w/o Tsar, easier for Wilson to support Allied
Powers “keeping the world safe for democracy”
Russian Revolution
April 2nd 1917 – Wilson calls special session of Congress
Speech: Condemned Germany’s
unrestricted sub warfare “warfare against mankind”
Declared “the world must be made safe for democracy”
April 6th 1917 – Congress votes for a declaration of war
U.S. Enters the War