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?