World War I- US Neutrality

August

14, 1914President Wilson proclaims US neutrality Advantage- ability to trade with both sides

World War I- British Leanings

Same language and similar culture Millions of Anglo-Americans Rape of Belgium (German Offensive)

Angered American citizens and made them sympathetic to the Allied cause

Unrestricted Sub Warfare

Germans declared the waters around the British Isles a war zone Warned that any ship entering the war zone would be fired upon May 7, 1915- the sinking of the Lusitania

British ship off the coast of Ireland 128 Americans on board (all of whom died)

The Arabic Pledge

British

non-military ship sunk with two more American casualties German ambassador to US made the Arabic pledge to not sink unarmed ships

The Sussex Pledge

French non-military ship sunk in the English Channel Germans issue the Sussex pledge and stated that they would abide by international law (with their sub policy) Asked the US to get Britain to stop their total warfare blockade

US Trade with the Allies

US had become the storehouse for England and the other Allied nations Munitions, food, and raw materials Eventually, the US banks loaned the Allies $2 billion 1914 to 1916- trade with Britain increased from $800 million to $3 billion 1914 to 1916- trade with Germany decreased from $170 million to $1 million

British Naval Blockade of Germany

Traditional definition of contraband

Explosives, guns, and ammunition

Brits began to confiscate all goods coming and going into Germany Starvation Blockade
Total Warfare tactic to bring German citizens to their knees Employed close to German ports instead of a few miles out to sea (traditional style)

Zimmermann Note
Letter from German foreign minister to German ambassador in Mexico Purpose- get Mexico to invade the US Reward- land lost to the US during the Mexican War Letter was intercepted and used by Wilson to get a bill passed in Congress to arm US merchant ships

World War I- German Leanings

Millions

of German-Americans

Millions

of Irish-Americans (anti-British)

US Preparedness

Wilson opposed preparing for war early on Republicans (led by TR) demanded the nation be prepared

Wilson responded by preparing for war (had the 1916 presidential election to think about)

November 1915- Wilson calls for a larger military and navy

Appeased the Progressives (who called for continued neutrality) by passing more progressive legislation domestically

Campaign and Election of 1916

Democrat- Woodrow Wilson

Slogan- He kept us out of war Republican- Charles Evans Hughes

Wilson barely won the election by 23 electoral votes

Congress swayed back to the Republicans which would cause problems for Wilson later

US Declaration of War

March 4, 1917 Wilsons inauguration speech attempted to achieve peace for the nations at war Claimed preservation of an armed neutrality March 15, 1917 Fall of Czar Nicolas II of Russia March 18, 1917 Three US merchant ships are sunk by German subs April 2, 1917 Wilson asks Congress for permission to declare war on Germany

Wilsons Fourteen Points

January 1918Defined the causes of WW I Outlined the solutions to avoid another world war, which included

Open diplomacy (no more secret negotiations) Freedom of the seas would be restored Allowance for national self-determination of small nations around the world Creation of the League of Nations to preserve peace and insure justice