Transcript Declaration
DO NOW Yesterday you debated if we should join the war. Today – SPOILER ALERT – we do join in…Why? Did we really need to join? US WARS: • • • • List all the American wars in order Which had the most servicemen involved? Which was the longest? Is the information you’re finding consistent? Revolutionary 1812 Indian Wars Mexican War Civil Spanish American WWI WWII Korean Vietnam Desert Shield/Storm War on Terror (Enduring Freedom, Iraq (Afghanistan) Why was this the first “World War”? U.S. Declares War After years of reluctance, the US was finally at war. Why? German Submarine Warfare •German U-boat (submarine) •Changed the rules of naval warfare •Element of surprise – give no warning to their targets •Americans felt like this was unfair and unjust Irony: Britain had set up a blockade of the seas trying to lead to the starvation of the German people (America felt this was justifiable in wartime), however, the use of U-boats to destroy these blockades was uncivilized in the American eye. British Influence •Britain had destroyed the transatlantic cable connecting Germany and the US so all communication came through Britain •Information bias – helped shape the attitudes of US in favor of Britain •Exaggerated stories to try and create a reaction. A common story in newspapers was that German troops would chop off the hands of Belgian babies. After the war this was proved to be untrue. Sinking of the Lusitania: British passenger liner •Germany spotted the Lusitania in the Irish Sea and suspected correctly that it was carrying weapons for Allies •Fired on the line and within 18 minutes the ship sunk with its 1,198 passengers •128 of the dead were Americans •Sparks started flying at home The Lusitania Here are two editorials from two newspapers about the sinking of the Lusitania. “Germany ought not to be left in … doubt how the civilized world regards her latest display of ‘frightfulness.’… No plea of military necessity will [help Germany] before the … conscience of the world…. Some atrocities … fall under … universal condemnation …” — New York Nation, May 13, 1915 “If ever the American people stood in need of calmness … it is at this hour. While every other nation is ‘seeing red,’ let us do what the German military authorities apparently have not done—count the cost [of any further action]…. We must protect our citizens, but we must find some other way [to do so] than war.” — Chicago Standard, May 13, 1915 Analyzing Primary Sources What is the difference between the two editorials? Germany had issued a warning reminding all potential travelers there was a war going on and to sail at their own risk. They took no blame for the incident. Wilson demanded that Germany renounce unrestricted submarine warfare and make payments to the victims survivors. Germany laughed. Wilson ordered a second stronger note – Germany says they will stop sinking ships without warning… but continued to do so Wilson had just been re-elected on the promise to “keep us out of war.” What would you do? Zimmermann Telegram A telegram from Germany was intercepted on its way to Mexico by Britain and they released it to the US. It was an agreement that if the US decided to declare war, Germany would form an immediate alliance to Mexico promising them that if they would fight, Germany would recover their lost lands: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Russian Revolution By 1917, Russia had suffered enormous casualties: 1.8 million killed 2.4 million taken prisoner 2.8 million sick or wounded In the middle of this, Russia had its own revolution and the czar was overthrown. The US did not like the czar and once he was gone it was one less stumbling block. April 6, 1917 Wilson declares war. “The world must be made safe for democracy.” Posters https://www.google.com/search ?q=wwi+propaganda+posters& espv=2&biw=1024&bih=643&s ource=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&e i=C3K2VLlNse1sAT1toKoAw&ved=0CAYQ_ AUoAQ Jeanette Rankin