Neutrality and Public Opinion

European Problems

Who to Believe?

Taking Sides American immigrants

German?

British?

Austria-Hungary?

Russian?

As many countries as immigrants

Irish-American hatred of England

Irish occupation by British troops

Beyond family ties

Emotional political ties because of same feelings about democracy with England and France

Rule of law

Distrust with the tyrannical government of Russia

Distrust of Prussian militarism

Bottom line:

America supported the allies from the outset

War without bullets

Allies want American intervention

Central powers wanting American neutrality

Passionate struggle for America’s opinion

Germany has serious problems

Britain and France control transatlantic cables

All news coming from Britain and France sources

German have only wireless

Britain and French reprinting German hate propaganda

Propaganda

Deeds speak louder than the propaganda

German DID invade neutral Belgium

German leadership contemptuous of the neutrality agreement

Submarines

England spoke the right language

Propaganda designed to arouse American sympathies

Blowing up German atrocities

Most reports of German atrocities were not founded in fact

Propaganda- War Posters FRANCE

LOC Summary: French soldier holding a tattered French flag as two women from Alsace-Lorraine look on.

LOC Summary:

Loaf of bread on a table. LOC Notes:

Translation of title: Our duty

is not to waste bread

Interior view

of a factory. LOC Notes:

Translation

of title: War

industries.

A French

soldier

climbing out of a trench.

LOC Notes:

Translation of title: The

4th National

Loan.

LOC Summary: A group of hungry Belgians holding food pails. LOC Notes: Translation of title: In Belgium the Belgians are hungry.

LOC Summary: Members of the

Red Cross distributing

packages to civilians in France.

LOC Notes: Translation of title:

American Red Cross.

LOC Summary: Two soldiers, one wounded, beneath French flags. LOC Notes: Translation of title: The national club for the soldiers of Paris

LOC Summary: Depicts a group

of Serbian civilians and

soldiers as they migrate to the

mountains. LOC Notes:

Translation of title: Serbia Day.

June 25, 1916.

LOC Summary: Kaiser pointing a dagger at a woman (Romania), while showing her the 'Traité de Paix' and stepping on a man (Russia).

LOC Summary: Personification

of Germany standing on

top of ledge over crouched

people. Two vultures are at

the bottom

LOC Summary: American soldiers climbing up a rock. Perched on top of rock is the Imperial eagle and the Iron Cross.

LOC Summary: Depiction of

Britain as a spider, German

eagle sitting overhead, Uncle

Sam and two others tied up in

web in background.

LOC Summary:

A large gold

coin with the Gallic cock on

it crushing a

German soldier.

Propaganda- War Posters GREAT BRITAIN

LOC Summary:

Facial view of Lord Kitchener

with his arm and

fingers pointing at the viewer.

LOC Notes:

Promotional

goal: Gt. Brit. J44. 1914

LOC

Summary:

Poster shows

a classical

figure, with arms raised,

holding a

sword.

LOC Summary: Recruiting poster for the Cold Stream Guards shows various uniforms worn by the Guards.

LOC Summary: Poster shows

Britannia holding the Union Jack,

standing on a bluff and pointing (toward

Europe?). Behind her, a

throng of shirt-sleeved men.

LOC Summary: Poster showing a Red Cross in a starburst over the ocean, with poem below.

LOC Summary: Poster showing

"Recruiting-Sergeant Punch"

gesturing and standing in front of a broadside, mostly indistinct

but reading, "Wanted. 500,000

men for the Army...

LOC Summary: Poster showing John Bull pointing and addressing the viewer, with burning buildings and a line of soldiers with gaps in the background. LOC Notes: Poster no.

LOC Summary: Poster showing a Red Cross nurse,

with angel wings, tending to a

wounded soldier, against backdrop

of Belgian flag. LOC Notes: Title from

item.

LOC Summary: Poster showing a woman using a plow pulled by a horse.

Date Created/Publish

ed: London : Parliamentary

Recruiting Committee,

1915. WW1 poster provided

by LOC.

Propaganda- War Posters UNITED STATES

LOC Summary: Poster shows Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the viewer in order to recruit soldiers for the American Army during World War I.

LOC Summary:

Poster shows Uncle Sam

playing a fife, leading a group of children carrying

gardening tools and a

seed bag

LOC Summary: A Wave, half-length, standing, facing front. LOC Notes: Promotional goal: U.S. J26.

LOC Summary: Poster showing

a parade of women workers

wearing uniforms

appropriate for specific jobs.

LOC Summary: Caricature of two devils, one of them being Kaiser Wilhelm II, looking at monthly report of murders. LOC Notes: Barron Collier patriotic series No. 2.

LOC Summary: U.S. Food Administration poster, asking for food conservation, illustrated with raw foods on table.

LOC Summary:

Head of Wilhelm II as spider. LOC

Notes: Promotional

goal: U.S.

LOC Summary:

German soldier

with bloody bayonet and

fingers. LOC

Notes:

Promotional goal: U.S. J8.

1918. Date

Created/Publis

hed: 1918

LOC Summary: Poster showing a bloodied fist holding a knife rising from the sea, in the background is an American ship.

LOC Summary: Soldier carrying stack of books.

LOC Notes: Promotional

goal: U.S. G6.J7. 191-.

LOC Summary: Woman,

wearing hat and dress with

stars and stripes, holding

out her arms. LOC Notes:

Promotional goal: U.S. J7.

1918?.

LOC Summary: World War I public service poster showing two bare-foot children with a wheelbarrow full of vegetables. LOC Notes: "Issued by the U.S.

LOC Summary: Two soldiers,

one using binoculars, in

foreground, and American

airplane above.

Propaganda- War Posters GERMANY

LOC Summary: Poster shows a man holding a sword with his other arm around his wife and baby. Text: War loans help the guardians of your happiness.

LOC Summary: Poster shows a

German soldier, holding a grenade in one hand and a rifle in the other; in

background a barbed wire fence

and flames.

LOC Summary: Poster shows a distraught mother and her five starving children around a table.

LOC Summary: Poster shows a

soldier(?) standing in front

of a woman and her

children; in bottom left

hand corner is a bloody hand

holding a bomb.

LOC Summary: Poster shows a medieval warrior about to slay a roaring lion.

LOC Summary: Text is a quote

written in Hindenburg's own hand. LOC Notes:

Title from item. Date

Created/Published: München : Dr.

C.

LOC Summary: Poster shows a Bolshevik leaning on a map of Europe and setting fire to Bavaria. Text: The Bolshevik is coming!

LOC Summary: Poster shows a German Army

officer holding a glass of sekt

(champagne) with the name Feist Sekt

on it.

LOC Summary:

Poster shows a

burning British

biplane plunging toward the

ground. LOC

Notes: Forms part

of: Rehse-Archiv

für Zeitgeschichte

und Publizistik.

LOC Summary: Poster shows four starving children at the feet of a large, monstrous looking soldier.

LOC Summary: Poster shows swarms

of British planes bombing a factory. Text: What England

wants!

Neutral Rights

Neutral Rights

The US people supported the Allies but …

They did not want to be involved with what most thought to be a European problem

US could have avoided the war if not for Neutrality Rights

US again (Napoleonic War) only major neutral power

World divided into two warring camps

International law states that belligerents must observe the rights of property owned by citizens of neutral states

Neutral Rights Only exception is when a neutral state carries contraband

Who determines what is contraband?

How do you know what is in a ship?

Normally arms and ammunition

What about food, textiles (uniforms), and naval stores

Neutrals have the right to trade freely

Interception is legal

All belligerents exercised some rights to blockade or stop ships

Safety?

Responsibility of the belligerents

Neutral Rights

Allied Violation of American Rights

Total disregard of US rights by the British and Germans

British extension of definition of what is contraband

Everything that could be used by enemy

Mines planted in the North Sea

Stopping vessels to Germany and rerouted to Britain

British accused many US firms trading with the enemies

Blacklist

Loss of English business

Allied Violation of American Rights

US had the power to retaliate

British and French order for many US goods

$800 million worth of US goods in 1914 alone to the allies

$170 million to the Central Powers

Loans to the Allies

National City Bank and Morgan Company

Loans to England

By 1917 $1 billion worth of trade

Wilson did not discourage the loan program

Though financially all was good: Not all good with political choice

Submarine Warfare

US TREATED BY ENGLAND WITH

DULL EDGE OF SWORD

GERMAN WITH SHARP EDGE

Unterseeboot U-Boat

– Armed with torpedoes

– Not very defensive

Easily sunk

– Used stealth to attack

– Never boarded

Attacked any shipping

– Couldn’t determine if ship was carrying contraband

– Attack on all shipping

Naval or merchant, enemy or neutral found in British waters

Endangered civilians

Unterseeboot (cont.) Bethman-Hollweg against German “shoot on sight”

February 1915 German government sponsored sink all sights

War zone determined to be all British Isles

Bethman-Hollweg believed that US would be angry

Berlin authorities were unmoved over American opposition

American State Department denounced German actions asking for “strict accountability”

Falaba

– British passenger vessel sunk in Mediterranean

– One US citizen killed

– WJ Bryan urged Pres Wilson to act by restricting all US citizens from the war zone

– Wilson refused

Lusitania

May 7,1915

British luxury liner

Sunk off the Irish coast

By German submarine

Loss of 1,198 lives

128 Americans

Before leaving New York, German authorities

warned Americans to avoid British shipping

Lusitania

Shocked US

American Press

“Barbarian”; “Criminal”; “Bestial”; “Uncivilized”; “Barbarous”

Talk of war with Germany

Public not yet ready for American involvement in the European bloodbath

American protests

May 13 Wilson dispatched notes to German government for German apology

Lusitania Pictures

May 7, 1915: A torpedo fired by the German submarine SMS U-20 streaks toward the Lusitania. No photographs exist of the sinking, only this series of portraits by Ken Marschall give us a look at the events of that tragic day.

What Next? German regret

But defended action as self defense

Renounced attacks on merchant and passenger vessels

Lusitania carried weapons and armament

Bryan resigned over a second note to Germany

Stating that unlimited submarine warfare was demanded to be restricted

Robert Lansing replaces Bryan

Strengthen Pro-Ally stance

Third note mentioned that US would severe diplomatic relations if another passenger vessel attacked

What Next? continued August 1915

Germany sinks the British passenger vessel Arabic

Two Americans killed

Bethmann-Hollweg and German admirals fight for the Kaiser’s ear

Unrestricted submarine warfare

Bethmann-Hollweg wins: Arabic Pledge

Limited attacks

Warnings of attacks

Allow for the safety of passengers and crews

What Next? continued Prevented a break in diplomatic relations with Germany

Not 100% compliance with US demands

No agreement on what is exempt neutral cargo

No apology for the Lusitania

Public mood now towards

Preparedness

Rearm America

Roosevelt calling Wilson “yellow” for not getting into the war

Quakers and peace advocates try to keep US out of War

US and Germany-strained relationship

Secret Service agent pick up briefcase

Owner Dr. Heinrich Albert

Covert German operation of terror in the US

Including the bombing of bridges

And other explosions and accidents to cause interruption of

US war plants

By 1915 most Americans now felt that it was inevitable

that we were going to be in the war

Preparedness Summer of 1915

Wilson calls for a new Navy

$500 million

New Army

400,000 men standing Army

House of Representatives try to start a peace initiative

Summer of 1916

Finally: Sussex

WAR!

SUSSEX PLEDGE

ELECTION OF 1916

ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM

Sussex Pledge

German Kaiser finally expressed regrets for the Lusitania

Offered indemnity

French ship Sussex

Once again the German U-Boat torpedoed an unarmed vessel

Americans injured

Wilson sent another note to Germany

Moderates still in control of Germany

The Sussex Pledge

Abandon shoot-on-site practices

Except war ships

Germans will honor International law

Election

of 1916 Wilson faced a single

opponent of significance

Former governor of New York, Hughes

Attractive candidate but had a difficult time holding together party because of the war

Zimmerman

Telegram

Declaration of War Joint Resolution Declaring that a state of war exists between the

Imperial German Government and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it Resolved ... That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

Approved, April 6, 1917