Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
From Neutrality to War Was it in the national interest of the US to stay neutral or declare war in 1917? The US Tries to Stay Neutral 1914 T Roosevelt observed that the US was lucky to be almost “alone among the great civilized power in being unshaken by the present worldwide war.” How did the murder of the archduke turn into a global conflict? System of alliances that linked Europe to one another If your alliance was in trouble you had to come to their aid Germany/Austria-Hungary (Central Powers) vs France, Britain, Russia (Allied Powers) The US Tries to Stay Neutral 1860s – While the US was fighting the Civil War German kingdom of Prussia launched a series of wars to unite the various German kingdoms into one nation 1871 – Prussia had united Germany and proclaimed a German empire New Germany industrialized and became powerful The US Tries to Stay Neutral This transforms European politics 1870s Prussia attacks and defeats France Force France to give up territory along German border This makes France and Germany enemies Germany allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary to protect itself They became known as the Triple Alliance The US Tries to Stay Neutral This alarmed Russia and feared Germany would move east into Russia Russia and Austria-Hungary were fighting for influence in southeastern Europe Many people in southeastern Europe were Slavs – same ethnic group as Russia – Russia wanted to support them vs Austria-Hungary Russia and France opposed Germany and Austria-Hungary 1894 signed Franco-Russian Alliance – promised to help each other against the Triple Alliance The US Tries to Stay Neutral Nationalism – strong feeling of pride in and loyalty to a nation or ethnic group Led some European powers to put national interests first – regardless of consequences for the other countries EX – Germany’s pride = rapid growth and military power Kaiser Wilhelm II was looking for overseas empire for his country – wanted Germany to be a world leader Smaller ethnic groups expressed nationalism by seeking independence Serbs in Bosnia who didn’t like Austro-Hungarian rule wanted to unite with other Slavic people in Serbia The US Tries to Stay Neutral Part of nationalism is the right to selfdetermination: idea that people who share a national identity should have their own country and government 1800s nationalism led to a crisis in the Balkans Ottoman Empire and Autro-Hungarian Empire had ruled the Balkans – these empires were made up of many different nations Different national groups began pressing for independence The US Tries to Stay Neutral Groups wanting independence were Serbs, Bosnians, Croats and Slovenes Similar language and saw themselves as one people Serbs got independence first – Serbia – in between Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian Empires Russia supported Serbs and Austria-Hungary tried to limit Serbia’s power 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia – which belonged to the Ottoman Empire – Serbs were mad – wanted Bosnia as a part of their country The US Tries to Stay Neutral Militarism- policy of glorifying military power and values Germany modernized army and added to navy; Britain felt they needed to do the same Other European powers did the same thing – all of Europe was in a military buildup Imperialism – Britain and France had colonies in Africa and Asia Raw materials from the colonies Germany wanted in like Britain and France – they would have to take land from someone else The US Tries to Stay Neutral German militarism forced Britain to get involved in this system Britain tried to support weaker countries vs strong countries to keep one nation from becoming too powerful Britain and Germany in an arms race Britain joins France and Russia – doesn’t want a set alliance so enters in a “entente cordiale” – a friendly understanding – Triple Entente The US Tries to Stay Neutral Wilson had declared neutrality Loans and weapons to both sides Aug 19, 1914 – Wilson urged Americans to remain “impartial in thought, as well as action” This European war, Wilson said, is one “with which we have nothing to do, whose causes cannot touch us” G. Washington urged the US to stay out of foreign affairs The US Tries to Stay Neutral War would help the US financially if we did not get involved 1914 – 1/3 of the US was foreign born or children of foreign born parents Had ties to their “home” country still Americans are debating getting involved but war raged on The US Tries to Stay Neutral Gavrilo Princip – shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austro-Hungarian government blamed Serbia for the attack and wanted to crush Serbia in order to prevent Slavic nationalism from undermining its empire Germany promised to support Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary issued ultimatum to the Serbian government Serbs counted on Russia to back them up Russia counted on France The US Tries to Stay Neutral July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilized its army Aug 1 Germany declared war on Russia and 2 days later declared war on France The US Tries to Stay Neutral Germany had planned to invade France and knock them out of the war Germans had to go through Belgium to do this When Germans crossed through Belgium, Britain declared war to help protect Belgium’s neutrality Triple Entente = Allies France, Russia and Great Britain and Italy Triple Alliance – Germany and Austria-Hungary joined Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria = Central Powers The US Tries to Stay Neutral Germans were successful at driving France back at first Russia then invaded Germany Germany had to remove some troops from France and send them back to Germany to help with Russia Germans were 30 miles from Paris when they were stopped and had to turn back The US Tries to Stay Neutral Eastern Front: Russia advances into Germany and Austria-Hungary German countered and stopped the advance 2 key battles = 250,000 Russian causalities Western Front: Germans easily rolled across Belgium and into France British, French and Belgian armies stopped the Germans End of 1914 there was a stalemate – deadlock Neither side could win and neither side wanted to stop for peace The US Tries to Stay Neutral Why did President Wilson’s decision to stay out of WWI in 1914 please many Americans? A: Many felt Europe’s quarrels did not concern them. US could make loans and sell supplies to both sides The US Tries to Stay Neutral What was the status of combat in Europe in 1914? What was the status of diplomatic efforts to end the war at the time? A: Russia advanced into Germany and AustriaHungary but Germans stopped them. Germans rolled across Belgium and into France. Allied armies stopped this but not until the German troops were within 30 miles of Paris. End of 1914 there was a stalemate Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality Stalemate on land; Britain and Germany looked to starve their opponent and needed to control the sea Britain blockaded the ships headed for Germany Turned away any ships with weapons, food and supplies headed to Central powers - even neutral ships from US Wilson was unhappy but didn’t want to threaten the strong economic ties between Britain and the US Many Americans actually supported the Allied powers and did not sell as much to the Central powers therefore this blockade wasn’t 100% detrimental Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality Feb 1915 – Germany challenged Britain’s blockade with submarine attacks Unterseeboot (Undersea boat) = U-boat Germany declared the waters around Britain a war zone Germany could sink British ships without being noticed Britain sometimes flew flags of neutral countries to deter the Germans – this put neutral countries in danger Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality Warships could stop and search merchant ships if they suspected the ship was breaking a naval blockade These ships could be sunk if all passengers were removed - warships could take passengers from these ships – submarines could not May 7, 1915 Lusitania – British liner the Germans sank without warning 1198 died and 128 were Americans Germany said they thought the ship had weapons and ammunition T. Roosevelt said “murder on the high seas” German U-Boat Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality US debated how to respond to sinking of Lusitania Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan (remember him???) Argued the US should accept reality of submarines and warn Americans about danger of riding on British ships State Department Robert Lansing Opposed Jennings Bryan view and argued Americans had a right to travel on British ships and should protect that right Wilson agreed with Lansing and sent Germany several notes demanding it stop the submarine warfare Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality Jennings Bryan was afraid the notes would violate our neutrality and resigned Lansing replaces Bryan Lansing “The Allies must not be beaten. War cannot come too soon to suit me” Aug 1915 – Germany sank a 2nd British ship - the Arabic – killed 2 Americans Wilson sent another note and Germany promised no more ships would be sunk without warning March 1916 Germany broke pledge by sinking the Sussex Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality Wilson threatened to break off relations with Germany Sussex pledge – Germany promised to spare all lives in future U-boat attacks on merchant ships Condition – US must force Britain to end its illegal blockade Wilson accepted the pledge but would not accept the condition Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality PREPAREDNESS, PROMISES, AND PROPAGANDA Former President T. Roosevelt thought US was ill-prepared for war and thought we needed to gear up to fight Roosevelt had not picked a side for the war but thought we needed to be ready for war Thought we needed a policy of preparedness, not neutrality Submarine issues caused Wilson to start preparing for war Wilson running for re-election – campaigned promising for a navy “second to none” Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality PREPAREDNESS, PROMISES, AND PROPAGANDA Wilson pressed Congress to allocate money to double the size of the army and to construct the world’s biggest navy American’s thought Wilson’s path of preparedness was enough to re-elect him Won re-election by a thin majority “He kept us out of war” - Slogan Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality PREPAREDNESS, PROMISES, AND PROPAGANDA Central Powers and Allied Power were trying to get people to join their size Propaganda –information or rumor spread to promote its own cause or ideas or to damage an opposing cause or ideas Propaganda is to persuade others to adopt the view or to take the action supported by the propagandist Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality PREPAREDNESS, PROMISES, AND PROPAGANDA Allies waged the most successful campaign British circulated stories about alleged atrocities committed by German soldiers in Belgium Claimed German soldiers tortured innocent women and children and used human shields during combat German government denied these stories Investigation proved these stories were exaggerated or invented Before the investigation the stories were printed in most US newspapers Challenges to the US Policy of Neutrality How did the attack on the Lusitania bring the US closer to declaring war in 1915? A: On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania killing 1198 people and 128 Americans. The ship did have weapons and ammo – T. Roosevelt denounced the actions as murder. Wilson and others felt that Americans had the right to ride on Allied passenger ships and the US should protect that right. Why might the Sussex pledge have helped the US stay neutral in 1916? Wilson threatened to break off relations with Germany since they kept sinking ships. Germany agreed to spare lives if the US got Britain to stop the blockade. US didn’t declare war just yet. A War to End All Wars Jan 22, 1917 – Wilson gave speech to Congress declaring he wanted to help end the stalemate in Europe. Asked warring nations to accept “a peace without victory” “League of honor” – help nations settle conflicts peacefully Germany launched an all out effort to win the war Germany returned to unrestricted submarine warfare Sussex pledge – Wilson cut off ties with Germany A War to End All Wars Wilson hoped Germans would back down but they did not Zimmerman Note- German foreign minister sent a coded note to the German minister in Mexico Note suggested that if the US join the war then Mexico and Germany should become allies Germany would help Mexico regain lost territory Zimmerman note stirred up Anti-German feelings in the US March 1917 – revolution toppled the Czar Nicholas II in Russia Replaced him with democratic government - US could now be allied to Russia since they were democratic A War to End All Wars April 2, 1917 – Wilson spoke to Congress and reminded them of the loss of life caused by German U-boats and how these attacks were hurting the US’s ability to trade freely Neutrality no longer possible World must be safe for democracy April 4, 1917 – Senate voted 82-6 to declare war on Germany House voted on April 6 373-50 US went to war A War to End All Wars What events in early 1917 caused President Wilson to ask Congress to declare war? A: Germany started attacking with Uboats again. Zimmerman note. Czar Nicholas II was overthrown and Russia was now democratic and could be allied with the US President Wilson said the US would be going to war to make the world “safe for democracy”. How did his critics respond to this reasoning? A: Argued US was going to war for economic reasons; Argued we at war because we did not treat Allied and Central powers the same – government should stay neutral