World War I: From Neutrality to War

Essential Questions:• What considerations should guide the

development of American foreign policy?• When should the United States go to war?• Did America’s emergence as a world

power move it closer or further away from its founding ideals?

President Woodrow Wilson, August 19,

1914• Respond: Identify Woodrow Wilson’s position toward

World War I in 1914 by writing “stay neutral” or “declare war” in your notebook. Then identify one or more phrases that show President Wilson’s position.

Europe on the Brink of War

• August 1914: War has just broken out in Europe involving two great alliances: the Allies (Britain, France and Russia) on one side, and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) on the other. Millions of soldiers are involved, both on land and at sea. Before anything happens in the war, you, as President Wilson, need to establish what the goals of the United States are. List three goals for the U.S. to keep in mind as the war progresses.

President Woodrow Wilson,

April 2, 1917• Respond: Identify President Woodrow

Wilson’s position toward World War I in 1917 by writing “stay neutral” or “declare war” in your notebook. Then identify one or more phrases that show President Wilson’s position.

Respond• Explain what might have happened in

the three years between the speeches to change Woodrow Wilson’s position.

Europe on the Brink of War• The Roots of War

– European nationalism • Aided by each nation’s increased militarism• Glorification of armed strength and the ideals of war• In order to acquire and protect their colonies under

imperialism• Led to the rise of large, sophisticated armies and

navies

A. Triple Entente or Allies—France, Britain, Russia

B. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire are Central Powers

C. Alliances give security; nations unwilling to tip balance of power

Europe on the Brink of War• U.S. Neutrality

– President Woodrow declared neutrality toward Europe– However, U.S. neutrality was almost immediately

challenged in the summer of 1914, when the situation in Europe exploded.

World War I Begins• The Assassination of the

Archduke – Started World War I – Archduke Francis Ferdinand,

and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist

– Serbia, Austria-Hungary’s tiny neighbor to the south, opposed Austria’s control of Bosnia and desired to join the Slavic Bosnians to its own nation

World War I Begins

• Austria-Hungary-backed by Germany’s promise of full military support-presented Serbia with a list of demands concerning inquiry into the crime

• Austria-Hungary wanted Serbia to comply with its deliberately harsh demands or face war.

• Serbia, knowing it had full Russian support in case of war, refused to accept all of Austria-Hungary’s demands.

• After consultation with Germany, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28.

Loans and Exports

• President Wilson allowed them to warring nations– Loans had to be short-term– Brought great prosperity to

the U.S.

Britain Preventing Trade with Germany

• The British Blockade– British blockade, mine North

Sea, stop war supplies reaching Germany

• also stop food, fertilizer• Wilson dropped objections

– U. S. merchant ships seldom reach Germany

• By 1917, famine in Germany– British trade was more

important than Germany’s to the American economy

German War Zone Around Britain

• German response to the British blockade

• U-boats (German submarines) would sink any British or Allied ship in the waters around Britain

• Wilson protests

British Liner Lusitania Is Sunk• Sunk on May 7, 1915 by

German U-Boat• 1,198 people died

including 128 Americans• American public opinion

turns against Germany• President Wilson

protests, but Germany continues to sink ships

Sussex Torpedoed

• Unarmed French passenger steamer

• 80 passengers, including Americans are killed

• U.S. threatens to break off diplomatic relations

• May, 1916- Sussex Pledge- Germany would not sink any passenger ships and would only sink merchant ships with warning.

Zimmerman Telegram

• Zimmerman note—proposes alliance of Germany, Mexico against U.S.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• Germany asks U.S. to get Britain to end food blockade– otherwise will renew unrestricted

submarine warfare

• Wilson tries to mediate, calls for “a peace between equals”

• Kaiser announces U-boats will sink all ships in British waters

• Four unarmed American merchant ships sunk

Convoy systems

• Destroyers escort merchant ships across Atlantic

- losses drop dramatically

• Navy helps lay mines across North Sea, keep U-boats out of Atlantic

Wilson Declares War

• Wilson calls for war to make world “safe for democracy”

• Revolution in Russia– Russian monarchy

replaced with representative government

– War of democracies against monarchies