Transcript America Questions Neutrality

America Questions Neutrality
Divided Loyalties
• Naturalized US
citizens
• Had ties to nations
• Germans:
sympathized with
Germany
• Irish: saw war as
chance for Ireland to
gain independence
• Close to Britain
• Ancestry & language
• Economic Ties
• Stronger with Allies
U.S. exports by year
The War Hits Home
• US Mobilizes for war
• Ensure allied repayment of debts
• Prevent Germans from
threatening US shipping
• British Blockade
• German coast
• Neutral ports
• US ships refused to challenge
blockade
• Led to famine in Germany by
1917
• US angered until Germany
responded
German U-Boat Response
• Unterseeboot
(Submarine)
• Used to counter blockade
• Any British or allied ship
would be sunk
• Lusitania
• May 7, 1915
• British passenger liner
sunk by German U-boat
• 128 Americans killed
• Changed American public
opinion, but still doesn’t
propel the country into
the war
Woodrow Wilson’s Response
• Ruled out military
response
• August 1915: U-boat
sinks The Arabic
• 2 Americans dead
• Sussex Pledge
• Germany would stop
unrestricted submarine
warfare
• US would persuade GB to
lift food blockade
1916 Election
• Woodrow Wilson (D)
• Campaign slogan - “He
kept us out of the war”
• Charles Evan Hughes
(R)
• Pledged to uphold
America’s right to
freedom of seas
• Promised not to be too
severe on Germany
• Wilson Wins re-election
• Close vote
United States Declares War
• Wilson calls for
“peace without
victory”
• Germany ignores
calls
• Kaiser announces Uboats will sink all
ships
• Wilson waits for
“actual overt acts”
• It came early in
1917…
German Provocation
• Zimmerman Telegram
• Telegram from German
Foreign minister to
German ambassador in
Mexico
• Proposed alliance between
Mexico & Germany
• Intercepted by Britain,
sent to Woodrow Wilson
• Leaked to U.S. press on
March 1, 1917
• Infuriated Americans
Territory
promised to
Mexico
Zimmerman Note
On the first of February, we intend to begin
unrestricted submarine warfare.
In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavour to
keep the United States of America neutral.
In the event of this not succeeding, we propose
an alliance on the following basis with Mexico:
That we shall make war together and make peace
together. We shall give generous financial
support, and an understanding on our part that
Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New
Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details of
settlement are left to you.
Zimmerman Note
• You are instructed to inform the President
[of Mexico] of the above in the greatest
confidence as soon as it is certain that there
will be an outbreak of war with the United
States and suggest that the President, on his
own initiative, invite Japan to immediate
adherence with this plan; at the same time,
offer to mediate between Japan and
ourselves.
• Please call to the attention of the President
that the ruthless employment of our
submarines now offers the prospect of
compelling England to make peace in a few
months
Breaking of the Sussex Pledge
• Germany becomes convinced they can win the war
with the resumption of unrestricted submarine
warfare
• January 1917 – Germany begins unrestricted sub
warfare
• 4 unarmed American merchant ships sunk
America Acts
• April 2, 1917
• Wilson delivers war
message to Congress
• Russian monarchy
overthrown
• Wilson can now say
this is a, “War of
democracies against
brutal monarchies.”
• Congress approves
resolution