BELLWORKBELLWORK1.1. Describe Wilson’s policy of Moral Describe Wilson’s policy of Moral

Diplomacy.Diplomacy.2.2. How was Moral Diplomacy different from How was Moral Diplomacy different from

the policies of the other Progressive the policies of the other Progressive presidents, Roosevelt & Taft? presidents, Roosevelt & Taft?

3.3. Evaluate the strengths & weaknesses of Evaluate the strengths & weaknesses of Moral Diplomacy. Do you think this policy Moral Diplomacy. Do you think this policy was effective?was effective?

4.4. THINKER: Do you think it’s possible for a THINKER: Do you think it’s possible for a superpower like the U.S. to be neutral superpower like the U.S. to be neutral during WWI? Are there any situations during WWI? Are there any situations (modern or past) in which you feel the (modern or past) in which you feel the U.S. should remain neutral?U.S. should remain neutral?

U.S. Involvement in WWIU.S. Involvement in WWI

From neutrality to WAR!From neutrality to WAR!

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson Nickname: “The School Nickname: “The School

Master” because he Master” because he was the most educated was the most educated President.President.

Despite his cold Despite his cold exterior, Wilson wrote exterior, Wilson wrote 1,000’s of sexy love 1,000’s of sexy love letters to his wife, and letters to his wife, and frequently visited a frequently visited a woman in Bermudawoman in Bermuda

In 1919 Wilson In 1919 Wilson suffered a stroke, his suffered a stroke, his wife Edith was the wife Edith was the gatekeeper during his gatekeeper during his recovery (first female recovery (first female president?)president?)

President President Wilson on U.S. Wilson on U.S. neutrality:neutrality:

““We must be We must be impartial in impartial in thought, as thought, as well as, well as, action!”action!”

U.S. NEUTRALITYU.S. NEUTRALITY In August 1914, Wilson In August 1914, Wilson

officially declared the officially declared the U.S. “neutral.”U.S. “neutral.”

Although “neutral,” the Although “neutral,” the U.S. was secretly giving U.S. was secretly giving food and supplies to the food and supplies to the Allies and loaned them Allies and loaned them $2.25 billion. $2.25 billion.

Wilson was reelected in Wilson was reelected in 1916 with the slogan, 1916 with the slogan, “HE KEPT US OUT OF “HE KEPT US OUT OF WAR!” WAR!”

View of American citizensView of American citizens

Allied war Allied war purchases fed an purchases fed an economic boom economic boom in the U.S.in the U.S. America trade America trade

with allies rose with allies rose from $825 million from $825 million in 1914 to $3.2 in 1914 to $3.2 billion in 1916. billion in 1916.

1914 trade w/Britain 1914 trade w/Britain $743 million$743 million1914 trade w/Germany 1914 trade w/Germany $345 million$345 million

1916 trade w/Britain 1916 trade w/Britain $3 billion$3 billion1916 trade w/Germany 1916 trade w/Germany $29 million$29 million

Loans to Britain Loans to Britain $2.3 Billion$2.3 BillionLoans to Germany Loans to Germany $27 million$27 million

German U-BoatsGerman U-Boats German U-Boats, or German U-Boats, or

submarines, were used to submarines, were used to attack enemy ships.attack enemy ships.

Submarine WarfareSubmarine Warfare Germany warned:Germany warned:

All seas around Britain All seas around Britain and Ireland to be a war and Ireland to be a war zonezone

All enemy ships in the All enemy ships in the zone were targets to be zone were targets to be sunksunk

Neutral ships might be Neutral ships might be attacked by mistakeattacked by mistake

American passengers American passengers should stay off all Allied should stay off all Allied shipsships

"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“

To summarize To summarize Germany Germany WILL be held WILL be held responsible for responsible for loss of American loss of American ships or ships or American American lives!!!! lives!!!!

Britain was not innocent Britain was not innocent either…either… By November 1914, Great Britain was the strongest By November 1914, Great Britain was the strongest

naval power in the world, so they used their power to:naval power in the world, so they used their power to: Mine the North SeaMine the North Sea Blockade goods to GermanyBlockade goods to Germany Seized shipments of non-military supplies from the U.S. that Seized shipments of non-military supplies from the U.S. that

were bound for neutral portswere bound for neutral ports Increased their list of contraband, or prohibited suppliesIncreased their list of contraband, or prohibited supplies Broke international law by searching neutral merchant shipsBroke international law by searching neutral merchant ships

Why do you think the U.S. would punish Germany for Why do you think the U.S. would punish Germany for breaking international law, but not Britain?breaking international law, but not Britain?

Pro-British sympathy among influential government Pro-British sympathy among influential government officials:officials: Secretary of State Robert LansingSecretary of State Robert Lansing Wilson’s personal advisor, Edward M. HouseWilson’s personal advisor, Edward M. House U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines PageU.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page

The British blockade affected property but not lives. The British blockade affected property but not lives. The German blockade threatened both. The German blockade threatened both.

LusitaniaLusitaniaMay 7, 1915 – German submarine May 7, 1915 – German submarine

attacked the attacked the LusitaniaLusitania, a British , a British passenger ship.passenger ship.

The Germans believed the ship The Germans believed the ship was secretly carrying weapons to was secretly carrying weapons to Britain.Britain.

Killed 1,000 people, including 128 Killed 1,000 people, including 128 Americans.Americans.

Wilson struggles to maintain Wilson struggles to maintain neutrality.neutrality.

Change in German War Change in German War StrategyStrategy On Christmas Day 1915, Falkenhayn (German Chief of

Staff) wrote a letter to Kaiser Wilhelm (leader of Germany) to redirect the war strategy.

Falkenhayn argued that the key to winning the war lay not on the Eastern Front, against Russia – whom he believed was on the point of revolution and subsequent withdrawal from the war – but on the Western Front. 

He reasoned that if France could be defeated in a major battle Britain would in all likelihood seek terms with Germany, or else be defeated in turn.

He believed that Britain formed the foundation of the Allied effort ranged against Germany and that she must be removed from the war. 

To that end he recommended implementation of a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against merchant shipping, a policy directed squarely at starving Britain. 

Closer to WarCloser to WarAllies suffer major losses and beg the U.S. Allies suffer major losses and beg the U.S.

for help.for help.Germany announces an unrestricted Germany announces an unrestricted

submarine campaign submarine campaign Germans sink U.S. supply ships Germans sink U.S. supply ships City of City of

Memphis, Illinois, Memphis, Illinois, and and Vigilante.Vigilante.1916 – Congress expands Army, National 1916 – Congress expands Army, National

Guard, and Navy. (Guard, and Navy. (mobilization)mobilization)Wilson issues an ultimatum to Germany: Wilson issues an ultimatum to Germany:

unless they abandon unrestricted unless they abandon unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships, the submarine warfare against all ships, the U.S. would break off diplomatic U.S. would break off diplomatic relations……. Germany promised to relations……. Germany promised to complycomply

Zimmerman NoteZimmerman NoteIn January 1917, Arthur Zimmerman, In January 1917, Arthur Zimmerman,

a German official, proposed a deal a German official, proposed a deal with Mexico.with Mexico.

Mexico should ally itself with Mexico should ally itself with Germany to attack the U.S.Germany to attack the U.S.

In return, Mexico would receive land In return, Mexico would receive land lost to the U.S. in 1848.lost to the U.S. in 1848.

A British official intercepted A British official intercepted Zimmerman’s telegram and spread Zimmerman’s telegram and spread the news to the U.S. the news to the U.S.

Presidential Address to the Presidential Address to the SenateSenate

Even after the Zimmerman Telegram Wilson Even after the Zimmerman Telegram Wilson was still reluctant to declare war. was still reluctant to declare war.

In an effort to justify neutrality he held a In an effort to justify neutrality he held a meeting with the Senate on January 22, 1917.meeting with the Senate on January 22, 1917.

At this meeting he gave one of his most famous At this meeting he gave one of his most famous addresses in which he supports Moral addresses in which he supports Moral Diplomacy and an attempted compromise with Diplomacy and an attempted compromise with all nations at war. all nations at war.

For the rest of class (potentially homework) you For the rest of class (potentially homework) you are going to read Wilson’s Address to the are going to read Wilson’s Address to the Senate and analyze:Senate and analyze: OPVLOPVL Summary of his important points (link to Moral Summary of his important points (link to Moral

Diplomacy and U.S. neutrality)Diplomacy and U.S. neutrality) Your personal response (is compromise possible? Do Your personal response (is compromise possible? Do

you agree with Wilson’s decisions?)you agree with Wilson’s decisions?)