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The United States Enters The Great War

The United States Enters The Great War. U.S. Neutrality. 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

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The United States Enters The Great War

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  1. The United States Enters The Great War

  2. U.S. Neutrality • 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.

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. U.S. Reactions to War • 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

  6. Threats to Neutrality • Pre-War Policy • U.S. had right to trade with the warring nations • Warring nations should respect U.S. neutrality • “Freedom of the Seas”

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Sidebar: Sunken Ships • 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

  12. Threats to Neutrality • 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

  13. Russian Revolution • 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”

  14. U.S. Enters the War • 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

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