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The United States Enters
The Great War
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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