![Page 1: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
![Page 2: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
America’s Entry into WWI
![Page 4: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
![Page 5: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
I. Entry into the War
• American Neutrality– Official proclamation at outset of war– Diverse Causes
• Tradition of Isolationism• Ethnic Groups• Economic Ties
![Page 6: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
![Page 7: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
I. Entry into the War
• Economic Ties– Wilson wanted to maintain trade with Allies
and Central Power– British blockade effectively stopped trade with
Germany– As such, trade with Allies became far greater– The US did lend to both Allies and Germans,
however.
![Page 8: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
I. Entry into the War
• Disintegrating Neutrality– 1915-16: Unrestricted German submarine
warfare– Lusitania (1915)– 1916: Sussex Pledge– By 1917, unrestricted submarine warfare
resumed– Zimmerman Note
![Page 9: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
I. Entry into the War
• War– April of 1917, US official declares war on
Germany– Roosevelt heartbroken
![Page 13: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis
• Thesis: Wilson allowed/brought the US into the war for the sake of maintaining corporate and colonial interests.
![Page 14: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis
• Wilson’s Foreign Policy:– Strongly interventionist in Latin America
• Mexico (1914)• Haiti (1915)• D.R. (1916)• Mexico (1916)• Cuba (1917)• Panama (1918)• Nicaragua (1912 and onwards)
![Page 15: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis
• Hence, some historians have claimed that Wilson had been serving corporate interests well before the US entry into the War.
![Page 18: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis
• The failure to treat the belligerent nations of Europe alike, the failure to reject the unlawful "war zones" of both Germany and Great Britain is wholly accountable for our present dilemma.
• —Senator Robert M. LaFollette Opposition to Wilson's War Message, April 4, 1917
![Page 19: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis
• By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry $27 million.
• -- The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
![Page 20: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
![Page 21: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
![Page 22: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Wilson was drawn into the war by forces beyond his control
• Specifically…– British blockade FORCED Wilson to act to
protect trade– Nature of unrestricted submarine warfare also
forced Wilson into action– Progressive Philosophy
![Page 23: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Economy-– Gov relied on 40% of its revenue from the
tariff; faced 60-100 million dollar deficit if current trade levels were not maintained
– The South, in particular, needed foreign markets for bumper crop
![Page 24: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Economy-– As such, Wilson authorized loans to Allies in
an effort to protect the US economy, not to harm Germany.
![Page 25: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Submarine Warfare– Violated traditional rules of neutrality– Freedom of the seas was a major concern of
Wilson’s even before the war
![Page 26: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Submarine Warfare– As such, Wilson responded in what he
thought was a logical manner– Submarine warfare compounded by
Zimmerman Note
![Page 27: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Progressive Philosophy– “Making the World Safe for Democracy”
emerged from • submarine warfare • progressive philosophy
– Writ large
![Page 28: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
III. Reluctant Leader Thesis
• Thus, Wilson was drawn into the conflict by forces beyond his control.
![Page 29: America’s Entry into WWI I. Entry into the War American Neutrality –Official proclamation at outset of war –Diverse Causes Tradition of Isolationism](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062804/56649cfd5503460f949cd5f8/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
IV. Evaluation?
• Which thesis seems more valid?