America’s Road to War

Section 2

Do we remain neutral???

President Woodrow Wilson

Why did many Americans want to get involved?

Neutral???President Wilson vows to stay neutralTies with immigrantsU.S. trades with central/allied powers

1/3 of America’s 93 million people were either foreign-born or the children of

immigrants

“A German victory could be fatal to our form of government and American ideals.”

Propaganda:

Information designed to influence opinion.

Used to gain American support.

First…Americans sought to trade with both sides, but Britain’s blockade of Germany made this difficult….

So we continued to trade with Britain…

GreatBritain

France

Borrowed money from the U.S. to help pay for the war……caused an economic boom in the U.S.

Submarine Warfare

Germans block British portsGermany torpedoes British, French & American ships

Germany announced in Feb. 1915 they would sink ships entering British ports….their goal was to cut off supplies to the British.

Germans sink the Lusitania, a British passenger ship- May 7, 1915.

1000 people died including 128 Americans-sank in 15 minutes

Lusitania

Sank by German u-boat May 19151000 people die – 128 AmericansHeaded to England from New York

Months later German U-boats sank the French passenger ship,Sussex…. Several American injured…. Germans promised to warn neutral ships the next time

Elected for a second term… slogan“He kept us out of war”……but could he do this?

January 1917…

Germans reversed its policy on submarine warfare.*******Wilson breaks offties with Germany

Zimmerman Telegraph

January, 1917…..Intercepted by the British government…German foreign minister sent this to Mexico…”We shall make war together and together make peace.” Reconquer New Mexico, Texas and Arizona

Zimmerman TelegraphSent by the GermansIntercepted by the BritishPlea to Mexico to help them regain lost land – New Mexico, Texas & Arizona

Russian Revolution…..The Russian people overthrew the monarchy…. Established a temporary government that promised free elections. They vowed to defeat the Germans

Germans continue to sink ships at sea…

4 American ships!!!Thirty-six lives lost

April 2, 1917Wilson asked Congress for declaration of war…war was declared April 6, 1917

Jeannette Rankin Montana1st woman in Congress…voted against the war

Established a military draftMen aged 21 to 30 (later extended from 18 to 45)By the end of the war 24 million men had registered…3 million called to serve

Selective Service Act

Noncombat work:

*nurses*clerks*radio operators

Women enlisted for the 1st time

Henry Johnson

300,000 African Americans joined the army & navy…marines would not accept them…discrimination

Henry was the first American to receive the French Cross of War for bravery!!!