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
Why did the US declare war on Germany? The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that are to try men's souls. We must be impartial in thought, as well as action, must put a curb upon our sentiments, as well as upon every transaction that might be construed as a preference of one party to the struggle before another. - President Wilson’s Declaration of Neutrality When World War I broke out in Europe, most Americans welcomed President Wilson’s declaration of neutrality – after all, this was a European war and the United States had adopted a policy of non-involvement in the affairs of Europe dating back to the French Revolution and the Monroe Doctrine. The Wilson administration maintained a policy of neutrality for the first 3 ½ years of the conflict. In fact, when President Wilson ran for reelection in 1916, his most effective campaign slogan was “He kept us out of war!” On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. Your task: Using the readings below to understand how the United States moved from a policy of neutrality to a declaration of war against Germany. As you read, summarize the main points of each reading on the chart provided. Once all of the readings have been completed, answer the summary question that follows the chart. Reading #1: Background: Early in the war, belligerent nations requested loans from American banks to help finance their war effort. Below, an American banker inquires about government policy regarding such loans. Morgan (Bank) Company of New York have asked whether there would be any objection to their making a loan to the French Government... —Secretary of State Bryan to President Wilson, August 10, 1914 There is no reason why loans should not be made to the governments of neutral nations, but in the judgment of this Government, loans by American bankers to any foreign nation which is at war are inconsistent with the true spirit of neutrality. —Secretary of State Bryan to J. P. Morgan and Company, August 15, 1914 Reading #2: Background: US policy required belligerent nations to pay in cash for any purchases made from American businesses. As the war continued, this became increasingly difficult. Since the beginning of the war this bank alone has received cabled instructions for the payment of in excess of $50,000,000 for American goods and the volume of this business is increasing. Owing to war conditions,… the cash credits of the European governments are being fast depleted. Lately we have been urged by manufacturers who are customers of the bank and, in some cases, by representatives of the foreign governments, to provide temporary credits (loans) for these purchases. —Vice President of the National City Bank to the Acting Secretary of State, October 23, 1914 Reading #3: Background: Both sides seized American merchant vessels in an attempt to deprive the enemy of needed materials. December 26, 1914: The present condition of American foreign trade resulting from the frequent seizures and detentions of American cargoes destined to neutral European ports has become so serious as to require a candid statement of the views of this Government in order that the British Government may be fully informed as to the attitude of the United States toward the policy which has been pursued by the British authorities during the present war. —Secretary of State Bryan to Walter Hines Page, U.S. Ambassador in Great Britain Reading #4: Background: When the war began, the American economy was experiencing a mild recession. Wartime sales to belligerent nations helped to end this economic downturn. Value of U.S. Exports for 1914: 1914 - $ 824.8 million to Allies 1914 - $ 169.3 million to Central Powers Reading #5: Background: This communication from Germany, forbidding all merchant shipping traffic in British waters, opened the first wave of: "unrestricted" submarine warfare: 4 February 1915 All the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, including the whole of the English Channel, are hereby declared to be a war zone. From February 18 onwards every enemy merchant vessel found within this war zone will be destroyed without it always being possible to avoid danger to the crews and passengers. Neutral ships will also be exposed to danger in the war zone, as, in view of the misuse of neutral flags ordered on January 31 by the British Government, and owing to unforeseen incidents to which naval warfare is liable, it is impossible to avoid attacks being made on neutral ships in mistake for those of the enemy. Reading #6: Background: President Wilson issued the following statement in response to the German government’s announcement that it would begin unrestricted submarine warfare. February 10, 1915: If such a deplorable situation should arise, the Imperial German Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the Imperial Government of Germany to a strict accountability for such acts of their naval authorities, and to take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas. …It is stated for the information of the Imperial Government (Germany) that [protests] have been made to his Britannic Majesty's Government (England) in respect to the unwarranted use of the American flag for the protection of British ships. Reading #7: Background: On May 7th, 1915 British passenger liner Lusitiana was sunk by a German submarine attack. This resulted in the death of 128 Americans. Given the information below, was public outcry over this German attack on an “unarmed passenger ship” warranted? Public outrage over the loss of civilian life hastened the United States entry into World War I. Although the cargo list of the Lusitania stated that she carried approximately 170 tons of munitions and war material, this fact was not revealed to the U.S. public at the time. Reading #8: Background: By early 1917, German had decided to resume unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson announced that the United States would break off all diplomatic relations with Germany, but was considering options other than war were open to the United States. Then the British revealed that they had intercepted the following message from Arthur Zimmerman, the undersecretary for foreign affairs, to the German ambassador to Mexico. We intend to begin on the 1st 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… Main Idea Doc #1 Doc #2 Doc #3 Doc #4 Doc #5 Doc #6 Doc #7 Doc #8 Summary: How much evidence is there to support the claim that the United States was never really neutral?