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Ch. 23, Section 2: America’s Road to War
• Main Idea: The U.S. entered the conflict on the side of the Allies.
• Key Terms:• Propaganda• Autocracy
American Neutrality• Beginning of the war, President
Woodrow Wilson declared the U.S. would be neutral.
• People soon chose sides, most siding with the Allies.
• Many Americans were foreign-born or children of immigrants, and they sided with their countries of origin.
• Ties of language, customs, and tradition linked the U.S. and Britain.
Propaganda• President Wilson
sympathized with the Allies.
• Both sides used propaganda to influence American opinion.
• Allied propaganda was more effective than propaganda for the Central Powers.
American Neutrality
• America’s early involvement included trade with both Germany and Britain.
• Because of Britain’s blockade, the U.S. was barred from trading with Germany but continued to trade with Britain.
• Involvement also included lending Britain and France billions of dollars to help pay for their war efforts.
American Neutrality• The U.S. experienced an economic boom as a
result.
• Germany was angry because the U.S., a supposedly neutral nation, was helping the Allies.
U-Boats• Germany used its U-boats to stop American aid Britain,
ignoring President Wilson’s warning that it would hold Germany responsible for any American lives lost.
Lusitania• In May 1915, a German U-
boat torpedoed the British passenger liner Lusitania.
• The ship sank and more than 1,000 people died, including 128 American citizens.
Sussex
• Another attack occurred several months later when a German U-boat torpedoed an unarmed French passenger ship, Sussex.
Sussex Pledge
• The resulting Sussex Pledge was a German offering to compensate injured Americans.
• The Pledge was also a promise to warn neutral ships and passenger vessels before attacking.
• It temporarily resolved the issued and kept America out of the war.
The End of Neutrality• In 1916, before the U.S. entered
the war, it strengthened its military.
• Legislation doubled the size of the army
• Provided money to build new warships
• Even though President Wilson hoped to stay out of the war and antiwar sentiment was strong.
Neutrality Ends
• American neutrality ended when Germany reversed its submarine-warfare policy.
• It said it would sink all merchant vessels, armed or unarmed, sailing to allied ports.
• President Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany.
The End of Neutrality
• A new wave of anti-German feeling grew when a secret telegram, the Zimmerman note, was published.
• In February 1917, German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico with an offer of financial support if Mexico would conquer lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The End of Neutrality
• Other events occurred that convinced President Wilson that the United States could no longer stay neutral. The U.S. joined the war on the side of the Allies.
– 1. In 1917 a revolution in Russia toppled the monarchy and replaced it with a temporary gov’t that promised free elections. Americans believed that this new democratic gov’t would help the Allies to defeat Germany.
– 2. In March 1917, Germans attacked and sank four American ships.
The End of Neutrality• In April 1917, Wilson asked
Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.
• Congress did not agree immediately
• Later most members agreed that, if the U.S. was to remain a great world power and defend its rights, war was necessary.
• On April 6th, President Wilson signed the declaration of war.
• In order to raise an army, Congress passed the Selective Service Act on May 18th, establishing a military draft.
• Men ages 21 to 30 registered.
• The draft age was later extended from 18 to 45.
• By the end of the war, about 24 million men had registered and about 3 million had been called to serve.
• About 2 million joined voluntarily.
Women in the War
• Women enlisted in the armed forces, serving as noncombat workers operating radios, and as clerks and nurses.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8COmmBiUBY&list=PL71F8FAC220A2FD64&index=3
African Americans in War• Many African Americans were
accepted into the army and navy but not the marines.
• They faced discrimination and racism.
• Many help low-level jobs, Of the 140,000 sent to Europe, only 40,000 fought.
• Some received medal for bravery from the French gov’t, and one African American soldier received the French Cross of War, the highest medal of honor in France