Was America Destined to Become Involved in
World War I?
The World in 1914
• Pax Britannica
• International agreements on postage, telegraph copyrights, international time zones, international trade, BUT...
• Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, secret alliances all led to Sarajevo
Who Fought?Triple Entente Central Powers
RussiaFrance
Great BritainBecame known as the Allies
GermanyAustria - Hungry
LaterUnited States
JapanItaly
LaterBulgariaTurkey
Von Schlieffen Plan• Alfred von Schlieffen -
1905 - Devised a plan for war in Europe
• Two Front War
• Attack through other countries
• Designed to easily defeat France while holding Russia off
Europe’s Introduction to War
U. S. Reaction
• Neutrality declared and maintained but...
• Romantics joined the French Foreign Legion or the Lafayette Escadrille
• Americans viewed the war a romantic struggle for honor and glory
• Visions of the “splendid little war” still danced in their heads
America Reacts to the War
Life as a Neutral
• German Americans trusted the Kaiser
• Irish Americans favored anyone who was against the British
• Most Americans eventually side with the Allies
Neutrality Difficulties
• Economy was the driving force behind neutrality initially
✴became more difficult as time went on
✴sympathies lay with the British
✴trade no longer possible with the Central Powers
• British Blockade of Central Powers especially Germany
• German answer - Unterseeboot - U Boat
Submarine Warfare• Germany countered with a blockade of England
• May 1915 - Lusitania Sunk - 128 Americans killed - outraged Americans - was found to be carrying munitions to Britain
• August 1915 - The Arabic sunk - 3 Americans killed - Arabic Pledge
• Stop attacking unarmed passenger ships without warning
• Provide for safety of crew and passengers for ships sunk
• more worried about US response than humanitarian
• March 1916 - Sussex sunk - French ferry ship - 50 killed - Led to Sussex Pledge
✴ End sinking of passenger ships
✴ Search merchant ships for contraband, provide for crew before sinking ship
• Generally honored until February 1917 with Germany resuming unrestricted warfare on the high seas
Lusitania Sinking
Sources to Read
• Read Newton T. Baker “The Treatment of German Americans” 1918 - Think about the treatment and times, then apply that thinking to today.
• Read William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State from 1912 - 1915, Defends Neutrality - Think about what were the main issues he is arguing here.
• Read U Boat Commander memoir - Adolf K.G.E. von Spiegel, U 202 (1919) - Think about the questions being asked at the end of the reading.
Election of 1916
• Wilson needs help
• Appointed Brandeis to Supreme Court
• Signed Keatings-Owen Child Labor Bill
• Signed Workers compensation Bill
• Attacked on his foreign policy and US ROle in Mexico - make sure you read this part in the book
• Wilson Won - mainly by promising to keep America out of the war
Tried to Keep US out of War
• Peace without Victory Speech - January 1917
✴No militarism or secret alliances
✴Freedom of the seas
✴No one nation dominant in world affairs
✴Peace without victory
✴Limitation on land and naval armaments
War
• Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare January 1917
• Zimmerman Telegram March 1917
• Wilson asked for war declaration on April 6, 1917
• U. S. officially involved in WW I
Read
• Wilson’s War Message
• The Zimmerman Telegram
• Wilson’s request for war to congress
Was America Destined to Become Involved in
World War I?
