Download He kept us out of war

• Essential Question:
–What caused World War I and why was
the United States unable to remain
neutral in this conflict?
General Causes
■ Imperialism
■ Nationalism
– Devotion to one’s country leading to
competition and rivalries (fear of Germany)
■ Militarism/ Arms Race
– Imperial nations build large, competitive
armies and navies
■ Alliance System
– Nations begin fearing other militaries and form
alliances
From 1914 to 1919, World War I erupted in Europe
This “Great War” began as
…the build up of
a result of competition
powerful, industrial
over imperial territories…
militaries, especially
between Germany &
GB.
Brief Background
■ Ottoman Empire dismantling; contains many
different people groups
■ Russia and Austria want influence in Balkans
■ Late 1800s:
– Serbia, Montenegro, Romania gained
independence
– Bulgaria-Russian satellite with autonomy
– Bosnia & Herzegovina-Austrian protection
– Overall, agreements favored Austria
European rivalries led to military alliances that
threatened to draw European nations into war
■ Russia terminated Three Emperor’s League (later
reestablished but fragile) which had been created
to protect against French and their anger over
Alsace-Lorraine
■ 1879: Dual Alliance—Secret alliance between
Germany and Austria
■ 1881: French in Tunisiaangered Italians
■ 1882: Italy, Austria, and Germany
■ German relationship with GB deteriorates as
Germany increases naval power
European rivalries led to two military alliances that
threatened to draw European nations into war
England, France, Russia
Austria-Hungary, Italy,
formed the Triple Entente
Germany formed the
Triple Alliance
Pre-War Alliance Network
Rivalries due to militarism
and imperialism
increased nationalism
among European powers
British propaganda poster, 1897
Austrian national poster, 1900
Brief Background
■ Basic goals:
– France: Wants Alsace-Lorraine
– Russia: Protect Slavs in Balkans and
preserve power
– Germany: Weltpolitik & fear of
encirclement
– Austria-Hungary: Prevent large Serbia
In 1914, Serbian terrorists
assassinated Austrian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
which triggered the start of
World War I
Nationalism was strong
in the Balkans, where
Serbia hoped to unite
with Austrian Slavs
Domino Effect
■ Archduke Francis
Ferdinand assassinated
by member of Serbian
group, the Black Hand
■ Austria blames Serbia
■ Germany issues “blank
check” to Austria, who
then issues an
ultimatum
■ Serbia cannot meet
demands
Domino Effect
■ Austria declares war on Serbia
■ Russia mobilizes army to defend ally, Serbia
■ Germany declares war on Russia for
mobilizing on their common border
■ Germany declares war on France, Russia’s
ally
■ Schlieffen Plan calls for invasion of France
through neutral Belgium
■ British declare war on Germany as a response
to Germany’s violation of Belgium’s
neutrality
Germany and Austria-Hungary were joined by Bulgaria
and the Ottoman Empire to form the Central Powers
England, France, and Russia became the
Allied Powers and eventually were joined by…
…many nations throughout the world,
including the United States
The outbreak of WWI in 1914 was a
test for America’s new foreign policy
By 1914, the USA was a
But Americans wanted
world power with overseas
to remain neutral and
territories and influence
avoid involvement in
in Latin America and Asia
Europe’s “Great War”
American Neutrality
■ When war was declared in Europe in July
1914, Wilson proclaimed American
neutrality due to:
– Tradition of non-involvement
– Peace movement: Progressives &
women organized against war
– America as a land of immigrants should
not take sides in Europe
■ Part of America joins Preparedness
Movement
■ The majority of the U.S. supported the
Allies but wanted to avoid war
“The people of the United States are drawn from many
nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is
natural and inevitable that there should be sympathy
with regard to the circumstances of the conflict…
Every man who really loves America will act and speak
in the true spirit of neutrality…The United States must
be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days
that are to try men's souls.” —Woodrow Wilson, 1914
Germany
blamed
Threats to American
Neutrality
the war on Russian
England
appealed
to
cultural
expansion & French
■U
.S.
neutrality
was
threatened
from
ties & propaganda of
revenge
the very
beginning:
Germans
atrocities
–England & Germany appealed to
the U.S. to enter on their side
–U.S. trade with England & France
provided a strong
bond
Germans
& AustroHungarians
counted
on to
–The most serious
threat
proved
their relatives (11 million)
be Germany’s
violation
the right
for support,
butof
America
anti-German
to “freedom was
of the
seas” from
the outset.
Freedom of the Seas
Trade with the Allies caused U.S. trade to jump
■ Britain
began
blockade
around
from
$2 billion
to a$6
billion from
1913 to 1916
Germany to cut off war supplies:
The– Wilson
U.S. gave
$2.5 billion
loans
to the Allies
protested
thatinthe
blockade
but only $27 million to the Central Powers
infringed on America’s right to trade
as a neutral
nation
J.P. Morgan
& Company advanced
Allies
$2.3
billionthe
during
American
– But the
flood
of 1916,
Allied
war
orders
By
U.S.
was a
neutrality
“neutral”
in name only
helped fuel the U.S.nation
economy
– Loans & trade drew the U.S. closer to
the Allies while trade with Germany all
but ended due to geography & British
navy
The U-Boat Threat
■ Germany’s response
to thecarrying
British blockade
It was
small
was unrestricted submarine
warfare in Feb.
ammunitions.
1915:
– Wilson warns he will hold Germany
Wilson responded
Theaccountable
Germans had issued by a series of strong
warning
in newspaper.
pacifist
– They sunk
about 90 ships notes
in first
few
WJB to resign.
months of 1915
– May 1915: Lusitania torpedoed
–1198 lives, 128 Americans
–Americans were horrified
– Country divided over war
The U-Boat Threat
■ In August 1915, Germans sank the Arabic
■ Then Germans agreed not to sink unarmed
passenger
ships without
warning
Despite
the Sussex
Pledge,
Congress
■ However,
they broke
that pledge
sinking
passed
the National
Defense
Act in by
1916
that
increased
the size
of the1916.
U.S. army & navy
the Sussex
in March
■ Wilson was infuriated!! He warned that he
would break diplomatic relations if they did not
quit.
■ Then the Sussex Pledge: Germany agreed to
limit attacks if the U.S. helped end England’s
blockade
• Also would warn ships before sinking them
Germany used u-boats to create a
naval blockade of England
This would starve
the British out in 5
months.
Election of 1916
■In the 1916 election, Wilson
balanced contrasting stances:
–He appealed to progressives &
anti-war voters with the slogan
“He kept us out of war”
–But argued for “preparedness”
by building up the military in
case the U.S. joins the war
■Wilson won by affirming 2 goals:
freedom of the seas & neutrality
GermanAmerica
leaders knew
this the
might
entice the
Joins
Allies
USA to enter the war…but did it anyway
■ In January 1917, Wilson hoped for a “peace
without victory” & commitment to neutrality
■ Germans’ response was to announce
breaking the Sussex pledge and resume
unrestricted submarine warfare to win the
war
■ Wilson broke diplomatic relations & waited
■ Wilson asked Congress to arm merchant
ships but he was blocked by a filibuster
(Strength of isolationism)
America Joins the Allies
■ Series of Events:
– Zimmerman note was intercepted &
published on March 1, 1917.
– Germans sunk 4 unarmed merchant ships
in the first two weeks of March.
– Then, the Russian Revolution occurred.
–Americans were hesitant to side with an
autocrat, so the Revolution freed them
from this inhibition
– On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to
declare war, which it did four days later.
U.S. Losses to German Submarines,
1916-1918
Rationale behind the Zimmerman Note:
The U.S. & Mexico almost went to war in
June 1916 over events related to the Mexican
Revolution (Huerta, Carranza, Pancho Villa)
Germany proposed alliance with
Mexico, promising to restore Texas,
NM, and Arizona to Mexico.
Wilson nor Mexico took offer seriously, but it
angered many Americans.
British Propaganda
■ British cut the transatlantic cable to
Germany
■ Thus, all news of Europe was filtered
through England
The USA remained neutral
from 1914 to 1917, but in
April 1917 Congress declared
war on the Central Powers.
Part of Wilson’s
idealism was a promise
to “make the world
safe for democracy” in
“a war to end all wars.”
April world
2, 1917,
Wilson
asked safe
Congress
"The
must
be made
for
for
a
declaration
of
war
to
“make
the
democracy. Its peace must be planted
world safe for democracy”
upon the tested foundations of political
iberty. We have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion. We
seek no indemnities for ourselves, no
material compensation for the sacrifices
we shall freely make.”
This is American
Idealism
- Woodrow Wilson
-
Recap of Wilson’s Reasons
Unrestricted sub
warfare; cannot
protect U.S. ships;
need to preserve
market
Russian
Revolution—more
acceptable ally
Zimmerman
Telegram
End war quickly and
take role in ensuing
peace
Moral reason—
atrocities