America Responds!Unit 10: World War I (1914 – 1918)

President Wilson Urges Neutrality

Aug. 1914 – “Remain neutral in thought as well as in action.”

Americans were shocked by European events & violence.

1/3 of 92 million Am. Were 1st & 2nd generation immigrants.

¼ & 1/8 were from Ger & Ire Most supported the Allies b/c

of Great Britain & their propaganda campaign vs. Germany & Central Powers were monarchies.

The Myth of American Neutrality 1897-1914 US trade

with Allies increased 5 X from $750 million to $3.5 billion!

German U-Boats were putting these investments at risk.

A Preparedness Movement gained support as the Germans stepped up attacks to enforce the blockade.

The Sinking of the Lusitania

May 7, 1915 – It was torpedoed in the Irish Sea killing 1200 (128 Americans)

Americans were outraged at German “barbarism.” Germany promised no more attacks without warning.

March 24, 1916 – the Sussex was hit and U.S. threatened to cut ties with Germany.

Sussex Pledge – Germany promised to halt the attacks without warning. It would be short-lived.

The Election of 1916

President Wilson is re-elected over Republican Charles Evans Hughes by a vote of 49.4% t0 46.2% on the slogan “he kept us out of war.”

Hughes was painted as a pro-war candidate, but ironically Wilson would lead us into war.

American banks were already loaning huge sums to the Allies because of the submarines.

The Zimmermann Note

Jan. 1917 – Germany issues declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare

Telegram intercepted by British & forwarded to U.S. in Jan. 1917 – It was proposed that Germany promise Mexico land lost in 1848 to attack the Southern U.S.

Feb. 3, 1917 – Wilson breaks diplomatic ties with Germany & instructs Congress to arm merchant ships.

The Effect of the Russian Revolution

March 1917 – Germany sinks three more ships: the Illinois, Memphis, and Vigilancia.

Bolsheviks in Russia, or communists, led by V.I. Lenin overthrow the Czar and a republican government is temporarily set up. Russia would soon be embroiled by civil war and drop out of the war against Germany and Austria.

Americans no longer had to be concerned about going to war to preserve a monarch.

April 6, 1917 – Congress declares war (82-6 in the Senate and 373-50 in the House).

Analyzing WW I Documents

1. Doc. 2 – Belgian Neutrality

2. How was Germany shown?

3. Doc. 3 - Artist’s view of Alliances?

4. Doc. 4 – Lusitania Ad?

5. Doc. 6 - Zimmerman Note – What was Germany promised?

6. Doc. 6 – Did Germany really want war w/ U.S.?

7. Doc. 7 – When? Purpose?

8. Doc. 8 – When? Purpose?

9. Doc. 8 – Wilson’s purpose?

10. List events that led U.S. to war.

America Gives the Allies an Edge European leaders didn’t know

what to expect from the “Yanks.” Could we get an army ready & in Europe in time? Would we fight?

How would we even get our army safely “Over There?”

Selective Service Act of 1917 - 24 million registered for the draft & 3 million were selected by a lottery.

11,000 women & 300,000 African Americans also served.

Convoys Protect Allied Shipping Unrestricted Sub. Warfare

was taking its toll as ships were being sunk faster than they were built.

U.S. Admiral William Simms devised the convoy system – merchant ships surrounded by war ships with trawlers, destroyers, & cruisers.

Between April and December 1917, losses were cut in half.

The A.E.F. Turns the Tide

American Expeditionary Force – General John J. Pershing arrived in France in June 1917, but large numbers of “doughboys” didn’t arrive in until beginning of 1918.

After Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1917, Russia surrendered and Germany turned all might toward Western Front & launched an all out offensive.

By end of March 1918, U.S. soldiers had helped turn the tide with counter offensives.

“Lafayette, we are here!”

Ending the War!

With each passing week AEF became more involved. At battles like the 2nd Marne, Cantigny, Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, & St. Mihiel we helped to wear the Germans down at high cost.

At Chateau-Thierry in Sept. 1918, ½ of doughboys who fought were casualties of war.

Final offensive – the Meuse-Argonne Campaign (Sept. – Oct. 1918) saw 1 million Americans participate in the last offensive of the war & convince Germany it could not win.

Armistice Day – November 11, 1918

Germany surrenders in a railroad car at Compiegne, France.

5 Million Allied troops & 8 Million Central Power troops dead! 10% of American troops were killed.

Maybe as many as 10 million civilians also died.

The Great War was the most destructive war in human history up to that time.

Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to Holland. President Wilson begins to

politic for “Peace without victory.”