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U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
What does it mean to be “neutral”?
U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
• By 1914 the U.S. had about $3.5 Billion in
investments in Europe.
• Throughout the war the United States was selling
weapons to England.
• From the start of the war up to April of 1917
more than $2 Billion worth of goods had been
sold to the Allies.
• In 1915 (after Woodrow Wilson lifted a ban on
private bank loans to the Allies) U.S. banks like J.P.
Morgan and Company began loaning large sums
of money to England.
U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
• In 1915, due, in part, to the volume of trade
occurring between England, the U.S., and
other Allies, Germany engaged in
“Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.”
• This resulted in the loss of nearly half of
Britain's merchant marine fleet during the
course of the war.
U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
• In 1915, a British ship, the Lusitania, was
torpedoed and sunk by a German Submarine.
• It was said to have been nothing more than a
passenger ship, but in actuality it was carrying
weapons to England.
• 1,248 people died, including 124 Americans.
• But this was not the direct cause for the U.S. to
enter the war.
The Direct Cause
• Zimmermann Telegram
– A telegram from Germany to Mexico asking to
make war against the U.S. - January 16, 1917.
• "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted
submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to
keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of
this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance
on the following basis: make war together, make peace
together, generous financial support and an understanding
on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is
left to you.” – Arthur Zimmermann
U.S. in WWI
• The U.S. officially entered WWI on April 6,
1917.
• Over 4 million American military personnel
served in the war, of which about 110,000
died (about 43,000 due to the Spanish Flu).